The Vile Village (Series of Unfortunate Events)

The Vile Village is the seventh book in Lemon Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events book series. Welcome to the halfway point of the series. Things are not going to get better any time soon.

Given the adage "it takes a village...", the Baudelaires are entrused to an entire village that has pledged to handle their care. But in truth their interpretation of the old saying was that it meant the Baudelaires would do everyone's chores as they were all acting as their parents / guardians. And this unusual village also happens to be called VFD as it turns out to be the Village of Fowl Devotees who are dedicated to caring for the unusually large murder of crows that calls VFD home. And this has resulted in a ridiculous number of rules being enforced in town including a general disdain for mechanical devices.

But the Baudelaires start to find small slips of paper that have couplets written on them - which leads then to think that the Quagmires are somehow nearby. And that's not unrealistic to think as a woman who is clearly Esmé Squalor becomes the new sheriff of the town and she is aided by a Detective Dupin, who is clearly Count Olaf. And when the news breaks out that Count Olaf has finally been arrested, it's clear that this has not been the case and someone else is is being framed for Olaf's crimes.

What I Liked: This books, and the many that follow it, really start to up the level of VFD related puns. As if the reveal in the last book about the box of Very Fine Doilies wasn't crazy enough, having a whole village whose name seems to be related to the mysterious VFD but we don't quite know why. There are more VFD definitions brought into the story, especially when matters of how to deliver messages comes up and other somewhat clandestine efforts. But that's just par for the course in terms of how Lemony Snicket presents the whole secret society aspect to things. Or maybe he and the members of VFD just like puns and being clever in general.

I rather liked the angle about the couplets being used to deliver a message as it tied back to the sort of clever mysteries that felt stronger in the first few books in the series. The more recent ones had them needing to apply more practical abilities to keep ahead of their enemies and not necessarily big elaborate plans. And I'm not even talking about Violet's inventions and the lack thereof at times but more just the sort of careful planning and thinking to find novel solutions to problems. And this book nicely went back to that sort of thing.

But man, the brief introduction of Jacques Snicket into the story as the man framed to be Count Olaf certainly made its mark on things. So many more questions!

What Could Have Been Better: I wish we had more time with Jacques, not necessarily in this book. To bring him into this story only to have him removed so quickly as well. But that's just the sort of writer Lemony Snicket is, I suppose. He keeps the full truth from us at arm's length as an effort to protect our delicate sensibilities or something like that. But this is just like when the letters VFD were first uttered together. We again have no idea what's going on and who Jacques was and his involvement in matters.

The Village of Fowl Devotees is defintiely one of the weirder answers to who could act as a guardian for the Baudelaires. It sort of make sense as a single sentence maybe in terms of "it takes a village" but in practice is was pretty ridiculous. I know this is par for the course when it comes to these books as he presents some crazy ideas as matter of fact truth. But we gotta call out some ideas and this is one of them.

TL;DR: The Vile Village repreesnts an interesting turning point in the series as the Baudelaires need to take on more drastic measures in order to survive. With the authories thinking that Count Olaf has already been neutralized as a problem, that leaves him and his crew free to do a lot more in order to get their hands on the Baudelaire fortune.

The only happy event in this series of unfortunate events that has happened to the Baudelaire orphans was when the orphans met the Quagmire triplets. Both sets of children were attending a boarding school when the evil Count Olaf showed up to harass the Baudelaires. When the triplets tried to help the Baudelaires, the triplets became captives of Olaf.

Since then, the orphans have felt a sense of responsibility towards the triplets.

In this episode of the series, the Baudelaires have arrived at the village of V.F.D. They chose to travel to this village, because the name of the village, V.F.D., matches a clue that was given to the orphans by the triplets.

The village believes that it takes a village to raise a child. Yet, when the orphans arrive, the villagers prove to be poor guardians for the orphans.

Soon the orphans receive clues that the Quagmires are close by. After a murder occurs, the evil count makes his appearance.

Once again he is in disguise so the adults don't recognize him. The count frames the orphans for the murder. Unfortunately, the only punishment for being a rule breaker in V.F.D. is burning at the stake.

Will the children escape with their lives?

A very exciting story - now on to the next book!

They say “It takes a village” to raise a child, but the village of VFD is using the Baudelaire children as slave labor. And a village covered with crows is not easy to clean up after. When Violet is framed for murder by a disguised Count Olaf, she must use her inventive brainpower to escape from the village jail before being burned at the stake. But there seems to be a Baudelaire connection with the murder victim, Jacques and the Quagmire triplets may have the answers they need.

This book seems to be a turning point in the orphan’s lives: Klaus turned 13, Sunny took her first steps, the Quagmires escaped Count Olaf, and the kids are on their own without guidance from worthless Mr. Poe. Speaking of Poe, I loved the E.A. references like the Nevermore Tree and the mention of Alice in Wonderland as the Baudelaire’s favorite book. I’ll be interested to see if more is revealed about the Snicket/Baudelaire association and Jacques’s role in the VFD.

If your kid is old enough to read this themselves, have at it. As a dad who has read seven of these things out loud now, the whole gimmick is getting tiresome.

The pattern is the same: poor, pathetic, (yet) amazingly intelligent siblings are abused and pursued by an evil villain. It first it was fun, entertaining even. But after a while, reading incident after incident where nearly all the adults are malevolent idiots and the few exceptions who are actually nice and helpful are almost always spineless and pathetic gets old. On top of that, the actual unfortunate (and few fortunate) events that take place could be condensed into about 20 pages. The rest is all style and filler. There's some nice vocabulary lessons sprinkled in there and some stuff about the fictional author of the book which is just confusing, but you'll find yourself screaming GET ON WITH IT!

Dear God, there are SIX MORE OF THESE?! Nooooooooo!

In The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket we once again find the orphans with a new set of guardians. This time a village has been chosen to raise them. The phrase it takes a village to raise a child is the theme of this book. There is a catch though. This village thinks that phrase means take in some orphans and make them work for the entire village. Once again the orphans are up against many obstacles migrating crows, angry mob, newspaper headlines, innocent people arrested. As the author says if you are looking for a book with a happy ending you might as go read another book.

I recommend this book for children.

The scariest part of this book for me was the crows. You see I have a problem with birds. I hate when they fly near me. I cannot explain it. The only thing I can link it to is when a bird got stuck in our home and my mom rushed my brother and I into the bathroom only to be trapped in the bathroom with the bird. Birds scare me.

The author drops several clues as to some things coming in the series. I am assuming a brother or a cousin to the author to be honest. I hope soon to have all the answers. This is a quick and easy read for an adult like myself. I finished it in one morning of light reading. I found myself becoming hopeful for their success and escape. These kids are just so smart but I had to keep reminding myself like the author that nothing good happens to these kids. I enjoyed this book even more than the lasts. Count Olaf took longer to appear and the secret notes and how to find their friends left me puzzled and trying to figure out the poem as much as they were. I am really hoping in the next book we find out who Jaques Snicket was. We all know the authors last name is snicket.. I sure hope I can get this book from the library fast! So many things happen in the final chapter of this book that you are left with so many questions and just want to rush to the next book. So who’s with me? To the library we go! Well I am in Mexico so off to my virtual library aka the store!

I rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars.

In "The Vile Village", the author strays from the formula of the other books. Drawing from the proverb that "it takes a village to raise a child", the Baudelaires have been adopted into the servitude of an entire village.

Count Olaf adopts his most outrageous persona in this installment of the series with the help of a new accomplice. In the village, ambigiously named V.F.D., the rules need special attention to be enforced. Count Olaf is just cunning enough to accept this role. As the Baudelaires live with village appointee Hector, they must complete daily tasks while searching for the whereabouts of two Quagmire Triplets. As is usually the case, the clues will lead readers in the right direction. One only has to wonder how the village of fowl devotees and Count Olaf will prevent the orphans plan from being perfectly executed.

"The Vile Village" is an entertaining read, that is not nearly as dreary as the author would like us to believe. It is also encouraging to note the author adding surprising new ripples to the overall plot. Certainly, this would make the read want to continue.

A Series of Unfortunate Events 7: The Vile Village / 9780061757198

I first came to this series after watching the tie-in movie "Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events". I love the series for its superb characterization, lovely writing, quirky plotlines, and deeply dark humor. This seventh book in the series carries on the tradition and will not disappoint fans.

Like the rest of the novels in this series, this book is very slender and can be whipped through in a few hours. However, the story is engaging and well-told and it's impossible to not be drawn into the drama of the Baudelaire orphans as they struggle to survive in their new home in the mysteriously-named village of V.F.D. The orphans have been sent to the village to live because "it takes a village to raise a child", but when they arrive, they realize they are expected to be slaves for the inhabitants of the entire town. Maybe their new placement is worth it, though, if the entire village can keep Count Olaf away...?

A note about the audiobook edition of this book: this installment returns to the superb narration of Tim Curry that the early books in the series featured. Curry does an incredible job with the story and it is impossible to not be drawn into his deep, rich narration as he follows the orphans in their adventures.

~ Ana Mardoll

This is the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events that I really wish I had heard on tape. Many parts of this tale should be heard spoken aloud to be truly appreciated. As it was, I was resigned to instead reading the book while working out on a particularly nasty elliptical runner all the time pondering the sad fate of the Baudelaire orphans and their friends. In "The Vile Village", the plot not only thickens but congeals. Here at last are more clues about the mysterious VFD. Here the name "Snicket" has arrived within the text of these pages rather than as merely its author and narrator. Here the clues add up and up.

Taking the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child", a little too seriously, the Baudelaire orphans have now been officially adopted by none other than an entire village. The orphans have chosen this particular location because of its fascinating name, VFD. As you might recall, these initials were part of the Quagmire triplets' last cryptic words to the Baudelaires before they were officially kidnapped by the loathsome Count Olaf. As it turns out, the town is actually named the Village of Fowl Devotees due to its enormous crow population. While there, the orphans are required to do the chores for all the townspeople and live with the kindly handyman, Hector. It isn't long before mysterious messages in the form of rhyming couplets start appearing, apparently from the Quagmires. It's up to the Baudelaires to find their friends and save their own skin before an angry mob torches them forthwith.

While the tension runs high in this particular Snicket outing, I found it strangely hopeful at the end. Obviously this was not the author's intention, but that's how I felt anyway. Though tensions run high in this tale, the angry mob is about as threatening as the witch hunters in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Personally I was delighted when I was able to figure out where the Quagmires were being hidden by page 143. Then I remembered that I am currently 26 years of age and this book was written, ostensibly, for kids. Still, I think I've also figured out what VFD stands for, and only time will show if I am right or wrong.

The story itself is just as you would like it to be. The orphans have a little more enjoyable down time here and (much to my relief) far better food than they've had in some time. One squiggle of a squabble I did have involved the crows perching continually in the Nevermore tree. Shouldn't they be ravens? Otherwise, I liked Count Olaf's latest disguise (hence my wish that I could hear the audio of this book) and I especially enjoyed the clues and mystery in the tale. The author has the difficult job of continually upping the ante, as it were, while keeping these stories invigorating and interesting. At the end of this book the Baudelaires are in the direst of straits, but I have little doubt that they'll eventually pull through. Call it a bolt of optimism from the blue, if you will.

Kristina Barreto

12/06/04

The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket

ISBN-440865-5-ISBN0-06-028890-6

VFD? What? VFD supposable stands for Village of Fowl Devotees where three orphan children live doing chores for the towns' people. Violet Baudelaire is the oldest at age 14. She is a superb inventor and you know when she's thinking because she ties her hair up with a ribbon. Klaus Baudelaire is the next in line at age 12. Klaus is an avid reader and uses incredible words that only geniuses would understand. Sunny is an infant no bigger than a loaf of bread. She has four razor sharp teeth that she uses to bite hard objects (which is her favorite thing to do). These three orphans are being stalked by a treacherous man named Count Olaf. Count Olaf always has something up his sleeve to try and take over the Baudelaire fortune. This story takes place in the Village of Fowl Devotees; since all the other guardians have failed they thought that a village would do better. The genre of this book is fiction.

This book was very good just like the rest of the series. These books are full of suspense and adventure. I recommend this book to kids of all ages that like fiction books, suspense because Lemony Snicket explains everything in the books he writes. It was a page turner because it always left you hanging. It was not hard to concentrate on the story because it kept me interested. I think I connected with Violet the most because like her I am the oldest and I have to take care of my two younger siblings. I like the genre of this book because it's fun and creative. I love Lemony Snicket's writing style because he explains the big words that he uses and always relates to things that happened in his life. Like when someone gets hurt he relates to how he felt when Beatrice (who he loved so much) died. I was surprised when they figured out what the couplets meant and that the Quagmire triplets where right under their noses (literally). Not every chapter ended with a cliff hanger but one example was when they figured out what the couplets said but they left it for the next chapter. This book was definitely not boring it was a great interesting book. I was very into my book my mind only went to the scenes of the story. The plot was the same as all the other books with Count Olaf trying to get the Baudelaire fortune. People who would enjoy reading this book if they liked fiction, adventure, suspense and a little mystery. That is my book review.

* Author: Lemony Snicket

* Book Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events :The Vile Village

* Genre: Adventure

* Year Published: 2001

* Publishing Company: Scholastic

* Accelerated Reader level: 6.7

* Accelerated point value: 7points

* Name of Reviewer: Latisha Sierra

The novel, The Vile Village was a story about three orphans living in a town called V.F.D.; their names are Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. They are running from Count Olaf, who is one of their relatives and their first guardian. Olaf wants their money and gets them in trouble. I would recommend The Vile Village to someone else because the novel was interesting. The story always kept me on the edge to find out what was happening next. They book is unpredictable and makes the story more interesting. The novel is very descriptive. The words in the story make it seem like what is happening and said, you can picture yourself in the story. I believe this book should be read by children in 4th-7th grade. The Lemony Snicket series are excellent books for mature boys and girls. The book is written for Elementary and Middle School aged kids. The Vile Village should be taught in school. The book should be taught in school because Lemony Snicket uses larger words and explains what mean. This is a way to help kids build on their vocabulary.

The best part of The Vile Village is when Sunny Baudelaire climbs on the crow fountain to try to find a secret passage way to get the Quagmires out. Then, she pushes on the eye and the beak comes open. The worst part of the story is when the Baudelaires are close to saving Jacques Snicket, who the Council of Elders believes, is Count Olaf because he looks just like him. They get clues and they find out that Jacques Snicket knows something about their parents because he told them before the Council of Elders took him to jail. The next day, he was found mysterly dead in his jail cell. Detective Dupin (Count Olaf) and blames it on the kids.

If I were to rate this book, I would give The Vile Village 4out of 5 stars. I would give the fiction story 4 out of 5 stars because the story was very unpredictable. In addition, the book was very detailed.

Dear Reader,

Those poor, unfortunate Baudelaire triplets! They just escaped the clutches of the evil Count Olaf and his girlfriend Esme Squalor in THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR. They had also just seen their friends, the Quagmire triplets: Duncan and Isadora taken away in a giant red herring.

Jerome was the last person who was willing to take the Baudelaires in. Mr. Poe, however, had been able to find an entire village willing to raise the children, the village of V.F.D. Remembering the clue that the Quagmires had told them, the Baudelaires were hoping that V.F.D. would assist them in solving the death of their parents and the mysterious tunnel they had discovered from 667 Dark Avenue to the remains of their family home. Alas, V.F.D. had never heard of the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child" and treated the children rather bad. About all that V.F.D. cared for were their migrating crows that ruled the town. In fact, that's what this V.F.D. was all about; they are the Village of Fowl Devotees.

Still, the children's stay at V.F.D. wasn't completely a waste. They met a man named Jacques Snicket who knew the Baudelaires' parents, the befriended a man named Hector who was going to let Violet, Klaus, and Sunny escape with him in his air-mobile home, and the children were reunited with the Quagmires.

Oh! But THE VILE VILLAGE is not a happy story. No, no, no, no. Someone is almost burned to death! A nefarious villain returns to make the Baudelaires miserable. People are accused of crimes they didn't commit. And once again Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are left to fend for themselves. Those poor children! Will the unfortunate events ever stop for them? How I wish it would.

I'm depressed now. I think I'll go watch the sunset to cheer me up.

Sincerely,

Uncle TV

The Vile Village is one of the most captivating books in A Series of Unfortunate Events. It gets you hooked and you want to keep reading it. The story is about the horrible experiences of the Baudelaire orphans in the Village of Fowl Devotees. The Baudelaire children's parents died in a horrible fire which happened in the first book of the series. Since then, the children have stayed at many different places. In The Vile Village, the children go to live with Hector. Hector is a man who lives in The Village of Fowl Devotees. The people in the town assigned the children to live with Hector, the handyman.
In the Village of Fowl Devotees there are over twenty thousand rules. If you disobey them you will be burned at a stake. Hector told the orphans that he has broken some of the rules himself. One rule he broke was when he made a mobile hot air balloon. Making any kind of mechanical device is against the law in the Village of Fowl Devotees. It is also against the law to have any books that talk about forbidden things. Hector has some books like this in his personal library. If people found out about this he would be burned at a stake.
Soon after the Baudelaire children arrive at the Village of Fowl Devotees, Count Olaf enters the town. He is a man who is after the Baudelaire children's enormous fortune. It is against the law in the Village of Fowl Devotees to be evil, so the townspeople are going to burn Count Olaf at the stake. Then the orphans find out he is not the real Count Olaf. The night before he is about to be burned at the stake he gets murdered. The real Count Olaf killed him but the Baudelaire children get accused of the crime. The next thing they know they are being put in jail and are scheduled to be burned at stake the following afternoon. Do you think the Baudelaire orphans will get burned or will they escape? Or will another unfortunate event happen? Read the book to find out!!!!

By now, prospective guardians for the three Baudelaire orphans have grown weary about taking them in since they have had six previous homes and guardians, and in each place they've been, trouble has followed. Sadly for the orphans, the trouble was never their fault, but the evil Count Olaf tends to make things seem as if Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are the causes of the numerous deaths, disturbances, and discomforts that have followed them. So when Mr. Poe can't find a new guardian, he decides to send them to a town participating in a new program revolving around the idea that "it takes a village to raise a child". When the siblings notice that one of the towns is called V.F.D., they believe that they have found the key to solving their troubles with Count Olaf, and will find their missing friends, Duncan and Isadora Quagmire. Sadly, though not unexpectedly, their hopes turn out to be false (for the most part), as V.F.D. stands for Village of Fowl Devotees, and the villagers are completely obsessed with the crows that inhabit the town, as well as 50,000 rules (I am not exaggerating this) that all have the same penalty for being broken: death by fire at the stake.

Things start out bad for the Baudelaires, and they only get worse after they are wrongfully imprisoned for murdering a man that everyone believes to be Count Olaf (turns out, the guy's name is really Jaques S.).

These books continue to improve in quality due to the increase in interesting plot twists and new methods of story telling. Unlike the first few books, even though Count Olaf is still a major player in the grand scheme of things, he is becoming more and more of a background character who manipulates events without anyone knowing instead of trying to rush in and capture the orphans. Can't wait to start the next book, The Hostile Hospital.

The cycle keeps repeating itself, the Baudelaires are again out of a guardian and we get to read another great story by Lemony Snicket. Mr. Poe, the executor of the kids' estate, is running out of options, and his choices in the past have all proven to be dreadful. In this case, the solution he finds is unconventional, when Violet, Klaus and Sunny take "advantage" of a new program by which entire towns take care of children.

The options are plenty, but when the orphans are looking at the list they find a village with a curious name that piques their interest. This name is no other than VFD, acronym that is connected to the Quagmire triplets and to Count Olaf's secret. If you have read the previous books you know by now that the two triplets (yes you read right!) are the only friends the Baudelaires have, and that the two unfortunate souls have been kidnapped by the evil count.

In terms of the story, Snicket follows the usual winning formula, with the Baudelaires searching for a new beginning, and finding some hope before the devilish count shows up and spoils everything. The author also continues to use his hilarious structure, presenting definitions of words in a creative way, letting Klaus and Violet translate what her little sister wants to say, and distributing a few surprises here and there.

The siblings stay in VFD is interesting to say the least, where they meet a group of ancient citizens with a large set of rules, a kind person who does not have the guts to stand up to injustice and a baffling mystery in the form of a set of poems. The series have been increasing in intensity and the characters are gaining more and more depth. Thus, fans of this series will not be disappointed with this novel.

Thus begins the seventh book in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Baudelaire orphans have escaped the evil Count Olaf once again and are back with Mr. Poe who is looking to find a new guardian and home for the three children. Where six previous guardians have failed the children in a variety of ways it is decided that a village will be able to do a better job raising the children than an individual. Following the clue "V.F.D" the children select the village of V.F.D. to make their home and hopefully rescue the two Quagmire Triplets. The Village of Fowl Devotees is, of course, nothing like what they had hoped and does not obviously hold the clue they need to find their friends. The village immediately puts the three children to work and Violet, Sunny, and Klaus struggle under the restrictions of the village.

Those familiar with the series (and anyone reading the seventh volume should be) will be immediately familiar with the language and formula of The Vile Village. Snicket has a good thing going and he sticks to what this series is: A report from a fictional author named Lemony Snicket on the series of unfortunate events which befall the Baudelaires. It is written in a very kid friendly voice, though one which repeatedly warns the reader from reading on about the horrible events which are to come. It is a perfect formula which serves the series well. If, at times, the books sound and feel like every other book in the series, it is only to be expected. But the younger readers will certainly love the Lemony Snicket books and the adult reader can enjoy them just as much.

-Joe Sherry

This book might be one of the most important books of the series so far. Why? Well, first of all it is the last book in the series that Mr. Poe (see book 1) sends the baudelaires to another guardian. Everyone figures out that there really is a Count Olaf (who is the bad guy). To try to get away from Count Olaf the Baudelaire's have to live in a village that is ruled by a bunch of old people and do chores for everybody in the village. They stay at their friend Hector's house (the janitor of the town) and stumble upon a poem by Isadora Quagmire who is an old friend of the baudeliares and has a great fortune too. The baudelaires found out that Count Olaf hid her and her brothers in the same town. The council members catch Count Olaf but it's not really him he just looks like Count Olaf. Now the Baudelaire's have to find their friends and make sure the fake Count Olaf (who is totally innocent) doesn't get burned at the stake. During the story the Baudelaire children get accused of killing the fake Count Olaf and they are to be burned at the stake. Will they be sent to their death in roaring flames or will they escape? You will have to read to find out.

A reader who doesn't like to get bored during a story or a reader who enjoys reading series books will love this book. A reader that likes adventure and mystery books would adore this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in only a couple days because I couldn't put it down it is so exciting. This is a great book not only for mystery lovers, but for everyone.

The Vile Village was a very entertaining read. Lemony Snicket used his creative flair to brilliant use here, with gothic crows, creepy elders in a village known as VFD, as well as more authentic and imaginative disguises for the sinister Count Olaf.

This instalment is somewhat longer than the rest of the books in the series up until this point, and as a result, actually adds more depth and character development into the story. The use of riddles and couplets to solve a mystery - in this case where the Quagmire triplets are being hidden - is such a pull. Both children and adults will strive to solve the clues themselves!

The Series of Unfortunate Events, for me, has been a series with serious ups and downs. The first book was good, but two and three seriously meandered and nothing seemed to happen. Four was a little better, and five shook up the status quo quite a bit. Six was different, but kept raising questions without answering them. With this book, book seven, we're still left with more questions than answers, but the status quo is SERIOUSLY shaken up in a way this series really needed, and I'm excited all over again.
The Baudelaire orphans -- Klaus, Sunny and Violet, are shipped off again, not to a relative this time, but to to a village with all-too-familiar initials, full of people that will supposedly work together to raise the children. As is always the case in this series, the adults are all either cruel, stupid or wimps -- the children are forced into servitude while being cared for by the kindly handyman Hector, who is nice enough but who does not have the backbone to stand up for the children (much like Jerome in the previous book).
Throughout the book the children are trying to solve the big mysteries of this series -- what is VFD? What happened to the Quagmire triplets? And what is the mysterious link between the author and the nefarious Count Olaf?
None of these questions are answered definitively, although clues and hints are included for all three -- but what really charges this book up is the ending, which I can honestly say ends (at least in one respect) in a fashion hitherto unseen in this series and which makes you suddenly sit up and take notice. "Hostile Hospital" here I come...

Ohhhhh...getting more action as the books go on! I enjoyed this one of a "town" raising the kids. Again, it went by pretty fast but that is to be expected with a children's' book. Throughout the book, you just want something to go right for the Baudelaire kids...and yet you know it will not happen with the series having UNFORTUNATE in the name! Can't wait to start the next one!!

A Series of Unfortunate Events The Vile Village

Lemony Snicket

"For sapphires we are held in here. Only you can end our fear."

Violet, Klaus and Sunny continue their adventures in the Village of V.F.D. In this village, the entire town cares for the children and there are lots rules to be followed. Their home will be at Hectors house, one of the town's people, and with him they will complete many chores around they village each day. One day, someone named Jacques Snicket comes to the town and has the same traits as Count Olaf, but is not the real Count Olaf. Then he is killed and the children are framed and blamed for his death. The real Count Olaf comes to the town and is called Detective Dupin to disguise himself. Now, since everyone thinks Count Olaf is dead, the real Count Olaf can work on his plans easier and will not have to much trouble hiding his real identity. But, the children know that Count Olaf is alive and will try to prove it to everyone. How can they show the town he is the real Count Olaf if everyone is trying to capture them for a crime they did not commit and prove that Jacques Snicket was not killed by them?

I thought this book was interesting because I thought the ending was unpredictable. This book is part of a series and is the seventh book out of the thirteen. It was an easy read so anyone can read it and I recommend it to anyone who is currently reading the series or anyone who likes fantasy.

THE VILE VILLAGE is the seventh book in the Series of Unfortunate Events which focuses on the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudalaire. In this new chapter of their lives the three Baudalaire orphans find themselves unwanted by any of their relatives because of their recent "unfortunate events". However the get the good news or you can consider it bad news that the village of V.F.D whose motto is "IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD" wants to adopt them. The orphans are excited as they embark on their new journey as they very well know that this village might hold the secrets to the Quagmire triplet's secret about V.F.D.
However when they arrive there they find thousands of crows to greet them and thounsands of ridiculous rules they have to follow. Plus the three of them have to do all the chores they village elders require them. It seems the only person who actrully accepts the orphans to care for is the village keeper named Hector. However he isn't much help because he gets skittish around the village elder for their stupid rules. The good thing is that he keeps a secret inventing studio and a secret library( which by the way are against the rules in V.F.D.) for Violet and Klaus to enjoy. The plot thickens when they kids find couplets written by Isable Quagmire under the tree next to Hecoter's shack and then the three Baudlaires get the news that Count Olaf(Known in V.F.D. as Count Omar) has been captured. However as all the unfortunate things are for them this one can also be counted for this Count Olaf is false. Before the kids can get information about him he is mysterouisly murdered and guess what? The detective who comes to review the case is no other than Count Olaf in one of his new ridiculous diguises. And he accuses the kids of murder! Can the Baudlaires find a solution to their neverending series of unfortunate events?
This 7th book was totally genious by Lemony Snicket! It is one of my favorites. The 8th book which I have already read can be said to be even better. However let me warn you if you hate bad and unfortunate endings don't read these books!!!! Listen to the author's advice!

Lemony Snicket, The Vile Village (Scholastic, 2001)

The Baudelaire orphans return in their seventh adventure, The Vile Village. Snicket keeps the soap-opera (as opposed to sitcom) method going here, continuing on the events of The Erstaz Elevator. The orphans are being sent by Mr. Poe to be raised by an entire village (because it takes a village to raise a child, of course), and the orphans discover that one of the towns they can choose from is called V.F.D. Believing they've solved the mystery at last, they head off for V.F.D., only to find that not only have the solved the mystery, but, as usual, not all is right with the world. In fact, most things are very wrong with the world. This, of course, is nothing new to the Baudelaires.

It almost seems as if Lemony Snicket is writing a surreptitious primer on how to write a novel in these books. In this one, he introduces the concept of foreshadowing by clue (and does so with a nice, unexpected subtlety). Otherwise, it's your basic Baudelaire orphans novel. Funny, somewhat silly, and poking fun at just about everything, and trying (one wonders with what success) to expand the vocabulary of his readers, Snicket continues writing a bang-up series. *** 1/2

I really liked the book The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket. Like I said the last time the 6th book was the best so far and now the 7th book was the best because they keep on getting better every book.

Voilet Klaus and Sunny always wondered what V.F.D. means and Mr. Poe wanted them to pick a new home. They picked a place called V.F.D. They got there and they were breaking rules already and they just talking! After that they met the person who would be taking care of them. All three of them wondered what they were going to do and so they asked him if he had a library workshop and something to bite for Sunny. And it shocked them all when he said yes it's all in the barn. After that Count Olaf and found them again. Right after they started getting poems every morning and they were just like the Quagmires. After this guy Jacques Snicket got murdered and Violet Klaus and Sunny got blamed for it. After that finally all three of them found the Quagmires and are escaping but the three of them didn't make it but the Quagmires did.

I think a person that would really like this book is one that doesn't like to read boring stories. The age group is probably from 8-14 years old. That's what I think about this book.

The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket puplished in 2001.
Boom! Count Olaf has a harpoon gun and is shooting at the Baudelaires
while they're getting into their balloon. And there are millions of crows everywhere. Olaf shot the rope, now they're falling. Want know what happens? Then read the Vile Village.
The main idea is basically Olaf follows the Baudelaires, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny .They have been going from relative to relative but Olaf always finds them and tries to capture them. Why is olaf after them? Because when their parents died they left behind a lot of money and that's the main idea basicaly.
This is a part I liked, here's how it went. "The children scarcely looked at the town. Instead looked straight up at the mysterious and beautiful sight of the sky .Isn't it marvelous hectar cried .His long skinny arms were outstretched and had raise his voice over the sound of luttering wings".
I think others will like this book because it's funny witty and sad combined making atragic funny story.I liked it because you think good prevails but then there stranded again
Out of the whole series i'd give this book a 7 if you dont beleive me reread my review then read the series.

The Vile Village

This book is about the three Baudelaire children Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. They just ran away from the last place they were at and went to the only adult sort of friend they had who also guards their big fortune. They can not get their fortune because they are not old enough yet. Mr. Poe sent the Baudelaires to the village he read about in the paper called V.F.D. They make a friend there they live with because nobody else would take them. He is a very nice man. They have to get up every morning and do chores for most of the day. They start finding couplets under a big tree crows sit on. They are confused by this because it does not make since. They think their friend the Quagmires are in the tree. Later they try to go save a man but then he was already dead. The village blamed the Baudelaires. They got put in jail and were very sad.

Do the Baudlaires get out of jail. Do they catch count Olaf. Read this book to find out.

I love this book very much. I have read to number nine out of eleven so far and they're great. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with suspense, smarts, death, and just a weird book in all.

So far, this series is pretty simple. An idiot in any shape or form becomes their guardian, they find a misfit library, and Count Olaf showes up. The rest is history. But this one is a little different. The guardian you can acctually relate to. And the author does a fake out about Count Olaf that puts you on the edge of your seat, or couch, or whatever you happen to be reading the book on. I have one thing to warn you about that may set you back a step from getting this book: It will leave you crying for the next book. But, sadly, most stores only sell 1-7 in this series. So if you plan on getting this book, do yourself a favor and get the next one too. It's called The Hostil Hospital (#8). This book (#7) will pang your sence of justace and your feelings for the three kids like you wouldn't belive. I don't want to give to much away, but Lemony Snicket is having a lot of fun putting mysteries in the story. If the last book seemed not finished, just wait for this one! In the end, the orphans are a lot worse of then they have ever been. So, if your smart, get the next book so you can feel right about this one sooner. Happy (or in this case)Unhappy Reading! By the way, if you think that just cause a kid is reviewing a kids book that this reveiw isn't very accurate, I beg of you to reconsider. I know what I'm talking about.

October 25, 2006

The Baudelaire orphans sat reading a newspaper while Mr. Poe was on the phone trying to get them a new guardian. He said that no one wanted to be their guardian because of the misfortune that seems to follow them where ever they go. So he set them up with a program where an entire village would be their guardian. One choice was a village with the initials V.F.D. They thought that maybe this could be what their friends the Quagmires had tried to tell them about and maybe they would find them there. They went to the town hall where the town was having a meeting. It was announced that the Baudelaires would be staying with Hector, the handyman, and would help Hector do all the chores for the entire town. Hector took the children home. His house was on the far edge of town by the HUGE nevermore tree. Hector had a secret inventing studio in his barn where he was working on a self sustaining hot air mobile home. Once it was finished he said that he would fly away from the town because it made him skittish. The Bauldelaires told him the sad story of their life and about the Quagmire triplets who were missing. They told him that Isadora was a poet and that she wrote couplets. At that Hector pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was a couplet from Isadora. They continued to find a couplet under the nevermore tree every morning. These were clues to where the Quagmires were hidden. One day when the Baudelaire children were cleaning the Fowl Fountain, three members of the council of elders came to give Hector a message that Count Olaf, who was after the children, had been captured. But when they went into town, they realized that it wasn't Count Olaf, his name was Jacques. But no one would listen to them and the man was sentenced to be burned at the stake. Then Bauldelaires tried to argue but they found out that this was the punishment for anyone who breaks the rules. Hector had to take the Bauldelaires home. Violet went to work making improvements on Hector's invention. They were working on a plan to find the Quagmires, save Jacques and leave town. Then they found out Jacques had been murdered. A man named Detective Dupin (Olaf) said that he had evidence that the Bauldelaires did it. So they were thrown in jail and sentenced to be burned at the stake the next day. They needed a way to get out of the cell. All they had was a pitcher of water, a spongy loaf of bread, and a wooden bench. Violet got the idea to dissolve the mortar that held the bricks together. They worked on it all night and by the time the sun was rising, the mortar was really mushy. Hector came by the cell and talked to them through the window. He said that if they made it out of the cell, that he would have his hot air home ready to go. He also gave them another one of Isadora's poems. With this they figured out that the Quagmires were hidden in the fowl fountain. They used the bench as a battering ram and broke through the part of the wall that they had been working on and ran over to the fowl fountain. They got the beak of the fountain open. The Quagmires climbed out. Then they saw people coming with torches so they ran trying to get to Hector's house. At that moment they saw Hector's machine coming towards them. The Quagmires climbed the rope ladder and the Bauldelaires started to follow. But as they started to leave Officer Luciana showed up with a harpoon gun and shot at them. She hit the ladder and the Bauldelaires fell. She also hit a crow. This distracted the mob of people. The Quagmires called down to them and threw down a notebook filled with secrets about Olaf. But Officer Luciana, who was actually Olaf's girlfriend, is the one who ended up with the notebook and they left together. The Baudelaires are left trying to figure out what to do next. This is a good book. It's very detailed, but it has some faults just like every book does.

In the story, the Bauldelaires are able to solve any puzzle or problem that is thrown at them. For example, Violet was able to get the hot air home working. Hector had been working on that for a long time. He wasn't able to get it to work but Violet was able to get it working in one night. Also, they were able to figure out what Isadora's poems meant. Some of them were very confusing, but the Bauldelaires seemed to figure them out instantly. The Bauldelaires were also able to figure out how to get out of the jail cell. Not many people would have thought to dissolve the mortar between the bricks. Even though I don't think it would have worked in real life, it was still a good idea. And when that took to long, they used to bench to ram through the wall and got out that way.

In the book, I think that the Bauldelaires could have tried harder, whether it was something physical or trying to make people listen. For example, when Mr. Poe was trying to find them a new guardian. Mr. Poe kept calling them trouble makers. They tried to argue that Count Olaf was the trouble maker, but soon gave up. I think Mr. Poe would listen to them more if they followed through with their arguments and proved a point. Also, when they were climbing the ladder. They still had time to climb up before the rope broke. They could have mad it but they didn't even try. Another time is when they were being accused of killing Jacques. They had logical reasoning that they could have used to prove they didn't do it. For instance, they eye-glass lens they said belonged to Klaus. How many people carry around an extra lens incase one falls out. Not many and they didn't even mention that.

In the book, the author could have had something go right for the Baudelaires. For example, when they were climbing up the rope ladder. As I mentioned before, they had time to make it, but they didn't try. If they had tried then the story might have a happier ending. Also, when the Quagmires threw down their notebooks. They just had to get hit by the harpoon gun. Even though they still caught several pages of the notebooks, it won't be that much help. They could have at least gotten one of the notebooks. And you would think they could end up with a decent guardian at least once. This guardian wanted to burn them at the stake, and their previous guardian pushed them down an empty elevator shaft and was working with Olaf. I can only imagine what the next guardian will be like.

Overall this is a good book. It is so extremely detailed that it makes the reader think that these events could have actually happened instead of just being made up. Although parts of the story were a little depressing, I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it to ages ten and up. The reader just has to be okay with reading a story about extreme misfortune. I hope you enjoy it.

C. Chapman

In Book the Seventh of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Baudelaire children become supervised by an entire town - V.F.D. But they find that instead of discovering the mystery behind these letters that their friends, the Quagmires left behind, they find more adults that are mean and interested only in taking advantage of the three siblings. But clues as to the location of the Quagmire triplets start Violet inventing, Claus reading, and Sunny biting as usual. They follow the clues in an attempt to find their friends and avoid capture by the evil Count Olaf who, once again, has turned up in disguise and is playing tricks on the townspeople.

This installment in the series dragged a bit more than those past. The writing remains highly intelligent and creative as usual, but for some reason this plot didn't grab me. Only six more in the series - Surely Lemony Snicket will continue to entertain with the dastardly tales of Count Olaf and the courage of the poor Baudelaire children.

The Vile Village, by Lemony Snicket, continues the dreary tale of the Baudelaire orphans. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, desperate to solve the mystery of V.F.D., have chosen the village of VFD, the Village of Fowl Devotees, to be their new home. In VFD the children are placed in the care of the affable town handyman, Hector. Each day the children, along with Hector, are responsible for doing the chores of the crow-infested town of VFD.
Not surprisingly, the children fearfully await the return of the treacherous Count Olaf. They also continue the search for their friends Isadora and Duncan Quagmire, feared to be in the clutches of Count Olaf and his evil associates. While cleaning the town each day the children try to unravel the mysteries around them while trying to save the Quagmires and themselves from Count Olaf. This is not easy, especially in a town whose rules clearly state that breaking a rule is punishable by burning at the stake!
This book is a must read for fans of the series. I would advise that this series be read in chronological order, especially from book five and onward, as a continuing story line would be ruined by reading the books out of order.

Deaths, trickery, are the two main words in THE VILE VILLAGE by Lemony Snicket. Now would you enjoy hearing about these fun filled characters? Well one is the malicious and arrogant Count Olaf who frames Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire for the murder of Jacques Snicket . Who are the Baudelaires you might ask? Well they are kind and resourceful children, Orphaned when their mother and father were murdered in a fire that took all their possessions. But why does he want to frame them? Well because of the enormous fortune that the Baudelaire parents had left behind.

Where is this all happening? You might ask. Well it is in the village of V.F.D. Now you see the entire village is their guardians. So the children must do ALL the chores, for everyone in the village. Also there are awful rules. For instance "Rule #961 clearly states that the Council of Elders' hot fudge sundaes cannot have more than 15 pieces of nuts each". So will it work? Read the book to find out.

This book was where the whole story is twisted. The previous books simply talked about the three children struggling from Count Olaf's clutches and eventually survive. The same pattern repeats from book 1 to book 6 with Count Olaf planning a new scheme to get the Baudelaire fortune and them escaping at the end without Count Olaf getting captured.

In this book, the 3 three children are convicted of murder of Count Olaf when Count Olaf killed the look alike( one eyebrow and a tatoo on his ankle) himself. The strange twist then begins where the children have to run away from the police. Count Olaf, now thought to be killed is on the loose and is free to roam around trying to catch the children. He doesn't need disguises anymore but, on the contrary, it's the children who need to disguise themselves to escape both Count Olaf's clutches and the police.

This book is the best one yet, in my opinion. It's quite interesting figuring out what new disguise Count Olaf would wear next but it's quite lame to have it repeated for 5 times, with 5 different books for just one disguise. It's more fun, though, to have the children disguising because , as we know, Count Olaf is a very clever man. It's fun to read about how 3 prodigies escape then 1 filthy man trying to get their fortune all the time.

It's a fast read and the author sure has a wide variety of phrases and vocabulary to go with explainations. The pictures add to the fun because as you go along the book, you really get the picture of the situations and when you see the illustrations, it just proves that the book is really descriptive and it can give you an image which looks totally like the pictures drawn.

Love it!

Kirstie Mabitad

I Liked the book because when an exciting or interesting part came you didn't know what was going to happen next. Also because I've read other Series of Unfortunate Events books and I think this one is the best so far.

The Baudelaire's have to live in a village and do chores for everyone. They're at their friend Hector's house and found a poem by Isadora Quagmire. They found out that Count Olaf hid her and her brother in the same town. The council members catch Count Olaf but it's not really him. Now the Baudelaire's have to find their friends and make sure the fake Count Olaf doesn't get burned at stake. During the story the Baudelaire children get accused of killing the fake Count Olaf and have to get burned at stake.

A reader who doesn't like to get bored during the story will enjoy this book. Also a reader who has read the series of Unfortunate Events or has read a series book. A reader that likes adventure and mystery books would like this book.

Mr. Poe in charge of the orphans' affairs, is probably running out of guardians. 'It takes a village to raise a child' is the saying. They eventually pick V.F.D( Village of Fowl Devotees). Violet, Klaus and Sunny ofcourse have no idea what it meant. They jump at anything with the initials V.F.D, trying to find the answer. Again luck runs out. But that's what keeps this series going. It just keeps getting more hectic. But there time at V.F.D is short lived and more woeful and terrible. The miserable events the Baudelaires go through just follow them.

From the departing bus, the Baudelaires push their way across the flat,dusty and dry land and into the town of V.F.D. With strict rules the Council of Elders rule the town. But basically, the town is over swept by migrating crows. Hector, the handyman is their new guardian. Skittish in front of the Council of Elders, Hector's specialty is mexican food. By night, the crows bunch around Hector's tree, leaving Isadora's poems in the morning. It only takes a smart Klaus to figure out the riddle to Isadora and Duncan's whereabouts. Also, we see Jacques Snicket. Before he is murdered, people tell he should be burned at the stake because he is Count Omar or Olaf. Tattoo of an eye on his ankle, Jacques is accused of being a villain. But the inclusion of this brief character just brings in more unanswered questions to the Snicket mystery and V.F.D. Suddenly, after staying in a prison cell overnight, Jacques is found murdered. Detective Dupin comes to investigate. Is Dupin Olaf? And after introducing mob pychcology, Dupin gets what he wanted. The Baudelaires in the most dirtiest, yuckiest, grottiest, slimy and damp cell. Soon, two of the Baudelaires would be burn at the stake, leaving one of Baudelaires. But Violet's inventing skills help to break out and cleverly Klaus finds the Quagmires in a crow shaped fountain.

Suddenly, everbody is on a hunt to find the Baudelaires. Every V.F.D citizen is after them and the Quagmires. Will Hector's invention(which Violet improved) be able to get the five out of this horible, horible mess. You'll see.

Again Snicket provides humour and an exciting story. Also, you'll find out how Isadora sent those poems. Gruelling chores and an angry mob, Snicket excites readers, though this story has a turn. Convicted of murder. The Baudelaires find another person dead only because of Olaf, and the end result is a stupid one. Why can't people be more sensible. Olaf continues to trick people when he ain't that smart and skillful. Esme also has a disguise. The last seen where Esme shoots the harpoon at the invention and Hector remarks how he lost the food supply etc. is funny. I recommend you buy this book. It sure is a good one.

And what is V.F.D?

In the "Vile Village" the three Baudelaire orphans become part of a new program based on the saying 'It takes a village to raise a child.' Under this program, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny's newest guardians will be all the residents of an entire village. In the hopes of solving the mystery of 'V.F.D.,' the children choose a village by that name as their new home. They are sent to live with a kind man named Hector who has a library of forbidden books. V.F.D. is run by the Council of Elders, who have made tens of thousands of ridiculous rules that the citizens of the village must follow or risk being burned at the stake. When the Baudelaires are falsely accused of murder and imprisoned, they must escape from the jail and find their friends the Quagmires, who are hidden somewhere in the village.

Enjoyable romp with a bit of a different antagonist being the village elders. I like the way the author keeps finding new and interesting situations to put the kids in.

Complete with a town of strict elders eager to burn rule-breakers at the stake, a skittish handyman, and a huge flock of crows, "The Vile Village" proves to be one of the most intriguing story in "A Series of Unfortunate Events" thus far. Ever since Book 5, things have started to tie together, create a firm story and create questions in the head of the reader.

While there are SOME answers in this book, it creates tenfold as many questions. While it starts off a bit slower then Snicket's previous entries in the series, it picks up fast in the middle and redeems itself beyond belief-not to mention that the end of the book is the most touching so far. It's also BY FAR the most desperate situation the Baudelaire orphans are left in.

Lemony Snicket's humor is great as usual, though I have come to expect his random comparisons and strange explanations, so they aren't as funny as they initially were. However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh out loud a couple of times.

"Klaus was looking at the latest couplet from Isadora, and in the growing light of the Deluxe Cell his sisters could see a wide grin on his face. Grinning is something you do when you are entertained in some way, such as reading a good book or watching someone you don't care for spill orange soda all over himself."

7/10

No one wants to be Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. Their chain of unfortunate events keeps continuing, and perhaps has reached its most treacherous event in the lives of the three orphans. Count Olaf and his dastardly new accomplice, Esme Squalor, are on the run. The Quagmire triplets are still missing - and their time just may be running out. Now, the orphans are in the care of the village of V.F.D. - a town with the motto "It takes a village to raise a child." This village
is very, very vile -- there are thousands of ridiculous rules to comply to, and anyone who disobeyes a rule is burned at the stake alive! Then there's the tremendous mob of crows that flock to different places during day and night, blackening the town's sky. The Baudelaires have probably never faced more absurd circumstances. As mysteries and mayhem fill their lives even more, their stay at V.F.D.is becoming worse than they could have ever dreamed. The Vile Village is the seventh book in A Series Of Unfortunate Events, and one of my favorite books in the series so far.

BookBat

Would you like it if instead of two parents, an entire town was taking care of you? Well, in the book The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket, Violet, Sunny, and Klause are being taken care of by a town called V.F.D. and staying with the handy man named Hector. The three of them and Hector have to do chores all day, every day. The Quagmire triplets are being held captive by Count Olaf, who is after the Quagmire Sapphires and the Baudelaire fortune. To me, this was the first book of the series that I just wanted to read it and get it over with so I could go on to the next book. I didn't like it because it wasn't very exciting and it was too predictable. If you read the other books, can tell which people are in disguise and helping Count Olaf. Will Count Olaf succeed at getting the Quagmire Saphires and the Baudilaire forutune? Or will the Baudilaire Orphans live happy live forever? Read to find out!

In "The Vile Village," Snicket is probably at his best since the beginning of the series. In this novel, Sunny, Klaus, and Violet are put off to the village called V.F.D. The orphans go under the program, "It takes a village to raise a child." Hector, the handyman, is their main caretaker. When they get to the village, they have hopes that the mystery of V.F.D. will be solved. Unfortunately, the village and the mystery are not the same. Fortunately, though, the Quagmire triplets are somewhere in the village. The treacherous villain Olaf returns too, but this time doesn't play as big a role as in other books. So, "The Vile Village" is definitely one of the best of the series, and I can't wait to read the six remaing volumes to come. Get this novel if you're a true fan of the series or a minimal series. Somebody that has never even read the prior books can even enjoy this. Buy and enjoy.
Happy Reading!

In this mysteries village "V.F.D." there are black skies from the black crows. In one part of the town the Council of Elders live. The Council of Elders wear creepy crow hats and they make thousands of rules for V.F.D. like, "Don't hurt the crows."

The Baudelaire children, Sunny, Clause, and Violet, are token care of by a nice handyman Hector. Hector secretly breaks the rules. Hector and the town try to keep the Baudelaire children as safe as possible from the evil clutches of Count Olaf.

The Baudelaire children find mysteries notes under Hectors enormous tree in his front yard. What do they mean?

I really encourage you to read this mysteries, threatening book if you are a lover of mystery or science fiction. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. This is by far my favorite book out of all the series. It is filled with mystery and suspense.

THE VILE VILLAGE was the first book in the series which I enjoyed reading so much that I could almost re-read it just on its own, without the aid of its predecessors or sequels. In the book the author pokes fun at a certain former President's wife for the now-famous phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child." (It used to take a mother and a father, but that's a different subject.) And the readers' mad thirst for more VFD clues will be just the tiniest bit dampened, particularly by the fact that the Baudelaire orphans are sent to live in a village simply called VFD. Other interest points include the use of poetry to reveal developing plot points and the fact that the ruthless Count Olaf has very little "page-time". Overall, THE VILE VILLAGE will drive the reader even further and deeper into this unfortunate saga.

I can't wait to find out what happens next!

After being dumped by their latest guardian, Jerome Squallor, the Baudelaire orphans will not be taken in by any other relatives due to fears of Count Olaf.The children are taken in by the mysterious village of VFD and are taken care of by a nervous man named Hector, who likes to cook Mexican food and runs a secret mechanism and library.The Baudelaires soon learn of the mysterious village, the way it is run by a sincere group of elders and has around ten million stupid rules they must not be broken otherwise you are burnt at a stake.The Baudelaires are accused of crime, assault and murder and at the same time must try to find their friends, the Quagmires, who are hidden somewhere in the village due to the falling of notes written by Isadora Quagmire.When things can't get any worse, Olaf arrives, and this time without a shirt!Get ready for another hilarious and eh-dismal read.

I am getting increasingly tired of Snicket defining words and phrases as they have to do with his story instead of the true dictionary definition of the word. Besides that, the story was well executed.
My favorite thing is that Snicket has decided to age his child characters. Often in series of books intended for children, they remain the same age for the duration of the series, (i.e. as far as I know the Babysitters Club is still 13 and in the 8th grade, and have been since I was 9--and I'm 27). It's nice when the children grow, as well as learn, (i.e. the Harry Potter characters). I'm glad Snicket has allowed the Beaudelaires to do this. It gives me hope that Violet will turn 18 prior to being captured successfully by Olaf.

I really dig the Series of Unfortunate Events books. The appeal lies somewhere between: because many people just "don't get it" and the fact that the stories are morbidly fun and fly by in a breeze.

Vile Village (Book 7 of 13) follows the strong pacing of the series best books (Reptile Room and Austere Academy). The Beaudelaire Orphans find themselves in a unique surrounding, with a somewhat helpful guardian...BUT...then everything unravels around them.

Count Olaf (Omar) is especially humorous in this story and the added elements that help tie up loose ends from previous books, while creating new ones for the remainder of the series (including the connecting threads to "author" Lemony Snicket) make the reading doubly rewarding for fans of the series.

Dear Someone,

I really enjoyed this book! It is one of my favorite books. The Baudelaires were oh so close to finally getting to the Quaugmires but Hector flew away to fast in his self- sustaining hot air mobile home. Count Olaf was disguised as Dectective Dupin and snapped every time he said "It's not cool...". (Which he said a lot!) At the end, the Baudelaires are accused of a murder of Jacques Snicket, which was supposed to be burned at stake. So, resulting to this, the Baudalaires are, at the end, running away from the angry mob. I suggest you read The Hostile Hospital, The Eighth book, which I am in the middle of right now as we speek.

Thank you for your time,

Some Person

Dear Someone,

I really enjoyed this book! It is one of my favorite books. The Baudelaires were oh so close to finally getting to the Quaugmires but Hector flew away to fast in his self- sustaining hot air mobile home. Count Olaf was disguised as Dectective Dupin and snapped every time he said "It's not cool...". (Which he said a lot!) At the end, the Baudelaires are accused of a murder of Jacques Snicket, which was supposed to be burned at stake. So, resulting to this, the Baudalaires are, at the end, running away from the angry mob. I suggest you read The Hostile Hospital, The Eighth book, which I am in the middle of right now as we speek.

Thank you for your time,

Some Person

Love love this series. Move over, eight year olds, the big people love these books too. I am a librarian and I can tell you, I have as many grownups checking these wonderful books out as the kids!!! One patron said he and his girl friend read them to each other. Ah....
I won't go into plotlines. I think that has all been covered. I am just here to tell the grownups not to read these books. If you have a Baudelaire book in your hand, it is not too late. Put the book down and go read John Updike or Joyce Carol Oates or something....if you are wanting a sweet book for your grandchildren about dear little tots going on picnics, having adventures and grand times on the beach, these books are not it. Get the kids the Bobbsy Twins!