Reader Series: 'The Austere Academy,' Lemony Snicket
This is the fifth 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.
In terms of child care, The Austere Academy is almost a redemptive misadventure for Mr. Poe, as he's endeavoring to get the kids back into some sort of regular life by attending school again. However, the school puts the Baudelaires, as orphans, at a complete disadvantage throughout the entire book. With the self-absorbed violin-playing Principal Nero, the oblivious and ridiculous teachers, and the cruel Carmelita Spats, the children are destined for a terrible educational experience.
Aside from the oppressive nature of The Austere Academy, this book is unique in one important regard: The Austere Academy introduces friendship for the Baudelaires. Here, among crab-infested shacks and night sessions with gym coach Count Olaf, the Baudelaires meet the Quagmires. The Quagmires, two siblings though they are technically triplets, consist of brother Duncan and sister Isadora. Of course, there is a downside to this promising friendship; more orphans in the story means more characters to worry about when the nefarious Count Olaf appears, and rightly so.
Carmelita Spats, unfortunately a recurring character and somehow one with a cult following, can be simply described as a real Veruca Salt. I know Carmelita Spats isn't a real person. I also know that the people Carmelita Spats represents are incredibly real. Carmelita Spats is a straight transcription of the spoiled egotistical bully we all know so well. Though we will see her again, I look forward to several books without having to listen to her ridiculous opinion of herself.
In addition to clear child abuse and oblivious adults, The Austere Academy also creates a caricature of teachers that are much too familiar. Many teachers are wonderful people who help you learn important skills; but, as Lemony Snicket so fantastically points out, some teachers are tedious, unhelpful, abusive, or simply bad at their jobs. At a time when the Baudelaires, and the Quagmires, truly needed help and protection these adults, teachers, and principal, proved unforgivably unuseful.
In terms of child care, The Austere Academy is almost a redemptive misadventure for Mr. Poe, as he's endeavoring to get the kids back into some sort of regular life by attending school again. However, the school puts the Baudelaires, as orphans, at a complete disadvantage throughout the entire book. With the self-absorbed violin-playing Principal Nero, the oblivious and ridiculous teachers, and the cruel Carmelita Spats, the children are destined for a terrible educational experience.
Aside from the oppressive nature of The Austere Academy, this book is unique in one important regard: The Austere Academy introduces friendship for the Baudelaires. Here, among crab-infested shacks and night sessions with gym coach Count Olaf, the Baudelaires meet the Quagmires. The Quagmires, two siblings though they are technically triplets, consist of brother Duncan and sister Isadora. Of course, there is a downside to this promising friendship; more orphans in the story means more characters to worry about when the nefarious Count Olaf appears, and rightly so.
Carmelita Spats, unfortunately a recurring character and somehow one with a cult following, can be simply described as a real Veruca Salt. I know Carmelita Spats isn't a real person. I also know that the people Carmelita Spats represents are incredibly real. Carmelita Spats is a straight transcription of the spoiled egotistical bully we all know so well. Though we will see her again, I look forward to several books without having to listen to her ridiculous opinion of herself.
There is no worse sound in the world than someone who cannot play the violin but insists on doing so anyway.
Friends can make you feel that the world is smaller and less sneaky than it really is, because you know people who have similar experiences.
It looked exhausting and pointless, two things that should be avoided at all costs.
A person who designs buildings is called an architect, but in the case of Prufrock Prep a better term might be 'depressed architect.'
If you were going to give a gold medal tot he least delightful person on Earth, you would have to give that medal to a person named Carmelita Spats, and if you didn't give it to her, Carmelita Spats was the sort of person who would snatch it from your hands anyway. Carmelita Spats was rude, she was violent, and she was filthy, and it is really a shame that I must describe her to you, because there are enough ghastly and distressing things in this story without even mentioning such an unpleasant person.
In addition to clear child abuse and oblivious adults, The Austere Academy also creates a caricature of teachers that are much too familiar. Many teachers are wonderful people who help you learn important skills; but, as Lemony Snicket so fantastically points out, some teachers are tedious, unhelpful, abusive, or simply bad at their jobs. At a time when the Baudelaires, and the Quagmires, truly needed help and protection these adults, teachers, and principal, proved unforgivably unuseful.
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