The Reptile Room - A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Book The Second (Book the First, Book the Second) [Hardcover]

Lemony; Illustrated by Helquist, Brett Snicket (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1999

Package includes 3 books: Book the first, The Bad Beginning, Book the Second, The Reptile Room (Hard cover) and The Unauthorized autobiography (paperback)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Harper-collins Publishers; Later Printing edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064407675
• ISBN-13: 978-0064407670
• ASIN: B000OUVUDC
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice quality, December 10, 2010

By 

Sandra Walter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Reptile Room - A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Book The Second (Book the First, Book the Second) (Hardcover)

My 10 year old asked for these books for Christmas. They are very nice quality hard cover book. The paper is very thick and the edges are jagged to resemble an antique style book. My daughter loves the Lemony Snicket series.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Continuation of the Story, January 29, 2010

By 

Between the Lines "J. Morrill" (Sacramento, Ca) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Reptile Room - A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Book The Second (Book the First, Book the Second) (Hardcover)

We loved the continuation of the story in the second book. My daughters and I used this as a read-aloud and it captivated both of their little imaginations. As it is a bit dark, I wouldn't recommend this for overly sensitve children or very very young children. My girls were 5 and 7 when we read this.

~~Spoilers Below~~
The children are skeptical as they are sent to live with their next relative, Uncle Monty (Actually named Montgomery Montgomery!). They figure Uncle Monty couldn't be any worse than Count Olaf, but they are wary when they find out he is a world-famous herpetoligist, and has a huge collection of reptiles.

Uncle Monty turns out to be a truly wonderful man. The children are, for the first time in a long time, happy. Uncle Monty's collection of reptiles is amazing and his book collection makes Klaus smile in delight when he sets eyes on it.

They find that Uncle Monty has a trip to Peru planned and decides that the three children must come with him. They begin preparation for their trip. Uncle Monty informs everyone that unfortunately the guide he has hired has disappeared and he was fortunate to find a new guide, Stefano, who will be arriving shortly.

Stefano is a tall bald man with no hair and a thick accent. The children see right through the disguise, Stefano is none other than Count Olaf. Of course, no one believes the children, not even dear Uncle Monty. This is quite unfortunate because soon, Uncle Monty turns up dead. The doctor is summoned along with Mr. Poe and concludes that Uncle Monty was killed by one of his many venemous snakes.

The children don't see how this could happen. Uncle Monty was so careful. They suspect Stefano/Count Olaf has something to do with this. Mr. Poe is not convinced by the children's objections. Afterall, the doctor was summoned and confirmed that Uncle Monty had two puncture wounds like a snake bite.

Stefano/Count Olaf tries to get the children alone in a car away from Mr. Poe. The children are trying desperately to figure out a way that they can avoid being left alone with Count Olaf. The children remember his tattoo of an eye on his ankle. Stefano lifts his pant leg and to the children's dismay, no tattoo. While Sunny and Klaus create a distraction Violet sneaks out and breaks into Stefano's bag. There she finds hyperdermic needles, a bottle of venom and performance make-up, the kind used to cover tattoos.

With the help of Mr. Poe they uncover Count Olaf and he and the doctor, who was really part of his acting troupe, make a run for it.

The orphans are left, yet again, homeless and unhappy.

~Jenn

5.0 out of 5 stars A misnomer leads to mystery in the miserable death of Monty, January 17, 2010

By 

bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Reptile Room - A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Book The Second (Book the First, Book the Second) (Hardcover)

The Baudelaire midgets...oops orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, Get to move in with their Uncle Monty. Here they get to use their skills with reading, inventing, and biting. We learn more about books and words. We also learn a little about haystack statistics.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, shortly after the appearance of Stephano (and we all know who he really is), Uncle Monty apparently is nipped by the Mumba du Mal. It is obvious to all but the midgets that the Mumba du Mal opens his cage with the help of other snakes and after doing, the deadly deed locked his self-back up.

Naturally, the orphans must prove who count Olaf is, and get surprised by his assistant. This sets up the pattern for the next book in the series. Where once again access to a library may save their lives.