Lemony Snicket
As these are the final chapters of the Baudelaire children's story, I do hope you advert your eyes for two reasons. 1) They are very, very sad and why would you wish to torture yourself for no reason? Go find something happy and fun to do you silly bean.
and 2) Since this is the end, you may have missed the beginning. in which case you are reading these events backwards. And reading this backwards, unless it is code and that is the key of cracking the code, only leaves one feeling upset that they have spoiled the ending for themselves. Unless of course you wish to know what happens to prepare yourself for the sadness. Then read on, dear friends, and grab some kleenex for the sad ride down.
and maybe a snack or two. it is a very long ride.
The Grim Grotto
As the children float down the stream, away from Olaf, away from the cold and slippery slope, and away from their new friend, they find themselves coming face to face with a periscope. A word here meaning a telescope of sorts that extends from a submarine in order to see what is coming.
When they climb aboard this mysterious submarine, they meet a Captain and his stepdaughter and an old friend and dive deeper into the mysteries surrounding V.F.D and all that it has to hold.
Fiona, the stepdaughter of Captain Widdershins, becomes quite close with Klaus and the two of them discuss many an interesting topic as Klaus loves to learn and read about everything, and Fiona loves to read and learn about Mushrooms.
When more unfortunate events happen, the children find themselves swimming through a Grotto which used to used for V.F.D. purposes but has since been abandoned (for good reason) however, those good reasons come to follow the Baudelaire children into their current predicament - sea what I did there? I am very punny. (x2 as it would have it)
Through clues and secret codes, the children once again find themselves being led blind into another situation that may be either unfortunate or fortunate. The children do not know if or when their bad luck will ever stop, but that is for us readers to continue to read about.
Or not, if you have had enough sadness in your life and choose to go read something with a more happy ending and happy events. No one would, or could, blame you.
The Penultimate Peril
Penultimate meaning next-to-last, as our helpful author likes to explain to us (for those who didn't know or remember). This may be the next-to-last book but it is not the next-to-last event, as many small events happen during this story that add up to one big unfortunate story that is to be known as The Baudelaire Children's life.
We get into the mysterious taxi, in which the children have found from the coded note left by a friend (we hope) and this taxi, driven by a one Ms Kit Snicket, takes us to the Hotel Denouement. (Ps. I do feel obligated to advise you to get a mirror before you start reading this book. unless of course you have already read it. in which case, my advise is pointless.)
When the children arrive at the hotel, they are given jobs as concierge, in order to blend in with the crowd, be inconspicuous (which really means the same thing, but it also means to not draw attention to themselves) and allows them to see/hear any information that may be helpful to the V.F.D. Cause.
The big meeting of all the V.F.D members is happening in 2 days and the children need to be on the lookout, and be prepared.
However, since Olaf is technically part of the V.F.D (even though he is on the other side of it) he is close by too; hunting down the infamous Sugar Bowl that seems to hold all the answers.
More secrets, more villainous acts, more sadness, more loss, and more unfortunateness that seems to be never ending in the lives of these 3 orphans.
In an attempt to help warn the good-sided V.F.D members, the children help Olaf set one last fire, and escape with him on a boat.
The End
After a terrible storm leaves our friends and 1 enemy shipwrecked, we come to a mysterious island that has the strangest customs with the strangest of people.
It seems that the Orphans are destined to be lied to, and mislead, and the target for many unfortunate things.
The one fortunate thing is that Mr. Snicket has shared some answers he has found about the children's story ... and the story they didn't know about.
Endings are never happy, and this one is no different. I will not give too much away, as I do not want your eyes to see something that you maybe wish you didn't see.
Snicket's records of the Baudelaire's story is fast-paced, action-packed, and sad-packed. These children experience things no child (or even adult) should ever have to, but Snicket has written in such a way that you feel like you are there. You can hear Sunny's little voice as she ask's her questions or states her statements of various emotions, you can see Violet putting her hair back when her brain turns onto Inventing Mode, and you can hear Klaus's pen scratch against his commonplace book as he keeps his records of all he sees and hears.
The story of the children is one full of twists and turns and truly begins long before you and I were ever born. The history that we come to learn about pulls at your heartstrings and if you are anything like me, you will wonder why it took so long to a) read them for the first time or b) wait so long before reading them again. As sad a story as it is, I do believe it is one I will be visiting more often as the children have become a sort of comfort, with the characters becoming friends, after having travelled so far and wide together in such a short time with so many unforgettable moments.
Even though I am sure the children would love nothing more than to travel back in time to the night before that infamous day at Briny Beach where Mr. Poe came and found them.
