The Slippery Slope (Series of Unfortunate Events)

I remember The Slippery Slope being one of my favorite books of the Lemony Snicket series, and in general, it lives up to that memory, if only for a moment early on where Violet and Klaus are given a moment, for the first time in the series, simply to realize how much they've lost and how wildly out of control their lives have become. It's a genuinely touching and emotional moment, and it's to Daniel Handler's credit (the real author behind Snicket) that such a goofy, macabre series is still capable of such great moments that are anchored in our attachment to these characters. But there's a lot more to be had in Slippery Slope, from a reminder that Sunny Baudelaire is growing up to the arrival of a fairly surprising character, from glimpses into what exactly V.F.D. is to a realization that Count Olaf may not be the only villain out these these days. And, of course, Snicket does all this while still telling a story that's exciting, laugh-out-loud funny, and manages to both develop his complex mythology and deepen the themes and ideas that he's been playing with all along. Key among those: what, exactly, makes someone a villain? And at what point is crossing that line appropriate? It's a difficult question, and it's to the series' credit that it doesn't offer cheap or easy answers. Instead, it ends every bit as conflicted and unsure as its characters, and there's something refreshing in that honesty and refusal to condescend to its audience, no matter how young they might be. The cliffhangers at the end of each book are getting harder to walk away from, but even if they weren't, it would be hard to walk away from the Snicket books at this point - not when we've gone from laughing with the series to being genuinely and honestly moved by what it has to offer.

"In order to spare you any further repulsion, it would be best not to mention any of the unpleasant details of this story, particularly a secret message, a toboggan, a deceitful trap, a swarm of snow gnats, a scheming villain, a troupe of organized youngsters, a covered casserole dish, and a surprising survivor of a terrible fire."

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS number ten picks up at the point of the last book's cliffhanger. Count Olaf has separated the Baudelaire orphans from each other for the first time in the series, kidnapping the baby Sunny and cutting the tie to Violet and Klaus's caravan so that they are left helplessly tumbling down a mountain. On their way to a secret hideout, Count Olaf and his girlfriend Esmé gloat at having kidnapped Sunny, and their henchmen (some of Count Olaf's former acting troupe, joined by three freaks from the circus they've just left) are tagging along.

The book opens with Violet and Klaus trying to find a way to stop their dangerously hurtling, engineless caravan. Violet's inventing skills get them out of that mess, but they lose the caravan over a cliff after they've rescued some warm clothes and other useful things from it. Unfortunately, they run into a swarm of snow gnats, which drive them into a cave. Inside the cave, they are surprised to see that a group of campers has taken up residence. They are driving the gnats away with a campfire, and they wear fencing masks which keep the gnats out. One of this group happens to be Carmelita Spats, the Baudelaires' old enemy from Prufrock Preparatory back in The Austere Academy.

Meanwhile, Sunny is being badly treated by Olaf, Esmé, and the henchmen. They gloat about their crimes. Sunny sits secure in the knowledge that her siblings will find her.

The elder two Baudelaires camp out in the cave with this group called the Snow Scouts, who have an idiotic alphabetical pledge that they say over and over. One of the campers, however, starts giving them strange clues (by saying phrases whose first letters spell out "V.F.D."), and so they decide this camper is an ally. After everyone falls asleep, the boy leads them up a secret passage. During their travels up the passage, the author attempts to bore the reader with the description, and urges several times that you should stop reading now, only to finally cut to a "secret" letter to his sister. Lemony Snicket says he is taking a big risk hiding the letter in his book, and says he may have found evidence that will point to Olaf as the arsonist whose crimes are getting pinned on the author. He asks his sister to meet him on Beatrice's birthday in the Hotel Denouement. (Beatrice is the mystery woman to whom all the Series of Unfortunate Events books are dedicated, remember.) He urges her to please get them a room without ugly curtains.

Now we rejoin Sunny, in the clutches of her captors. As she prepares breakfast, the villains glorify bad hygiene and horrible crimes and disgusting habits, and finally they talk about going to burn down the V.F.D. headquarters. Two very evil people arrive. (They are so evil that the author will not mention their names, and decides instead to call them "the man with a beard, but no hair" and "the woman with hair, but no beard.") The evil people say they've already burned down V.F.D., and they give Esmé a little souvenir, which the evil man says he thinks is a cigarette, even though when she tries to smoke it (because cigarettes are so "in"), it just smells bad and spews green smoke. Then the evil people present to Olaf a stack of papers called "the Snicket file."

The elder two Baudelaires reach the V.F.D. headquarters with their new guide, and they have to break the code on the "Vernacularly Fastened Door," which of course operates on language cues. Once they are in, they see that the whole place has been burned down, much to their surprise. Violet and Klaus, bitterly disappointed to not find the expected "survivor of the fire," call out for their parents, but of course no one answers. The sweatered scout reveals that HE is the survivor of the fire, though not the same fire the Baudelaires were thinking of. He is Quigley Quagmire, the third Quagmire triplet who was presumed dead in his own house fire. He'd been hoping to find his siblings Isadora and Duncan. No such luck.

Quigley and the Baudelaires exchange all the information they know about their linked tragedies. It is revealed that there was a "schism," where the members of V.F.D. split into two factions, and presumably the orphans' parents were in one side with Jacques Snicket while Count Olaf, Esmé, and other evil people (like the eye doctor from The Miserable Mill) were in the other. They agree to join forces to rescue Sunny and find the other two Quagmire triplets. And conveniently, they spot a pillar of green smoke coming from the top of the mountain--it's a Verdant Flammable Device (Esmé's "cigarette"), just like a V.F.D. member would use.

Violet invents a type of climbing shoes and an ice tester from some forks and a candelabra, and she and Quigley make the climb, and the author allows the two "a moment of privacy" where it is insinuated that they had a romantic encounter. Afterwards, they make it to the top of the slope and they find Sunny. Sunny chooses to stay behind rather than be rescued, because she wants to find out the location of the "last safe place" that everyone keeps mentioning. The villains wish to burn it down, but the children would like to get there and meet the members of V.F.D., one of whom might be a surviving parent of theirs. Violet is reluctant to leave her baby sister there, but Sunny says, "I'm not a baby" (her longest sentence yet), and the two rescuers make their way back down the mountain to see how Klaus is doing.

Klaus has figured out that the items left in the fridge are a sort of code, to point them at the sugar bowl containing a clue. It also turns out Klaus has found out that there is one safe place to go as well. As long as Sunny finds out where that is, they'll be set, but then they realize they don't have a plan to rescue Sunny. They decide that they will capture something that Olaf wants . . . rather, they will capture someONE, his girlfriend Esmé, by luring her with the smell of the "cigarettes" she thinks are so "in." They spend all night digging a pit to trap her in, and begin to wonder if they are villains themselves.

Morning comes and Sunny's False Spring Rolls are a big hit with the villains, and afterwards she sees Olaf and Esmé appearing in horrific fashions (Count Olaf has even washed his face!). Olaf blurts that he can't wait to start recruiting new villain members and to burn down the Hotel Denouement--ta-da, the last safe place! Then Esmé notices the green smoke at the bottom of the slope, and decides to use her toboggan to slide down and find where those cigarettes are. Right before she falls into their pit trap, the children decide that trapping her is wrong, and they conceal their faces with the Snow Scout masks and jump out, telling Esmé not to fall into the trap. They come clean with her and tell her what they were planning, and they end up taking her back up the slope with them to confront Count Olaf. Pretending they are actual V.F.D. members, they find Olaf and say they are there to take Sunny Baudelaire away, and when Olaf taunts them on the grounds that they have no leverage, they reply that they know where the sugar bowl is.

Olaf demands the sugar bowl, of course. The children demand the safe return of Sunny first, and Olaf says he'd rather throw them all off the mountain. Esmé argues that giving up the baby is necessary to get the sugar bowl, and Olaf retorts that keeping the baby prisoner is necessary to get the Baudelaire fortune. They argue back and forth like spoiled children until the man with a beard but no hair interrupts them. Finally, about a billion things happen at once: The Snow Scouts arrive, having been targeted for "recruitment" by Olaf's troupe. In trying to rescue the Scouts from the terrible fate, the Baudelaires and Quigley reveal who they are, and Olaf attempts to threaten them by ordering Sunny thrown off the mountain. Something surprising happens: The two white-faced women who have worked for Olaf all along disobey his orders, saying that they lost a sibling in a mysterious house fire themselves, obviously caused by Olaf for purposes of recruitment. They leave, never to be seen again. (Olaf attempts to throw Sunny off the mountain himself, but finds that the casserole dish she was using for a bed actually now contains an eggplant instead of a young girl.) Sunny rejoins her siblings.

The man with a beard but no hair uses a whistle to give orders to a flock of enslaved eagles: He forces them to draw up a net around the Snow Scouts. (Apparently eagles and lions are aligned with Olaf's side of the V.F.D. schism, while trained reptiles and carrier crows are on the "good" side.) The plan is to burn down these Scouts' homes and acquire their various family inheritances. Olaf's group entreats Carmelita Spats (the only non-captured Snow Scout) to join the group, and she agrees. The Baudelaires and Quigley decide escape is better than trying to face the villainous scum, so they run away on the toboggan. Disaster strikes and the toboggan goes out of control on the melting slope, and Quigley gets swept away by a different current, leaving the Baudelaires hoping to find Hotel Denouement to meet him at the last safe place. The book ends with the siblings pondering more mysteries than they've solved.

There is a lot of character growth, particularly with Sunny and Violet.
I may not like all of the events, but seeing as it's book 10/13, a few more questions are answered.

Violet and Klaus begin separated from Sunny, who is stuck with Olaf. The two elder siblings encounter more V.F.D. acronyms, mainly through an unidentified Snow Scout (a group they come in contact with in the mountains). This Scout understands the Baudelaire's plight and knows more about them than they do.

Sunny meets some very strange people from Olaf's past who are actually more villainous than he is. If Olaf is wary around someone, then they are unpleasant to be around. They also destroyed the V.F.D. headquarters and have more evil plans for the future.

The end actually leaves me hopeful.

"The Slippery Slope" finds the Baudelaires where the previous book left them. Violet and Klaus have quite literally been released from the company of Count Olaf while Sunny again remains his prisoner. New faces appear, and old aquaintances emerge as the orphans move toward the conclusion of the series.

Count Olaf and the members of his gang take refuge at the top of a mountain as Sunny becomes a reluctant servant to the crew. After managing to avoid certain death, Violet and Klaus must follow Olaf's path to the top of the mountain. Of course this is not easy. It becomes more difficult in the face of snow gnats, a troupe of youngsters engaged in inappropriate word usage, and hidden message in a refridgerator.

By Book the Tenth, the stories are becoming significantly longer and more complex. One would assume the books are maturing with their target audience. While this happens, some of the charm of the story fades. Though not my favorite in the series, this is a solid effort.

While Sunny is Count Olaf's prisoner, Violet and Klaus discover V.F.D.'s secret headquarters. This story contains a Quagmire, significant overarching plot, an explicitly integrated metaplot, and ongoing character development--particularly in Sunny, who much needed depth. The second half of this series continues to impress me, and this volume shows why: it worries less about establishing and upholding its conventions, and spends more time on substance. If there's any drawback, it's that The Slippery Slope isn't especially funny. But it is what I wanted this series to become, and I appreciate it.

After volumes and volumes of the Baudelaire orphans facing Count Olaf's thefts, extortions, and murders...they face real evil.

The mystery of VFD has been referenced many times in the series thus far, but here we finally learn about the organization which seems to surround the lives of every character in the series, and the great schism that led to a practical war between members.

Here is where readers will probably find themselves unable to stop. We see a larger world and greater moral quandaries. The Baudelaires are growing up, making decisions about how they will fight. And far more sinister enemies than Count Olaf appear.

A great read, and, as the audiobook version goes, a continued marvelous performance by Tim Curry!

Imagine that you were kidnapped by Count Olaf and had to do all the chores like cooking, and pitching tents, while you watched him and his accomplices do nothing except try to think up a scheme to steal the Baudelaire fortune. This is just of what the youngest of three siblings has to face in this book which is called, a Series of Unfortunate Events: the Slippery Slope, by Lemony Snicket. It is a story with little bit of everything

First the most important reason that this book is so great is that it feels like the things are really happening in it. The author has mentioned that he has been to some of the places that the Baudelaire's have been to. Also that it is his job to record the story of the Baudelaire children. The author Lemony Snicket writes about them as if they are real people. I think it sometimes can be very really realistic

Also my second most important reason that this book is the best book is that it is very adventurous. They have so many good adventures in this book, like sledding down a half frozen waterfall. They also climb up a very long Vertical Flame Diversion, which acts as a chimney and a passageway. In addition this book is so interesting that you couldn't help but enjoy it. When you want a good book to read that has a lot of excitement you need to read this book.

Next, the third most important reason that this book is the best book that you could read is that it really helps you understand some hard words, and words that they just invent. If the baby in the story talks the author translates. If you are confused about some big words you don't usually have to worry because it will define some of the harder words. Since this book helps with defining words it also helps you expand your vocabulary. There may be some difficult words, but don't let that discourage you from reading this amazing book.

Furthermore, the last reason that this book is the best book I've read is because it is very detailed. It expands with words and what happens in a scene in the story. It has quite a few pages but it isn't really hard to read once you get into it. All those pages Just make the story all the more detailed. Because of this book being so detailed it will keep you entertained.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that this really is one of my favorite books out of all the books I've read because the author makes it seem as if the things that the Baudelaire's have been to seem very real. The age for this book would probably be 10 and above because it has some words younger children may not understand. The average interest group for this book is probably people who like adventurous books because there is so much goi g book.ng on that you will never want to put it down. If you did happen to get kidnapped by Count Olaf how might you manage all that work, especially if you were a baby? Find out how sunny did in this captivating book. You will find that the excitement and suspense in this book will make you wish it were longer so you could read more. Everybody should want to read this amazin

The storyline is fascinating as it reveals a greater amount of information regarding V.F.D. The part I enjoy the most is where Violet and Klaus flee from the snow gnats and take shelter in the Snow Scouts' cave. It is extremely interesting to read about the elder Baudelaires and the "sweatered scout" communicating with epithets such as "Voracious Fierce Dragon", "Vain Fat Dictator" and "Vinegar Flavoured Doughnuts".

It was also pleasant to read about Quigley Quagmire's explanation of how he recovered from the usually fatal affliction of death in the Quagmire mansion. I find it touching that he volunteered to help the Baudelaires before searching for Duncan and Isadora, although I suspect that it was not out of an especially kind feeling but more out of personal reasons. However, for whatever reason he chose to assist the Baudelaires, it is nice to know that there are still people who are generous and selfless.

Unfortunately, I felt that it was not Klaus who orchestrated the mental gymnastics of this book, but Quigley. This is not so good, as it is usually the Baudelaires' intelligence that makes the storyline charming.

The only thing which I feel spoils the tale is the author's refusal to describe what exactly happened between the third Quagmire triplet and the eldest Baudelaire on the icy ledge. I do not know whether Quigley really was talking to Violet, or if he was describing the wall or something else as quite lovely indeed.

I marvel at the author's ability to tangle a simple plot into an extremely confusing puzzle -- the existence of fire survivors in the Baudelaire, Snicket and Quagmire households; the identity of Beatrice; the relationships of the characters. I am confident that the end of the series will be innovative and witty, and I hazard a guess that someone will die (or else the ending will be too happy, and it also cannot be too depressing, and therefore will be bittersweet). I hope that the victim will be Quigley, to make for more drama, although I presume that it will leave the eldest Baudelaire broken-hearted.

It's hard to believe that just ten depressing books ago the Baudelaire orphans were living their lives without any idea of where their journeys might end. They didn't know anything about a mysterious organization called VFD, or suspect the source of the fire that killed their parents. They were clueless as to where Count Olaf got his information about the orphans' whereabouts, and they'd have been completely baffled if you told them that the eye on Olaf's ankle was more than it seemed. But with "The Slippery Slope" the Baudelaires are wiser, if not happier. Sure they've used their intelligence and resources to get out of multiple sticky nefarious situations. Yet with this particular offering, the siblings are facing something they've never encountered to this extent before. They've been split apart from one another. It's distressing.

Far more distressing is the fact that while Sunny has been purloined by Olaf and his creepy crew, Klaus and Violet have been sent down a steep mountain path towards their doom. After surviving (all thanks to Violet's clear head) the two decide to rescue their baby sister. Along the way they run into someone they've long since thought dead, and discover a host of information about VFD (though not what it stands for). Sunny, on her part, becomes a thoroughly resourceful Baudelaire in her own right. Having been exhausted as a character of her tendency towards biting, Sunny suddenly appears to also be a very clever cook. This is for the best since Olaf & Co. have decided to use her for all their menial and craft services. Most babies would balk. This one's up to the challenge. And though the ending is, in its way, depressing, it's a bit more cheery than some of the situations faced throughout this text.

The author of this book has done a magnificent job detailing the orphans' moral struggles as well. Having helped the malicious Count Olaf to set the Caligari Carnival on fire in the last book, Klaus and Violet must consider just how much they can be held responsible for their actions. They've still never really come to terms with the idea of burning stuff up like Olaf, and now the phrase, "Fight fire with fire", has caused them a great deal of concern as well. Is it possible to defeat Olaf without lowering themselves to his level? Just how wrong is it of them to set traps like he does? And are they actually villains after having helped a villain, or are they victims? This is heavy stuff for any children's book to handle. I wouldn't be particularly surprised if kids reading this novella huff a little in exasperation over the orphans' moral qualms. After all, they've obviously been victimized numerous times. Still, if the author can convince kids that retaliating against evil with evil is a ridiculous notion, he's done more good than he probably intended.

But that's neither here nor there. The point is that "The Slippery Slope" is a fine, magnificent, deeply depressing tale that more that deserves to be placed in the overall orphan oeuvre. The Baudelaires often complain that as time goes by their investigations churn up more questions than answers. With three books following this one in the series, it's unlikely that this pattern will abate any time soon. Until then, we'll just have to read each and every Baudelairian adventure be they high or low. I for one, am delighted with the prospect. Woo-hoo!

A Kid's Review

Samantha:

A Slippery Slope is the tenth edition in A Series Of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It all starts out with the happy Baudelaire family, but when the parents die in a tragic fire, the three Baudelaire kids, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are all orphaned. Since they are orphans they were sent to live with their guardian who just happens to be their evil crazy uncle, Count Olaf.

After they escape from his clutches once again, he disguises himself so that he can capture the kids again. So he captured Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire. He knew that as long as he had one of the children he could still inherit the Baudelaire fortune.

So Violet and Klaus are on a mission to save their sister. They encounter a harsh winter and snow nats along the way. Once they reach a cave they think that they are safe for a while, but as always they're not. Their enemy from school, Camelia Spats and her friends, the snow scouts are there. After they make friends with each other, they all go to sleep. Klaus and Violet realize one still is awake, so they go talk with him.

When they were talking, the snow scout asked a lot of questions, which Violet and Klaus found a little suspicious. While they were talking, Violet and Klaus discovered that Count Olaf was on a mission to not only inherit the Baudelaire fortune, but to also burn down almost every house! Then he told them that he could lead them to a place where they could save their sister; so he led them there, The VFD Headquarters. The VFD Headquarters was a secret organization that the Baudelaire's parents belonged to. When they reached the organization it was burnt to the ground. Violet and Klaus were in awe. And right then the realized who it was that had led them to the secret organization.

Who burnt down the organization? Who was it that had led Violet and Klaus there? Will Violet and Klaus save their sister? Why did the Baudelaire's parents keep the organization a secret? And why was the organization a secret?

Word Count: 362

Is it possible that there are worse villains in the world than Count Olaf and his eerie girlfriend, Esme Squalor, and they might be working in cahoots with Olaf? Is it possible, as has been hinted since The Hostile Hospital, that someone else survived "the fire"? Can Violet fall in love? Can Sunny fashion meals out of seemingly incompatible ingredients? Are we to be introduced to the absolute worst scouting pledge of all time? Could they have finally found the headquarters for VFD, whatever that stands for?

To answer: yes, perhaps, yes, yes, yes, and I won't tell you.

We encounter more VFDs here: Very Fascinating Drama; Very Fun Day; Vinegar-Flavored Doughnuts; Violent Frozen Dragonflies; Voracious Fierce Dragon; Vain Fat Dictator; Vernacularly Fastened Door; Vertical Flame Diversion; Verdant Flammable Device; and Volunteer Feline Detective, amongst others. We also encounter a most odiferous young girl who fashions herself the False Spring Queen of the Snow Scouts at this particular juncture - Carmelita Spats - whom I have always envisioned as that large brute of a girl that used to beat up on Lisa Simpson. As horrid as she is, it is fun to have the word "cakesniffer" bandied around again.

Sunny has really beefed up her skills as a chef. Having been abducted by Count Olaf, she is separated from her siblings and has been forced into performing chores for Count Olaf that are nearly impossible for a child her age. Not to mention that every night, at the top of a very cold mountain, she is forced to sleep in a casserole dish! Sunny's culinary abilities are beginning to blossom. One of the many creative dishes she fashions out of the seemingly incompatible ingredients that the filthy Olaf has left in the even filthier trunk of his automobile is Lox. To prepare Lox, one most have the appropriate accoutrements - or so says Snicket, in a rare misuse of a word. Accoutrements have more to do with apparel than ingredients in food, but with a stretch of the imagination, it's not difficult to forgive. Anyway, Sunny somehow finds "bagels, cream cheese, sliced cucumber, black pepper, and capers". She's also lucky enough to have salmon at her disposal, and she smokes this in preparation for making the Lox. (Not smoke in the sense of smoking a cigarette of course, or a Verdant Flammable Device, but smoke in the sense of sending out distress signals to her siblings!)

A common element amongst all of these wonderfully morose yet uplifting books is triumph over adversity due to teamwork, and it is never used more than it is here. I'd love to comment on how, but that would give some things away that readers who aren't familiar with the books wouldn't want me to give away.

Suffice to say, this is one of the strongest books in the series, and is also the longest. I admit to being sufficiently concerned that Book the Eleventh would be even longer (following a disturbing trend in today's publishing industry) but that wasn't the case.

Oh, no! Another woeful story based on the new movie! This book is by Lemony Snicket, the man behind the lives of the Baudulaire orphans. Events will take a turn for the worse when you read the tenth of the orphans' unfortunate lives. These woeful fantasies have become a miserable New York Times bestseller. The illustrator of the series is known as Brett Helquist, who has illustrated for many magazines including the Cricket.

One of the many things that ruin the Baudulaires' lives is the cruel and sinister Count Olaf as he hatches his plans with a deadly array of disguises. Strangely, this book doesn't include a disguise as the Baudlaires have fled their once current guardian, a village that has called them impostors and have even called the police since the last three books. The main events are unfortunate as the title states. The way the orphans figure the small but perilous problems are clever, but that doesn't allow the book to have a happy ending. The setting for this L.S book is the "Mortmain Mountains," a location where snow gnats inhabit the snowcapped mountains. The unlucky characters of this book are the three Baudulaire orphans. Violet, the eldest, is already one of the finest fourteen-year old inventors the world has ever known. Anyone who knew Violet well would know that when she ties her hair up in a ribbon would mean she is thinking hard on a new invention. Her 13-year old brother, Klaus the middle child, has read an enormous amount of books, much more than anyone reads in their entire lifetime. Making him very sophisticated. Lastly their baby sister, Sunny, who would rather prefer to bite hard objects more than anything else. As an infant, she can only speak in unintelligible shrieks. Although at a tender age, Sunny, like her siblings, Sunny is quite clever. Although the the orphans are very unlucky, their parents, after their death by a great sea of flames that destroyed their entire home, have left an enormous fortune.

With a thought, if Lemony Snicket asks you to keep yourself from reading the book, why write it? Anyway, the book is hard to put down. Especially with the perilous problems and the surprising solutions. This title (at some points) represents the problem which happens in every book in the series. Personally, I think the books become more depressing as the series continue. I would recommend this book to people that...well, just enjoy books. Especially with the new movie coming out. Would you read this tale?

Like all of the recent A Series of Unfortunate Events books, "The Slippery Slope" contains a story that gives us readers a few cryptic answers, introduces new questions, and contains increasingly desperate orphans solving puzzles by unconventional means, all told by a strange author who enjoys random comparisons and explanations. The plot of this book is different, as in Sunny is separated from her other two siblings, the story is divided into two points of view, and the chapters trade off every so-often; some chapters follow Klaus and Violet while they devise a plan to save their sister and discover the mysterious secret of VFD, while others show Sunny coping with being in Olaf's clutches and trying to become a spy. This book is an interesting addition to the series, to say the least.

It must be said that the beginning of this book is dry. Yes, dry. Dry, a phrase which here means "boring," a term which here means "while I already have read the first nine books out of the twelve I have already purchased, I almost decided to put this book down mid-read." This is because this series has become quite lengthy, so the first two chapters are packed with back story which the common readers of the series are all-too-familiar with. While it is understandable that Mr. Snicket must fill in unfortunate readers who haven't read the other books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there must be a different way to do it then the way it's done. Show, Mr. Snicket, don't tell. I must say that the book does pick up nicely after the third chapter though, and quickly became one of the most attention-holding books out of all ten I have read so far, a phrase which here means "I finished this book in one day while it took me two or, perhaps, more to read the rest, despite the fact that I almost gave up on the book after chapter two, which I now realized would have been a bad idea, because enduring a little bit of `dryness' is all right, seeing as the other eleven chapters which were quite good."

7/10

The Slippery Slope picks up right where The Carnivorous Carnival and it was definitely the best book of the series so far. Everything I thought the previous books lacked was in this one.

Throughout this book, Sunny is separated from Violet and Klaus and it really gave her an opportunity to develop as a character. Like her older siblings, I hadn't noticed how much Sunny had grow up. She finally was able to help not only her siblings, but also herself in more ways than just using her teeth. That was so nice to see.

As for Violet and Klaus, they ran into someone who was willing to help them uncover information about VFD and in this book, they ACTUALLY learned something. I was getting annoyed because it seemed like they were learning nothing about everything so to finally get to see some of the secrets uncovered really got me into the story.

In this book I finally got to see why this series is so beloved. There was action, mystery and a wonderful scene where the Baudelaires and their new friend began to question their actions and if doing something slightly villainous makes them villains.

For the tenth time we follow the adventures of the Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and baby Sunny, though baby Sunny has grown up quite a bit since the first book. While I have looked forward to this book, there were certain aspects of the book that I found disappointing compared to my expectations.
As you will recall from the last book, Count Olaf and his henchmen have kidnapped Sunny. Violet and Klaus are presumed dead in the crash of a caravan. Things are looking grim once again for the trio. However, all is not lost for the Baudelaires as we know from our experiences with the first nine books.
In this book the orphans reach the Mortmain Mountains, the home of the long-sought headquarters, though not simultaneously or together. The questions for this book are: Will the orphans rejoin each other as they search for clues to their mysterious past? Will the orphans reach headquarters at last, and if so, what will they find there? What is the meaning of the mysterious initials "VFD?" The Baudelaires are clearly in a Very Fine Dilemma in this book. Watch out for the obnoxious snow gnats and beware of Snow Scouts wearing masks.
While I enjoyed this book, I had a vague feeling that perhaps Lemony Snicket was losing a bit of momentum in his writing. The story seemed to move forward more slowly than the previous books. Violet's inventions were fewer and less inspired. Baby Sunny attempting to stop a toboggan with her teeth made me queasier than the previous uses of her teeth. The revelations in this book just didn't seem quite as creative to me as the previous books. It's possible that reading ten books with a similar style of writing has caused me to become accustomed to the style and it's no longer as fascinating as it once was. However, the story was interesting and I look forward to the final two books in the series. It will be interesting to see whether there is a Baudelaire parent that has survived the fire of the first book. Will Count Olaf finally get what is coming to him? Just what is in the mysterious Snicket file? The questions are endless, and will keep me reading to the end of the series.

I thought that the book* The Slippery Slope* was a very suspenseful and enjoyable book.

Here is a summary: Violet and Klaus Baudelaire are a sister and brother in a trailer being pulled by a truck. The driver is their enemy, Count Olaf. The Baudelaires, who are orphans, are in disguise. All of a sudden, Count Olaf's henchmen lean out the window and cut the knot that holds the trailer to the truck. The Baudelaires fall back down the mountains that they were driving up. Count Olaf thought they had been killed and had their little sister Sunny in the truck. Violet and Klaus use traction and a drag car chute to stop themselves. They use the few things they had to bundle up because it was very cold in the mountains. They hike up the mountains until they find a cave with a group called the Snow Scouts, including one of their mean rivals, Carmelita Spats. They find a friend who shows them the way to a place called VFD. The three friends find baby sister Sunny on top of a mountain peak. She was Count Olaf's servant. The three friends rescued her.

There are many more sad details that are worth reading the book for. I like the book because you never know what is going to happen next.

By Audrey's daughter, Ruth

A Series of Unfortunate Events the Slippery Slope is about the three Baudelaire children who get separated thanks to Count Olaf. Count Olaf is an evil man who has been in there lives since he burned down there house at the beginning. In this part of the Baudelaire's adventure Count Olaf takes Sunny far up to the top of the Mortmain Mountains and Klaus and Violet try to save her while they try to learn there parents secrets and those of the V.F.D.

My favorite part of the book would have to be when Klaus and Violet meet up with the snow scouts on there way to the top of the Mortmain Mountains. To there surprise they meet up with the "long lost Quagmire triplet" who had "died" in a terrible fire. Of course he did not for he is there with them. Any way Klaus, Violet and him share there secrets to try to solve their mysteries but they didn't learn much. That is definitely my favorite part because for once the Baudelaire's feel good about something in a time of need.

A Series of Unfortunate Events the Slippery Slope is an excellent book. When I read it there was something about it that [..]in and I couldn't put it down. It definitely isn't a very hard read but it is very funny the way Lemeny Snicket writes and how he thinks. As I said it isn't a hard read so I highly recommend for all levels of readers. This book gives the definitions of words younger readers probably have never heard of and Lemeny Snicket talks as if he has researched the Baudelaire's and is writing down the facts in a history book, which I think is really cool. All in all this is a very cool book and I highly recommend it to all people.

My mother bought this installement for me only after I promised to clean my room and adjoining bathroom, cook part of dinner, and sacrifice my customary hour of "American Idol." Only then did she succumb and purchase this. Let me just say that I was not disappointed.

This book was a lot more tense and dark than the other ones, but delightfully fun at the same time. What kind of author can do that? Lemony Snicket can. He can be humorous, touching, sad, or just plain silly all at the same time. He really does have a gift.

This series is charming. Although it's a bit below my normal reading level, it is a pleasure I have no reason to be guilty about. It includes some very cute references to other great literary works, something which Mr. Snicket has maintained through this entire series. Sunny's garbled baby interjections will be funny to young readers, but meaningful to older ones ("Busheney!" is her way of saying "a horrible man with no regard for others;" that one really got me cracked up!) This series has something for everyone.

Also, it has the makings of a very fine mystery. With each step, the likeable Baudelaires (the protagonists) are coming closer to finding out more about a complicated plot that hangs a shadow over their lives. Parents should know that these protagonists are children that you want your children to be: extremely interested in learning, very courteous, and just plain intelligent. These are not teenagers-getting-attitudes. 14 year old Violet is an inventor, 13 year old Klaus is a voracious reader, and baby Sunny loves, well, biting things.

There is something for everyone in these books; i couldn't urge parents more to buy these. If your kid is tired of Harry Potter, just know that there's way more out there in store. Mr. Snicket is a literary jewel for children.

Dear Reader,

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE begins immediately after the conclusion of Book #9, THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL. The events that happened there were so horrible. When we meet up with the Baudelaires, Violet and Klaus are rushing down the slope of a mountain in a runaway caravan that was accelerating with every passing second. Meanwhile, Sunny is being held captive by Count Olaf and his ever growing troupe. Oh, those poor children!

First Violent and Klaus have to figure out how to slow the caravan and prevent themselves from being smashed into hundreds of little fragments. Only then are they able to climb back up the mountain and rescue Sunny from the clutches of Olaf and crew.

Surprisingly as it might seem, Sunny isn't in too much danger. She's useful around the camp and since Olaf and his troupe don't think she is able to eavesdrop and learn important information.

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE is a very important book in the chronicles of the Baudelaires. New characters are introduced, old characters are re-met, and small mysteries are solved. When I read this story it felt to me like it was the beginning of the end of the saga. With only three books left in the series it very well should be. But, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE is just as exciting and dangerous as the previous books in the series. By the end of the story everyone learns an important lesson: once you fall down a slippery slope, it's very hard to get back up again and the only place to go is down.

Speaking of which, I think I shall retire to rest my bum from the fall I had on the ice yesterday.

Sincerely,

Uncle TV

This is yet another fine example of Children's Writing. I enjoyed this book. It is full of laughs and surprises. There are more twists and turns in this one than a back country road!
My only problem with this series is at times it gets jumbled and over-wrought, it's almost as if you can see Mr. Snicket trying desperately to put the "brakes on" before he gives away too much. We all know they are trying to squeeze this story into 13 volumes.... (I believe) and I'm sure he doesn't want to give the store away too soon.
At times the discussion of certain actions and events go a little too far. As if he is trying to squeeze more out of a storyline than what is really their. At times it goes too far. But not too terribly far!
Mr. Snicket has truly, put a fanciful and wonderfully "Dreadful" world together for these three endearing orphans. As I have stated before you can't be sure whether to laugh or cry for these children.
I enjoy the wry, dry wit employed in this series. I also believe the little revelations that Snicket gives us into his own fictional life are brilliant! The whole world of Lemony Snicket is truly intricate and engrossing.
I just picked up his unauthorized autobiography and can't wait to crack it open. The more you learn about his "persona's" connection to the series, the more you want to know.
In The Slippery Slope we meet up with Klaus, Violet and Sunny once again and get to share in their misery. They have continued to be in and out of the clutches of Count Olaf and his motley crew of cronies.
The story is progressing well and ends with yet another "cliff hanger"... (So to Speak)
This series is worth your time. The books read like a runaway freight train.... and you will fly through them.
Adults and Children alike will find more than enough entertainment in these pages... Enjoy!

Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire have been orphaned due to a mysterious fire that has killed their parents, leaving them in the hands of their accountant Mr. Poe. Mr. Poe gives them to a so-called relative of the family named Count Olaf, who adopts the children just to get their parents fortune. This leads to a series of unfortunate events. In this book, the Baudelaires escape Caligari Carnival, which Count Olaf burns to the ground. They journey to the Mortmain Mountains in hopes to find one of their parents, due to the information they find on the thirteenth page of the Snicket file. In the beginning of the book Sunny is re-captured by Olaf while he sends Klaus and Violet to a hurrdling death in a caravan that his evil compainon's detach from his car. Towards the middle of the book, Klaus and Violet meet Quigley Quagmire, who was said to be dead due to a mysterious fire that killed him and his parents. He is a triplet and is looking for his brother and sister, who are floating around in a self-sustaining home air ballon. Violet and Klaus know who he is immedately and they all join together to confront Count Olaf while continuing to uncover pieces of the V.F.D's secrets. At the end of the book, the Baudelaires escape Olaf's clutches by using the Stricken Stream (the Slippery Slope). This splits them apart from Quigley and they are to meet him at the last safe place of the V.F.D organization, which is said to be the Hotel Denouncement. I really enjoyed this book because it opened up many doors to the mysteries behind V.F.D and introduced characters that might have a big factor in the ending of Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Samantha:

A Slippery Slope is the tenth edition in A Series Of Unfourtuate Events by Lemony Sniket. It all starts out with the happy Bauderlaire family, but when the parents die in a tragic fire, the three Bauderlaire kids,Violet Klaus, and Sunny are all orphans. Since they are orphans they were sent to live with their guardian who just happens to be thier evil crazy uncle, Count Olaf.

After they escape from his clutches once again, he disguses himself so that he can capture the kids again. So he captured Sunny, the youngest Bauderlaire. He knew that as long as he had one of the children he could still inherit the Bauderlaire fourtune.

So Violet and Klaus are on a mission to save their sister. They enounter a harsh winter and snow nats along the way. Once they reach a cave they think that they are safe for a while, but as always their not. Their enemy Camelia Spats and her friends, the snow scouts are there. After they make friends with each other, they all go to sleep. Klaus and Violet realize onestill is awake, so they go talk with him.

When they were talking, The snow scout led them to the only place that could save their sister, The VFD Headquarters. The VFD Headquarters was a secret organization that the Bauderlaire's parents belonged to. When they reached the organization it was burnt to the ground. Violet and Klaus were in awe. And right then the realized who it was that had led them to the secret organization.

Who burnt down the organization? Who was it that had led Violet and Kalus there? Will Violet and Klaus save their sister? And why was the organizaation a secret?

The misfortune is back... for the tenth time as the Slippery Slope. The book begins revealing a few details of the mysterious V.F.D. As the Bauldiares just survive a horrific crash they venture skyward towards the Valley of Four Drafts. On the venture up they are swarmed with Snow Gnats. After sprinting to the nearest cave they meet a mysterious boy who knows about V.F.D. As they slowly make their way up the Vertical Flame Divider that incidentally is above them. When they reach the summit of the vertical Flame Divider, they come to find that the headquarters has been destroyed. How are they going to find Sunny, who happened to be right above them? (the younger Bauldiare that Count Olaf had managed to steal in the previous book)

In the Slippery Slope in a misfortunate series the colorful author Lemony Snicket reveals the secrets of V.F.D. well at least plenty of them to make money off another following book. Lemony Snicket decides that this is not enough, so he adds his family and other mysterious questions to you head. At the end of the book like any incredible author he leaves you hanging. Like any series that makes hardcover it is now becoming a movie.

The book did not receive any awards although it certainly deserves some. What is it that hooks kids to this series? Maybe it's the way the author writes in such question and makes the ends of the books so interesting that people want them to read the following book.

In my opinion the book is a ten out of ten star book for it's colorful decription, and word choice that will impress you. Don't worry the book describes the vocabulary for itself. The thing that puts the book on the top is the hilarious remarks that the author embellishes hilarious remarks throughout the entire story.

The Slippery Slope
Written by: Lemony Snicket

This is the tenth book in "A Series of Unfortunate Events". The main characters include the Baudelaire children, Count Olaf, and Esme Squalor. Sunny is the youngest of the three Baudelaire orphans. She is only two years old but is courageous and demands independence from her siblings. Sunny has sharp teeth, a very limited vocabulary, and a strong will. Klaus is the middle child. He is 12 years old, loves to read, and is very intelligent. Violet is the eldest of the siblings and is 15 years old. She is imaginative and loves to invent things. Violet's inventions are well known among her admirers. Count Olaf is a wicked old villain who is out to get the Baudelaire's fortune. Esme is the evil girlfriend of Count Olaf. She is the "in and out girl". This means if it is in-style she'll embrace it, but if it is out she'll despise it.
The plot of the book is about the adventures of the Baudelaire children as they try to find out if one of their parents is still alive and try to find their kidnapped sister, Sunny. They encounter many obstacles and disappointments in their journey.
The setting takes place on the slippery slope of Mortmain Mountains. The mountains are freezing and are infested with evil insects called snow gnats. These insects will sting anything and everyone. It is a miserable place to be.
The theme of the book is about realistic trials and their outcomes. Unlike many stories this story does not have a happy ending.
I liked this book because it has unpredictable twists and turns. The author has a very unique style of writing! It will most definitely capture your attention.

The Slippery Slope is "Book the Tenth" in the Series of Unfortunate Events featuring the Baudelaire orphans. Count Olaf has kidnapped the youngest orphan, Sunny, and Violet and Klaus must try to find a way to save themselves as well as catch up to Olaf and reclaim their sister. But they find themselves alone and without resources in the cold and scary Mortmain Mountains. To make matters worse, they are not sure to where Olaf has escaped. First they are attacked by snow gnats that sting for no reason, then they run into the horrible Carmelita who made their lives so miserable when they attended Prefrock Prepatory School. But all is not bad as they meet a mystery friend that comes to their aid and turns out to be an unexpected ally. But will the new friendship be enough to overcome Olaf and his evil henchman who grow in number with every installment in the series?

After a stretch of books that dragged, the tenth book finally picks the pace back up. It is clear that the plot is beginning to reach a climax and the story excites the reader to continue. The beginnings of the overall theme are finally coming together and mysteries are being revealed. However, just as it is for the Baudelaire children, the more mysteries that are solved, the more mysteries that evolve.

This series remains a highly imaginative and well written series. Unfortunately it dipped in the middle, but it seems to be making a comeback that will hopefully continue right through "Book the Thirteenth."

While I still think that The Hostile Hospital is the best book so far, this one is not far off from being the best. It begins exactly where the last book ended; Violet and Klaus are in a runaway caravan that is speeding down the mountain-side while Sunny is in the clutches of Count Olaf and his villainous troupe. The book alternates between the two sets of children; it will tell Violet and Klaus' story for a few chapters, then return to the top of the mountain where Sunny and her captors are waiting to "recruit" new members.

In this book, we are introduced to new friends and villains. The villains, while we never learn their names or who they truly are, are definitely a threat, because they can cause even Olaf to get scared. Meanwhile, the Baudelaires meet up with a new friend who has ties to the Quagmires, two of three triplets that the Baudelaires met back at Prufrock Prep. Unfortunately for the Baudelaires, another classmate returns as well, the bratty Carmelita Spats.

While this book has many interesting twists and revelations (we are actually given a credible response to the question, "What does V.F.D. stand for?", but anyone who's seen the movie has pretty much already figured it out), I would have to say that the thing that shocked me the most was Violet and their new friend making out on the mountain. It just completely caught me off guard.

Anyway, if you have been reading the series, you will definitely enjoy this volume. The world is quiet here.

The Slippery Slope is the tenth volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Having disguised themselves as Carnival Freaks and pretending to join Count Olaf's gang in order to get to the VFD headquarters, the Baudelaire Orphans have been discovered by Count Olaf and while Sunny was kidnapped, Klaus and Violet or locked in a trailer and are rolling backwards down a mountain road with no control over the trailer. This is where we begin The Slippery Slope. The elder orphans struggle to find a way to save themselves and then make their way back up the mountain to the secret headquarters, and Sunny struggles to find an opportunity to escape to find her siblings or to learn more about the scheme of Count Olaf.

As always, one book in this series is quite similar to the others, but we learn much more about the mysterious VFD that has been hinted at for several books now and somewhat more about the Quagmire Triplets is also revealed. One gets the sense that Snicket truly is wrapping this series up and leading towards an end (not to mention that book 13 is called The End). The Slippery Slope is a satisfying book and one which should please longtime readers of the series. The fun, the despair, the words of warning, the riddles and rhymes, and the new mysterious about the old villains...all of this is included. If you like the first nine, you'll be happy with ten.

-Joe Sherry

SLIPPERY SLOPE is the tenth of the thirteen volume A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. As an adult reader who came to this series recently (I saw the film version of the first three volumes, which seriously piqued my curiosity) I have had some complaints about the earlier volumes. As an adult reader, I found that the earlier volumes often moved too slowly and were too repetitive. I tried to get past that because, after all, it's a children's book, and some of the clever double entendre found in Sunny's "baby talk" in the earlier books was well worth it. Moreover, the underlying mystery had captured my imagination, and I found myself searching for clues in the books to see if I could figure some answers out myself.

However, in this book, finally the story begins to move at a faster pace. New characters are introduced, we learn some answers (finally!) to the mysteries that have been haunting us since the first book, and Sunny's growth from a small baby into a little girl makes her the most charming of the Baudelaires. Yes the series was slow on occasion - the 4th and 5th books especially spring to mind - but the developing story is worth the wait. And if you're reading this to a child, you're going to be entertained as much as they are.

I liked this book because it had great details and it had a wicked good story line. I have liked the books in this series so far, but this book is the best book that I have read in the series.

In the beginning, Count Olaf and his troupe take Sunny and let Klaus and Violet tumble down the mountain in the carnival van. Violet figures out a way to stop the van and makes an invention. Then they start to climb up the freezing cold mountain to rescue Sunny. Then Violet and Klaus get attacked by snow knats, which are bugs that attack for no reason whatsoever. Violet and Klaus find a cave to get away from the snow knats and find that these people called snow scouts are in the cave also. One of the snow scouts, a certain triplet, finds path that is in the back of the cave that leads to the V.F.D headquarters. When they get to the headquarters, they see that it has been burned down. Then they see a green smoke at the top of the frozen waterfall, which is the top of the mountain. Violet then makes an invention to help them climb the waterfall to get to the top of the mountain. Guess who is at the top of the waterfall? Read the book and find out who it is.

I think that fantasy readers would like this book because it is a great fantasy story and some of the things that the people and the kids do in the story probably couldn't happen in real life.

The Slippery Slope, in the Series Of Unfortunate Events is a book about three young children who are suddenly orphaned. Their parents are killed in a fire, so they are sent to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf. They soon find out he is evil and no one will believe them, in the last few books they've been running from him, but he always seems to know where the Baudelaires are, and thinks of a new evil scheme each time. But as a team, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire always outsmart him. In this particular book, Violet and Klaus have to think of a way to rescue their younger sibling Sunny, from Olaf's clutches. Count Olaf and his theatre troupe have Sunny hostage up in the Mortmain Mountains.

This is in the ninth book in the series, and I have read them all. I enjoy reading these books because they are like no other, they are amusing, and keep you on the edge of your seat, I've grown to love the Baudelaire orphans, and each book is full of more surprises. The one thing I don't really like about these books, is how they get very confusing at times, if you are good at connecting things and figuring out endless mysteries, then this book is for you. There are so many connections and other things in the book if your not paying attention you could very easily miss something very important.

If you are addicted to Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, then the tenth addition to this thirteen part series is a must have! If you enjoyed the early books but found the last few somewhat formulaic, then I still recommend Book the Tenth!

After countless tantalizing hints and suggestions, we finally get some real clues. Without giving anything important away, I can reveal that information is uncovered concerning whether or not both Baudelaire Parents really died in book one's fatal fire (hinted at in the last book); we draw much closer to finding out what the initials V.F.D. mean; we are reacquainted with at least two characters from the early books; and a hitherto missing person makes an astonishing appearance subsequently shedding considerable light on the tragic events blighting the Baudelaire sibling's lives. Furthermore, although you won't be able to read about it (for reasons of privacy), Violet has an unexpected romantic entanglement in a very cold place!

The last book left readers with a cliff-hanger: Sunny had been abducted by Count Olaf and his entourage and was being driven uphill, whilst Violet and Klaus were rolling downhill in an out-of-control carnival caravan. If that sounds bad ... then be warned ... things get much worse! If you enjoy cheerful books about mischievous elves, talking mice, magical spells and soft, fluffy teddy bears, then don't order this book - however, if you like alphabetical pledges, snow gnats, trained eagles, mysterious hidden letters, and find vicarious pleasure in the misfortunes of others (an expression which here means you like laughing at luckless orphans), then this is the book for you.

Finally, the obligatory dedication to Beatrice is the funniest yet!

The Slippery Slope is about three siblings, the Baudlelaires, trying to solve mysteries about VFD (a secret organization that the siblings' parents were apart of), Count Olaf (an evil man show who tries to kidnap the orphans), their presumed dead parents, and many more. This book is apart of a ten book series, and this is the tenth book. The previous book in this series ended talking about how the Baudlelaire orphans are going to the Valley of Four Drafts, looking to find the headquarters of VFD and hopefully their parents. On the way up the mountains, they figure out that the evil Count Olaf has captured one of the Baudlelaire siblings, Sunny, and is going to burn down the VFD headquarters. Also, he's going to keep Sunny to finally have the Baudlelaire fortune (which he has been trying to get his hands on since the very first book in the series.)
In my opinion, the Slippery Slope is a great book. It has so much action and humor, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I recommend this excellent book to anyone who wants adventure and mystery in their life.
Will Count Olaf capture the Bauldelaire siblings? Will Sunny ever escape from Count Olaf? Will the orphans finally solve the mystery of VFD? Read this book and find out!

Book ten in the Series of Unfortunate Events has proven to be as clever, as bizarre and as maddening as the previous nine. Picking up from the cliffhanger of "The Carnivorous Carnival," the story opens with Klaus and Violet Baudelaire separated from their youngest sibling, Sunny. Their efforts to rescue her from the clutches of the evil Count Olaf make up the bulk of the book, but the writer mixes in his usual stew of subtle clues, blatant clues, false clues and major twists until the book ends with yet another cliffhanger. It's frustrating, to be sure, knowing we'll have to wait for "The Grim Graveyard," but it is a far cry better than some of the earlier, repetitive books like "The Reptile Room."
To his credit, the writer is redeeming some of the poorer installments of the series by bringing in elements from those books and making them important now. Furthermore, he develops his young characters quite a bit, with Violet clearly becoming more of a young woman and Sunny becoming less of a baby. Unfortunately, he does not escape the trap of his poorly-drawn adult characters. As usual, they're all either evil or fools, with seemingly nothing in-between. Hopefully that will change if and when we finally meet the Volunteers... wherever they are.

In this book the children get a knew guardian and this one like all the other ones was hooked up with Olaf's disaster to steel there fortune. There he was in another disquise Most people know who I am talking about but if you don't i'm am talking about Count olaf.So here is my report. One day a nice gentalmen lived on the very tip top of the Slippery Slope one day an old friend of there guardian's came to visit . He said his name was Henery but the orphans knew right of who he was it was the horrible ungreatful Count Olaf. He had come back to get the fortune again this time he was closer then he had ever came before. He took Sonny the youngest orphan and hung her off the edge of the Slippery Slope and told the oldest orphans that they give up the fortune or Sonny dies but fast as lightning the guardian grabed Sonny and through her up on the pourch of the huge house and told Olaf to leave or else he was calling the police so Olaf jetted out of there. As soon as the kids got back into the house they called Mr.Poe to come and get them so he did now he's go to find them a knew guardian but I have not had got to read the next book yet but when I do I will update you on it. so I will see you later!

Violet, Claus, and Sunny are at it again in their adventure of the Slippery Slope. Lemony Snicket, the author, is his nom de plum. This the 11th book of a thirteen book series. I give it 9 out of 10 and 2 thumbs up.

A good part is the beginning when Violet, Claus, and Sunny were getting a ride from the evil Count Olaf. They were in a wagon in the back and the evil villains let the wagon go. They went flying and were crashed at the bottom of a cliff. They didn't know this was a valuable part of their adventure.

Another part was when they found the old secret base of the parents group. It was under a frozen waterfall. It was also burned terribly. This was another important part of their adventure.

The last part was when Violet, Claus, and Sunny were floating on a plank of wood in a rushing river. They were first on a waterfall. They were very wet and damp. This was another important part of their adventure because soon they will meet two important people.

In conclusion Violet, Claus, and Sunny found their parents secret organization and found an old friend. It's a great book.

D. Williams

The misfortune is back... for the tenth time as the Slippery Slope. The book begins revealing a few details of the mysterious V.F.D. As the Bauldiares just survive a horrific crash they venture skyward towards the Valley of Four Drafts. On the venture up they are swarmed with Snow Gnats. After sprinting to the nearest cave they meet a mysterious boy who knows about V.F.D. As they slowly make their way up the Vertical Flame Divider that incidentally is above them. When they reach the summit of the vertical Flame Divider, they come to find that the headquarters has been destroyed. How are they going to find Sunny, who happened to be right above them? (the younger Bauldiare that Count Olaf had managed to steal in the previous book)

In the Slippery Slope in a misfortunate series the colorful author Lemony Snicket reveals the secrets of V.F.D. well at least plenty of them to make money off another following book. Lemony Snicket decides that this is not enough, so he adds his family and other mysterious questions to you head. At the end of the book like any incredible author he leaves you hanging. Like any series that makes hardcover it is now becoming a movie.

The book did not receive any awards although it certainly deserves some. What is it that hooks kids to this series? Maybe it's the way the author writes in such question and makes the ends of the books so interesting that people want them to read the following book.

In my opinion the book is a ten out of ten star book for it's colorful decription, and word choice that will impress you. Don't worry the book describes the vocabulary for itself. The thing that puts the book on the top is the hilarious remarks that the author embellishes hilarious remarks throughout the entire story.

The misfortune is back... for the tenth time as the Slippery Slope. The book begins revealing a few details of the mysterious V.F.D. As the Bauldiares just survive a horrific crash they venture skyward towards the Valley of Four Drafts. On the venture up they are swarmed with Snow Gnats. After sprinting to the nearest cave they meet a mysterious boy who knows about V.F.D. As they slowly make their way up the Vertical Flame Divider that incidentally is above them. When they reach the summit of the vertical Flame Divider, they come to find that the headquarters has been destroyed. How are they going to find Sunny, who happened to be right above them? (the younger Bauldiare that Count Olaf had managed to steal in the previous book)

In the Slippery Slope in a misfortunate series the colorful author Lemony Snicket reveals the secrets of V.F.D. well at least plenty of them to make money off another following book. Lemony Snicket decides that this is not enough, so he adds his family and other mysterious questions to you head. At the end of the book like any incredible author he leaves you hanging. Like any series that makes hardcover it is now becoming a movie.

The book did not receive any awards although it certainly deserves some. What is it that hooks kids to this series? Maybe it's the way the author writes in such question and makes the ends of the books so interesting that people want them to read the following book.

In my opinion the book is a ten out of ten star book for it's colorful decription, and word choice that will impress you. Don't worry the book describes the vocabulary for itself. The thing that puts the book on the top is the hilarious remarks that the author embellishes hilarious remarks throughout the entire story.

Resulting from the cliffhanger in the ninth book, Violet and Klaus save themselves from the falling caravan and up the cold, wintery mountains to save Sunny, who has been kidnapped by Olaf.They climb all the way, through the snow gnats, that bite people for no reason whatsoever, to a cave with a fire inside it.They find the cave is occupied by a group of bored and annual snow scouts and the mean and nasty Carmelita Spats.The two children join the snow scouts and come face to face with Quiggley Quagmire, the surviver of the fire.The children follow Quiggley througha secret tunnel to the burnt remaints of VFD headquatres, meanwhile.........Sunny and Olaf's troup find themselves at the top of the Slippery Slope, Sunny is forced to cook breakfast while the troup have a special meeting with two fearful strangers:A lady with hair and no beard and a man with a beard but no hair.In the end, Count Olaf has possesion of the Snicket Files and has a secret plan to get himself more recruits especially Carmelita Spats...........Read this creepy book in the Series Of Unfortunate Events.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket is a fiction fantasy book that is decorated with drawings by Brett Helquist. Snicket's writing makes you cold inside. This book has such outstanding quotes that it makes the story a nail-bitter. Here is a intense quote that Violet Baudelaire states in an intense part of the novel,"If everyone fought fire with fire, the entire world would go up in smoke."

The Slippery Slope is a book about two children, Violet, and Klaus Baudelaire hiking up a huge mountain in a blizzard to save their young sister Sunny from an evil villain, Count Olaf. On their way up the mountain, the Baudelaire's run into an old friend, Quigley Quagmire, who helps Violet and Klaus find a safer way to hike up the freezing mountain. Having 3 people, they thought would give them an advantage, but little did they know unfortunate events could occur on their way.

Lemony Snicket, the author used an outstanding word choice to describe the setting, characters, plot etc. It couldn't be organized any better because his sentences kept on flowing and never stopped because each sentence had an amazing word or statement. Another strategy I like about the author's idea is that in some parts of the book he tells the reader not to read any farther because something horrible might happen in the story as you keep reading. You can tell that this author loves to write novels.

This book is so spectacular that I recommend it to everyone because it pulls you into the text and you won't put the unfortunate event down. If you already read this fantasy, try reading the eleventh book of the series: " The Grim Grotto."

In the tenth book of "A Series of Unforuntate Events" Violet and Klaus Baudelaire are immediatly stranded in a runaway caravan heading down a steep slope,while their kidnapped sister is traveling in the opposite direction! Once out of the caravan and on their way to rescue Sunny from Count Olaf,they hope nothing can go wrong,but they can only hope. The two Budelaires run into snow knats, and a good friend to the Baudelaires named quiegly Quagmire who was presumed to be dead.They Also encounter a burned down libary with more clues that lead them to belive that atleast one of their parents may still be alive. While Violet is inventig tools to try and save their baby sister, Klaus and Quiegly search for more information about the mysterous VFD.

My thoughts about this book:

It always left me interested in more and never left me on just one subject. I recommend this book to anyone who likes books that have alot of events that continue into other books.

In the Slippery Slope you're filled with misery and misfortune as you follow the sorrowful tale of the characters in this book.
Speaking of characters, I'll tell you about the unfortunate people in this book. Violet Baudelaire,14, is an inventor and always ties her hair up with a ribbon when she's thinking. Klaus Baudelaire, 13, is very smart and has read tons of books. Sunny Baudelaire, the youngest of the orphans likes to bite things with her sharp teeth. Quigley Quagmire, a friend of the Baudelaire's is on a mission to find his brother and sister. Count Olaf is a treacherous villain out to steal the Baudelaires fortune. Finally is Esme Squalor, Count Olaf's stylish girlfriend.
Next I'll tell you about the setting. This story takes place in the Mortmain Mountains by the ugly- colored Stricken Stream.
Now for the theme which is obviously misery. The Baudelaires run out of luck and face misfortune at every turn. Despair and depression is basically what this story is about.
In this tale of woe Violet and Klaus nearly run off of a cliff, get attacked by snow gnats, find Quigley Quagmire and the burned V.F.D head quarters, neraly trap Esme Squalor, and come face to face with their kidnapped sister.
Overall this is a great book I give it four stars.

The Slippery Slope is about the three Baudelaires whose parents died in a terrible fire that burned down their whole house. The Baudelaires are sent to live with an evil man named Count Olaf. In this book they are traveling up the Mortmain Mountains looking for a secret hideout. One of the Baudelaires got captured and has to cook for Count Olaf and his troupe.

I would recommend this book to people who like intense and scary books and are from 9-12 years old. I liked this book because you couldn't stop reading it. Something is always happening so you can't stop reading until you find out what happened. When you did some thing else would happen so you would have to keep reading. I disliked this book because the author would explain everything to you and tell you what they mean

I think people should read this book if they like intense and scary books. You should also read the other books in the series if you like this one.

To the Unfortunate Reader-
I am forced under terrible circumstances to write a review, considering that my circumstances are horrible. The Slippery Slope is another marvelously horrible book about Klaus, Sunny, and Violet Baudelaire, researched and recorded by Lemony Snicket himself. Once again, his books are marvelous, as well as they are horrible. The reason that I wish to give all of his books 5 stars is not because they are wonderful children's classics about dainty butterflies, but because they are filled with treachery, misery, and woe. His books are horrible, and I strongly urge you not to make the horrible mistake of purchasing any of them. However, if I could, I would give all of his books 100 stars, because they are horribly magnificent. Lemony Snicket is a brilliant writer, because his books show the life of the three Baudelaire children, struggling in dire situations to save their own lives. However, if you purchase any of his books, you will have yourself weeping for seemingly endless nights, just as I am sure Lemony Snicket is weeping about his beloved, departed, darling-Beatrice. If you do make the mistake of purchasing this book however, I urge you to wake to the top of Mount Fraut in the Mortmain Mountains and throw it as far away as you can into the endless gloom below. With that, I have finished this horrible review. But here is a poem- see if you can make any sense out of it:
Misterious and subtle
Amazing and magnificent
Xylphone and zippered
Cracked and broken
Ominous and profound
Luring and persuasive
Energetic and effervescent
Mind boggling and curious
Arsony and Fires
Negativity and silence
-The World is Quiet Here

This book is the first time that the Baudelaires got split up. It continues from the 9th book. How exiting it is to see the Baudelaires using their inteligence to survive every danger that occurs and can't even take your eyes off of the book. It started out with excitment. Rolling down the mountians Violet and Claus must use what they know to stop the wagon from crashing and killing them. Later they must find Sunny and find their parents and which one survived. During this they find a strange boy that they never seen and they want to talk to him to see if he knnows anything about their parents or maybe even what V.F.D. means. But when are they going to get a chance. This story contains snow gnats, a stream, and a trap. Does the Baudelaires make it through this jorney? Do they Find Sunny? Which one of their parents are alive? So many questios but don't look at me to answer. Read the book and it will answer all of your questions about the Baudelaires.

I think the Slippery Slope, Lemony Snicket's(author)tenth well written book is great. This book was exciting til the very last word. I personally would give this book five stars. The fourteen year old Violet has very good inventing skills because she makes snow boots for her siblings to climb Mt.Fraught. Klaus the middle Baudelaire helps decode secrets of V.F.D and this helps make the story more interesting. As a reader I think it is hard to be patient because if you read the other books in the series; you will want to know who is the mysterious survivor. In this book Lemony Snicket well describes every bit of Count Olaf's schemes. You can clearly get a picture in your head about how the Baudelaires are feeling through their struggles with "Snow Gnats" and how they feel when their baby sister is taken away. I think the setting is very good in this story because it relates to why Count Olaf came to "Mortmain Mountains" and has a lot to do with secrets of V.F.D. Count Olaf and his troupes have very antagonist feelings towards the Baudelaire orphans. They make it difficult for the orphans. Therefore, I came to a conclusion that the "Slippery Slope" is a very good book and would deserve five stars.

This book is the latest story of the famous series,A Series of Unfortunate Events.This book reveals the questions that readers have been figuring out since they bought their first SUE books (Is Quigley Quagmire alive?,What is the meaning of VFD?What happened to Jaques Snicket before he was murdered?etc.)But I must advice that the ones who just heard this sucessful series and will be planning to buy this book first,please don't buy it unless you have read one of the books.Because there are some parts of this story that the new readers will not understand.Many of my classmates heard of this series,bought The Slippery Slope and in the next day,they asked me,I don't get it.And if you are wondering what will happen in Book 11,please read more closely about the poem about the dead men,read the part when L.S. explained about his associate who threw the sugar bowl to the Stricken Stream.And also examine about the title (The Grim Grotto).Sounds clear to you?

I think the Slippery Slope, Lemony Snicket's (author)tenth well written book is great. This book was exciting til the very last word.I personally would give this book five stars.The fourteen year old Violet has very good inventing skils because she makes snow boots for her siblings to climb Mt.Fraught. Klaus the middle Baudelaire helps decode secrets of V.F.D and this helps make the story more interesting. As a reader I think it is hard to be patient because if you read the other books in the series; you will want to know who is the mysterious survivor. In this book Lemony Snicket well describes every bit of Count Olaf's schemes. You can clearly get a picture in your head about how the Baudelaires are feeling through their struggles with "Snow Gnats" and how they feel when their baby sister is taken away. I think the setting is very good in this story because it relates to why Count Olaf came to "Mortmain Mountains" and has a lot to do with secrets of V.F.D. Count Olaf and his troupes have very antagonists feelings towards the Baudelaire orphans. They make it difficult for the orphans. Therefore I came to a conclusion that the "Slippery Slope" is a very good book and would deserve five stars.

The thing you will remember the most about this book, The Slippery Slope, is that throughout everything there is only snow and that means that the whole mountain is slippery and really cold. Violet, and Klaus, suffer alot because it's so cold and their sad about how they lost their baby sister Sunny. Also when part of the tip of the mountain falls, and down the Bouldalaires go to the frezzing cold waters along with Quigley Quagmire, Duken and Isorada's lost brother.

The central problem in the story is that Sunny was taken by Count Olaf. He kidnaps her and uses her as her chef and asistant. Sunny even has to sleep in Count Olaf car. Violet and Klaus attempt to walk up the Slippery Slope Mountain to rescue her. Then when they find Suuny they can't figure how to rescue her from the clutches of Count Olaf. In the way they find more secrets of V.F.D. and they also meet a man with no hair but a beard and a women with hair but no beard.

The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket is a nice adition to the series of Unfortunate Events. In this book, the Baudelaires are seperated in the beginning. Using Violet's superb, mechanical mind and Klaus's amazing knowledge of books and words, they get through many problems. Only this time that had alittle help from Quigley Quagmire- the triplet everyone thought was dead. Quigley had amazing information on V.F.D that he picked up traveling in the footsteps of the Baudelaires. My favorite part in the book was when they escaped from the clutches of Count Olaf and his evil crew when Carmelita Spatz attempted to push them off the mountain. Although there was a tragic ending (as always) that i won't reveal, I know we'll be hearing more about the adventurous yet sad life of the Baudelaires. Lemony Snicket is an extremely talented author who makes it easy to understand what's going on in his stories by using situations that relate to us. His books have opened my mind and made me think about what he is trying to communicate to us. It's amazing how everything he writes fits in so well and all makes sense. I really enjoy reading Lemony Snicket and I encourage you to read all of his books!

what a great book. this is the longest unfortunate event book, which makes it last the longest, have the longest suspense, have the longest humor, have the best excitement. the slippery slope is one of those fine unfortunate event books including the wide window, the austere academy, the ersatz elevator, and the reptile room. Again, lemony displays really what a good book for children should have- humor, suspense, and good characters-all are in this book. If I were you I'd go to the local library and try to get this book as fast as I could because this is a book that many people rush to get. I myself had to wait two and a half weeks. If you are a person who likes books about memorizing, get this book, there is a group of kids who say something good about themselves for every letter of the alphabet. If you like cool babies, read the whole Unfortunate Event series.

Hope this helped.

There are many things you could do with The Slippery Slope. You could substitute it for an umbrella to keep from getting soaked during a rainstorm, you could use it as a doorstop when another not-round object can't be found, I suppose you might be able to use it as a fan, but that might not work very well, you could read it but why you would want to do that is beyond me, or you could just not buy it at all.
I'd recommend the second to last thing. The Slippery Slope is wit beyond wit. It's great!
In the tenth book of A Series of Unfortunate Events, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are at The Mortmain Mountains where fierce snow gnats live and a headquarters of a very secret orginization is rumored to be. Oh, yeah, there's also a group called the Snow Scouts who harvest some familar faces and just don't seem to realize that nobody can be xylaphone.
A frozen waterfall, a very "fiery" dress, and V.F.D (maybe you actually find out what it stands for)! also come into play.
The whole series is great. Mr. Snicket is probably one of the wittiest authors out there. Oh, what an unfortunate day it will be when the last book is consumed by the readers. Sigh.
If you haven't read this series yet then what are you waiting for? I suppose you don't want a treat to read. Then again, maybe you shouldn't click the "add to cart" button, the title of the series really does just say it all (just kidding)! The situations may be unfortunate but the humor is priceless.

The Slippery Slope is the 10th installment of the ever so dreadful series called "A Series of Unfortunate Events", featuring the three Baudelaire orphans; Violet (14 year old inventor), Klaus (her well read brother) and the youngest Sunny (the ever talented chomper).

The book began with a really bad start, where Violet and Klaus are plummeling down the mountain to their death while Sunny is left in Count Olaf's hands so he could get his filthy hands on the Baudelaire's fortune. After their close call, they meet up with the third missing Quigley Quagmire, who were thought to be dead in the first place! The three of them do whatever it takes to decipher the ever so mysterious VFD, giving Violet and Klaus more important informaton about their parents' past involvement with the VFD.

Meanwhile, Sunny tries her best to keep herself safe, by stalling and doing some chores set by Count Olaf and his evil troupe for her to complete, as cooking, hoping her siblings are safe somewhere and not dead in the feet of the mountains. While she is in Count Olaf's hands, she overheard some things that's useful for her and her siblings to persue in the future.

At first, I wasn't really looking forward to read this one after how that last book ended. I love the cover and the plot really pulls you in like always.

The mystery on the mountain is mostly about these three children trying to save the other child that was kidnapped by a mad man and his gang. The three children found out where the other child was located. They knew where the other child was there because the child built a fire to let anyone know that she was in big trouble. Soon afterward the others found her but the child didn¡¯t want her to go. Then the little child became a spy. That gang didn¡¯t know that the child had a mind of its own so he was suprised.The bad guy was about to throw the baby off the cliff when the other childern from this club came so that ditracted the bad guy and his gang. those club members were caught and was sent to the last secert place where the GFF went to meet. they were sent on a air balloon. all of them went but one girl who was justlike the bad guy and his gang.

After nine books Lemony Snicket has finally run out of ideas on number 10, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE.

Oh, he actually ran out books earlier, but at least he was able to get some mileage out of his cutesy writing style. Here, his writing style finally collapses on him. His paragraphs get longer and more wearisome to read. And he apparently doesn't know what "fighting fire with fire" is. It's a good thing. That he presents it as a bad thing shows he's a city boy. Living in the country, I have often seen fires sweeping across fields and woodlands. At a certain point where they want a fire break, they start fires to stop the flames from devouring further woods, fields, and houses where people live. He should look up what something actually is before he condemns it.

But all along, Lemony Snicket has played fast-and-loose with his definitions, which here means that he gives the erroneous notion that words can be defined any way one wants. What sort of writer can do that? The sort who has made a lot of money off writing the same story over and over, which here means Lemony Snicket.

He gets away with his tiresomeness in this book by giving away just a few answers and making a few connections in this book. Just enough to drag the children along after him, like a Pied Piper.

His next book, no. 11, THE GRIM GROTTO, tries to introduce interesting new characters, but it was too little, too late. He needs a good editor, to cull back more of his bloviations. THE SLIPPERY SLOPE was too long and long-winded, and Snicket (or whatever his real name is) makes the same mistake, and worse, in no. 11, THE GRIM GROTTO, especially with his amazingly tedious work on the Water Table. And in no. 11, THE GRIM GROTTO, he embarks on what must be some sort of personal vendetta against poet Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959). Snicket's favorite reading always seems to be depressing and/or unwholesome poets and novelists, so it's not surprising he would set out to tarnish the reputation of someone who writes uplifting verse.

I have (mostly) enjoyed Snicket's series through the first nine books, even though in numbers 8 and 9 he took quite a few stumbling steps. I kept giving him the benefit of the doubt, which here means -- exactly what it always means! Through the last two books of increasing size and verbiage, I hoped Snicket would recover himself. But his mistakes only got worse.

It seems a shame that after 11 books I've thrown up my hands, which here means I just can't take it any more. THE SLIPPERY SLOPE was a complete disaster and one is better off not starting the series at all than stopping when the finish line is in sight because the prose is no longer endurable. Thankfully, during the last several books I had a nasty cold (not a Mr. Poe kind, but a real cold) which limited what I could do and kept me bedbound for a few days anyway, so I don't feel guilty about wasting the time it took to read this piffle.

I no longer require the answers to questions that have been running through the Snicket series. Lemony Snicket is really Count Olaf. Unable to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune, he wrote a series of books to make money by torturing children legitimately.

The story so far. . . After the horrors of the Caligari Carnival, he Baudelaire orphans have been split up by the awful Count Olaf, with the eldest left to plummet to thier death in a speeding caravan off the side of the Mortmain Mountains and the youngest kidnapped to be his ticket to the Baudelaire fortune and. . . Lemony Snicket has done it again!

While Sunny is forced to cook for the criminals and sleep in a casserole dish, Violet and Klaus have found a true friend, a few more answers about V.F.D. and maybe a way to rescue Sunny and get out of Olaf's clutches for good.

Of course, this being a Lemony Snicket novel, nothing turns out quite as good as expected and there are quite a few "unfortunate events", all of which guarantee a book full of read-out loud, and laugh-out loud, dark humor. I hate for the Baudelaires to be suffering so dreadfully, but I can't help but take great delight in thier sufferings, thanks to Snicket's wickedly witty style.

I thought this book was really good. The last book left you hanging at the end of which this book begins. This book continues from where Sunny was in Olaf's clutches and Violet and Klaus are rolling down a mountain to a conceivable death. In this book along with long awaited answers to questions, we are joined by past book characters and characters we've only heard about. I loved how we got move insight on the VFD and more clues. This book also brought in information from the previous books, which was good because it tied the series together more. So if you haven't read the series from the beginning then you should so you don't get lost.I'm hoping that the last 3 books have this same build up to the long awaited finale of the 13th book.

thank you for your time,

Loran

This book is fascinating. The precocious mind of the eldest Baudelaire, Violet, always gets them out of trouble and Klaus, a well-read person gets them through many of the mysteries. In this particular book, the Baudelaires embark on a very mysterious journey, trying to find out what really happened to their parents in the fire. The avaricious Count Olaf always has a way to slow them down or steer them down the wrong road. Lemony Snicket's use of words makes the book more humorous and keeps you reading. Although all the problems keep on piling on the Baudelaires, they still manage to get through and rescue Sunny. The assiduous Baudelaires keep you wanting to find out what they do next even though Count Olaf always disparages them. I would recommend this book to anybody. Thanks for reading!

This slippery book, of course is another fine book by Lemony Snicket. There are a lot of funny characters in this pretty funny tenth slippery book, including the two white-faced women and the hook-handed man, all part of Olaf's troupe. Write where the last one left off, Sunny is held prisoner to evil, funny, hilarious and sneaky Count Olaf. Having to do all the cooking and sleep in a small, tiny covered casserole dish, Sunny eavedrops and hears Olaf and his gangs' horrendous plan.

Below the mountain, Violet and Klaus survive and escape out of a hurtling caravan, only to confront evil snow gnats. Their destination is Mount Fraught, the highest peak in the Mortmain Mountains where Sunny is held captive. They escape out into a cave full of scouts who sing a pledge, describing them, using the word 'xylophone'. One of the scouts is Carmelita Spats, someone they never hoped to see again. Another is a mysterious person who they soon recognise is Quigley, the third Quagmire triplet. Amazed that Quigley survived the fire that burnt the Quagmire home the Baudelaires are led through to the burnt V.F.D headquarters by Quigley. Quigley tells the Baudelaires a long, long tale about him escaping the fire and meeting Jacques Snicket.

More clues pile on and on and it seems too complex.

I won't explain them to you because there is too many. Basically, all of these questions haven't been answered, and I assume more questions will pile up to this wonderful series.

Sunny of course, tricks Olaf and puts a watermelon in the covered casserole dish. Violet's inventing skills work well for her to create special shoes to go up the frozen waterfall. I would of been pleased if Esme would of fallen in the pit Violet, Klaus and Quigley created. Olaf would have been so angry and mad. Also, two villainous characters are new to the scene. One with a beard and no hair, and the other with hair and no beard as Snicket describes. They were the villainy two who burned the V.F.D headquarters.

To the start to the end, this is a good book. The Baudelaires run into luck. We also see another person join Olaf's group of comrades(Carmelita Spats). We also see two depart(The two white faced women). The very ending is full of action, with the Baudelaires and Quigley on a toboggan riding down the frozen waterfall into Stricken Stream. The Baudelaires seperate from Quigley as they go down different tributaries. We know what the last safe place is. Hotel Denoument.

Very good book. Most of the pages deal with Violet, Klaus and Quigley finding out more about V.F.D at the burnt headquarters.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Slippery Slope

By Lemony Snicket

This book is the 10th installment of the incredible series, A series of Unfortunate events. This one is about the three Baudelaires little trip in the Mortmain mountains, where Sunny is taken captive by the evil Count Olaf and his troupe, and Violet and Klaus are left for dead. The two must make a dangerous descent up the mountain, to save their sister. They encountered many things on their way up, including a mysterious friend.

One of the things i liked about this book is that the author, Lemony Snicket, kind of talks to you through out the book. In my opinion, it makes it more interesting, and keeps my attention through out the book, because one minute your reading what happens to the children, then the author begins to get off topic and talk to YOU, the reader.

A Second thing I liked about this book was that there was numerous amusing thing, such as anecdotes, and explanations of such songs as the "Itsy Bitsy Spider". I liked this because I am a big fan of anything even slightly amusing, because I myself, love comedy.

One final thing I liked about the book, was the ending, each book in the series leaves you guessing by the end. And usually, there isn't a very happy ending, but it still leaves you satisfied. I liked this aspect because of the very reason I stated, it leaves you guessing, and I like having something that leaves me guessing, as I am persistant, and I will try to figure out what happens.

Book 10 of Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Series opens with an homage to Robert Frost and then follows Klaus and Violet Baudelaire as they attempt to rescue their sister Sunny, who was separated from them by Count Olaf and his evil henchpeople at the end of Book Nine. They head up the Mortmain Mountains and encounter a frozen waterfall (the slippery slope in question). Along the way, they also encounter someone from the past who they hoped to never see again, someone who is a member of a rather annoying society of people who sing an irritating song using the letters of the alphabet. Yes, all of them!
They also discover a shocking secret about one of the fires Count Olaf and his people started. Although not the answer they were hoping for, they are still pleased by this discovery. This leads them to attempt to unlock more secrets, which allows Klaus to use his literary skills and Violet her inventing prowess, a word which here means "talent". Sunny also becomes less baby-like in this book and is able to use her newly learned cooking skills.
This book, like the others, is full of literary references, from a snippet of a poem by British poet Algernon Charles Swinburne to a very famous Leo Tolstoy novel that helps them open a secret door. The secret of V.F.D. is still not quite solved, but hopefully will be by the end of the series.
I bought this book yesterday, the day it was released, and finished it in just under two hours. Like his other books, it is a quick but very satisfying read, and you won't get tired of reading it multiple times.
It's hard to believe that the series is almost over (only 13 are planned), but they are books you'll never tire of reading. Buy this book and sink deeper into the abyss that is the Baudelaires' life.

Just imagine that you are a three-year-old orphan with a fortune in trust funds worth millions of dollars. This would be great, if you weren't captured by an evil man named Count Olaf who has been trying to steal your fortune since your parents died. This is the position that Sunny Baudealire found herself in. The only thing she had going for her was that her siblings Violet and Klaus were close behind trying to save her and their fortune.
This book was great! It had non-stop action which made you want to keep turning the pages. Lemony Snicket pretending to be a researcher of the Baudealire orphans gave the book a unique spin. Overall I would give this book a nine out of ten.
I would definitely recommend this book. This book is a great read, but would not make any sense if you have not read the first nine books. If you have read the other books, this is a must read.

Back to being good :-) After the disappointment of the last book, I was glad I enjoyed this one. What a surprise with someone being alive too! I am happy for the kids and hopefully this means more happiness on the way for them??

And the Baudelaires are off again, to the most exciting adventure yet. From the previous book, the two older kids are separated from their little sister, Sunny in the middle of the ice cold mountains. They manage, however, to meet eachother again. The evil Count Olaf and his crew would do anything to prevent them from being together. Along the way, Violet and Klaus meet someone extremely important in this whole case of VFD and someone that can help them find out more secrets of to where their parents could be. Also, in this book, VFD are unfolded in every adventure the kids go through. When I read this book, I literally read it within two days. It is a GREAT book that I couldn't put down, and I highly reccomend it for those fond of Lemony Snicket.

The Series of Unfortunate Events is probably one of the longest and most consistently entertaining humor/fantasies in the children's book area. The tenth entry lives up to the anticipation.
Violet and Klaus having escaped hungry lions, murderous hostipals and overly fashion-conscious financial advisors are now locked in a car compartment hurtling to their doom, while their baby sister cries in the clutches of Count Olaf (nice cheerful start to a kid's book, eh?). Through the usual mix of inventive fantasy and coincidence, they manage to get out alive. Now they must focus on discovering the secret of VFD, finding the circumstances of their parents' death and most importantly, retrieving their sister.
Snicket's writing is as clever as ever and you'll find yourself laughing more than once. His plot-development skills, however seem to have waned with the last book and he has trouble with anticlimatic plot points and a bit of "too much, too soon". Still, children will still love the over-the-top scenarios, the desperately likable trio of Violet, Klaus and Sunny and the hilarious Count Olaf and his band of slaves...ummmm followers while adults chuckle at Snicket's wry humor and tongue-in-cheek style. The Slippery Slope might not live up to the promise of some of the earlier books but it's still a fun, funny and often hilarious ride.

In Lemony Snicket's The Slippery Slope, the reader is introduced to many new and exciting characters including a suprising survior of a fire, new members of Count Olaf's troupe, and of course, new meaning(s) to the V.F.D. mystery. I thouroughy enjoyed this addition to the Series of Unfortuante Events series, which in my opinion, this one is my second favorite, behind The Reptile Room. The plot in this novel seemed new and refreshing which was DESPERATELY needed. All in all, everything in this book will have the reader turning the pages, not wanting to put it down, which is what I did, finishing it in two days. I can't wait for book the eleventh, which I'm ALMOST positive will be called THE GRIM GROTTO. Happy Reading!!