‘Penultimate Peril’ solidifies Snicket’s bitter-sweet humor
Apparently, the best way to get someone to read a book is to tell them not to.
Lemony Snicket (the pseudonym of writer David Handler) is the sad volunteer who has taken upon himself the duty to record the “Series of Unfortunate Events” that have plagued the lives of the young Baudelaire orphans. He constantly warns readers not to pick up the books full of misery, tragedy and woe; but alas, we have not listened.
The series chronicles the sad events of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire who have spent a great deal of their lives running from the evil Count Olaf.
After their parents were killed in a terrible fire that destroyed their home and left them orphaned and the inheritors of a very large fortune, Count Olaf – and his array of despicable henchmen – has been attempting scheme after treacherous scheme to steal the orphans’ enormous fortune.
The world of Lemony Snicket is full of intrigue, conspiracy, schemes and trickery – which are all pretty much the same thing. In “The Bad Beginning” readers are introduced to the terrible tale of the Baudelaire orphans – who were not orphans at that time, but later in the story become so – and their evil guardian Count Olaf.
Count Olaf’s true nature as a debauched and corrupt criminal is soon made clear to the orphans, and using their unique skills (Violet is an inventor, Klaus is a researcher and Sunny is very adept at biting), the trio is able to circumvent his terrible plan.
The tale of the Baudelaire orphans is continued with the recent release of “Book the Twelfth, The Penultimate Peril.”
Over the course of the previous 11 books, Violet, Klaus and Sunny have gone through numerous inept guardians including Aunt Josephine, Esme Squalor (“the city’s sixth most important financial adviser”) and the citizens of the Village of Fowl Devotees.
Throughout their many misadventures, the Baudelaire’s have also uncovered several mysteries involving the initials V.F.D. This secret organization and its volunteers are the focus of the 12th book.
“The Penultimate Peril” is more serious than the previous installments as it begins to delve into the ethical arguments of what is good and what is evil and the consequences of noble actions that have gone terribly wrong.
Handler’s books are an enjoyable read because he is constantly surprising the reader with quirks and twists in the plot and a unique literary style. For instance, when using large words in the text he makes sure to define them, but does so in a way that is utterly hilarious. He also uses certain ploys that are perhaps a bit untraditional. To explain how a reflection works much of the second chapter is written backwards, so you have to use a mirror to read it.
There is a section of the book titled “Not a Chapter” which explains the use of sequential events and how the next three chapters are not sequential and can be read in any order the reader would like.
The author also uses literary quotes, including a section in the 10th book discussing “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:
“The poet found that the road less traveled was peaceful but quite lonely, and he was probably a bit nervous as he went along, because if anything happened on the road less traveled, the other travelers would be on the road more frequently traveled and so couldn’t hear him as he cried for help. Sure enough, that poet is now dead.”
“Book the Twelfth, The Penultimate Peril,” continues the tradition of a fun, wacky, yet despair-filled series that is surprisingly, or should I say horrifyingly, entertaining.
Elise Rasmussen is a book critic at the Utah Statesman. Questions or comments can be sent to her at eliseras@cc.usu.edu.