The Hostile Hospital - Lemony Snicket

The Hostile Hospital
By: Lemony Snicket
Published: 2001
Audiobook Read by: Tim Curry
My rating: Delightful








Wanted for crimes they didn't commit, (we know who did commit them) the children are on their own. Not even Mr. Poe can be counted on to help them (not that has ever been much help in the past) so they must stick together and take care of themselves!

Finding very little chance of escape, the children fall in with The Volunteers Fighting Disease. The odd group is heading to Heimlich Hospital to sing to the patients and pass out heart shaped balloons. The Baudelaires are excepted readily as the newest volunteers and transported away from their pursuers. Unfortunately, as has been true so often, Count Olaf finds them and concocts yet another nefarious plan. (A phrase which here means, trying to remove Violet's head completely without her written permission!) Fortunately for the youngsters, they have learned a thing or two about how Count Olaf's mind works and are able to turn the tables on him using some of his own tricks. But how were they to know that all of their efforts would still land them closed up in the trunk of his car heading who knows where?

This book was a little bit different from the others because the children are completely on their own, no Mr. Poe, no guardian, and nobody to help them out of a tight spot. I liked the change of pace and am curious to see how the series progresses from here. They are very resourceful children and each new situation seems to push them to more and more inventive solutions. It's really quite thrilling, in a totally preposterous sort of way. Which is what makes it so much fun! :)

Once again, we were well entertained by Tim Curry's performance! I think it would be most difficult to find anyone better suited to read these books!

Overall, this was a great book in the series, changing up the normal pattern. If you have followed the series this far, don't stop now!

The Vile Village - Lemony Snicket

The Vile Village
By: Lemony Snicket
Published: 2001
Audiobook Read by: Tim Curry
My rating: Delightful








Rule # 72,319 clearly states: "No orphan with the name of Baudelaire may have anything good happen to them."

It's a good thing the Baudelaires are experiencing so many unfortunate events because the penalty for breaking the rules in the Village of Foul Devotees (VFD for short) is burning at the stake! Of course with so many rules to follow it is a given that eventually they will break one of them, so burning at the stake is virtually inevitable! The children find themselves in this distasteful village through a new government program for orphans that follows the motto: "It takes a village to raise a child." Unfortunately, VFD has a different definition for "raising a child" and Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are subjected to yet another round of misery! Of course this misery includes Count Olaf in his most ridiculous disguise yet as well as having to do a lot of chores. The only bright spots in this new experience are their new friend, the town handyman, Hector, and the discovery that the Quagmire triplets are right there in VFD waiting to be rescued! I think we all know by now that nothing will go right for children but we also know that nothing will stop them from trying!!

This was another fun book for us filled with all kinds of interesting albeit improbable events. I love the imagination that went into this series. I have to laugh at the completely far-fetched ideas the children come up with that in real life wouldn't even come close to working but for them succeed perfectly! There should be a warning on these books that says, "Do not try these things at home, they WON'T work!!" Don't get me wrong, I love the craziness in these stories, that is why I keep listening to them!! :)

We listened to the audiobook read by Tim Curry. What can I say that I haven't already said? Tim is the absolute perfect choice for these books! We love him!!

Overall, this 7th book was just as good as the rest. I have been impressed by the consistent quality of the series and am looking forward to the rest of them!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
By: Joanne Fluke
Published: 2000
Audiobook Read by: Suzanne Toren
My rating: Delightful









After listening to Peach Cobbler Murder I decided to go back to the beginning and listen to this first book of the series. It is definitely a yummy start to these tasty mysteries!

Hannah Swensen is just a simple bakery owner, not a private eye! So how on earth did she end up smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation? Her brother-in-law, hopefully the newest Lake Eden sheriff detective, needs her help, that's how! There are just some things that a bag full of cookies can accomplish that all the police training in the world can't! Hannah jumps in head first never thinking about how it all might end up. Her main thought is for Bill and the fact that a solved murder investigation to his credit will go a long way to that promotion he wants so badly! Would she do it over again if she knew what kind of trouble she'd end up in?

This was a fun story but I kept feeling a little disappointed that Hannah is the one finding all the clues and solving the mystery when Bill is the one who is a trained sheriff deputy hoping to be promoted. He comes off looking a bit like Barney Fife instead of a qualified contender for a detective badge. Regardless of that flaw the rest of the book was great. I loved the quirky characters and the small town they live in. I especially liked the good-natured hostility between Hannah and her mother who is constantly badgering her to do things she doesn't want to do! As far as the mystery goes, there really wasn't much of a chance to try to figure out the solution ahead of time so I was just along for the ride. I didn't mind that too much since it wasn't really as much about the investigation as it was about Hannah's role in it.

I listened to the audiobook read by Suzanne Toren and was very pleased with her performance. As before, she expertly brought the characters to life for me.

Overall, this is a book that you should read, not for the mystery, but for the fun of the ride. If you're wanting a mind bending riddle to solve this won't satisfy you but if you just want to enjoy some fun, you'll be in good hands!

The Ersatz Elevator - Lemony Snicket

The Ersatz Elevator
By: Lemony Snicket
Published: 2001
Audiobook Read by: Tim Curry
My rating: Delightful







I wish I could say that this book is the one where the Baudelaire Orphans finally defeat Count Olaf and live happily ever after but unfortunately that would make this an ersatz review. I suppose, despite the grief and agony it will cause you, I am duty bound to tell you the truth. This book is absolutely terrible, filled with awful and atrocious characters who should never be allowed to roam free, doing despicable and dastardly deeds that nobody should ever do, and bringing more misery and anguish on our beloved Sunny, Klaus and Violet! It's just plain bad!

You'll love it!

The children find themselves living in the lap of luxury with their new guardians, Jerome and Esme Squalor. The seventy-one room penthouse apartment at 667 Dark Avenue has everything they could ever wish for and it looks like there is at least a possibility of happiness there. Jerome is very kind and caring, and Esme, despite her indifference is at least civil to them. But doom and gloom invade this new abode in the form of Gunther the In Auction auctioneer. He is not someone they want to be around and after his appearance, everything goes down the tubes!

This was another really great installment in this fun series! We have been enjoying them very much and the kids have gotten in the habit of being ready to leave to go catch the bus as much as twenty minutes early so we have more time to listen! This book enforces my theory that there needs to be at least one nice character for the children to connect with for the story to be enjoyable. Jerome, despite his cowardice, cares for them very much and wants to see them taken care of. Under different circumstances he might have ended up being a wonderful guardian for them. Unfortunately this is not meant to be and we leave the Baudelaires waiting to see what new vile calamity will be waiting for them.

We listened to the audiobook read by Tim Curry and absolutely loved it! Tim does such a wonderful job with all the voices but his crowning glory has to be the evilness he can put into the villain's voices!

If you enjoy dark humor then this series is for you! Give them a try, I think you'll find that harrowing, ghastly misfortune has never been so much fun! :)