loyaultemelie's review against another edition
5.0
A very bittersweet ending, but I’m glad it was that way.
kitsunebi_reads's review against another edition
5.0
As always I truly enjoy Lemony Snicker' s books. I am happy to see his story through the 'All the wrong questions?' series and though enjoyable it seemed to be missing the heart that was ever present in the Unfortunate Events series. Over all a solid book that answers all the questions in the end.
luciovalencia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
penguin_horowitz's review against another edition
5.0
"Villainy, I thought to myself, despite all the myths and fairy tales, despite all the stories in books and all the articles in newspapers, is not very mysterious at all. It is a person in a room."
The conclusion to the four-book All the Wrong Questions series, "Why is This Night Different from All Other Nights?" is among Daniel Handler's strongest works. Handler/Snicket is very likely the only author capable of combining neo-noir mystery, YA, comedy, and existentialist dread into one poignant little 300-page package. This one's a doozy. It's got murder on a train (a casual throwback to the Murder on the Orient Express references earlier in the series), three different statues of a mysterious sea creature (two of which are made of cardboard, and the other of which is capable of doing something quite sinister in the wrong hands), backstabbing, dishonest librarians, improbable jumps, half a dozen plot-twists, and a gut-punching finale. If you thought the ending to A Series of Unfortunate Events was too dark and uncertain for a children's series, just wait until you see how this one ends.
One of my favorite things about A Series of Unfortunate Events was the mysterious question-mark-shaped "Great Unknown." The Bombinating Beast is either a reference to this dark force of cruel entropy or is literally the same thing, and the way it's incorporated into this finale perfectly mirrors the way it was utilized in A Series of Unfortunate Events. The book has a few problems, but they all feel rather nitpicky. Sure, a lot of the events, and the characters' uncanny ability to think three steps ahead, feel improbable (think of L and Light Yagami's ridiculous mind games in Death Note), but these improbabilities fit the tone and absurdity of Snicket's writing so well that it scarcely matters. All the little mysteries that were set up across four books are solved to varying degrees of satisfaction. Most importantly, this book ends with a pretty big plot twist, but the plot twist feels in-character. It's the kind of event I didn't see coming, but totally accepted afterward. I do think the book ends a bit too abruptly, about 1 chapter after the climax, but, for the most part, it works. A couple of the VFD- and Kit Snicket-related plot threads feel unfinished, but it's nothing too serious. My biggest complaint would have to be Hangfire's somewhat weak motivation as a villain. He turns out to be a pretty neat character, but ultimately he just seems more dedicated to his cause than makes sense. And if there's one theme I wanted Snicket to hammer home a little bit more it's the clear parallels between the two primary organizations in the series, VFD and the Inhumane Society. We briefly get glimpses of just how similar the two groups are, but it seems unlike Snicket to leave that irony unspoken.
The conclusion to the four-book All the Wrong Questions series, "Why is This Night Different from All Other Nights?" is among Daniel Handler's strongest works. Handler/Snicket is very likely the only author capable of combining neo-noir mystery, YA, comedy, and existentialist dread into one poignant little 300-page package. This one's a doozy. It's got murder on a train (a casual throwback to the Murder on the Orient Express references earlier in the series), three different statues of a mysterious sea creature (two of which are made of cardboard, and the other of which is capable of doing something quite sinister in the wrong hands), backstabbing, dishonest librarians, improbable jumps, half a dozen plot-twists, and a gut-punching finale. If you thought the ending to A Series of Unfortunate Events was too dark and uncertain for a children's series, just wait until you see how this one ends.
One of my favorite things about A Series of Unfortunate Events was the mysterious question-mark-shaped "Great Unknown." The Bombinating Beast is either a reference to this dark force of cruel entropy or is literally the same thing, and the way it's incorporated into this finale perfectly mirrors the way it was utilized in A Series of Unfortunate Events. The book has a few problems, but they all feel rather nitpicky. Sure, a lot of the events, and the characters' uncanny ability to think three steps ahead, feel improbable (think of L and Light Yagami's ridiculous mind games in Death Note), but these improbabilities fit the tone and absurdity of Snicket's writing so well that it scarcely matters. All the little mysteries that were set up across four books are solved to varying degrees of satisfaction. Most importantly, this book ends with a pretty big plot twist, but the plot twist feels in-character. It's the kind of event I didn't see coming, but totally accepted afterward. I do think the book ends a bit too abruptly, about 1 chapter after the climax, but, for the most part, it works. A couple of the VFD- and Kit Snicket-related plot threads feel unfinished, but it's nothing too serious. My biggest complaint would have to be Hangfire's somewhat weak motivation as a villain. He turns out to be a pretty neat character, but ultimately he just seems more dedicated to his cause than makes sense. And if there's one theme I wanted Snicket to hammer home a little bit more it's the clear parallels between the two primary organizations in the series, VFD and the Inhumane Society. We briefly get glimpses of just how similar the two groups are, but it seems unlike Snicket to leave that irony unspoken.
rfelt's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting end to a fun series. I loved the nods to ASOUE and the background for Lemony. I read this in chunks which probably contributes to a slightly lower scoring but, with all due respect, I thoroughly enjoyed a further fleshing out of this world.
ananyagirish's review against another edition
Just finished this series to get out of a big bad depressive reading slump because I accidentally read too many books about death and dying in a row and needed to feel something. Lemony Snicket books are the perfect balance of optimistic and exacerbating because so many of the complex thoughts and emotions that his young characters feel are so so so valid and familiar but quickly dismissed by adults who are supposed to know better but clearly are not open to the idea that you get people have valuable insights into life too.
I really enjoyed the mystery itself too, something about small town drama and destitution really gets me invested. I also loved that Lemony Snicket really leaned into the niche interests thing that most young people have and included each person's skills as an integral part of the narrative in a way that everyone contributed equally. Some sweet sweet escapism if you're an adult like me.
I really enjoyed the mystery itself too, something about small town drama and destitution really gets me invested. I also loved that Lemony Snicket really leaned into the niche interests thing that most young people have and included each person's skills as an integral part of the narrative in a way that everyone contributed equally. Some sweet sweet escapism if you're an adult like me.
erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review against another edition
5.0
I'm glad I read this series but also sad to see it end. I thoroughly enjoyed it but was saddened when one of my favorite (relatively minor) characters died. I hope Daniel Handler returns to middle grade writing again some day.
gmat's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
davidcole's review against another edition
4.0
Depressing end to an awful story
Pretty much exactly what you would expect from this terrible story that the author warns you not to read numerous times. Four stars.
Pretty much exactly what you would expect from this terrible story that the author warns you not to read numerous times. Four stars.
600bars's review against another edition
3.0
i was feeling guilty about counting babel 17 separate form empire star becuase to this day i feel bad that in 2016 or whatever i counted Uzumaki as 3 separate volumes which is not faithful to how I read it. so i powered through reading two books today. was kinda doing an injustice to this book bc iw as not really enjoying myself that much i was just slamming it into my brain to achieve an arbitrary goal for which i will gain nothing. i was thinking this is prob based on the murder ont he orient express. i acutally know nothing about that book but i figure its about a train. i wish i had read that. i would have liked this more if it were not tied to ASOUE because i was having some issues with the ending and the bombinating beast. how tf did kit snicket get there? i also have not really ben into ellington feints character this whole series, and since the climax involves her so much it was hard to feel anything. if i had more time i would probably spend hours ruminating on the morals and values and goals of the Inhumane society vs VFD. was hangfire just an eco terorist? idk gotta go