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A review by chava_reads
"Who Could That Be at This Hour?" by Lemony Snicket
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Summary
A young boy named Lemony Snicket with an unusual education is sent to a small town called Stain'd-by-the-sea for the duration of his apprenticeship. What seems at first to be an innocuous town turns out to be a place harboring some dark and dangerous secrets. In a tale of coffee, nautical beasts, and librarians, Snicket and his associates fight to save the dying town — all while Snicket tries to face the loose ends he left behind in the city.
Writing
So, I read this book when it first came out. Obviously I recently reread it, but the majority of my experience with Lemony Snicket was acquired through an obsession I had when I was younger. Seriously, his writing was my everything. And so, when I decided to read this book again after years of not touching it, I had no idea what to expect. My memories of Snicket's writing (although Snicket is a fictional character, I ain't gonna spoil the author's real identity) were distant at best, but I still came into this reading with the highest of hopes.
It did not disappoint.
Snicket is an absolute master of writing. Truly, I would read his damn grocery list and give it five stars. It's incredible. The way he looks at the world is so strange and fresh. It is truly the type of prose one finds themself escaping into. There's just the right amount of mystery, humor, wit, and gloom. Every little detail is significant. I can't say enough good about this book. I know it's a children's book, but it is just as intellectually stimulating to me now as it was the first time I read it. It hooks you in.
I can't do it justice. Go read it for yourself, seriously.
Characters
Flawless. Amazing. Brilliant. My most beloved fictional characters. Each member of this cast is complex and lovely even through Snicket's eyes — his observations about the people in town as an outsider are fascinating. He observes a shared delusion among the people of Stain'd-by-the-sea, and he never breaks it. There are many times when he sees the delusions and eccentricities of the town as an asset rather than a hindrance.
I like reading about these characters from such an interesting mind. I like watching how Snicket grows and changes around them. I like watching how they build their town back up from the ground, each in their own little ways — a reporter, a chemist, a pair of taxi drivers with an appreciation for reading, a cook, and so many other vibrant and living people who populate Stain'd-by-the-sea.
Snicket himself has been fascinating me for over a decade, even before I read this particular series. This gives a unique insight to his mind and his unusual education. To those who liked A Series of Unfortunate Events, I have to recommend this book for the interesting perspective it brings on uh... Snicket's organization, shall I say? We see a lot of background characters from ASoUE appear in this series. I really like those cameos.
I love the way the relationships between these characters develop over the series. They aren't static. They're so much like real people. Really and truly, even though this is fiction, it felt like someone was telling me the story of their childhood. Since I first read All The Wrong Questions, these characters have consistently inspired me and motivated me to be the person I am today. I try to pay attention to stories like Moxie, I try to be a force of good like Qwerty, and I try to be the sort of friend and associate that Pip and Squeak were to Lemony. Seriously I am so obsessed with these characters.
Plot
It really is an amazing plot. I don't wanna talk too much about it, since honestly I really don't wanna give a single bit away. Let me just say, I love watching the mystery slowly unfold throughout each individual book and the series as a whole. Nothing feels far fetched beyond the rules of Snicket's universe, and everything feels perfectly in place — and when it's not in place, that's intentional. I like how the books are seperated into mini stories with a big overarching plot. It's cool to find out what connections they all have while you're reading.
And of course, there's the background story of Snicket's associates in the city. Fans of ASoUE especially will appreciate that. It's very interesting to see how Snicket balances his care for his associates in the city with his investment in the goings-on in Stain'd-by-the-sea.
Final Thoughts
Look, nothing will ever beat this series for me. And I don't think it's just nostalgia from my childhood. Go read it. I hope it impacts you as deep as it did me.
A young boy named Lemony Snicket with an unusual education is sent to a small town called Stain'd-by-the-sea for the duration of his apprenticeship. What seems at first to be an innocuous town turns out to be a place harboring some dark and dangerous secrets. In a tale of coffee, nautical beasts, and librarians, Snicket and his associates fight to save the dying town — all while Snicket tries to face the loose ends he left behind in the city.
Writing
So, I read this book when it first came out. Obviously I recently reread it, but the majority of my experience with Lemony Snicket was acquired through an obsession I had when I was younger. Seriously, his writing was my everything. And so, when I decided to read this book again after years of not touching it, I had no idea what to expect. My memories of Snicket's writing (although Snicket is a fictional character, I ain't gonna spoil the author's real identity) were distant at best, but I still came into this reading with the highest of hopes.
It did not disappoint.
Snicket is an absolute master of writing. Truly, I would read his damn grocery list and give it five stars. It's incredible. The way he looks at the world is so strange and fresh. It is truly the type of prose one finds themself escaping into. There's just the right amount of mystery, humor, wit, and gloom. Every little detail is significant. I can't say enough good about this book. I know it's a children's book, but it is just as intellectually stimulating to me now as it was the first time I read it. It hooks you in.
I can't do it justice. Go read it for yourself, seriously.
Characters
Flawless. Amazing. Brilliant. My most beloved fictional characters. Each member of this cast is complex and lovely even through Snicket's eyes — his observations about the people in town as an outsider are fascinating. He observes a shared delusion among the people of Stain'd-by-the-sea, and he never breaks it. There are many times when he sees the delusions and eccentricities of the town as an asset rather than a hindrance.
I like reading about these characters from such an interesting mind. I like watching how Snicket grows and changes around them. I like watching how they build their town back up from the ground, each in their own little ways — a reporter, a chemist, a pair of taxi drivers with an appreciation for reading, a cook, and so many other vibrant and living people who populate Stain'd-by-the-sea.
Snicket himself has been fascinating me for over a decade, even before I read this particular series. This gives a unique insight to his mind and his unusual education. To those who liked A Series of Unfortunate Events, I have to recommend this book for the interesting perspective it brings on uh... Snicket's organization, shall I say? We see a lot of background characters from ASoUE appear in this series. I really like those cameos.
I love the way the relationships between these characters develop over the series. They aren't static. They're so much like real people. Really and truly, even though this is fiction, it felt like someone was telling me the story of their childhood. Since I first read All The Wrong Questions, these characters have consistently inspired me and motivated me to be the person I am today. I try to pay attention to stories like Moxie, I try to be a force of good like Qwerty, and I try to be the sort of friend and associate that Pip and Squeak were to Lemony. Seriously I am so obsessed with these characters.
Plot
It really is an amazing plot. I don't wanna talk too much about it, since honestly I really don't wanna give a single bit away. Let me just say, I love watching the mystery slowly unfold throughout each individual book and the series as a whole. Nothing feels far fetched beyond the rules of Snicket's universe, and everything feels perfectly in place — and when it's not in place, that's intentional. I like how the books are seperated into mini stories with a big overarching plot. It's cool to find out what connections they all have while you're reading.
And of course, there's the background story of Snicket's associates in the city. Fans of ASoUE especially will appreciate that. It's very interesting to see how Snicket balances his care for his associates in the city with his investment in the goings-on in Stain'd-by-the-sea.
Final Thoughts
Look, nothing will ever beat this series for me. And I don't think it's just nostalgia from my childhood. Go read it. I hope it impacts you as deep as it did me.