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B Schrodinger's Reviews > The Reptile Room
The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #2)
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In this second volume, the Baudelaire children are sent to stay with another distant relative who is a herpetologist - studies snakes, therefore the reptile room of the title. What proceeds is another adventure of mishaps and contrived situations that see the children triumph, yet not at the same time.
There is nothing new to report here, I felt the same way about this novel as the last - a little bit creeped out, a lot bored. There is the explaining of words, which I do like and the hint of something larger and deeper when the author refers to himself, but the majority is humdrum classic villainous villainry. While the motives of the villain are known, it is never really explained why some nations fitted his plan. But, as usual I think I am thinking too much about it.
My partner's response to my felling of naffs about this was a telling off. "It's a children's book so read it like one!" I don't know if I can anymore. I still enjoy some children's books, and they are probably books that I would have loved as a kid also. But these books, I don't know if I would have liked them as a kid.
Anyway, I have been told they get much better, especially from the next book. For my own sake I sure hope so. If I do end up reading it and it is just like the last two I am going to feel like I have wasted my time.
There is nothing new to report here, I felt the same way about this novel as the last - a little bit creeped out, a lot bored. There is the explaining of words, which I do like and the hint of something larger and deeper when the author refers to himself, but the majority is humdrum classic villainous villainry. While the motives of the villain are known, it is never really explained why some nations fitted his plan. But, as usual I think I am thinking too much about it.
My partner's response to my felling of naffs about this was a telling off. "It's a children's book so read it like one!" I don't know if I can anymore. I still enjoy some children's books, and they are probably books that I would have loved as a kid also. But these books, I don't know if I would have liked them as a kid.
Anyway, I have been told they get much better, especially from the next book. For my own sake I sure hope so. If I do end up reading it and it is just like the last two I am going to feel like I have wasted my time.
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Reading Progress
November 20, 2015
–
Started Reading
November 20, 2015
– Shelved
November 20, 2015
– Shelved as:
childrens
November 20, 2015
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
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Caroline
(last edited Nov 20, 2015 05:15PM)
(new)
Nov 20, 2015 05:15PM
I was a huge reader as a child, but my forays back into children's books as an adult have largely left me disappointed, except for a few classics like the Narnia stories or Winnie the Pooh. At the risk of sounding jaded I think the cliché that the past is another country is true, and perhaps no more so than with books (with whole genres as well as with specific books.)
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I think you're somewhat right Caroline, but I have met some kids books that I enjoyed as an adult and I know I would have loved as a kid (The Mysterious Benedict Society, Harry Potter series, etc. But yes, I can admit there may be some books that I just can't enjoy now that I may have back then. Yes, the past is another country, but some of us don't grow up that much :D I loved the Narnia books and need to reread them. I might also tackle some Roald Dahl over the next few months.
'Naffs', I think I meant 'naffness'. But it works.Beth, Henry Sugar is great, and I have retread it as an adult and enjoyed it just as much. My favourites were Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Danny the Champion of the World. I haven't read Danny since childhood. It's the one that scares me the most. I loved it and I have a feeling it might not live up to my memories.
Brendon wrote: "My partner's response to my felling of naffs about this was a telling off. "It's a children's book so read it like one!" "It sounds like you are.
PS I stopped at the first one.
Jonathan wrote: "I stopped at the first one."That makes me feel better Jonathan.
Dahl's book The BFG is a great start, Brendon. It is my personal favorite.
You know what, I don't think I ever finished that one as a kid. I remember borrowing it several times from the library.
The tree has been chopped down and replaced with luxury condos, beginning at a million five for a one bedroom.
Hm, I'm with you. There are a couple of children's/young adult that I love, but this series is not one of them. It feels so effortful, and rather entrenched in not-niceness. In this case, I do think it is a series that was supposed to appeal to adults as much as kids, if not more. I ended up dropping it eventually.
Carol, I agree. Even in most Dahl, there is a certain niceness mixed in with the nastiness.
The author is a she...
To be honest I didn't notice much change. I think maybe they actually escaped once but it really didn't seem any better.
