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The Reptile Room - Book 2 of A Series of…
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The Reptile Room - Book 2 of A Series of Unfortunate Events (original 1999; edition 2000)

by Lemony Snicket

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15,005185360 (3.74)156
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.
Member:Heslestor
Title:The Reptile Room - Book 2 of A Series of Unfortunate Events
Authors:Lemony Snicket
Info:Scholastic Inc. (2000), Paperback, 190 pages
Collections:Your library
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The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket (1999)

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Showing 1-5 of 176 (next | show all)
I wish this series had been around when I was a kid. It would have been a great way to gain perspective and insight on my own peculiar circumstances, and I'd have especially enjoyed Klaus. He reads as much and as eagerly as I do. The inability of adults to recognize Count Olaf in his disguises is a bit hard to believe for me as an adult reader, but then again I remember how frustrating it was as a kid when adults would just ignore sensible things I said because I was just a kid. Keeping that in mind, these stories aren't that far-fetched. ( )
  JBarringer | Dec 15, 2023 |
""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. ( )
  ryantlaferney87 | Dec 8, 2023 |
(3.5 / 5)

Review for audiobook version:
The three Baudelaire orphans have been set up with a new guardian, Uncle Monty. He's interesting, fun, and kind, and the kids are looking forward to going to Peru with him to study reptiles. But oh, this is a Lemony Snicket book, so we're informed up front that their happiness won't last. And indeed, it doesn't.

I suppose I liked this book a little more than the previous. Even though I knew from early on that Uncle Monty wouldn't signal the beginning of a happy life, I was still glad for the kids that they got a little bit of time with him. I think Count Olaf's attempt at getting at their money was a lot more half-baked this time, but on the other hand, the way the kids got out of his snare was a little more clever this time. I did enjoy the "friendship" between Sunny and the Incredibly Deadly Viper, and even thought it was pretty great that she spoke her first real word, and that that word was "brilliant."

But just like with the previous book, the highlight of the whole thing, for me, was that it was read by Tim Curry. Half a star of my rating is based on that, because that's how much I love listening to his voice. We'll see how it goes from here on. ( )
  Kristi_D | Sep 22, 2023 |
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.
  PlumfieldCH | Sep 22, 2023 |
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. ( )
  Briars_Reviews | Aug 4, 2023 |
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» Add other authors (12 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Lemony Snicketprimary authorall editionscalculated
Helquist, BrettIllustratorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Curry, TimNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For Beatrice -- My love for you shall live forever. You, however, did not.
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The stretch of road that leads out of the city, past Hazy Harbor and into the town of Tedia, is perhaps the most unpleasant in the world.
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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.

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Book description
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 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 long brass reading lamp, and a 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
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