Through a weird set of circumstances, I came to read The Reptile Room with a group of students. This, as many know, is the second book in the A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. This is a series I have wanted to read, but frankly, with such a lengthy list of unread books, I have not tackled. As I read The Reptile Room, my OCD kicked in. I just had to read the first book in the series.

For the past week I had been wanting to stop off at the used bookstore in town to pick up a copy. It didn’t happen. But yesterday Beetle remained home with her mother, which freed my trip home from work. I stopped in and found two copies of the first book (The Bad Beginning): one hardcover and one paperback, both priced the same. :( I selected the hardcover.

Upon opening the book, the nameplate was signed with a familiar name; the boy who lives across the street had owned this book. I took this as a good omen. :)

The Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny) do indeed have a series of unfortunate events. First their parents die in a house fire. Then they are shepherded off to Count Olaf, their closest (in distance) relative. The Count, a drunkard, actor, and otherwise miserable brute devises a plan to take control of the vast Baudelaire fortune.

Ah yes, dear reader, upon Violet turning of age (she is 14 now) she will inherit a great fortune. Until then, Violet and her siblings are bounced about among the seedy.

While the fortunate remains safe for the time being, there is no happy ending, as Lemony Snicket is fond of highlighting. Life is miserable for the Baudelaires.

Lemony Snicket’s writing is a breath of fresh air. The author frequently takes time out to explain terms and events to the reader. These read much like movies/television shows where the actors break out of character and address the camera. What great fun! The Bad Beginning is classic English humor that, much in the spirit of the late Roald Dahl, captures the reader immediately.

Follett states the reading level of this book sixth grade (ages 11-12). Much like Rowling’s Harry Potter series, A Series of Unfortunate Events has captured young readers. Many of my fourth graders are reading the series and an even larger group of fifth graders are too. Interesting, well-written prose will always find an audience and this book is just that.

It looks like I will be visiting the bookstore again real soon . . .

Too much of everything is just enough.
Barlow & Weir

On the heels of completing A Bad Beginning earlier today, I finished The Reptile Room this afternoon. The Reptile Room is the second book in A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The Bauderlaire children continue their misfortune in this exciting tale that has them combating Count Olaf once again.

Despite never having a happy ending, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny begin this book with happy times. After escaping Count Olaf's plot to marry Violet and take control of the vast family fortune, the children are rushed off to Uncle Monty's (Montgomery Montgomery) home.

Uncle Monty is a herpetologist and has a vast collection of reptiles including the Incredibly Deadly Viper, which he discovered and was set to present to the Herpetological Society. The Bauderlaire children were quite comfortable at Uncle Monty's for a time, until his new assistant showed up.

Disguised as Stephano, Count Olaf enters the story once again with the help of the hook-handed man. The Bauderlaire fortune is still the target of Olaf's affection and he will seemingly stop at nothing to get it.

Murder, snakes, and ingenious exploits make for a most interesting tale and one that keeps the reader engaged throughout.

What an awesome story! It's a quick read, but well worth it.

Nick is ornery. Smart, but ornery. He has a history of organizing "disasters" at school. Fifth grade is no different as he takes on the hardnosed language arts teacher, Mrs. Granger.

She loves the dictionary and wields it as a punishment. Nick counters and the fun begins. But fun has a way of getting away from Nick and his contribution soon becomes a burden.

But like all good stories, this has a happy ending. It's a page turner.

This book is supposedly a winner. Gert even said it was supposed to be a tear-jerker. Hardly.

Each part of the physical world welcomes a new child as he is born. The pictures are very colorful and nice. The story left me wanting.

I am not certain my daughter understood the message.

This was a gift from my SIL.