Customer Reviews

The Reptile Room, Movie Tie-in Edition (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 2)

5 star:		(231)
4 star:		(76)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Fans of Lemony Snicket will not be disappointed with the second book int "The Series of Unfortunate Events."The Reptile Room is the story of our three lush characters, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. In this volume they visit Uncle Monty and they finally for once since their parents died having a good time. When Uncle Monty tells the children that they will be going on an expedition to study snakes they get even more riled up. But Uncle Monty's assistant mysteriously disappears so he hires a replacement. And guess who this is- Count Olaf. And he has a plan to get our favorite trio like never before. Sit back, relax and click the BUY symbol on your computer. Read this book. You will love it.

HAPPY READING!

And on we move to the second book in the classic Series of Unfortunate Events. If you've stumbled onto the Lemony Snicket series by chance, I wouldn't necessarily command you to read the first book before this, the second. But you'd probably wish to do so yourself. Following the further adventures of the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans, we find our intrepid trio finally living with a relative they've grown to love. Uncle Monty (as he prefers to be called) is a herpetologist of the finest pedigree, and he offers the siblings the first real home they've had in a while. Unfortunately, misery continues to dog them in the form of the evil Count Olaf. Donning one of his many disguises, Olaf does his darndest, yet again, to get his oily hands on the Baudelaire fortune. And so forth.

One of the finest books in the series, no question. And, perhaps, one of the saddest. After all, Uncle Monty is one of the few guardians with whom the orphans feel a real kinship. Snicket does a lovely job displaying their affection for him which simultaneously not making you too too terribly unhappy when that joyful confluence must break apart. Happiness is not in store for the Baudelairs for some time now. We shouldn't be wishing it too soon. Still, Uncle Monty's exit is a real blow to the series in that you really do come to like him before his removal from the book. Just the same, there's plenty to love. I, myself, was quite taken with the movie, "Zombies In the Snow", that the Baudelaires watch with heavy hearts at one point in the proceedings. Hollywood should take note - "Zombies In the Snow" may be the next big storyline to hit!

For happy book involving ponies, locate one of the bazillion pony books out there. For misery, delightful redundancy, and a truly gross villain I direct your attention to Snicket's latest. Tis a wonderful read for the whole gosh-darn family (though he'd be loathe to say so himself).

Continuing in the Goreyesque manner of the first book, The Reptile Room delivers the delightfully miserable story of our three heros. A smart, and sly narrative keeps this one a page-turner, and the author's almost non sequitur mentality raise this book (and series)high above the dull, run of the mill, "kiddie-adventures". As with the first, charming illustrations head the chapters, and the narrators devilish tone helps keep the humor of the situation ever present. I look forward to the third entry in the series. Highly recommended!

The Reptile Room is in the same format as The Bad Beginning, which is to say, it's excellent!! I love both of these books and am eagerly awaiting The Wide Window, the 3rd book in this series. Keep up the good work Mr. Snicket!!

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the Harry Potter Books, but these books just go above and beyond everything that makes a book fun to read, enjoyable, and of high quality. This book is about the three orphans Sunny, Klaus, and Violet, when they go to live with their Uncle Monty (full name Montgomery Montgomery). When a new servant (Stephano) comes to the house, he seems familiar, to familiar.... This book is slightly better than the first book (A Bad Beginning), and Lemony Snickett never fails to impress! Keep up the good work, Lemony!

Lemony Snicket is one of my favorite authors. "The Reptile Room" is a book that really gets into the details of the Baudelaire orphans' time at their Uncle Monty's house. A viscious villain named Count Olaf plans to steal the enourmous fortune that the orphans will inherit as soon as the oldest orphan, Violet comes of age. I did not give this book five stars because it goes through, at one point, almost every single reptile in the reptile room. I can't relate because I know nothing about snakes, and I cannot tell whether the species are real or fake. Even though some readers think his books are so dark and depressing, I don't think his books are that depressing and that here is no need for that added detail. Overall, I think it is a very good book and recommend it to kids who love a fun mystery.

Here we are again with the three Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny. In the first book their parents died in a fire and things went drastically downhill after that. Eventually ending with evil Count Olaf, a distant cousin, the trio tried to convince Mr. Poe, somewhat of a guardian, that Count Olaf was evil. At the end of the book Count Olaf ran away after his various machinations were unmasked. However, the ending was not happy because once again the orphans did not have a home.

In this second book, we meet Dr. Montgomery Montgomery, or Uncle Monty, as he likes being called. At first the reader might believe that Uncle Monty's house is a bad place, for it is filled with snakes, including those of a poisonous variety. However, the children quickly realize that Uncle Monty is actually a very nice guy, and keeps a very clean and organized house. Soon the children actually begin to lead a normal life.

As our erstwhile author periodically enjoys pointing out, life is not to be happy for the Baudelaire orphans, and Count Olaf appears once again, though disguised. It takes very little time for Uncle Montgomery to be killed; and once again the orphans risk being in a very bad situation. Eventually, through the cleverness of the orphans, you must know that Count Olaf will somehow be unmasked, and the children saved, though to what end?

This book was not quite as dark as the first book, and the implied sexual situations relating to Violet did not appear to exist in this book, for which I was very happy. However, death reappears in this book, and Count Olaf remains the evil person he was in the first. Thus this book is likely unsuitable for most younger readers and age 9 should likely be a reasonable minimum. A parent may also need to be prepared for questions regarding death and evil people, and perhaps even questions regarding snakes.

This book continues the strong educational message of the first book, both explicitly and implicitly. Because more difficult words are explained in detail, this book is, like the first, a good transitional book for readers in the 9 to 12 age range.

While the images are dark in this book, they are not as dark as in the first. I recommend this book, but, but be very sure you know your child and what is in this book before you allow your child to read it. Four stars for a good follow up to the interesting approach started in book one for this age range.

I wish I could say that I'm only twelve years old and that I look forward another sixty years of reading more and more chapters of the "unfortunate events" perpetrated on Violet, Klaus and Sunny. But, alas, I'm nearly fifty and am pretty sure that I won't have much more than 30-35 good years ahead of me to read these great stories.

But that will have to do. I just hope Lemony Sickett, whoever he may be, will keep writing them because they're funny, clever and filled with droll insights that will entertain the twelve year olds and any adult who likes a well written and entertaining story. My greatest regret is that my children are all mostly grown and I won't be able to read these stories to them. There are enough chills and delightfully horrible events to keep the dullest kids happily entertained. My youngest, a 15 year old, is peeved at me right now because I've taken too long to read the Reptile Room--he loved the first volume.

Furthermore, my 24 year old daughter (who also teaches 2nd grade) keeps bugging me to read it, so that the 15 year old can read it, so that she can get her hands on it.

The bottom line is that these stories are perfect for young readers, but they're great for anyone else who is looking for some innocently wicked good fun.

The drawings by Brett Helquist, a fellow Utahn, are terrific.

This book is great. Sunny, Klaus and Violet, after escaping Count Olaf, are sent to live with their uncle, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery, or Uncle Monty. He loves and collects snakes. While at his house, The Baudlaires get to do all their favorite things to prepare for their trip to Preu wiht uncle monty. Violet gets to build snake traps, Klaus read about Peru, and Sunny bite rope. What seems like the perfect life doesn't continue when Count olaf, under a different name comes into the picture. Then something happens that changes everything. To find out what happens, get this book. But don't read this book at night.

Think you have bad luck? The Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, & Sunny, have horrific luck. Their parents died in a great fire, and they are going to live with their Unlce Monty. He's a herpetologist, which is a scientist who studies snakes. He has a huge room full of snakes, including the newly discovered "Incredible Deadly Viper", which, as it turns out isn't THAT deadly. Uncle Monty gives them a wonderful life, at least, compared to their former gaurdian, Count Olaf. In fact, he's going to take them to Peru to find snakes. Then, when the Baudelaire children think their lives couldn't get any better, something dreadful happens. Count Olaf returns! He also has a new plan to take their fortune. This book is great, not only because of the story line, but also because it gives you a better vocabulary, as the characters tell the meaning of words in their dialogue. It is the second book in The Series of Unfortunate Events. It doesn't make much sense without reading the first book, "The Bad Beginning". Many horrible things happen in the book, but that's why it's in: The Series of Unfortunate Events.