A Series of Unfortunate Events - A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - Book Discussion #1

Awesome Nerds · 01-14-2017, 03:32 PM

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

THE BAD BEGINNING
BOOK THE FIRST
Published 1999

After the Baudelaire children learn their parents have died in a mansion fire, their banker Arthur Poe puts the Baudelaires in the custody of their distant cousin Count Olaf. Olaf neglects, abuses, and openly plots to embezzle the orphans with the help of his theater troupe. He orders the children to take part in his troupe's performance of The Marvelous Marriage, Violet as the bride.

THE REPTILE ROOM
BOOK THE SECOND
Published 1999

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are sent to live with their distant in-law, the herpetologist Dr. Monty Montgomery. Monty's profession involves traveling to exotic locations and cataloguing new species of reptiles. His most recent find is the Incredibly Deadly Viper, a large and intelligent but harmless snake. Monty's assistant, Gustav Sebald, has disappeared, and in time for an expedition to Peru, the herpetologist's new assistant Stephano (who is Count Olaf in disguise) arrives.

THE WIDE WINDOW
BOOK THE THIRD
Published 2000

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are sent to live with their distant relative Josephine Anwhistle, a widow who lives on a cliff over Lake Lachrymose. Josephine, whose husband Ike was eaten by the leeches of Lake Lachrymose, has numerous phobias which include seemingly everything but the lake, which can be seen through a large window in her library. When word of a hurricane reaches the town, Josephine goes to buy provisions in town, where she meets Captain Julio Sham, who is actually Count Olaf is disguise.

THE MISERABLE MILL
BOOK THE FOURTH
Published 2000

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are sent to live with Sir, the co-owner of a lumber company. Unbeknownst to Mr. Poe, they are forced to work unpaid in the mill, where they befriend the optimistic worker Phil and the company's other co-owner, Charles. The lumbermill's unscrupulous foreman, Flacutono, breaks Klaus's glasses. When Klaus returns from the optometrist, he behaves strangely for some time.

THE AUSTERE ACADEMY
BOOK THE FIFTH
Published 2000

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are sent to Prufrock Preparatory School, an academy overseen by the tyrannic Vice Principal Nero. While treated poorly and confined to a shack outside the dormitories, the children befriend fellow students and triplets Duncan and Isadora Quagmire, who lost their brother and parents in a fire similar to the Baudelaires'.

THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR
BOOK THE SIXTH
Published 2001

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are sent to live with Jerome and Esmé Squalor, a wealthy couple who live in the penthouse of a 66 story apartment complex in the city. While Jerome is kindly toward the orphans, Esmé is obsessed with fashion and constantly occupied in her collaboration with a man named Gunther on a fashion auction known as the In Auction. When the children finally meet Gunther, they realize he is Count Olaf in disguise.

THE VILE VILLAGE
BOOK THE SEVENTH
Published 2001

The Baudelaires are sent to a village called V.F.D. They believe it has something to do with the secret the Quagmire triplets mentioned before they were kidnapped. The Baudelaires are treated cruelly by the villagers, but their guardian Hector is nice, if a bit skittish. The children find couplets once a day, and think the Quagmires are trying to communicate with them.

THE HOSTILE HOSPITAL
BOOK THE EIGHTH
Published 2001

Now seen as murderers, the Baudelaires try, but fail, to contact Mr. Poe via telegram. They go to Heimlich Hospital with a group of volunteers and work in the Library of Records, where they try to obtain the "Snicket file" which contains information about them. Count Olaf becomes head of the hospital and captures Violet; Klaus and Sunny realise Count Olaf plans to cut off her head.

THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL
BOOK THE NINTH
Published 2002

The children travel to the Hinterlands after escaping Heimlich Hospital by riding of the trunk-of-Olaf's-car. This book takes place in the Caligari Carnival run by Madame Lulu a mysterious fortune teller. Violet, Klaus and Sunny disguise themselves as carnival freaks to be hired by Madame Lulu and figure out a few of their mysterious questions.

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
BOOK THE TENTH
Published 2003

The children travel to the Mortmain Mountains after escaping yet another fire at the Caligari Carnival. Sunny gets separated from Violet and Klaus. Violet and Klaus meet up with another volunteer soon discovered as Quigley Quagmire, the long lost triplet of the Quagmire Family. He helps Violet and Klaus make their way to the destroyed VFD headquarters. With Violet and Klaus working on the burned headquarters and Sunny eavesdropping Count Olaf, the Baudelaires learn much more about the secret organization of V.F.D.

THE GRIM GROTTO
BOOK THE ELEVENTH
Published 2004

The story takes place in a submarine, the Queequeg. The Queequeg only has 3 members: Captain Widdershins, a member of V.F.D.; Phil, the chef (who previously appeared in "The Miserable Mill"); and Fiona, Captain Widdershins' stepdaughter. The Baudelaires join this crew on the submarine and search for the sugar bowl, but running into Count Olaf along the way.

THE PENULTIMATE PERIL
BOOK THE TWELFTH
Published 2005

The Baudelaire orphans go to Hotel Denouement where they meet Kit Snicket, Lemony's sister, and disguise themselves as concierges and flaneur, a term Handler uses as a person who observes things, the orphans have to find out who is a volunteer and who is a villain. While the orphans encounter people from their past the sugar bowl is being delivered. They must detect if a manager is a volunteer named Frank, or a villain, named Ernest. The children encounter a harpoon gun, a rooftop sunbathing salon, two mysterious initials, J.S, three unidentified triplets, and an unsavory curry.

THE END
BOOK THE THIRTEENTH
Published 2006

In this book, the Baudelaires are stranded on a boat with Olaf. They are shipwrecked on an island and discover its inhabitants are planning to mutiny.

OTHER BOOKS WITHIN THIS WORLD

ALL THE WRONG QUESTIONS

WHO COULD THAT BE AT THIS HOUR?
[1 of 4]
Published 2012

In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be read, the first two chapters of which should not be included here but are.

WHEN DID YOU SEE HER LAST?
[2 of 4]
Published 2013

I should have asked the question "How could someone who was missing be in two places at once?" Instead, I asked the wrong question — four wrong questions, more or less. This is the account of the second.
In the fading town of Stain'd-by-the-Sea, young apprentice Lemony Snicket has a new case to solve when he and his chaperone are hired to find a missing girl. Is the girl a runaway? Or was she kidnapped? Was she seen last at the grocery store? Or could she have stopped at the diner? Is it really any of your business? These are All The Wrong Questions.

SHOULDN'T YOU BE IN SCHOOL?
[3 of 4]
Published 2014

Is Lemony Snicket a detective or a smoke detector?
Do you smell smoke? Young apprentice Lemony Snicket is investigating a case of arson but soon finds himself enveloped in the ever-increasing mystery that haunts the town of Stain'd-by-the-Sea. Who is setting the fires? What secrets are hidden in the Department of Education? Why are so many schoolchildren in danger? Is it all the work of the notorious villain Hangfire? How could you even ask that? What kind of education have you had?
Maybe you should be in school?

WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?
[4 of 4]
Published 2015

Train travel! Murder! Librarians! A Series Finale!
On all other nights, the train departs from Stain'd Station and travels to the city without stopping. But not tonight. You might ask, why is this night different from all other nights? But that's the wrong question. Instead ask, where is this all heading? And what happens at the end of the line? The final book in Lemony Snicket's bestselling series, All The Wrong Questions.

FILE UNDER: 13 SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS
Published 2014

Paintings have been falling off of walls, a loud and loyal dog has gone missing, a specter has been seen walking the pier at midnight -- strange things are happening all over the town of Stain'd-By-The-Sea. Called upon to investigate thirteen suspicious incidents, young Lemony Snicket collects clues, questions witnesses, and cracks every case. Join the investigation and tackle the mysteries alongside Snicket, then turn to the back of the book to see the solution revealed.
Step into Lemony Snicket's world of deep mystery, mysterious depth, deductive reasoning, and reasonable deductions.

♦♦♦

Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography
Published 2002

A Warning from the Publisher:

Many readers have questions about Lemony Snicket, author of the distressing serial concerning the trials of the charming but unlucky Baudelaire orphans, published under the collective title A Series of Unfortunate Events. Before purchasing, borrowing, or stealing this book, you should be aware that it contains the answers to some of those questions, such as the following:

1. Who is Lemony?

2. Is there a secret organization I should know about?

3. Why does Lemony Snicket spend his time researching and writing distressing books concerning the Baudelaire orphans?

4. Why do all of Lemony Snicket's books concerning a sad dedication to a woman named Beatrice?

5. If there's nothing out there, what was that noise?

Our advice to you is that you find a book that answers less upsetting questions than this one. Perhaps your librarian, bookseller, or parole officer can recommend a book that answers the question, “Aren't ponies adorable? ”

The Beatrice Letters
Published 2006

You shouldn't read other people's mail, especially when it is addressed to Lemony Snicket or someone named Beatrice.

The Beatrice Letters is an exquisite collection of personal correspondence that sheds light on the mysteries surrounding Lemony Snicket and A Series of Unfortunate Events. The Beatrice Letters contains evidence that should not be examined by anyone, including:
Unsettling photographs of suspicious objects
Hidden compartments containing disconcerting communications
A double-sided poster featuring confounding clues
Coded cut-out letters that reveal terrible secrets

~MelBelle~ · 01-14-2017, 04:59 PM

Read this whole book series when it first came out

was not to thrilled about the film, I'm really looking forward to this series though

Awesome Nerds · 01-14-2017, 05:10 PM

Yeah that's what I gathered about the movie... Although I might still check it out after I'm done reading and whatnot... I made it through the first one in a day, so it shouldn't take me too long to make it through the series

**Always & Forever** · 01-14-2017, 08:42 PM

I read the books soooooo long ago, I barely remember them.

The movie version with Jim Carrey are the first 3 books, so I at least remember that much.

Should we start a movie version thread for the board?

Awesome Nerds · 01-14-2017, 08:45 PM

Yeah, for sure!

I'll check that out when I've read and watched everything else

**Always & Forever** · 01-14-2017, 08:49 PM

Cool! I'll be happy to make it!

Yeah, definitely read all the books (you just really need to read the first 3 to see the movie, though)!

Awesome Nerds · 01-14-2017, 08:52 PM

I need to read the first four for the show, so that's my priority

I have them from my library, I need to get back to reading book 2...

**Always & Forever** · 01-14-2017, 09:25 PM

It's interesting the way they're splitting up the series episodes. They could probably just tell one book in an hour & make the whole series just 13 episodes, but they gotta make money somehow.

Awesome Nerds · 01-14-2017, 09:28 PM

I don't know if that's the case, I'll have to wait til I've seen it

***L i N d $ @ y*** · 01-15-2017, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~MelBelle~ (View Post)

Read this whole book series when it first came out

was not to thrilled about the film, I'm really looking forward to this series though

Yeah, I've heard mixed reactions to the film too. I have a copy so I'll watch it right after I've seen this show. I'm also getting around to reading the books as the show has really encouraged me to read it.

Awesome Nerds · 01-15-2017, 06:08 AM

So glad you are!

My library miraculously reopened temporarily (they're going to redo it), so I'm benefiting from the fact that it's very near to my house and they have 12 out of 13 books... You would think that means they have all but the last, but nope, they're missing the second to last, so I'll have to go and chase it at another library

**Summer Falls** · 01-15-2017, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L i N d $ @ y (View Post)

Yeah, I've heard mixed reactions to the film too. I have a copy so I'll watch it right after I've seen this show. I'm also getting around to reading the books as the show has really encouraged me to read it.

the movie was ok it did well in add the 3 together but once an again they did change some bits to make it more exciting .. I've read the books years ago i still remember some stuff

Awesome Nerds · 01-15-2017, 08:01 AM

Maybe time for a reread

fox24 · 01-15-2017, 09:09 AM

Well I liked the movie but I think it's cause I never read the books only skimmed a bit

**Always & Forever** · 01-15-2017, 09:41 AM

I'll have to re-read the books sometime again soon. I re-watched the movie this summer with my niece, so that's fresh in my mind.


Fan Forum > Archived Television Shows > A Series of Unfortunate Events > A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - Book Discussion #1