The Vile Village (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 7) 
asked by nutshell on November 15, 2006 4:47 PM
The seventh book in Lemony Snicket's splendidly gloomy Series of Unfortunate Events shadows the three Baudelaire orphans as they plummet headlong into their next misadventure. Mr. Poe, their ineffective legal guardian, having exhausted all options for finding them a new home with relatives (including their 19th cousin), sadly entrusts his young charges' fate to a progressive guardian program formed with the premise "It takes a village to raise a child." Before they know it, the Baudelaires are being whisked off on a bus to a village (vile) named "V.F.D." Snicket fans who read The Austere Academy and The Ersatz Elevator will jump to see these three initials, as they provide a clue to the tragic disappearance of the Baudelaires' friends, the beloved, equally orphaned Quagmire triplets.
To the orphans' dismay, V.F.D. is covered in crows--so much so that the whole village is pitch-black and trembling. "The crows weren't squawking or cawing, which is what crows often do, or playing the trumpet, which crows practically never do, but the town was far from silent. The air was filled with the sounds the crows made as they moved around." Another disturbing element of the town is that the Council of Elders (who wear creepy crow hats) has thousands of rules, such as "don't hurt crows" and "don't build mechanical devices." Fortunately, the Baudelaires are taken in by a kindly handyman named Hector who cooks them delicious Mexican food and secretly breaks rules. Still, neither Hector nor an entire village can protect the orphans from the clutches of the money-grubbing Count Olaf, who has relentlessly pursued them (actually, just their fortune) since The Bad Beginning. Fans won't want to miss any of this marvelously morbid series! (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson
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October 25, 2006
The Baudelaire orphans sat reading a newspaper while Mr. Poe was on the phone trying to get them a new guardian. He said that no one wanted to be their guardian because of the misfortune that seems to follow them where ever they go. So he set them up with a program where an entire village would be their guardian. One choice was a village with the initials V.F.D. They thought that maybe this could be what their friends the Quagmires had tried to tell them about and maybe they would find them there. They went to the town hall where the town was having a meeting. It was announced that the Baudelaires would be staying with Hector, the handyman, and would help Hector do all the chores for the entire town. Hector took the children home. His house was on the far edge of town by the HUGE nevermore tree. Hector had a secret inventing studio in his barn where he was working on a self sustaining hot air mobile home. Once it was finished he said that he would fly away from the town because it made him skittish. The Bauldelaires told him the sad story of their life and about the Quagmire triplets who were missing. They told him that Isadora was a poet and that she wrote couplets. At that Hector pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was a couplet from Isadora. They continued to find a couplet under the nevermore tree every morning. These were clues to where the Quagmires were hidden. One day when the Baudelaire children were cleaning the Fowl Fountain, three members of the council of elders came to give Hector a message that Count Olaf, who was after the children, had been captured. But when they went into town, they realized that it wasn't Count Olaf, his name was Jacques. But no one would listen to them and the man was sentenced to be burned at the stake. Then Bauldelaires tried to argue but they found out that this was the punishment for anyone who breaks the rules. Hector had to take the Bauldelaires home. Violet went to work making improvements on Hector's invention. They were working on a plan to find the Quagmires, save Jacques and leave town. Then they found out Jacques had been murdered. A man named Detective Dupin (Olaf) said that he had evidence that the Bauldelaires did it. So they were thrown in jail and sentenced to be burned at the stake the next day. They needed a way to get out of the cell. All they had was a pitcher of water, a spongy loaf of bread, and a wooden bench. Violet got the idea to dissolve the mortar that held the bricks together. They worked on it all night and by the time the sun was rising, the mortar was really mushy. Hector came by the cell and talked to them through the window. He said that if they made it out of the cell, that he would have his hot air home ready to go. He also gave them another one of Isadora's poems. With this they figured out that the Quagmires were hidden in the fowl fountain. They used the bench as a battering ram and broke through the part of the wall that they had been working on and ran over to the fowl fountain. They got the beak of the fountain open. The Quagmires climbed out. Then they saw people coming with torches so they ran trying to get to Hector's house. At that moment they saw Hector's machine coming towards them. The Quagmires climbed the rope ladder and the Bauldelaires started to follow. But as they started to leave Officer Luciana showed up with a harpoon gun and shot at them. She hit the ladder and the Bauldelaires fell. She also hit a crow. This distracted the mob of people. The Quagmires called down to them and threw down a notebook filled with secrets about Olaf. But Officer Luciana, who was actually Olaf's girlfriend, is the one who ended up with the notebook and they left together. The Baudelaires are left trying to figure out what to do next. This is a good book. It's very detailed, but it has some faults just like every book does.
In the story, the Bauldelaires are able to solve any puzzle or problem that is thrown at them. For example, Violet was able to get the hot air home working. Hector had been working on that for a long time. He wasn't able to get it to work but Violet was able to get it working in one night. Also, they were able to figure out what Isadora's poems meant. Some of them were very confusing, but the Bauldelaires seemed to figure them out instantly. The Bauldelaires were also able to figure out how to get out of the jail cell. Not many people would have thought to dissolve the mortar between the bricks. Even though I don't think it would have worked in real life, it was still a good idea. And when that took to long, they used to bench to ram through the wall and got out that way.
In the book, I think that the Bauldelaires could have tried harder, whether it was something physical or trying to make people listen. For example, when Mr. Poe was trying to find them a new guardian. Mr. Poe kept calling them trouble makers. They tried to argue that Count Olaf was the trouble maker, but soon gave up. I think Mr. Poe would listen to them more if they followed through with their arguments and proved a point. Also, when they were climbing the ladder. They still had time to climb up before the rope broke. They could have mad it but they didn't even try. Another time is when they were being accused of killing Jacques. They had logical reasoning that they could have used to prove they didn't do it. For instance, they eye-glass lens they said belonged to Klaus. How many people carry around an extra lens incase one falls out. Not many and they didn't even mention that.
In the book, the author could have had something go right for the Baudelaires. For example, when they were climbing up the rope ladder. As I mentioned before, they had time to make it, but they didn't try. If they had tried then the story might have a happier ending. Also, when the Quagmires threw down their notebooks. They just had to get hit by the harpoon gun. Even though they still caught several pages of the notebooks, it won't be that much help. They could have at least gotten one of the notebooks. And you would think they could end up with a decent guardian at least once. This guardian wanted to burn them at the stake, and their previous guardian pushed them down an empty elevator shaft and was working with Olaf. I can only imagine what the next guardian will be like.
Overall this is a good book. It is so extremely detailed that it makes the reader think that these events could have actually happened instead of just being made up. Although parts of the story were a little depressing, I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it to ages ten and up. The reader just has to be okay with reading a story about extreme misfortune. I hope you enjoy it.
C. Chapman
The Baudelaire orphans sat reading a newspaper while Mr. Poe was on the phone trying to get them a new guardian. He said that no one wanted to be their guardian because of the misfortune that seems to follow them where ever they go. So he set them up with a program where an entire village would be their guardian. One choice was a village with the initials V.F.D. They thought that maybe this could be what their friends the Quagmires had tried to tell them about and maybe they would find them there. They went to the town hall where the town was having a meeting. It was announced that the Baudelaires would be staying with Hector, the handyman, and would help Hector do all the chores for the entire town. Hector took the children home. His house was on the far edge of town by the HUGE nevermore tree. Hector had a secret inventing studio in his barn where he was working on a self sustaining hot air mobile home. Once it was finished he said that he would fly away from the town because it made him skittish. The Bauldelaires told him the sad story of their life and about the Quagmire triplets who were missing. They told him that Isadora was a poet and that she wrote couplets. At that Hector pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was a couplet from Isadora. They continued to find a couplet under the nevermore tree every morning. These were clues to where the Quagmires were hidden. One day when the Baudelaire children were cleaning the Fowl Fountain, three members of the council of elders came to give Hector a message that Count Olaf, who was after the children, had been captured. But when they went into town, they realized that it wasn't Count Olaf, his name was Jacques. But no one would listen to them and the man was sentenced to be burned at the stake. Then Bauldelaires tried to argue but they found out that this was the punishment for anyone who breaks the rules. Hector had to take the Bauldelaires home. Violet went to work making improvements on Hector's invention. They were working on a plan to find the Quagmires, save Jacques and leave town. Then they found out Jacques had been murdered. A man named Detective Dupin (Olaf) said that he had evidence that the Bauldelaires did it. So they were thrown in jail and sentenced to be burned at the stake the next day. They needed a way to get out of the cell. All they had was a pitcher of water, a spongy loaf of bread, and a wooden bench. Violet got the idea to dissolve the mortar that held the bricks together. They worked on it all night and by the time the sun was rising, the mortar was really mushy. Hector came by the cell and talked to them through the window. He said that if they made it out of the cell, that he would have his hot air home ready to go. He also gave them another one of Isadora's poems. With this they figured out that the Quagmires were hidden in the fowl fountain. They used the bench as a battering ram and broke through the part of the wall that they had been working on and ran over to the fowl fountain. They got the beak of the fountain open. The Quagmires climbed out. Then they saw people coming with torches so they ran trying to get to Hector's house. At that moment they saw Hector's machine coming towards them. The Quagmires climbed the rope ladder and the Bauldelaires started to follow. But as they started to leave Officer Luciana showed up with a harpoon gun and shot at them. She hit the ladder and the Bauldelaires fell. She also hit a crow. This distracted the mob of people. The Quagmires called down to them and threw down a notebook filled with secrets about Olaf. But Officer Luciana, who was actually Olaf's girlfriend, is the one who ended up with the notebook and they left together. The Baudelaires are left trying to figure out what to do next. This is a good book. It's very detailed, but it has some faults just like every book does.
In the story, the Bauldelaires are able to solve any puzzle or problem that is thrown at them. For example, Violet was able to get the hot air home working. Hector had been working on that for a long time. He wasn't able to get it to work but Violet was able to get it working in one night. Also, they were able to figure out what Isadora's poems meant. Some of them were very confusing, but the Bauldelaires seemed to figure them out instantly. The Bauldelaires were also able to figure out how to get out of the jail cell. Not many people would have thought to dissolve the mortar between the bricks. Even though I don't think it would have worked in real life, it was still a good idea. And when that took to long, they used to bench to ram through the wall and got out that way.
In the book, I think that the Bauldelaires could have tried harder, whether it was something physical or trying to make people listen. For example, when Mr. Poe was trying to find them a new guardian. Mr. Poe kept calling them trouble makers. They tried to argue that Count Olaf was the trouble maker, but soon gave up. I think Mr. Poe would listen to them more if they followed through with their arguments and proved a point. Also, when they were climbing the ladder. They still had time to climb up before the rope broke. They could have mad it but they didn't even try. Another time is when they were being accused of killing Jacques. They had logical reasoning that they could have used to prove they didn't do it. For instance, they eye-glass lens they said belonged to Klaus. How many people carry around an extra lens incase one falls out. Not many and they didn't even mention that.
In the book, the author could have had something go right for the Baudelaires. For example, when they were climbing up the rope ladder. As I mentioned before, they had time to make it, but they didn't try. If they had tried then the story might have a happier ending. Also, when the Quagmires threw down their notebooks. They just had to get hit by the harpoon gun. Even though they still caught several pages of the notebooks, it won't be that much help. They could have at least gotten one of the notebooks. And you would think they could end up with a decent guardian at least once. This guardian wanted to burn them at the stake, and their previous guardian pushed them down an empty elevator shaft and was working with Olaf. I can only imagine what the next guardian will be like.
Overall this is a good book. It is so extremely detailed that it makes the reader think that these events could have actually happened instead of just being made up. Although parts of the story were a little depressing, I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it to ages ten and up. The reader just has to be okay with reading a story about extreme misfortune. I hope you enjoy it.
C. Chapman
reviewed by formula on November 18, 2006 2:09 AM
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Plot: monotonous (flat)
Suspence: there.
Entertainment: keep.
Hidden messages: plenty.
Book ranking for series: 7th
Mysteries: VFD and Quagmires.
Purpose: change the plot upside down.
Suspence: there.
Entertainment: keep.
Hidden messages: plenty.
Book ranking for series: 7th
Mysteries: VFD and Quagmires.
Purpose: change the plot upside down.
reviewed by samoan on November 23, 2006 4:42 PM
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This book might be one of the most important books of the series so far. Why? Well, first of all it is the last book in the series that Mr. Poe (see book 1) sends the baudelaires to another guardian. Everyone figures out that there really is a Count Olaf (who is the bad guy). To try to get away from Count Olaf the Baudelaire's have to live in a village that is ruled by a bunch of old people and do chores for everybody in the village. They stay at their friend Hector's house (the janitor of the town) and stumble upon a poem by Isadora Quagmire who is an old friend of the baudeliares and has a great fortune too. The baudelaires found out that Count Olaf hid her and her brothers in the same town. The council members catch Count Olaf but it's not really him he just looks like Count Olaf. Now the Baudelaire's have to find their friends and make sure the fake Count Olaf (who is totally innocent) doesn't get burned at the stake. During the story the Baudelaire children get accused of killing the fake Count Olaf and they are to be burned at the stake. Will they be sent to their death in roaring flames or will they escape? You will have to read to find out.
A reader who doesn't like to get bored during a story or a reader who enjoys reading series books will love this book. A reader that likes adventure and mystery books would adore this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in only a couple days because I couldn't put it down it is so exciting. This is a great book not only for mystery lovers, but for everyone.
A reader who doesn't like to get bored during a story or a reader who enjoys reading series books will love this book. A reader that likes adventure and mystery books would adore this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in only a couple days because I couldn't put it down it is so exciting. This is a great book not only for mystery lovers, but for everyone.
reviewed by localhost on November 26, 2006 4:36 PM
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Dear Reader,
Those poor, unfortunate Baudelaire triplets! They just escaped the clutches of the evil Count Olaf and his girlfriend Esme Squalor in THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR. They had also just seen their friends, the Quagmire triplets: Duncan and Isadora taken away in a giant red herring.
Jerome was the last person who was willing to take the Baudelaires in. Mr. Poe, however, had been able to find an entire village willing to raise the children, the village of V.F.D. Remembering the clue that the Quagmires had told them, the Baudelaires were hoping that V.F.D. would assist them in solving the death of their parents and the mysterious tunnel they had discovered from 667 Dark Avenue to the remains of their family home. Alas, V.F.D. had never heard of the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child" and treated the children rather bad. About all that V.F.D. cared for were their migrating crows that ruled the town. In fact, that's what this V.F.D. was all about; they are the Village of Fowl Devotees.
Still, the children's stay at V.F.D. wasn't completely a waste. They met a man named Jacques Snicket who knew the Baudelaires' parents, the befriended a man named Hector who was going to let Violet, Klaus, and Sunny escape with him in his air-mobile home, and the children were reunited with the Quagmires.
Oh! But THE VILE VILLAGE is not a happy story. No, no, no, no. Someone is almost burned to death! A nefarious villain returns to make the Baudelaires miserable. People are accused of crimes they didn't commit. And once again Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are left to fend for themselves. Those poor children! Will the unfortunate events ever stop for them? How I wish it would.
I'm depressed now. I think I'll go watch the sunset to cheer me up.
Sincerely,
Uncle TV
Those poor, unfortunate Baudelaire triplets! They just escaped the clutches of the evil Count Olaf and his girlfriend Esme Squalor in THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR. They had also just seen their friends, the Quagmire triplets: Duncan and Isadora taken away in a giant red herring.
Jerome was the last person who was willing to take the Baudelaires in. Mr. Poe, however, had been able to find an entire village willing to raise the children, the village of V.F.D. Remembering the clue that the Quagmires had told them, the Baudelaires were hoping that V.F.D. would assist them in solving the death of their parents and the mysterious tunnel they had discovered from 667 Dark Avenue to the remains of their family home. Alas, V.F.D. had never heard of the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child" and treated the children rather bad. About all that V.F.D. cared for were their migrating crows that ruled the town. In fact, that's what this V.F.D. was all about; they are the Village of Fowl Devotees.
Still, the children's stay at V.F.D. wasn't completely a waste. They met a man named Jacques Snicket who knew the Baudelaires' parents, the befriended a man named Hector who was going to let Violet, Klaus, and Sunny escape with him in his air-mobile home, and the children were reunited with the Quagmires.
Oh! But THE VILE VILLAGE is not a happy story. No, no, no, no. Someone is almost burned to death! A nefarious villain returns to make the Baudelaires miserable. People are accused of crimes they didn't commit. And once again Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are left to fend for themselves. Those poor children! Will the unfortunate events ever stop for them? How I wish it would.
I'm depressed now. I think I'll go watch the sunset to cheer me up.
Sincerely,
Uncle TV
reviewed by maxmill on November 29, 2006 9:33 AM