A V.F.D. (Vaguely Fascinating Discourse): Thoughts on "A Series of Unfortunate Events"
I finally finished the 11 books published so far of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket. With much thanks to Cousin Malkin and his prompt book drop-offs, and to my sister for getting home late from gigs - the books kept me company while waiting, and prevented me from falling asleep.
For a series with as basic a plot as ASoUE, it certainly is full of unexpected twists and turns. Sure, the first eight books followed a predictable set of events: the Baudelaire orphans are sent by Mr. Poe, the banker in charge of their financial affairs, to a new guardian; Count Olaf, self-proclaimed VFD (Very Fine-looking Dude) but who's actually a VFD (Very Foul-smeling Dude), finds them, dons his latest disguise and hatches his latest scheme; nobody, apart from the Baudelaires, see through Count Olaf's disguise; Count Olaf's true identity is finally revealed; Count Olaf escapes. But in the course of those eight books, and the succeeding three, Snicket slowly reveals little details subtly and cunningly, that deepen the mystery even more than it already is. Perhaps one of the most interesting surprises was the author's involvement in the story. He was not just narrating it, he was living it. His somewhat shady past, and his equally shady name (who would name her child "Lemony"????), lend more mystery to the whole thing, making it very difficult to stop reading. It's like combining the Da Vinci Code with Harry Potter, sans the magic and any religious mysteries.
The rest of the characters were equally fascinating.
Violet Baudelaire can probably go head to head with MacGyver when it comes to getting out of sticky situations using quick inventions. Klaus Baudelaire is a walking library. Sunny Baudelaire will probably creep out your friendly neighborhood dentist (ouch!) and will grow up to be the toast of the culinary world. Mr. Poe has a recurring respiratory problem. The Quagmire Triplets are another set of orphans with interesting personality quirks and a fortune in sapphires. Living with Aunt Josephine will probably cause you to get commited into a sanatorium. Dr. Montgomery will really hit it off with Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. If you play your cards right, you can probably make Madame Lulu give you anything you want. The Captain of the Queequeg will not hesitate to kick you out of his submarine if you hesitate to follow his orders because he (or she!) who hesitates is lost (aye!). Esmé Squalor tries so hard to be "in". But you would probably rather be an outcast than associate yourself with Count Olaf or drink, heaven forbid, aqueous martinis and parsley soda, if that's what it meant to be "in". Some of them are really weird characters, I must admit, but their basic personalities are very much relatable. You'd probably see people you know in them. I, for one, while reading about Esmé Squalor, was reminded of 8 people I know. *whistles*
The books also boast of a variety of topics that the reader can learn more about. Mushrooms; grammar; cooking; unusual words; poetry; how to climb frozen waterfalls; the various uses of your sharp teeth that will cause you to get scolded by your dentist as long as you live; marmosets (I had to Google it!); to a multitude of words that begin with the letters V, F, and D, that those Sesame Street folks would be proud of. Lemony (and I refer to the author as such to avoid confusion with other significant Snickets) also isn't afraid to use the word "flirting" or write about young people liking each other, as some authors of young adult literature are. Oh, and I gleaned some unique insights about good and evil. On top of that, the books are humorous without trying hard to be funny and entertaining. Not bad for a book for young adults.
Oh yeah, the reverse psychology is a primary element of the series that you cannot ignore. Lemony has been living a miserable life while writing about the Baudelaires, he really knows what he's talking about. So don't believe a word I've been saying. Stay away from bookstores or friends with a complete set of these books that you can borrow. It is not worth your time. Go watch Home TV Shopping or pick up a book entitled Mushroom Minutae, for example.
One last thought. Jim Carrey as Count Olaf in the movie? A V.F.D. A Very Fine Decision, indeed.
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