softstarrynights's review against another edition
4.0
Even though this is a re-read it turns out that I really don't remember this book, probably because asking me to read past five books in a series is quite an ask. I love the way that The Ersatz Elevator is beginning to get somewhat darker, along with the development of the V.F.D mystery, but it is balanced with the humour. Another thing which really appeals to me is the setting of 667 Dark Avenue, which reminds me very much of a locked room murder mystery, and creates this fabulous sense of claustrophobia. I enjoyed it much more than I remember and have to wonder why it's such an underrated episode in the series.
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For more bookish content, why not check out www.cartonmanettedarnay.wordpress.com
benjfleck's review against another edition
4.0
The unfortunate saga continues and I'm digging it. "Digging" here does not mean literally digging, it means that I am a fan of this book and this author, Mr. Lemony Snicket. He has a way with words and if only I could find him to ask him firsthand how he continues to be so eloquent with his prose while dealing with the tragic loss of his dear Beatrice.
The 6th volume in this series continues down the same predictable path as the first 5 books, but there are some surprises. This is all better explained if I just tell you what's IN and what's OUT.
What's IN: mysteries continuing (such as: VFD, secret tunnels, Lemony's connections to the story, dear Beatrice), a variety of ersatz devices, the double use of a red herring, Salmonella the Restaurant (I hate Salmon, but would soooo go there), the Quagmire triplets (I want more of Duncan & Isadora, god bless their souls!), terrible accents, alliteration, Sunny straight up killing it with them chompers, and 71-room penthouses that are either on the 48th or 84th floor, but are actually on the 66th floor.
What's OUT: ADULTS SUCK!!! Mr. Poe (worthless), Esmé (despicable), Jerome (sad face), the doorman (HOW DARE YOU), and, of course, Count Olaf (HATE HATE HATE). Also: not listening to people when they talk, selfishness, kidnapping, stupid rules, parsley water, and not being a good guardian. UGH.
I have faith this tale will end happily despite everything Mr. Snicket keeps telling me. Don't do me wrong, LEMONY, DON'T DO ME WRONG!!!
The 6th volume in this series continues down the same predictable path as the first 5 books, but there are some surprises. This is all better explained if I just tell you what's IN and what's OUT.
What's IN: mysteries continuing (such as: VFD, secret tunnels, Lemony's connections to the story, dear Beatrice), a variety of ersatz devices, the double use of a red herring, Salmonella the Restaurant (I hate Salmon, but would soooo go there), the Quagmire triplets (I want more of Duncan & Isadora, god bless their souls!), terrible accents, alliteration, Sunny straight up killing it with them chompers, and 71-room penthouses that are either on the 48th or 84th floor, but are actually on the 66th floor.
What's OUT: ADULTS SUCK!!! Mr. Poe (worthless), Esmé (despicable), Jerome (sad face), the doorman (HOW DARE YOU), and, of course, Count Olaf (HATE HATE HATE). Also: not listening to people when they talk, selfishness, kidnapping, stupid rules, parsley water, and not being a good guardian. UGH.
I have faith this tale will end happily despite everything Mr. Snicket keeps telling me. Don't do me wrong, LEMONY, DON'T DO ME WRONG!!!
bogbodyanon's review against another edition
5.0
Dear reader, being conflict-avoidant doesn't help any in the long run. People who have more money than sense often disappoint.
P.S. Ersatz is my new favorite word
P.S. Ersatz is my new favorite word
sararotondi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
vael's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gracenperdue's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
strovao1995's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
5.0
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
3.0
I have to find out if there is ever an answer to the questions raised by this series. The wordplay is interesting and the characters are engaging, but I find the juxtaposition -- which here means combination of two things that seem not to have any real relationship -- of those two things with a not quite realistic world somehow forced. Nonetheless, my vocabulary was improved this round, because I learned the meaning of "ersatz".
visesh_96's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn about giving this book a 3.5 or 4 stars out of 5.
I appreciated the reference to the previous books in this out, for example, Aunt Josephine fear of everything.
It was amusing to read the 'in and out' things like the aqueous martini.
Yet another character to hate: Esme & Jerome.
One problem I had was the picture used in chapter 4, as it as inaccurate as Violet was wearing her dress in the picture and in the book description that she was wearing an oversize pinstripe suit.
The new words I liked in this book was somniferous, idiosyncrasies and ersatz.
Come chapter 6 I thought I knew how Olaf would get his hand on the Baudelaires but it turns out the writer was brilliant in proving me wrong and this was the element I loved the most the element of surprise.
What Esme did in chapter 10 was awful and so unexpected.
Beatrice, I really hope the author is going somewhere with that because together with the Baudelaire unmasking Olaf in every book I hope to know what really happened to her in this series itself.
We get yet another mystery to look out in this book of how the Baudelaire's house was linked t the Dark Avenue and I'm ready for it.
V.F.D a disappointment but I guess that was the plan.
Everything was misleading and that's what I enjoyed the most.
The Quagmire triplets, oh god no why can't they be safe.
I appreciated the reference to the previous books in this out, for example, Aunt Josephine fear of everything.
It was amusing to read the 'in and out' things like the aqueous martini.
Yet another character to hate: Esme & Jerome.
One problem I had was the picture used in chapter 4, as it as inaccurate as Violet was wearing her dress in the picture and in the book description that she was wearing an oversize pinstripe suit.
The new words I liked in this book was somniferous, idiosyncrasies and ersatz.
Come chapter 6 I thought I knew how Olaf would get his hand on the Baudelaires but it turns out the writer was brilliant in proving me wrong and this was the element I loved the most the element of surprise.
What Esme did in chapter 10 was awful and so unexpected.
Beatrice, I really hope the author is going somewhere with that because together with the Baudelaire unmasking Olaf in every book I hope to know what really happened to her in this series itself.
We get yet another mystery to look out in this book of how the Baudelaire's house was linked t the Dark Avenue and I'm ready for it.
V.F.D a disappointment but I guess that was the plan.
Everything was misleading and that's what I enjoyed the most.
The Quagmire triplets, oh god no why can't they be safe.