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The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 12) (Hardcover)
by Lemony Snicket
| Category:
Ages 9-12, Family Life |
| Market price: ¥ 148.00
MSL price:
¥ 128.00
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 Good for Gifts |
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Author: Lemony Snicket
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition
Pub. in: October, 2005
ISBN: 0064410153
Pages: 368
Measurements: 7.1 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BC00433
Other information: ISBN-13: 978-0064410151
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- MSL Picks -
In the 12th, and second-to-last (or penultimate), book in the Series of Unfortunate Events stories, the three Baudelaire children are put to the test in ways unlike they have yet had to experience. Familiar faces, some of which they are happy to see, many of which they shudder to think about, show up. And it all ends in an unthinkable manner.
After meeting up with Kit Snicket, sister of Jaques and Lemony, at the end of the 11th book, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are brought to the Hotel Denouement, the last safe meeting place of V.F.D. Kit explains that they must help her and her friends finally bring Count Olaf, Esme Squalor, and their associates to justice. Numerous V.F.D. volunteers will be arriving at the Hotel within two days to aid the children. However, Olaf and many of his followers will also be present in order to finally retrieve the important sugar bowl (Vessel For Disaccharides) once and for all. Kit tells the children that she will be meeting up with the newly reunited Quagmire triplets who are using the self-sustaining hot air mobile home to arrive at the hotel, and in a few days will return for the Baudelaires. Meanwhile, they must remain at the hotel and gather information about both sides.
The children encounter most of their old guardians, including Sir, Charles, Vice Principal Nero, and Hal, as well as Geraldine Julienne, the irresponsible reporter of the Daily Punctilio that has caused a lot of legal trouble for the children. In the process of their observations, they learn a few details that make the mysteries of their lineage and the history of V.F.D. even more interesting and confusing, especially a revelation about their parents and Count Olaf.
This book definitely felt very different from most others. Violet didn't do much inventing and Sunny didn't use her cooking or biting skills very often. Klaus' skills at research were highly valued in this book, especially since the entire hotel was built to model the Dewey Decimal System. Also, it has a very pronounced "calm before the storm" kind of feel to it. Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler is definitely preparing us for the final volume, which will hopefully answer the numerous lingering questions.
Most of the other themes of the series are still very prevalent. As usual, the Baudelaires seem to be the only competent people in a sea of bizarre adults; in fact, I am beginning to draw parallels to this story and Alice in Wonderland (author Lewis Carroll is often alluded to in these stories). The dark humor is as good as ever (I loved the reference to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia), and the constant warnings still please.
The ending was very good, and I can't wait to read the last story of the three Baudelaire children.
(Quoting from Andrew, USA)
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Lemony Snicket is the author of all 170 chapters in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Despite everything, he is still at large.
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From Publisher
Lemony Snicket returns with the last book before the last book of his bestselling Series of Unfortunate Events. Scream and run away before the secrets of the series are revealed!
Very little is known about Lemony Snicket and A Series of Unfortunate Events. What we do know is contained in the following brief list:
The books have inexplicably sold millions and millions of copies worldwide
People in more than 40 countries are consumed by consuming Snicket
The movie was as sad as the books, if not more so
Like unrefrigerated butter and fungus, the popularity of these books keeps spreading
Even less is known about book the twelfth in this alarming phenomenon. What we do know is contained in the following brief list:
In this book, things only get worse
Count Olaf is still evil
The Baudelaire orphans do not win a contest
The title begins with the word, 'The'
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
If this is the first book you found while searching for a book to read next, then the first thing you should know is that this next-to-last book is what you should put down first. Sadly, this book presents the penultimate chronicle of the lives of the Baudelaire orphans, and the first thing you should know about this next-to-last book is that it is next-to-first in its supply of misery, despair, and unpleasantness.
Probably the next-to-last things you would like to read about are the first things you would encounter in this next-to-last book, including a harpoon gun, a rooftop sunbathing salon, two mysterious initials, three unidentified triplets, a notorious villain, an unsavory curry, and several people you might find distressingly familiar and familiarly distressing.
Next-to-last things are the first thing to be avoided, and so allow me to recommend that you put this next-to-last book down first, and find something else to read next at last, such as the next-to-last book in another chronicle, or a chronicle containing other next-to-last things, so that this next-to-last book does not become the next-to-last book you will read.
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Amazon.com (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-20 00:00>
10 Second Interview: A Few Words with Daniel Handler
Q: Your Wikipedia (online encyclopedia) entry defines you as author, screenwriter, and accordionist. Is that how you would describe yourself?
A: I find that nothing makes people back away faster at a social gathering than "accordionist." Except perhaps "screenwriter." And, even "author" always makes people nervous, so I usually say "writer."
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: All my life really, since I was able to write all I wanted to do was write. I think largely I ended up becoming a writer because I could think of nothing else that I was good at - at all. As a kid, I always wanted to be a writer, and I had no backup plan whatsoever as an adult.
Q: Are the Baudelaire children ever going to be happy?
A: Well, they are happy on a regular basis, just not for very long. Um, are they ever going to be happy permanently? I don't know any permanently happy people, thank goodness.
Q: Okay, then is the series going to end on a happy note?
A: Well, I always remind readers of the Snicket books that happy is a comparative term, so the end will be happier than some people would think, but less happy than others.
Q: When can fans expect the final book?
A: I believe the thirteenth volume will be released in the fall of 2006, although something terrible could happen to the author at any moment and then the books would not be released at all.
Experience Snicket in the worst way possible: from the very beginning. Here are twelve books contained in four boxes in one terrible shipment. The Horrendous Heap also contains four unfortunate gifts, more upsetting than an itchy sweater in an unflattering color, including:
- A full-color print of one of Brett Helquist's most worrying illustrations, suitable for framing or burying in the backyard.
-A door-hanger, designed to keep unfortunate events out of any room with a door.
- A full page of black-and-white stickers, fit for sticking wherever unfortunate events arise.
- An iron-on, which can render any piece of clothing a part of the uniform of a secret organization.
Please be warned. This offering is a great deal of misfortune. Lemony Snicket advises against the reading, framing, hanging, sticking, or wearing of unfortunate events. In fact, you might be better off ordering a less horrendous heap, if you prefer that sort of thing.
Fans of the Lemony Snicket books can download and fold their own Misfortune Teller, by following these simple instructions. Once the Misfortune Teller is complete, all that is necesary is a willing victim, er, subject, and let the games begin!
Lemony Snicket has captured the hearts of childen and adults alike with the hilariously gloomy series that began, of course, with The Bad Beginning. Amazon.com had a chance to question the author of this marvelously morbid and delightfully depressing series, and the communication was grim indeed. Read the cumbersome communique and see for yourself.
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AudioFile (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-20 00:00>
Lemony Snicket is letting out all the stops in this next-to-last undertaking. The Baudelaire orphans are sent to the Hotel Denouement, where they meet old pals from earlier stories and act as concierge-detectives. The hotel is run by Frank and Ernest and is arranged according to Dewey decimal classification. Narrator Tim Curry demonstrates his considerable talent delivering great puns, wordplay, singing, and the best villainous cackle anywhere. There are even more word definitions than usual, and hearing the hotel clock gong "WRONG" on the hour, as if on cue, is hilarious. Snicket and Curry offer laughs and an unusual learning tool that is irresistible to listeners of all ages. S.G.B. 2006 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine - Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine -This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
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Booklist (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-20 00:00>
Gr. 5-8. "Book the Twelfth," second to last in the fantastically popular A Series of Unfortunate Events, reunites the beleaguered Baudelaire orphans with a host of characters from previous adventures as they gather at Hotel Denouement (with rooms organized according to the Dewey decimal system) to await the delivery of-the sugar bowl. Well, fans will get the drift, despite the fact that this inventive go-round seems more dizzying and stuffed with definitions than usual. But even as the series draws to a close, new questions arise-the most important one being, are the kids valorous volunteers or villains after all? Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved -This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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A Kid's Review (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-20 00:00>
Do you like unfortunate stories? Well, I do. In A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Penultimate Peril, by Lemony Snicket is a great mystery novel that puts some parts of this puzzle together.
The Baudelaire orphans, Violet, an astonishing inventor for her age, Klaus, a walking library who takes notes exceptionally well and Sunny, a great cook with oddly sharp teeth. After hopping into a mysterious taxi, the driver says she has known the children for a very long time. She is part of the VFD which is trying to save the children from evil. She gives the children hotel uniforms and tells them to spy on their enemies. They are dropped off by the taxi in front of Hotel Denouement where everything is literally upside down. While spying the children notice many familiar faces, one of them their most hated guardian, Count Olaf who is cooking up a plot to get the prized possession of the sugar bowl. Will the Baudelaire's see the Quagmire's again? Whose initials are J.S? Are the orphan's parents alive?
Being a huge fan of Lemony Snicket and this entire series I really enjoyed this book. If you love a good mystery and putting clues together you will like this. Also, you MUST read the first eleven books in this series to understand everything that's going on.
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