All The Wrong Questions (Book Series)

Charming and intriguing. The doesn't have the depressing weight to it that A Series Of Unfortunate Events does. It's light, fun, and probably the only story Lemony Snicket ENJOYS telling. He doesn't tell us to put down the book once, which is a first.

I'm seeing connections with the Baudelaire and VFD sagas being made in the background, but they aren't quite explicit yet. Wondering what those connections can be is half the fun, as is speculating that we might know some of the characters we meet here later on by different names.

Fun and enjoyable, which is new. 4 stars.

I not only now like this series more than A Series Of Unfortunate Events. I like it MUCH more. The characterization is far more realistic because few of the characters are as archly or broadly dumb as Mr. Poe and his consortium of adult losers. And any that are, Snicket handles. The characters are more likable, and the dialogue pops, and is weirdly hard-boiled (for a story mostly starring 13-year-olds).

What I like and appreciate most are some very eye-opening and true things Snicket says about human nature. I like that he took special notice to Ellington putting up her hair in front of him. He noted women don't tend to like other people watching that and consider it private. That was a fabulous observation. As was when he had to destroy the room that he found it fun on some level and that it made him understand bullies. That is not the kind of wise insight I expected from the creator of Carmelita Spats. It's wonderful and nuanced.

Getting some alarming ideas down early about Stew Mitchum. That kid is bad news.

This is so much fun. And I don't have to feel bad about it which is amazing. 5 stars.

Things are getting dire. I didn't like this as much as the last book but I didn't see the twist ending coming either so I DID like it.

Snicket said yet another interesting and true thing that I loved because it never occurred to me. While it's true when people tell you it's okay to cry that they are right, it's also fine for the crying person to want to hide their tears. Crying may not be shameful, but it should be allowed to be private. Not everyone is entitled to know you are sad.

The idea that VDF is supposed to be an aristocracy for kind and decent people doesn't actually sit right with me. It's easy to see how it was corrupted.

Can't wait to see how this all turns out. 4 stars.

I didn't like the ending. I wasn't surprised who Hangfire was, but the real disappointment to me was the reaction of Lemony's friends. I understand why Ellington refused to forgive him. But the rest of the kids really had no business judging him.

Although to be fair, a LOT of misery could have been avoided if he simply didn't blow the beast statue to be begin with. That seemed unnecessary on its own. Another reason I disliked the ending.

I enjoyed reading the series more than A Series Of Unfortunate Events. But the Baudelaire saga ended on a better place as far as I'm concerned. 2 1/2 stars.