Customer Reviews

A Box of Unfortunate Events (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

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If you liked the first three Lemony Snicket books, "The Bad Beginning," "The Reptile Room," and "The Wide Window," available individually and in a boxed set, you will enjoy the next three books collected in this set, "The Miserable Mill," "The Austere Academy," and "The Ersatz Elevator," even more.

The first of the three books is "The Miserable Mill." The Baudelaire orphans have moved to another relative, this one the owner of the Lucky Smells Lumbermill in the rundown town of Paltryville. I'm not sure of the relationship of this new person to the children, and we really see very little of this uncaring person in any case. Furthermore, we never know his name; everyone calls him "Sir" or "The Boss".

The children toil in the lumber mill from the time they arrive in Paltryville. Soon they have splinters and are tired and hungry, because they get nothing for breakfast, almost nothing for lunch, and casserole for dinner. There are multiple labor and child abuse laws violated in this book, but perhaps it might make some readers more appreciative of what they have.

As has happened in the previous three books, the children are able, principally through their own efforts, to overcome the bad guys. Unfortunately someone does die in a gruesome, though not detailed, way. Once again the children are on their way to another home.

Of the four books thus far, this one was my least favorite. The style of the books is such that bad things happen to these children on a regular basis, but in this book it seems as though bad things are happening to nearly everyone. This book is very depressing. I was also a bit annoyed with the extremes that the author went to in his exaggerations.

The fifth book in the saga implements several changes, all for the better. The first change is that we are no longer with a relative. Instead, we are at Prufrock Academy, a boarding school. Secondly, the Baudelaires acquire two friends at this new school. There are additional positives. They actually get to eat, they get to study, and they get to read. For a moment you might actually think that things are looking up for the Baudelaires. Ah, but for those familiar with the series, you know that can't be true.

If the Baudelaires violate any of a series of bizarre rules they must endure a series of equally bizarre punishments relating to their meals. Included in this list of punishments is loss of silverware, loss of a cup, though you still get your drink, it's just in a puddle on your tray, and even having your hands tied behind your back at mealtime.

As you have probably also guessed, Count Olaf does eventually show up. However, Count Olaf does not immediately try to spirit the children away from Prufrock Academy. Instead, he has them exercise nightly, all night long. The children try to figure out his scheme all the way up to the point where he does execute his scheme, and I can say no more or you will miss all the fun.

In this book the children meet triplets who are now twins because one of the twins died. The five children become good friends because they are all orphans. They all get along well and work together to try and beat Count Olaf. However, the children are at the mercy of Count Olaf almost from the point he shows up to nearly the end of the story.

The children have usually escaped from Count Olaf due to their own abilities. This time the children are saved due to a combination of fortunate circumstances, including the help of their new friends. We do not find out where the children are going next at the end of this book, but of course we know that they will have another home in "The Ersatz Elevator".

In "The Ersatz Elevator" the Baudelaire orphans move in with a non-relative in a penthouse apartment. While you might think that a penthouse apartment (which has something like 71 bedrooms) and kitchens, and sitting rooms, and on and on, would be a lovely place to live, you would be thinking wrong.

This time the problem is that Esme Squalor (the sixth most important financial advisor in the city) and her husband Jerome must have everything "in". Esme must go to only the "in" restaurants; she must wear only "in" clothes, which includes the children, and on and on. Unfortunately, being "in" also means multiple compromises in terms of comfort. For example, the penthouse is on the top of a building with 66 stories, and elevators are "out". So the Squalors and the Baudelaires must walk up and down the 66 stories each time the go in to and out from the building. They certainly received sufficient exercise. Before I forget, orphans are also "in".

Of course, we know that Count Olaf must eventually show up, and he does. However, there is a mystery. We find that Count Olaf went up to the apartment and did not later leave the building. Therein lays the crux of the mystery for this story.

This story climaxes with the children running briefly into old friends, and then losing them again. They also nearly catch Count Olaf, again. In the end, the children are forced to find a new home once again. Unfortunately I am unable to tell you more, because Lemony Snicket, should he ever escape from his current predicament, would hunt me down and provide me with agony should I reveal the end of this Baudelaire tale. Suffice it to say that the Baudelaires have their best adventure yet, with even better to come.

This box set is a great way to collect this series if you have found that you like the unconventional way the Lemony Snicket has written these books. I recommend them cautiously, and principally for children 8 or 9 or above.