Daniel Handler

Lemony Snicket

After narrowly escaping the menacing clutches of the dastardly Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orphans are taken in by a kindly herpetologist with whom they live happily for an all-too-brief time.

A Series of Unfortunate Events #2: The Reptile Room

The Reptile Room a Series of Unfortunate Events

Brett Helquist

There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international best-seller to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on . . . In The Reptile Room the siblings endure a car accident, a terrible smell, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a brass reading lamp, and the re-appearance of a person they’d hoped never to see again. With 5 million copies sold in the UK alone, one might consider Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events to make him one of the most successful children’s authors of the past decade. We, however, consider these miserable so-called adventure stories and the Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey that accompanied the books for children as nothing more than a dreadful mistake.

The Reptile Room

kelsey

5✰

“nice girls shouldn't know how to do such things.” “my sister is a nice girl,” said klaus, “and she knows how to do all sorts of things.”

i would really die for these kids. and supportive siblings????? ugh! mine could never!

Hanna Rybchynska

I find these books really funny!

What strikes me most about these books is how clueless the adults are and how they don't take children seriously. They trust adults just because they are adults, even if they say stupid and nonsensical things.
 
And this book makes me question a lot. Could it be that when we become adults we ignore children's common sense so much? We think that just because we are adults we are right. It's an interesting concept and one that is very well represented in this book. 

Basically, if adults would stop and listen to children, none of what happens in the book would happen.

Monicap

I have all the same complaints from the first one. This series really seems more suited towards elementary schoolers than middle schoolers.

Although, I'd actually say this one is a tad MORE juvenile than the first. 

I have to wonder-- what the hell was Count Olaf going to do in Peru that would get him the Baudelaire fortune that he couldn't do in England or wherever this story is set? I mean, honestly, He could kill you here or in Peru, he would get the fortune either way, so WHAT WAS HIS PLAN???

Julia

This book is really good and the whole series is amazing. My love for it is inordinate and I highly recommend people to read it :))

At the beginning I was doubting if i could finish this but tbh It’s my fav so far, i mean it had a lot of funny moments, like when the Count gets mad at the taxi driver for talking about his baby 😭😭😭 and tbh i just want this kids to be finally happy and stop telling Count Olaf all of their plans

Daizo 

** spoiler alert **
           I'm acquainted with Uncle Montgomery, his lovely house, and the snakes from their short passage in the movie, so this book feels sentimentally nostalgic, knowing that everything will be gone too soon yet again. The Reptile Room's really one of the more heartbreaking parts of the series. Here we'll see some of the children's only times (or maybe the last one for a long time?) of being truly happy, especially knowing the miseries after miseries that await in the rest of the series. 

I'm happy to see them again though. I picked up the books in random order since middle school and the last time I read ASOUE I was barely 20 (7 days old from turning 20 to be exact). I didn't deliberately save the two books I haven't read for this long, but reading this in my late twenties came to be an intriguing experience. The children (one among them a crawling, babbling baby) having the only sound minds among these surreally obtuse adults was one of ASOUE's charms for me, but this time it exasperated me more than ever. Not to make it a shortcoming, of course we can see it as a theatrical parody of how too many adults treat children as subhumans (that's another difference, can't help overthinking the author's intent with every single literary choice now). But it's just.. *caLmly banging desk*. I kinda pitied Count Olaf on his last days, mostly because I read the books in desensitizingly long intervals. I wonder how I would feel to read that with this fresh anger. Also, I used to sympathize with the kids as an old kid myself (I felt 13 till I was 18), but now I support them with parental affection. In that sentiment, what I used to see with peer respect in the children's actions intrigued me as something precocious and cutely adorable now. I want to hug and put them in my safe pocket so bad.

And I'd like to use this review to rejoice, I HAVE ALL 13 BOOKS NOW MY COLLECTION IS FINALLY COMPLETE yay, felt like giving a present for my young self heheh, me happy.

Penny Devereux 

i love this book so much, they’re such quick reads too, i just read this in one sitting, they’re kinda sad but i still love them, brings back childhood memories:)

Raven K

Briar's Reviews

Another fabulous addition to one of my favourite childhood series!

I read these way back in the day (you know, when Jim Carrey was Count Olaf) but I figured as an adult I should pick this series up again for the fun of it! And, oh boy, am I not disappointed! While I am not the target audience, I still get a big kick from these books and have a good laugh too! If I ever have a kid, these books are a MUST READ because they are hilarious and awfully cruel all at the same time. No wonder I have such a brutal, sarcastic sense of humour - I grew up on these books!

This book didn't strike me like the first one, but it's just as good, goofy and entertaining. I love Montegomery Montegomery and it's a real shame we didn't get more time in the book with him. He was so kooky and crazy that I wanted just a few more chapters before he meets his match. We all knew that this series wasn't going to end happily in this book (look at the title, folks) but I wanted to cherish the hilarious scenarios for a little bit longer before Count Olaf/Stephano arrives on the scene. 

I do wonder why the banker is in charge of the children. They have SO many relatives and a random banker gets to take care of them. Not even a lawyer... wouldn't a lawyer make more sense? It's child logic though, so I'm not going to let that ruin the story for me.

One big positive for this book is that the characters seem to grow. We see our Baudelaire children in a happy, family friendly setting and feel comforted. They get along, feel like they have a Father figure and want to go on adventures. Seeing another side of them was a real treat and I just know that these guys will continue to evolve ('cause... you know... I already read the series). I also really enjoy all of the terminology and slang that is explained in this book. I kept chuckling along the way as the reader was introduced to amusing sayings that have been plastered in literature for years.

Overall, this series is absolutely charming. I still love them to this day and I will see it through to the end! I have the next two books sitting on my shelf and it will be a challenge to find the rest...

Until next time, Count Olaf... 

P.S. I still imagine Jim Carrey as Count Olaf. I do love me some Neil Patrick Harris, but Jim Carrey was my childhood Olaf. 

Four out of five stars.

Nessa Luna

Saints this one will always make me so so sad. (view spoiler)[I just wanted them to be happy with Monty and go to Peru and live with him forever why u gotta kill him, Olaf? WHY.  (hide spoiler)]

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odour. In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy. Ages 10+

Lacy W

I didn't enjoy this one as much for some reason. It seemed to really focus on the vocabulary words and explaining phrases then telling the story. That really turned me off. I often have to remind myself that this is a middle grade book series. I am 25 years old and middle grades stories are certainly not written for me. 

I did enjoy Uncle Monty and his love for snakes. I loved that he barely knew the Baudelaire children but yet he welcomed them with open arms and treated them like there were his own kids. He was definitely one of the better guardians the children have had. Granted, they have only had two and one was Count Olaf. Still, I stand by what I said. 

The illustrations are still amazing. They are whimsy and delightful even though they are supposed to be dark and sad. They capture what is going on with the book quite well. I honestly wish more books had illustrations. 

Overall, despite the three star rating on this book (I did rate The Bad Beginning four stars so that's a plus), I'm enjoying the heck out of these books. I understand why so many people love them and still do to this day. It's truly a great series.

Ryan LaFerney

""If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book."" So cautions Snicket, the exceedingly well-mannered narrator of the mock-gothic novels, A Series of Unfortunate Events, featuring the misadventures of 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus and infant Sunny Baudelaire. After escaping the clutches of the evil Count Olaf, the children once again find themselves facing death, mystery, and reptiles (!) in Snicket's The Reptile Room. Seriously, things look unfortunate once again for our trio. 

Things look hopefully at first for the Baudelaires. They are getting closer and closer to a great future after learning about their parents death. They have a new guardian in their lives, Uncle Monty - who is a kind and loving herpetologist (which means: studier of snakes and reptiles) who instantly takes the children into his care with love and devotion . However, he still seems naive just like every other adult in this series (cough* cough* MR. POE). Then there's Count Olaf who is still trying to take the kids fortune.

But have no fear, dear reader, for the children once again use their talents to outsmart Count Olaf once again!

The Reptile Room is a brilliant follow up to The Bad Beginning. All three children use their respective skills and interests to their advantage time and again throughout the series, and I love their ingenuity, their intellect, and their love for one another. I also love that Handler (writing as Snicket) clearly defines what is good and what is evil. Count Olaf is honestly, in my opinion, one of the most repulsive forms of evil that exists: he is greedy murderer who plays with deceptions and lies. Contrast this will the intellects of our heroes and their familial love for one another, and the message of these books become very clear.

I'm a fan. And I'm ashamed I'm just not reading this series.

Gisela Ayala 

I forgot how creepier Count Olaf gets. *shudders* This guy needs to be put away.

june

dr. monty not getting enough scenes as the tv show 😭

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odour. In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

Rachel DeLaurenti

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I love all the characters in this book and the writing style and just everything about it.

Seher Mohsin

Ingrid 

More of a 3.75 stars. I liked it more than the first book, so I'm hoping the series just keeps on getting better.

Gabriella Parker

Just like the previous book, this one showcases the Baudelaire’s courage, wit and being able to keep calm and think under pressure despite their unfortunate situations. Uncle Monty has to be my favorite guardian of theirs. It’s also been a while since I saw the show and Mr. Poe is more annoying than I originally remember?

Nick Ringwood

Not as good as I remembered, 
But still good, especially at the end.

the_bookishcat

As I keep reading these books i keep falling more in love with them!!🤎 I honestly don't get why they receive so much hate, Yes, they are mostly childish and ridiculous but that's the magic of these books, that the Baudelaires siblings get into odd situations and how they use their wit to get out of that problem, and that childish way all the adult's act is what makes Count Olaf a worse villain and I personally adore that.

Lemony Snicket is an amazing author and I admired him so much, especially for being able to create this world that rather than being fictional, it doesn't feel like that, its weird because is not even contemporary but i love it feels like that but at the same time there are fictional things that make the plot and the characters even better. ( even if it sounds ridiculous believe me, they are great hehe)😅

I didn't love this book as much as I loved the first one but I still like it very much, I love Klaus even more in this book and I admire his bravery for standing up for his sisters.
I think it's no surprise that I tell you that I highly recommend these books, especially if you are in a reading slump, they will help you and you will absolutely love them!✨👌🏻

Find me on my socials! https://thebookishcat.carrd.co/ 

Samiha Tasnim

One of the most difficult things to think about in life is one's regrets. Something will happen to you, and you will do the wrong thing, and for years afterward you will wish you had done something different.


It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things.


It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is the one who is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right. Right?


What happens in a certain place can stain your feelings for that location, just as ink can stain a white sheet.