The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
Published by Scholastic
Publication Date September 30, 1999
Source: Library
Genres: Young Adult
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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 reappearance 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
After an adult finally realizes what an unsuitable guardian Count Olaf is (but only after he attempted to marry Violet). The children go to stay with Uncle Monty herpetologist, but guess who’s coming to dinner? and it’s not Sidney Poitier. Count Olaf returns hunting the children as Stephano, Uncle Monty’s new assistant with another attempt to steal the Baudelaire fortune.
The Reptile Room is as clever as the first, Uncle Monty’s name Montgomery being his first and last name and wanting to name a harmless snake the Incredibly Deadly Viper. The adults in this series of events are starting to remind me of Basil Faulty in Faulty Towers. They are all a little over the top and blundering idiots. Now that I think about it, the murder that takes place is botch due to their inadequacy, instead having a “the butler did it” attitude. The Reptile Room is a fun, childishly intense mystery, that made me think, do adults always know what they’re talking about?
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