ŷ

Federico DN's Reviews > The Penultimate Peril

The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
29005117
's review

liked it
bookshelves: children-s

Denouement SADNESS.

After leaving Gorgonian Grotto and Fiona the mycologist behind, the self-sustaining Baudelaire travel to Hotel Denouement; the last meeting place of the secretive VFD; during their travel they meet Dewey, a sub-sub-librarian and secret caretaker. The orphans then start working as flâneurs to secretly gather intel, and they encounter almost every single secondary character from the past. A brief respite of stagnation takes place; until Olaf arrives at the hotel and, I hate to sound repetitive but, calamity strikes again.

I can’t hardly believe it. VFD still means Volunteers Fire Department! Wow. This is so� disappointing?! LOVED seeing Justice Strauss again, and Jerome Squalor; two past caretakers that have grown since their last appearance and now actively fight to help the orphans. LIKED Dewey some, despite his short lived role. Totally HATED Olaf, treacherous villain that likes to quarrel with loyal girlfriends and harpoon defenseless victims. Also HATED Esme, a backstabbing girlfriend who likes to wear ridiculous lettuce bikini and spoil bratty stepdaughters. And HATED Carmelita Spats, an obnoxious ballplaying cowboy superhero soldier pirate. And let’s not forget Charles, Sir, Nero, Hugo, Colette, Kevin and several others, who were also there. The Baudelaire still noble enough as ever, but suffering internally again after being forced to use despicable tactics, such as disguising, harpooning and *accidentally* torching the place; and wondering just how different they truly are to dear Countie Olaf.

I have mixed feelings regarding this sequel. I found the first half to be quite boring and repetitive, luckily the second half was actually quite entertaining and full packed. It was marvelous seeing the reunion of almost every single character the series had so far. And their fate a big question mark after their flaming escape. The sugar bowl still ever elusive; the orphans and Olaf sailing to an uncertain future. And the final conclusion, just waiting on one more final read.

-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2005] [353p] [Children’s] [3.5] [Almost Recommendable] [Noble enough Baudelaire] [Kit Snicket?] [Odious Lusting After Finance] [Die Olaf DIE!] [Die Esme DIE!] (view spoiler) [“Ha yourself, Olaf”]
-----------------------------------------------

★★★★� 1. The Bad Beginning [3.5]
★★★★� 2. The Reptile Room [3.5]
★★★☆� 3. The Wide Window
★★☆☆� 4. The Miserable Mill [2,5]
★★★★� 5. The Austere Academy [4.5]
★★★☆� 6. The Ersatz Elevator
★★★★� 7. The Vile Village
★☆☆☆� 8. The Hostile Hospital
★★★☆� 9. The Carnivorous Carnival [3.5]
★★★☆� 10. The Slippery Slope [3.5]
★★★★� 11. The Grim Grotto
★★★☆� 12. The Penultimate Peril [3.5]
★★★★� 13. The End
★★★★� 14. The Complete Wreck

-----------------------------------------------

TRISTEZA de Desenlace.

Después de dejar la Gruta Gorgonian y a Fiona la micologista atrás, los autosuficientes Baudelaire viajan al Hotel Desenlace; el último lugar de encuentro de la secreta VFD; durante el viaje conocen a Dewey, un bibliotecario y secreto guardián. Los huérfanos luego empiezan a trabajar como conserjes para secretamente juntar información, y se encuentran con casi todos los personajes secundarios del pasado. Un breve respiro de estancamiento tiene lugar; hasta que Olaf llega al hotel y, odio ser repetitivo pero, la calamidad golpea otra vez.

No puedo creerlo. ¡VFD sigue significando Voluntarios Departamento contra Fuegos! Wow. Esto es tan... ¡¿decepcionante?! AME ver a Justice Strauss de nuevo, y a Jerome Squalor; dos guardianes pasados que han crecido desde su última aparición y ahora activamente luchan para ayudar a los huérfanos. Me GUSTO Dewey algo, a pesar de su corto rol. Totalmente ODIE a Olaf, un traicionero villano que disfruta romper con novias leales y arponear victimas indefensas. También ODIE a Esme, una novia traicionera que disfruta vestir ridículos bikinis de lechuga y consentir a hijastras malcriadas. Y ODIE a Carmelita Spats, una odiosa pelotera vaquera superhéroe soldada pirata. Y no nos olvidemos de Charles, Sir, Nero, Hugo, Colette, Kevin y otros tantos, que también estuvieron ahí. Los Baudelaire todavía suficientemente nobles como siempre, pero sufriendo internamente de nuevo después de verse forzados a usar tácticas despreciables, como disfrazarse, arponear y *accidentalmente* incendiar el lugar, y preguntándose cuán diferentes son en verdad de su querido Condecito Olaf.

Tengo sentimientos cruzados respecto a esta secuela. Hallé la primera mitad bastante aburrida y repetitiva, afortunadamente la segunda mitad fue bastante entretenida y cargada de acción. Fue maravilloso ver la reunión de casi todos los personajes que tuvo la serie hasta ahora. Y su destino una gran incógnita después de su flamante escapada. El cuenco de azúcar elusivo como siempre; los huérfanos y Olaf navegando hacia un futuro incierto. Y la conclusión final de la serie, sólo esperando en una lectura más.

-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2005] [353p] [Libro para Niños] [3.5] [Casi Recomendable] [Suficientemente nobles Baudelaire] [¿Kit Snicket?] [Muere Olaf ¡MUERE!] [Muere Esme ¡MUERE!] (view spoiler) [“Hacete Ha vos mismo, Olaf”]
-----------------------------------------------
354 likes · flag

Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read The Penultimate Peril.
Sign In »

Reading Progress

August 4, 2022 – Started Reading
August 4, 2022 – Shelved
August 7, 2022 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-26 of 26 (26 new)

dateDown arrow    newest »

laura *:・゚✧*:・゚ Aaah one more left!!! I feel like we should have gotten more answers in this one though :/


Federico DN laura wrote: "Aaah one more left!!! I feel like we should have gotten more answers in this one though :/"

Me too Laura! More mysteries and no answers. I'm starting to wonder if there are any answers at all. I guess I'll find out soon enough with the last one xD


Darla Fantastic review, Federico. Glad you also enjoyed the reunion.


Federico DN Darla wrote: "Fantastic review, Federico. Glad you also enjoyed the reunion."

Thank you Darla :) !


message 5: by Tina (new)

Tina I’m glad you are enjoying reading this series despite some disappointment with it. Always a great review Federico!


Federico DN Tina wrote: "I’m glad you are enjoying reading this series despite some disappointment with it. Always a great review Federico!"

Thank you Tina! Just one more :)


message 7: by A (new)

A Mac Almost there! Glad this was a solid read for you; great review!


message 8: by Federico (last edited Aug 07, 2022 12:43PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Federico DN A wrote: "Almost there! Glad this was a solid read for you; great review!"

Thank you Mac! This is it. I'm finally here. I'm so not scared.


message 9: by Melcat (new)

Melcat One last to go ! I can't wait to see what you think of the ending....


Federico DN Melcat wrote: "One last to go ! I can't wait to see what you think of the ending...."

I can't even imagine.


message 11: by Kay (new)

Kay Terrific review. I plan on stopping at book 2, lol, but we shall see.


message 12: by Federico (last edited Aug 07, 2022 04:26PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Federico DN Kay wrote: "Terrific review. I plan on stopping at book 2, lol, but we shall see."

Thank you Kay! Book #2 is very nice. Sad, but nice. I keep hearing wonders of the Tim Curry audios so be sure to stick with them ;)


message 13: by A. (new)

A. "Hated" tres veces, "Liked" una y "Loved" una. Los personajes no generan empatía, parece. En fin...bueno, dale, metele, que quiero saber el final (?)


message 14: by Federico (last edited Aug 07, 2022 05:53PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Federico DN A. wrote: ""Hated" tres veces, "Liked" una y "Loved" una. Los personajes no generan empatía, parece. En fin...bueno, dale, metele, que quiero saber el final (?)"

Esta es una serie muy triste A., los momentos felices escasos y fugaces, y casi todos los personajes son odiosos, a excepción de unos pocos cuantos que hacen que todo valga la pena. Ya empecé el último jaja. Pronto sabrás, y yo también. Hay una película que cubre los primeros tres libros, y una serie que cubre todos si te interesa xD


message 15: by A. (new)

A. Federico wrote: "A. wrote: ""Hated" tres veces, "Liked" una y "Loved" una. Los personajes no generan empatía, parece. En fin...bueno, dale, metele, que quiero saber el final (?)"

Esta es una serie muy triste A., l..."


Vi la pelicula (¿Es en la que Jim Carrey es el conde Olaf, no? ¿O hay otra más?) La serie no la vi pero ¿Por qué no?
Que tengas una linda semana, Federico :)


message 16: by Federico (last edited Aug 07, 2022 06:08PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Federico DN A. wrote: "Vi la pelicula (¿Es en la que Jim Carrey es el conde Olaf, no? ¿O hay otra más?) La serie no la vi pero ¿Por qué no?
Que tengas una linda semana..."


Si creo que esa es :) . No la vi, ni la serie, asi que no puedo decirte si es buena. Cuando termine esto planeo verlas, eventualmente. Me gustá darle un tiempo jaja. Igualmente para vos Lady A.!


message 17: by Ruth (new)

Ruth Donigian Only one more calamity left to go! Great review!


Federico DN Ruth wrote: "Only one more calamity left to go! Great review!"

Thank you Ruth :) ! I made it, I'm here, I'm terrified xD


Alexandra Elend Wolf Seeing Justice Strauss and Jerome Squalor again and actively trying to help was great and it has remained with me after reading this series.

I love the way that the Baudelaires have evolved and are now having these moral dilemmas.

Also, weren't we told about the meaning of VFD at the very beginning of the series? Like, in book one in the first couple of pages when the Baudelaires lose their parents?


message 20: by Federico (last edited Aug 09, 2022 03:02PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Federico DN Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Seeing Justice Strauss and Jerome Squalor again and actively trying to help was great and it has remained with me after reading this series.

I love the way that the Baudelaires have evolved and a..."


It was a lovely reunion indeed. Thought I would never see Justice again <3.
VFD only started being mentioned in #6 Alexandra, at least in the books, can't say anything of the movie or series. There's a cool page called V.F.D. (disambiguation) showing all the meanings it had during the series lol.
Poor Baudelaires, the last books had a lot of morally gray areas. I'm almost finishing the last book and is also very morally challenging. Just two chapters left. I'm saving them just before going to sleep tonight xD


Alexandra Elend Wolf Federico wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Seeing Justice Strauss and Jerome Squalor again and actively trying to help was great and it has remained with me after reading this series.

I love the way that the B..."


Yes, I was waiting to see your reaction at Justice appearing again because I saw how much you liked her.

And, no, you're totally right about VFD only being mentioned from book 6 onwards, I got confused there for a second *chuckles*

Really? I'll need to check that page then because that sounds like fun!


message 22: by Chantel (new)

Chantel wonderful review, as always <3 I'm glad that this instalment brought out some happier moments wherein the characters got to reunite & share in some less than unfortunate moments together.


message 23: by Federico (last edited Aug 10, 2022 12:27PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Federico DN Chantel wrote: "wonderful review, as always <3 I'm glad that this instalment brought out some happier moments wherein the characters got to reunite & share in some less than unfortunate moments together."

Thank you Chantel :) ! It was an awesome reunion. Wish there had been more but it wasn't meant to be. Still, after eleven books between I never thought I would see Justice Strauss again <3


message 24: by Ellie (new)

Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) I am so glad that the second half of this one was better than the first! I just love reading your reviews of these books so much! Another excellent review Federico! 🧡


Federico DN Ellie wrote: "I am so glad that the second half of this one was better than the first! I just love reading your reviews of these books so much! Another excellent review Federico! 🧡"

Thank you so much Ellie! It was an awesome reunion <3


message 26: by Lindsey Allen (new)

Lindsey Allen soo goooooood


back to top