Customer Reviews

The Situation Worsens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 4-6 (The Miserable Mill; The Austere Academy; The Ersatz Elevator)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This series of books by "Lemony Snicket" does not have the standard "happy ending" of most childrens books. The 3 kids in these stories have miserable lives with one thing going wrong after another. Because of this, I thought my 8 year old son wouldn't like them - wrong! He absolutely loves them and is always begging me to read one more chapter! The writing is dry, but funny. The books contain many "large" or unusual words/expressions, but almost all are explained in the text (which can get annoying). I would say these books are good for kids from 7 - 12 (although use your judgement for the younger ones as the books do have evil bad guys, murder and lots of threats). As an adult reading the books to your kids, you might get a little frustrated as the stories are similar and the adults in the books are really dense - but these are for kids and they seem to love them!

I've read Books 1 and 3,and I love the series!!! I'm 22, but enjoy a bit of juvenile fiction after final exams:-) His writing style is addictive-simple but not dumbed down for kids-somewhat sophisticated. The stories are not over the top with magic or witch craft. These are real things that could happen, and have happened in many peoples lives. Even with all the unfortunate events, it's not depressing... There's suspense and excitement to get caught up in , too. You start to root for the main characters even though we know things won't ever be perfect for them. I like the time period and the artwork, as well. I am going to collect the series for my future children to read! C... The author reads the story which enhances the feel of the series!

I have read the first 6 books of Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events." I am absolutely addicted to reading these books. I just finished reading the 6th book, the Ersatz Elevator and I read it in less than a day! These books take readers into another world... Snickets writing ability puts the reader in a Baudelaire trance. These books are really good, and I would highly recommend them to anyone!

I feel its easier to review the box set then three seperate books in three seperate reviews... So this is what I am doing.

I had a 1yr hiatus between books 3 & 4. I became disinterested in the series, but for some odd reason I decided to pick the series up again. I never stopped thinking about the books or liking them, I just felt they were'nt good enough to continue reading. And maybe you've felt the same about the first 3 books as well. If you have, I encourage you to continue to read on.

In book for, though its the lowest rated on Amazon.com at 4stars, I wouldn't say its the worst, this is the book that got me hooked, the book where I really appreciated Snicket's humor and morbid writing style. Maybe it had to do with me being older, or the old saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder.", who knows? So anyways, onto the book reviews.!

Book Four: The Miserable Mill - I have a feeling that the reason this book is rated so low because of the Child Labor issue. I mean the person whom is in charge of the Mill is disqusted at the idea that some 14,12, and 1yr children should do normal children things. No, he believes that they are loafers and must make a a living for him in the Mill living on nothing but a stick of gum for lunch and a small dinner. We're talking about machines that could very easily kill children, especially babies. Not to say everyone supports this, but none of the adults are willing to oppose him so, that's how it is. I think that this book handles the issues very well. I enjoyed the book despite the touchy issue because it still had humor and such. But just be aware what you're stepping into. Also, in my opinion this boomk has Count Olaf's best disquise.

Book Five: The Austere Academy - This book deals with bullies. In the form of Carmelita Spats and Mr. Nero. They both despise orphans, and this is why any orphans are forced to live in the orphans shack. Right now, that is where the Baudelare's are residing. The former residents were the Quagmire triplets. A brother and sister whom lost their brother and parents. Sunny is forced to be an administrative assistant and the Baudelare's have to learn in classes with moronic teachers who make them memorize dumb stories and exact measurements of things. Nero also makes all students listen to his HORRIBLE violin playing in a nightly madatory 6hr concert, whoever doesn't must give him a big bag of candy. ;P Its quite absurd, is it not? But that's the joy of these books. Book 5 is the place where the books begin to take a new turn in a events. But of course I wont give that away.! But trust me, they get better here.!

Book Six: The Eratz Elevator - This book has them placed in the care of Jerome and Esme Squalor, a couple whom lives on the top of a HUGE apartment complex in a room with 70some odd rooms(Boy I wish I lived there, hehe). This book deals with the the obsession of being fashionable or as Esme would say "In". haha She is OBSESSED with being the MOST in person possible, which includes such things as going with electricity, wearing pin-stripe suites(Actually I like pin-stripes, ;P). Well, many other ridiculous things like eating at a cafe that serves only salmon dishes(including dessert). HAHA There many more things to be revealed here, but I don't want to give anything else away. Its just a lot of fun(and annoying) watching Snicket make fun of people obsessed with fashion. :D

All in all, I'd say this is a strong set. The books only get stronger after these three, so if you love these 3, you'll love the next three even more. :D So *enjoy*!!!!

God Bless ~Amy

I like buying series such as these for my kids as they are more eager to read the next book and to keep up the love of reading.

I'd also recommend the new series by RT Byrum - the first being Mystery of Shrieking Island. You dont have to worry about witchcraft, evil or gore in any of his books.

Delightful old-fashioned prose! Reminiscent of Miss Manners (who is well worth seeking on Amazon.com) and Margery Sharp's Miss Bianca series (sadly out of print, but available in our better-preserved libraries).

My 14-year-old son got The Bad Beginning, Book the First, for his 14th birthday. He instantly fell in love with the little Baudelaires and so did I. My son and I are neither native speakers of English nor do we live in an English-speaking country. I find Snicket's books great for learning new vocabulary, especially idiomatic English. There are many words and expressions that aren't so common in spoken English, but they are clearly explained. What's more, the explanations are given in a very amusing way.

Although everything that happens to the orphans is extremely sad and very frustrating you can't not notice the feeling of warmth and affection skillfully interwoven in between the lines. Whatever nasty things happen to the children you can always feel a glimmer of hope. In almost every book there are nice and kind adults who seem to understand the orphans. However, they lack common sense and are so easily fooled into false beliefs. In The Austere Academy the orphans find friends in the Quagmire triplets, with whom they have many things in common. It is touching to see how firmly the children believe in each other. They don't need evidence in form of a tattoo or a missing eyebrow.
The gap between the children and the adults seems unbridgeable but what Snicket is trying to teach us, the adults, is that we should trust the children, no matter how young and inexperienced they are. Although Snicket keeps on pointing out that there's no happy ending for the Baudelaires, I secretly hope the last book will bring deserved joy to the sad lives of the orphans.

I highly recommend this book, especially to non-native speakers of English.

I've read several books in this series, and they seem to be addictive. The incredible perils of the Baudileare children, the incessantly evil imagination of Count Olaf (WHERE will he turn up next?!), and, of course, the hilarious place names (Lake Lachrymose! Curdled Cave!) combined with a very droll writing style make these a fun read over the course of an evening or two. The books themselves are very attractive, with deckle edged pages and a nice binding. The illustrations are just right. If you're having a bad day, just read a few chapters of this series of unfortunate events and your life will look much brighter!

I will be frank- I didn't like the first 3 books. I don't think Lemony Snicket had quite figured out what he was going to do. Someone dies in the 2nd and 3rd books- and not very nicley. Somone dies in the Miserable Mill as well but the rest of the books is redeming. Not to mention the Baudilaire parents dying in a fire in the first book. I did like the Miserable Mill alot. Poor optomistic dude. Anyway, I wasn't overly crazy about The Austere Acadamy. In my mind the Ersatz Elevator was a turning point in the sieries. It reintroduces the Quaigmire twins- that is, Triplets- has anyone ever noticed Snickets knack for making up last names? Oh yes and a good book for Snicket fans to read is his unauthorized biography. I'm rambling....Anyway, in the Miserable Mill they eat gross casseroles and chew gum for lunch. Poor Sunny is a baby and can't even have gum. They are forced to slave away because their new gaurdian (a man with a plume of smoke for a head) owns the mill and is looking at them as if they were workers. Klause is hypmotised and is forced to distroy things.The cool thing in this book is that Violet is forced to do research and read hard books and Klause has to think of an invention quickly. In the Austere Acadamy they are sent to a boarding school whose motto is 'remember you will die'. They have to live in the 'Orphan Shack' and meet a young, snotty, stupid girl named Carmalita Spatts who has coined the insult 'cake sniffer'. They also meet the Quagmire Triplets. You never meet the princaple, just the vice principle "Presenting....VICE-PRINCIPLE NERO!" whose name fits him very well and who thinks he can play the violin but can't. The Ersatz Elevator is very good. At first my mom wasn't to sure about it because she came in just as the tape was saying "Would you like an aquias martini?" which tastes pretty much like water with a hint of olive- which is exactly what it is. Jerome is a perfect example of most of the good guys in a sieres of unfortunate events- kind, loving, and dumb. They always have one big downfall that makes them no help to the Baudilaires. Jeromes- he won't go aganst his wife, the city's 6th most importaint finacial advisor. She is very interested in whats 'in'. If no light is 'in', then she goes around in the dark. If aquias martinis are 'in'- guess what they drink? It was Ezmae (Ezma? Ezmay?) that bought the stupidly large pent house apartment. Snicket ceritinly makes people who are nuts about trends sound dumb! Ah yes and the Elevator- well...hahaha....you'll have to read the book!

I purchased the books for my 10 year old and he is thoroughly enjoying the Lemoy Snicket series.