Series of Unfortunate Events #6: The Ersatz Elevator audiobook

OH HELL YEAH BABY.OH. HELL. YEAH.I love this series - which, in case you live under a rock or have been up to this point blessed enough to have a Goodreads feed untouched by my screaming, is my favorite in the world - for so many reasons.These reasons include:- the characters- the world- the language- the precision of the secrecy- the mystery- EVERYTHING, BASICALLY.And this book is standout in all of those categories even in the realm of this series!!! Like, can you believe. Lemony Snicket really out here blessing us in ways we didn’t know we needed.The characters introduced here are so fun, and the Baudelaires and Olaf and his troupe are at some of their respective fun peaks!!! The settings, including the city and the auction and the endless apartment and its building, are particularly AMAZING. And everything else is as always better and better, BECAUSE BASICALLY THIS SERIES JUST GETS BETTER AS IT GOES ALONG EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN’T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE WITH VERY FEW BLIPS AT ALL.Bottom line: I!!!! love!!!!! it!!!!!!!

4.5 OMG OMG THIS KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER! I think this may be the best entry to the series as far as the first 6 books are concerned. A lot of revelations were revealed, especially with regards to the Quagmire twins. I knew there was something fishy going on with Esmé Squalor as soon as she was introduced in this book. As for Jerome Squalor...why? Just why would he abandon and give away the Baudelaires? I feel like he would be a really great guardian for them. Oh well, I understand his decisions since he really wanted to protect them..Despite all that, I love seeing the Baudelaires overcome their adversities under the evil, good-for-nothing Count Olaf. Overall, I enjoyed this one the most. I couldn't stop reading until I'm finished with it. There's always a secret waiting to be exposed in this book. Loved it! Anyway, I decided to take a short break from this series. I'll read maybe a couple of books before I could continue with it again. It was a great journey so far. 'Til we meet again, ASOUE!

No matter how many times I read this book, I always come to the same conclusion. Esme is my least favourite character that we are introduced to throughout this series. Other than Count Olaf, of course! She's just so self absorbed and so nasty to the Baudelaires, it's incredible. I particularly enjoy the series starting with this book, it starts getting a lot more intricate what with V.F.D. and the secret tunnel being revealed and I love the layers that these elements add to the plot!

I definitely felt the spark from the first couple of books in the series return in this! It was a lot grittier and less repetitive than the last few, (which I was beginning to find a little tedious) but I thoroughly enjoyed it!! I loved that, although the basic plot was still very similar, there were added extras too. I'm really enjoying the newly introduced mystery surrounding the Quagmire triplets and the unexplained discoveries that occurred. This has definitely been one of my favourite additions to the series so far!

4.4/5I liked this one a lot!Even if the main plot and development is the same as the previous books, it had a very fun and enjoyable story with some additions and a very cool, even if simple, setting.I liked how different the two new guardians are, how Mr Squalor wants to help the children and even if he understands them he has to please at the same time Mrs Squalor.Her character is absolutely terrible, but in a fun way, she was so focused on what was in and out that was the only thing that mattered to her, seriously, nothing else.As soon as new things were in, she needed them as soon as possible. Count Olaf's disguise here is very cool too, and even if he is not as present as in some other stories, his presence is pretty creepy this time. I liked the whole "almost endless" stairs' and elevators' concept and especially how the elevator was used later.The whole finale was pretty amazing. The main objective of the children is to find their friends and nothing will stop them.It's a fight against time and they will work super hard not to fail.This was a super fun read, finally some mystery was involved too, to give to the series a little shake and a fresh new side story.The kids will be pretty busy next time, I guess!Till the next tragedy ;)

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Misfortune awaits the BaudeliarsBaudelaires!The three Baudelaire orphans have been escaping the clutches of Count Olaf ever since their parents perished in a terrible fire. The three children have been placed in the care of guardian after guardian only to have adversity follow them wherever they go. Count Olaf is a wicked and treacherous man who is eager to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune that the oldest Baudelaire, Violet will acquire when she comes of age.In this book the three children have been placed in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Squalor who live in a penthouse on the sixty sixth floor of 667 dark avenue. It’s the most “in” part of town with important and rich people walking about in pinstripe suits. Jerome Squalor and Esme Squalor( she’s the city’s sixth most important financial advisor) live a luxurious life and they spend their time and money in things which they think are “in”. “Children, here are some things you should know. Dark is in. Light is out. Stairs are in. Elevators are out. Pinstripe suits are in. Those horrible clothes you are wearing are out.”See what I mean?! “A martini?” Klaus asked. “Isn’t that an alcoholic beverage?”“Usually it is,” Jerome agreed. “But right now, alcoholic martinis are out. Aqueous martinis are in. An aqueous martini is simply cold water served in a fancy glass with an olive in it, so it’s perfectly legal for children as well as for adults.”You may think that the children are finally safe from Count Olaf but sadly you’re wrong. For Beatrice—When we met, my life began.Soon afterward, yours ended(view spoiler)[Esme Squalor is in cahoots with Count Olaf and she’s been helping him get to the children! Also the Quagmire twinstriplets were found hidden in the bottom of the elevator shaft. They were auctioned off at the “in auction” hosted by Esme and guess who?! COUNT OLAF! (now in disguise as Gunther). V.F.D in this book stands for Very Fancy Doilies. (hide spoiler)]

This one starts out with the familiar formula we're used to, but quickly it becomes evident that this book is different from the rest. First of all, this time around the children get not one, but two guardians. They're filthy rich and only adopted them because it's the "in" thing to do. The whole "in" and "out" joke is quite enjoyable. Apparently, the rich only care about following trends and nothing else. Count Olaf is back and nobody believes the children as usual. Without giving too much away, this time around the Baudelaire siblings are on the offensive. The surprises and twists are quite unique to this entry and for that I'm grateful. I can't wait to see how the next book fares in terms of keeping this story fresh.

I definitely recommend listening to the audiobooks in this series, especially the further you go. It really sets the creepy mood.

Now determined to slip the word 'ersatz' into as many daily conversations as I can.

Listened to this and the two before it in one sitting at work one day. This is one of my favorites so far, along with The Reptile Room. Despite the same thing happening in each and every book for the most part, this one managed to introduce some new things and keep things interesting for continuing on. The humor in this one is pretty fantastic also.

4.5 Okay, THIS is my favorite one so far