Reader Series: 'The Carnivorous Carnival,' Lemony Snicket
This is the ninth post in a series leading up to the premiere of Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' on January 13, 2017. The series will cover each of the 13 books and 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.' Be warned: there are spoilers ahead.
Hiding in the trunk of Olaf's car leads the Baudelaires to the Caligari Carnival, where he and Esme seek the mysterious Madame Lulu, owner of the carnival and a fortune-teller who might know the whereabouts of the Snicket files. The Baudelaires try their hands at disguises again, they learn something more about VFD, and more people tragically die. In addition to the cruelty surrounding the 'freaks' and abused lions, the Baudelaires discover the cruelty of the truth that no person is truly noble or good.
With limited disguise resources, the siblings still manage convincing 'freaks' costumes: Violet and Klaus become two-headed Beverly and Elliot, while Sunny becomes Chabo the Wolf Baby. Fortunately, they won't have to stay undercover very long. Olaf decides to feed a freak to the lions (because why not), Madame Lulu turns out to be Olivia the clearly irresponsible VFD member, and rumors abound that a Baudelaire parent may be alive in the Mortmain Mountains. Unfortunately, Olaf's freak-feeding plan fails when Lulu and his bald henchman fall into the lion pit to their doom, instead of the Baudelaires. So, of course, he decides to burn down the carnival.
However, the Baudelaires are still trusting, hopeful people; when Olaf invites them on his quest into the mountains, they agree, playing entirely into his plan. He takes Sunny and his new 'freak' henchmen cut the carnival caravan away from his car, letting it free-roll down the mountain. It turns out Olivia/Lulu told Olaf that the Baudelaires were in disguise, because Olivia believed in the "Give People What They Want" philosophy, something that clearly did not serve her well in the end.
The Baudelaires are cut away from the car on a steep cliff, creating a literal cliffhanger for the book and the first for the series. Although we've seen violence in the series previously, this ninth book feels particularly dark, with Olaf becoming increasingly desperate and intolerant of the Baudelaires' interference. The Baudelaires are learning, and having to grow up quickly, to achieve a stronger position against the villainy in their story.
Hiding in the trunk of Olaf's car leads the Baudelaires to the Caligari Carnival, where he and Esme seek the mysterious Madame Lulu, owner of the carnival and a fortune-teller who might know the whereabouts of the Snicket files. The Baudelaires try their hands at disguises again, they learn something more about VFD, and more people tragically die. In addition to the cruelty surrounding the 'freaks' and abused lions, the Baudelaires discover the cruelty of the truth that no person is truly noble or good.
With limited disguise resources, the siblings still manage convincing 'freaks' costumes: Violet and Klaus become two-headed Beverly and Elliot, while Sunny becomes Chabo the Wolf Baby. Fortunately, they won't have to stay undercover very long. Olaf decides to feed a freak to the lions (because why not), Madame Lulu turns out to be Olivia the clearly irresponsible VFD member, and rumors abound that a Baudelaire parent may be alive in the Mortmain Mountains. Unfortunately, Olaf's freak-feeding plan fails when Lulu and his bald henchman fall into the lion pit to their doom, instead of the Baudelaires. So, of course, he decides to burn down the carnival.
Miracles are like meatballs, because nobody can exactly agree on what they are made of, where they come from, or how often they should appear.
I am so tired, I can scarcely type these worfs.
But the sad truth is that the truth is sad, and that what you want does not matter. A series of unfortunate events can happen to anyone, no matter what they want.
It was confusing pretending to be completely different people, particularly because it had been so long since the Baudelaires were able to be the people they really were.
But there are many things in life that become different if you take a long look at them.
The Baudelaires are cut away from the car on a steep cliff, creating a literal cliffhanger for the book and the first for the series. Although we've seen violence in the series previously, this ninth book feels particularly dark, with Olaf becoming increasingly desperate and intolerant of the Baudelaires' interference. The Baudelaires are learning, and having to grow up quickly, to achieve a stronger position against the villainy in their story.
Comments
Post a Comment