The Reptile Room

 

Series: Series of unfortunate events #2

Author: Lemony Snicket

Original publication date: September 30, 1999

Book description: 

Dear Reader,

If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I'm afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don't be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that even pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.
In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the appearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.
I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Thoughts:

We have the three siblings after escaping from Count Olaf are sent to live with an Uncle Monty. When they arrive at the new house, are greatly surprised. 

Monty is a researcher, he investigates reptiles and is working in disclosure of newly found species od snake. It seems very promising but for only a few minutes. Count Olaf makes another appearance. 

We see the children find very little help of the adults in their lives.

It is very annoying how people discredit what the children say. Mr Poe is presented as a very stupid, very illogical.

The children are surrounded only by useless adults. Even when the children tell the adults what is going on, no one pays attention to them. It is frustrating how Olaf continues to manipulate the children, bully them. 

The reading is very quick, you can get through it in a single afternoon. But the plot starts to be a bit repetitive and it will follow the same formula throughout the rest of the series. Still, it was a very enjoyable read. This will probably feel like watching a series and each book will be like seeing a few episodes. 

We have at least one example of an adult in this world that is a decent human being, if one a bit self-centered and does not have an open mind and looks down on children.

I will not include any more details of what happens to avoid spoilers. 

I would have probably enjoyed them more if I had picked them up as a child but still I will get through them now.