Customer Reviews
A black comedy for beginning pessimists 
2007-03-20
The Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, are three children who should never, under any circumstances whatsoever, try to play the lottery. Having narrowly escaped the wicked wiles of their pseudo-relative Count Olaf in the last book, the orphans are sent to live with Dr. Montgomery, their semi-relative who doubles as eccentric scientist. They are taken to Dr. Montgomery's swampy abode which is also his laboratory and specimen storage facility.
That his special interest is reptiles, specifically snakes, should make any keen reader of Lemony Snicket's stories shudder inwardly. The children, still traumatized by the death of their parents at the beginning of "The Bad Beginning" immediately feel kinship with the jolly, infectiously-happy Dr. Montgomery. He takes them on a tour of his massive, rambling mansion, and then invites them to join him on a reptile-hunting safari to South America. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny have difficulty grasping this grand improvement in their lives, and begin to relax once more. Lemony Snicket, however, is just setting them, and his audience, up for bigger disasters. Once it is revealed that Dr. Montgomery's assistant is not who he seems to be, the children's newfound paradise begins to unravel.
Lemony Snicket is a markedly original writer, frequently casting the random aside to his audience. His subject matter is pure dark comedy, framed in the appearance of a children's story. He is skilled indeed in his suggestion of tension, making the reader sense dark events about to occur just after the current page.
Perhaps we should not shield our children from the pitfalls found in real-life: death, deceit, evaporated dreams, and the evils wrought by the bad upon the good (all topics that are explored with evident glee by Snicket). However, I would hazard to suggest that this is not truly appropriate material for a child of nine. Let them have their illusions about life being fair and magical until the age of 12, THEN you may expose your children to this woefully malevolent book series.
Adults without children: read if you like inane and insane quick-witted dialogue and maniacal events.
Adults with children: read with your children if they're at least 12.
Children under 12: wait until your parents are asleep, and then read at night, making sure to stuff a blanket at the foot of the door, so as to prevent your nightlight from being spotted. (P.S. I'm kidding, you should really read it during school.)
Addendum for the audio edition: Tim Curry evokes the true soul of each character in a wonderfully acerbic performance. His barely-restrained, malevolently pleased readings as narrator should be an additional charge itself. He is truly the best choice to perform this book and does not disappoint. The audio version rates 5 stars due to Mr. Curry's performance. Highly recommended.
A Series of Unfortunate Events-The Reptile Room. 
2007-03-06
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire have had a very bad start since their parents died in a freak fire that burned down their house. They have had to live with family members that treat them terribly, and make them do endless chores. One is Count Olaf, he tries to kill them every chance he gets to get the Baudelaire fortune. Their social worker, Mr. Poe catches him trying to do this, and takes the children away from him. They go to live with their Uncle Monty, and things are going great and they love living with him, he makes them pancakes, and they go to the movies together, and they are planning to go to Peru, but that all changes one day when the children answer the door, and to their surprise it's Count Olaf in disguise as Uncle Monty's assistant!. Uncle Monty notices something wierd about him and when the children say something to him about it he gets the wrong idea and thinks its a spy, spying on him to get the Incredibly Deadly Vipor that Uncle Monty discovered before anybody else but really isn't deadly at all he just named it that so nobody would be tempted to take it. So with him thinking this he cancels the "assistant's" ticket to Peru, so he can't come. He gets very mad about this. The kids are getting ready to leave and go back inside where they find Uncle Monty dead and the Incredibly Deadly Vipor out of its cage. The police come to investigate what had happened, and they think its obvious that the snake killed Uncle Monty because of its name, but the kids know that it was Count Olaf. The police don't belive what they are saying. The children explain themselves and hear laughing, they look over and see sunny with the Incredibly Deadly Vipor and he is being nice to her, and see that its not deadly at all. They turn around to see that Count Olaf is gone! He is nowhere to be found. The police see that the kids were telling the truth about Count Olaf and the Snake. They are taking all the reptiles out of the house and the children are waiting outside on the porch for Mr. Poe to take them somewhere else, Which is Aunt Josephine. But what happens there is a completely different story...
Reptile Room 2007-03-06
Have you ever been strangled by an incredibly deadly viper. The unfortunate Baudelaire children have new care-taker, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery. Dr. Montgomery is a biologist and has a huge house. The children were happy when they entered the beautiful house. As you know that something terrible must happen to the children. They knew that the terrible Count Olaf was out there. When the evil man shows up at their door step disguised as an old man that is supposed to be the assistant of Dr. Montgomery. The children must be on the look out for the terrible man. Besides that Uncle Monty (the children call him) shows them the huge glass room of the reptile room.
This book was good because of Violet, she is my favorite character. Violet is pretty, smart, and is really good at making inventions. I like her because she is loyal to her siblings. The one time she built an invention that looks like a claw. She used to save her sister from Count Olaf, but did not succeed.
I recommend this book to people to whom like never happily ever after stories. I would say that children 9 and up should read this book. You may get lost in the book sometimes. The book is very interesting because when you read one chapter you have to read until you get to the end of the book. I think people would like the book if you read it.
AHHH! Reptiles!!! 
2007-02-27
I think this is Lemony Snicket's bestbook ever. Although the stories of these brave children usually end up defeating the dreaded Count Olaf or whatever character he disguises himself as, this story had an extra sad twist. Like the whole series, Count Olaf usually kills, or injures somebody, but this time, he affects the children by hurting someone they had become very close to. the experience that I had reading this book was heart breaking, but yet still enjoyable.
Predictable, Not Realistic 
2007-02-26
I'm Giving This 1.5 stars
I read the 1st book and this 2nd only for school, and I can't believe there even allowed for us to read because of the reading level. This book should defiently not be 9-12 but should be 7-9, give or take. It has far to many words with definitions and Klaus afterward...I know what (the word) means. This Book is also to far predictable and you always know Count Olaf will escape. Out of the hundreds of times that they could catch or stop him, even though they want to they just stand there and let him get away. .SPOILER.- There should have been something in the book to make it less predictable and something so its not "oh, I'm a grown man, I should never be in a car chase. I have the responsibility of making sure you are safe". Even though by catching Olaf they would live happily ever after. Maybe the power goes out, they cant call anyone, then they get injured. Something like that so its no so Olaf can escape once again and just so there can be 11 or so more books in the series. Also for the snakes. If I had a friend snake (the Viper) I wouldnt just cry over it leaving and go and sleep just because Mr. Toe, Foe, Loe, I mean POE got in the way. I would run to it then bring it with me. It seems like the characters only cry about something and not do something. Like say He doesnt want us to tell you who he really is! his true identity when instead all they have to say is hes Count olaf he has a huge knife in his coat. Mr. Poe would still probably be to the children "O, many people have large knives in there Coat pockets and its very rude to speak while other people are talking.
I am not going to read anymore of these books. I only gave it 1 1/2 stars because it has a good structure, a base but nothing else. I am utterly surprised, utterly means...just kidding I am surprised that this has 4 1/2 stars. Well I guess this is for a younger read I'd say under 14 which I am and more like for 3rd graders. Harry Potter is age 9-12 but can be read by anyone...unlike these books. But don't not only read these because of this review, the first book is less predictable so I'd say start the 1st, it is so short to read but go for other books instead that are actually entertaining.
PCE Student Review 2008-04-22
My favorite book is the Reptile Room.
The author is lemony Snicker. The theme is good and bad. My favorite charter is sunny. This Is why I like this I charter. Sunny meets the incredibly deadly viper, and the snake bites sunny on the chin. Sunny bites the snake back! The incredibly deadly viper is not deadly so sunny and the snake became friends.
The author writes something bad and makes it funny. When something sad happens it's not just sad.
Why I love this book- there are one page that has 198 ever. The snake is longer then all of the three kids put together. The three kids try to find a place to live but everywhere they go their relatives die. They have to find a place where count Olaf can not find them.
Kcs series of unfortunate events - the reptile room 2008-02-27
what would you do if you had to live with your uncle with his millions of reptiles and also you were being tracked down by an evil man named count olaf? well that is what exactlly happens in this book to three very unfortunate children named violet, claus, and sunny. Their misrable lives started out when a mystereous fire burned down their house and when they were sent to live with the evil count olaf.
The setting takes place in a smaall town and in Uncle Monty's house and reptile room. Violet is a very smart and clever girl and she loves to invent stuff. Her brother claus is also smart and he loves to read and test out his sister's inventions. the youngest id sunny who likes to chew on thing and says stuff that no one understands so they guess what she's saying.
But now they are in good condition for now cause they were sent to live with thier uncle monty in a place that smelled like horse radish and looked vey dull. Their uncle Monty had a very big house and he seemed like a nice guy to the Bauldilare children because it beat staying with Count olaf and his evil movie group. But there was just one thing that bothered them was that the fact they had to live with a bunch of reptiles as well. but later they dicover that living withUncle Monty was ok and the deadly viper turns out to be the most friendliest of snakes. and that under the protestion on Uncle Monty nothing could go wrong. Until Uncle Monty's " assistant" came into the picture but he didn't fool the Bauldilares so they were well aware of what might happen. but you will have to read the book to find out what will happen next...
the theme is Even though they arent perfect. cause violet, claus,and sunny always thought of Count Olaf and infortunate things that happened to them until they met Uncle Monty. I think that the authors craft is basically trying to make you jump out of your seats and to keep you want to reading and the pacing of this book is very fast throughout the story but it did get kind of slow in the middle then gained pace. i would recommend this book to middle school kids and 4th or 5th graders cause younger kids wouldn't really understand it all that well and it might freak them out!
the mysterious tale of unfourtunate events 2007-12-14
This book that I'm reading is called The Reptile Room. This book was written by Lemony Snicket. This book is fantasy because it's not real and it could never happen. The book is the second book of a series of thirteen books. The series is known as "A Series of Unfortunate Events".
This story is about the three Baudeliare children. Their names are Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Violet was the oldest of the three and she loved to invent things. Klaus was the middle child and he was always reading. Sunny was still a baby and she loved to bite things especially hard things. In this story these three orphans go to live with their uncle who is a herpetologist (someone that studies snakes). Uncle Monty hires a man to help him on his journey to Peru. When this man arrives, the Baudelaire children realize he is not who he says he is. He is Count Olaf, a relative who is trying to steal their fortune.
Count Olaf kills Uncle Monty but luckily the children catch him and tell the banker (who controls their fortune). To find out the rest of the story......read the book.
I really enjoyed the book, so much so that I plan to read the entire series. My sister liked the series so much that she has read each book twice. I enjoyed the book because I like the characters and the fact that I learn more about the characters with every book I read. I also enjoy that the book is suspenseful in that the author holds out what happens until the very end of the book. This book is best suited for 4th, 5th, or 6th graders who enjoy mystery and fantasy, and sometimes unhappy endings.
A creative work of art By AC from North Boulevard 2007-12-06
The Reptile Room
The book I am reviewing is the Reptile Room and is by Lemony Snicket. I think this book deserves a five star rating because it has details supporting the story. These books are about three orphans who are trying to escape from evil Count Olaf, who wants their fortune. The children have a lot of miserable things happen to them. In this book Count Olaf disguises himself as a reptile scientist in order to trick the children. If you like this book read the other books 1-13.the series is Series Of Unfortunate Events.
The one with the best guardian perhaps. 2007-08-21
I really liked this one and the fact that Uncle Monty was the so into snakes and such is a great idea because kids are either fond/curious about them, or are freaked out. He presents these animals to the kids with childlike wonder and he would probably make us love them too if he wasn't killed off in the end by Olaf and co. You must understand if you haven't read this book, my saying this isn't a spoiler, it's just the way things go with the series, expect the worst and expect Olaf because they are often the same thing.
I feel obligated to answer a number of reviewers who don't seem to understand a layer to these novels. They complain of Lemony Snicket writing a bunch of annoying explanations and definitions in his books that are clearly goofy. If the story is read farther you realize that Lemony is actually character himself and a pen name for Daniel Handler who's written a handful of books that aren't for kids. This is Lemony's account, not Daniel Handler's and he uses this device repeatedly and to great effect, in my opinion. The book also establishes the Olaf disguise, something that will come back in the future.
Realize that the author knows the plot is repetitive and is using it not because he's bereft of ideas, but because theme variations are often more interesting than completely different ideas.
