Customer Reviews

A Box of Unfortunate Events: The Situation Worsens (The Miserable Mill, The Austere Academy and The Ersatz Elevator)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

If this series was categorized into box sets by plot formula, for Snicket is a lover of parallelism and symmetry in his writing, "The Miserable Mill" would likely be placed with the novels found in books one through three, "The Trouble Begins" box set. This book has much in common with its two precursors. In its pages, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are given to yet another guardian, the foreman of a lumber mill, but a man who takes no effort to parent the children, leaving them emotionally on their own more than in either "The Reptile Room" or "The Wide Window." Additionally, this book begins the childrens' requirements of hard physical exertions to protect themselves and satisfy their caretakers, a theme that will repeat itself in future novels and testify to the growing strength of the protagonists under hardship and comardery. But not to confuse potential readers - these children's lives are described most houndingly in terms more negative than positive, and Snicket's threats of misfortune are most real.

When the orphans' legal representative runs out of living relatives after book four, the children are sent to a most unequal boarding school, where two new characters are introduced. This development resumes an active dynamism between novels, lost between the second and fourth books, where one could theoretically skip one or all of these narratives without losing a bit of the larger plot. Somewhere between these two books, Snicket appears to have found a new way to add depth and interest in his books - here only slightly, but later on with increasing strength. The author has perfected his style of adding completeness to a single novel: placing the characters in a strikingly different environment, reinforcing particular themes of vocabulary and diction, and forming each story to a blueprint which gives the reader a clear indication of position within the story's plot. Now, and finally, Snicket can work on creating a larger and slowly-revealed mystery surrounding the Baudelaires.

Book six, "The Ersatz Elevator," appears at first to continue simply with Snicket's guardian blueprint, but unresolved elements of the previous novel quickly appear and grow, rather than conclude. Book six is the first of A Series of Unfortunate Events which never felt slow to me as a reader, even as the books slowly increase in volume. Features of the grander mystery - V.F.D., the Baudelaire house fire - now begin to increase curiosity regarding questions that remain unanswered, propelling interest in the series as a whole. Though Snicket seems to be doing an awful lot of ad-libbing as he goes, readers who think his teasing won't go anywhere will later find themselves disproved. Snicket is indeed inventing a story of shifting character and escalating tension, and he continues to get better at it the more he writes.

SOME PEOPLE WROTE THINGS LIKE THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR KIDS. BUT I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER. I LIKE THESE BOOKS BECAUSE IT TEACHES LESSONS FROM TIME TO TIME. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE OTHER NINE BOOKS.

They are good books except for Carnivorous Carnival, but he author makes it so predictable! He says like "the Quagmires were wrong", instead of making it intense. And he defines every stupid word! And whats with Beatrice? So off subject! Make an autobiography if you want to mention Beatrice, Snicket!!

I like this story. It's a little intense and it's very good. So, I don't know what some of you people are talking about. So get over with it. I like this story. It's amazing, excellent and incredible. So what can I say? I wish I had about 14 books of those. Even though there isn't 14. So, back off and I like this book.
-Jazzlynn

Even though the writing style is for young children, the content can get pretty ugly. I'd say wait until they're 11 or 12. For younger children, you might want to check out Ann Tompert & Michael Garland's Saint Patrick or Joan of Arc: Heroine of France or Lisa Wheeler's books.

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!

This book was boring, stupid, worthless, disgusting, and flat out weird. Why doesn't Count Olaf just kill the freakin kids and get it over with. And why don't the kids just report Count Olaf to the cops? And how the heck do the kids know exactly what Sunny is saying. She says "weo" and they come up with a sentence like sunny says "weo" and violet says that means that Count Olaf is coming to kill us once again. It's just weird. All the books are about Count Olaf trying to kill the kids. How many times does it take to kill two kids and a baby? And Lemony snicket calls himself a writer? He does not paint a picture in your mind like many great authors. And why the heck doesn't he just tell people his real name? Anyways, If you want to spare yourself some time DON'T read this series.

I've read all these books and then read them again, awaiting for the 10th book to be released Sept. 23rd. Many of my friends have read these books and agreeded with me, these are the best books i have ever read!! There are too many words to describe them to write down. Along with my friends, my parents have read and agreed too!!!! if you buy ever single one, you wont be sorry!! It is worth the money!!!!