Reader Series: 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography'
This is the fourteenth 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.
The autobiography was released before the ninth book in the series, The Carnivorous Carnival. Although it's declared "unauthorized," it is in fact officially and takes us on a journey to learn about our ever-vigilant author and the mysterious VFD organization.
And, finally, we learn something about the VFD's schism. There is a transcript within the book, though the members are labelled simply with initials, wherein the initial split comes to a head. In this transcript, you might find that the speakers sound young, like children, but that isn't unusual for VFD members either. Regardless, it's clear that VFD splintered and scattered in many directions, effectively ending the singular, protective, helpful unit of the Volunteer Fire Department, and efficiently explaining much of the twisted reality of which the Baudelaires find themselves at the mercy.
The autobiography was released before the ninth book in the series, The Carnivorous Carnival. Although it's declared "unauthorized," it is in fact officially and takes us on a journey to learn about our ever-vigilant author and the mysterious VFD organization.
Made of compiled facsimile documents, clippings, and blurry photographs, this book does answer some questions ASOUE series readers would have. Unfortunately, the book also brings up a whole new medley of questions. We get glimpses of events in the pasts of several adults in the series, and some explanations for actions they took that were previously incomprehensible. The autobiography also explains the eye tattoo, so well known from Olaf's ankle. An insignia for the VFD organization, the "eye" is actually simply the organization's letters formed into a logo:
It's clear this image was unavailable to the makers of the film starring Jim Carrey, wherein his tattoo looked absolutely nothing like this. Rather a meta-fiction, the autobiography introduces the readers to written and verbal codes used throughout the series, like purposeful misspellings, greeting phrases, and public notices with glaring typos that spell VFD.
You may want to keep a commonplace book which is a notebook where you can copy parts of books you think are in code, or take notes on a series of events you may have observed that are suspicious, unfortunate, or very dull. Keep your commonplace book in a safe place, such as underneath your bed, or at a nearby dairy.
Sometimes, when you are reading a book you are enjoying very much, you begin thinking so hard about the characters and the story that you might forget all about the author, even if he is in grave danger and would very much appreciate your help. The same thing can happen if you are looking at a photograph. You might think so hard about whatever is in the photograph that you forget all about the person behind the camera.
And, finally, we learn something about the VFD's schism. There is a transcript within the book, though the members are labelled simply with initials, wherein the initial split comes to a head. In this transcript, you might find that the speakers sound young, like children, but that isn't unusual for VFD members either. Regardless, it's clear that VFD splintered and scattered in many directions, effectively ending the singular, protective, helpful unit of the Volunteer Fire Department, and efficiently explaining much of the twisted reality of which the Baudelaires find themselves at the mercy.
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