Product Description

The miserable lives of the Baudelaire orphans continue as they are relentlessly pursued by the evil Count Olaf.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16836 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

Another Excellent Book in the Series of Unfortunate Events.
I have been reading this series since the first one was published, and rather than a weakening plotline as the series continues the plot has grown, and the books are getting better. The first 5 books pretty much followed the same route with Count Olaf in disguise chasing the Baudelaire orphans and trying to steal their fortune. After book 5 the books had a continuation theme with the books plot continuing into the next book. The Vile Village follows on from book 6 and it is more interesting and darker in tone.
It features the Baudelaire orphans going to a Village Adoption Scheme programme in a village which happens to be called V.F.D ( If you have read the previous books this word will be recognised instantly!) Once again the Baudelaire orphans are chased by Count Olaf, but instead of the usual ending this book features a slight twist at the end which I was very annoyed to find as the story continued after the book had finished. This left me wanting to read the next book (A Hostlie Hospital) instantly! The Series of Unfortunate Events has grown on me and in my opinion each story has got better and better and I can't wait for book 8 to be released. This book is a must read for children and adults, I am 17 and I have enjoyed reading all the series!

"It takes a village to raise a child"
The cycle keeps repeating itself, the Baudelaires are again out of a guardian and we get to read another great story by Lemony Snicket. Mr. Poe, the executor of the kids' estate, is running out of options, and his choices in the past have all proven to be dreadful. In this case, the solution he finds is unconventional, when Violet, Klaus and Sunny take "advantage" of a new program by which entire towns take care of children.

The options are plenty, but when the orphans are looking at the list they find a village with a curious name that piques their interest. This name is no other than VFD, acronym that is connected to the Quagmire triplets and to Count Olaf's secret. If you have read the previous books you know by now that the two triplets (yes you read right!) are the only friends the Baudelaires have, and that the two unfortunate souls have been kidnapped by the evil count.

In terms of the story, Snicket follows the usual winning formula, with the Baudelaires searching for a new beginning, and finding some hope before the devilish count shows up and spoils everything. The author also continues to use his hilarious structure, presenting definitions of words in a creative way, letting Klaus and Violet translate what her little sister wants to say, and distributing a few surprises here and there.

The siblings stay in VFD is interesting to say the least, where they meet a group of ancient citizens with a large set of rules, a kind person who does not have the guts to stand up to injustice and a baffling mystery in the form of a set of poems. The series have been increasing in intensity and the characters are gaining more and more depth. Thus, fans of this series will not be disappointed with this novel.

The plot thickens....
Snicket's investigation into the lives of the Baudelaires continues with this seventh book, and for fans of the series it won't disappoint. All of the now familiar plot devices are here, such as Mr Poe's ill-advised placement of the orphans with unsuitable people, Count Olaf appearing in yet another ludicrous disguise and more mysterious allusions to V.F.D. We all know these things are going to happen but somehow it still manages to be fun. In this episode of the sorry story an interesting turn of events hints at Lemony Snicket's personal involvement with the Baudelaires: I won't say any more but just read it! All in all an entertaining read, just what we've come to expect.