A smart and funny series about three orphans and their terrible lives.Vocabulary children will learn in this book: vile, punctilio, notorious, assortment, skittish, aphorism, paltry, horizon, distortion, mirage, desolate, scuffling, windswept, morrow, nevermore, roosting, rustle, superlative, orthodontist, fowl, devotee, nefarious, ordeal, self-sustaining, tedious, quizzically, gargantuan, literary, pester, ornithological, dismay, hedge clippers, strenuous, intimidated, pandemonium, kindling, pediatric, quandary, imposing, huevos rancheros, flaw, generator, inflation, reconfigure, conduit, circulation, aspect, reroute, aquacycling, subliminal, tenor, unruliness, solitary, emphatically, stereo field, initial, leucophrys, contraption, flourish, accomplice, indignantly, immune, digest, exasperation, brioche, mortar, deluxe, impenetrable, gargling, gnashed her teeth, depressed a button, misshapen, overjoyed, finite, detached, repulsive, harpoon, maneuver, commotion, and welfare.Here are concepts explained to children in the book: prone to error, it takes a village to raise a child, he saw them off, fata morgana, seemed like small potatoes, concentrated its efforts, took the plunge, never gave it another thought, as the crow flies, a murder of crows, a bolt from the blue, without preamble, a wild-goose chase, barking up the wrong tree, floated several theories, jumping to conclusions, rise to the occasion, to be in one's element, mob psychology, fire away, in the nick of time, throw off all pretense, entertain the notion, deus ex machina, battering ram, not out of the woods yet, trouble on the horizon, her legs gave out, outskirts of town, retrace their steps, and criminal at large.One of the joys of reading this series is watching little Sunny Baudelaire grow up. In this book she says “Esmé”, “no lean”, “bite”, “contraire”, “bark”, “quandary”, “plan”, “Poe”, “stop”, “brioche”, “ready”, “mush”, “one, two”, “machina”, and “like me”. She stands on her own and takes her first steps.There's a poetry joke on page 71 and an Alice in Wonderland reference on page 90.
As a series these books are incredible. The formulaic plot that is repeated in every book satisfies the child who is being read to's expectation of what's going on, right and wrong and the band of simple characters. Where the books become really clever is the additional bits of plot woven into the anecdotes, dedications and acknowledgments, written for the older reader, whether parents reading aloud or older children. The humour is clever, beautifully insightful and infinitely quotable. Type Lemony Snicket quotes into any search engine and you will receive a barrage of hilarious snippets which readers of any age can appreciate. The beautiful sense of innocence is what I love about the books as well as the introduction of long words and the imaginative anecdotes to which they pertain. Although the actual definition of the words is sometimes glossed over, I assume the intention is to entertain the older readers and intrigue the younger ones into asking what they mean.Overall Lemony Snicket (real name Daniel Handler) uses the fact that he is writing a book to his advantage more than anyone else I have read. His tone of voice is unique and wonderful. He plays with the words on the page, often inviting readers to skip chapters, find out more, answer questions or search for hidden meanings. In one instance, being unable to describe just how black the tunnel was, he illustrates his point by colouring the next two pages in black ink. His love of books comes through in every sentence often using them as a device to tell between good and evil."Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them." Lemony Snicket
What do You think about The Vile Village (2001)?
Well, I'm more than halfway through now! And it's pretty crazy how little I actually know about the overarching mystery of the series.I loved the absurdity of V.F.D., the Elders who wore crow hats, the thousands of pointless rules, burning people at the stake, the constant migration of the crows. Watch as mob mentality seizes the villagers and you find yourself reading bizarre chants like, (view spoiler)["Burn the orphans! Burn the orphans!" (hide spoiler)]
—Mia
I liked it very much!The images that kept crawling into my mind with all those ravens flying together at sunset and dawn were soooo beautiful! And the riddle with the poems was very challenging! When they got the last note I was like "I KNOW WHERE THE QUAGMIRE TRIPLETS ARE"And the opportunity for the Baudelaires to practice their talents in that huge library and inventing studio was superb! And the trick in the cell was so inspired! And the plan to save Zack! ButI need answers. What the hell is going on? Who was that other Snicket? Where are the other orphans? What's up with Beatrice? I NEED TO KNOW! Am I going to find the whole truth only in the last book? Come on! I'm dying here! *exhales exasperated*Moving on.Anyway, I really enjoyed this one too, though I am so surprised the latest books are better than the first ones! I must thank my good luck I didn't stop at the 4th book after being not very excited (I mean thank God I had the audiobooks and nothing else to do on my 2 hours trip to the university or the 1 hour ride of buses to work!)P.S.! Do get the audiobooks! I cannot imagine a better book for that form of "reading"!
—Penny Raspenny
The Vile Village is the seventh book in A Series of Unfortunate Events by American author, Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler). As we once again join the unlucky Baudelaire orphans, they are sent by their banker, the ever-tussive Mr Poe, to the village of V.F.D under a government scheme based on the aphorism that it takes a whole village to raise a child. Having already suffered the loss of their parents, the threat of marriage, slave labour, hypnosis, a terrible boarding school, being thrown down a lift shaft and the murder of their Uncle Monty and Aunt Josephine at the hands of the evil Count Olaf and his nefarious assistants, the siblings are ever-vigilant of his reappearance. Luckily these well-mannered and uncomplaining children are also very resourceful: Violet invents, Klaus researches and Sunny bites. Snicket’s tone throughout is apologetic, sincere and matter-of-fact as he relates the unfortunate events in the children’s lives; his imaginative and even surreptitiously educational style will hold much appeal for younger readers. Snicket’s word and phrase definitions are often hilarious. This instalment sees the Baudelaires lodged with Hector the Handyman and forced to do chores for the village. But their time with Hector is actually quite good, as Violet works on improving Hector’s self-sustaining hot air mobile home, while Klaus scours the library for loopholes in V.F.D. rules and Sunny bites fallen branches whilst waiting on clues of their friends, the Quagmire Triplets. But they soon fall foul of the many village rules : Detective Dupin throws them into jail and threatens them with burning at the stake. And just who is Jaques Snicket and what was the message about the Baudelaire parents he was prevented from giving them before his murder? Of course Count Olaf and his girlfriend, Esme Squalor are up to their usual tricks. As always, the alliterative titles are delightful and Brett Helquist provides some wonderfully evocative illustrations. What is in store for the orphans now? Doubtless the eighth installment, The Hostile Hospital will reveal all.
—Marianne
