From the Bookshelf of Group of Unfortunate Events…

The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6)

Lemony Snicket

Discussion: The Books

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 15 topics — 366 comments total

The Books

The Ersatz Elevator
By Emma the Dork , Mrs. Olaf · 17 posts · 29 views

last updated Jan 01, 2020 07:16AM

Flawed adults
By Jennifer · 1 post · 8 views

last updated Aug 19, 2014 05:51PM

What Members Thought

Dec 17, 2008 Naomi Ruth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, children, ir, fav-authors, series

I think this is my favourite book of the series (although, I'm still re-reading the series, so this may change). I was thinking about this and found it odd. This book is filled with a lot of not much happening and two of the worst (in my opinion) guardians. (view spoiler) I think this is my favourite book of the series (although, I'm still re-reading the series, so this may change). I was thinking about this and found it odd. This book is filled with a lot of not much happening and two of the worst (in my opinion) guardians. (view spoiler) Terrible things happen to them. (view spoiler) However, despite all of this, I still love this story for the following reasons. One, in this book Sunny really starts to grow up. She starts to use more English words and is more actively engaged in the conversation and the problem. She's the one who saves them from the elevator. While she's helped out before, I feel like this is the first time we get to see how brave she is. I love how Violet words it. "It's not just the size of her teeth...it's the size of her courage, and the size of her concern for her siblings" (195). Sunny cares in the way that all of their guardians should have cared but didn't. The second reason I love this book is because of how it ends. It's not happily ever after. I mean, this is Lemony Snicket, it would be absurd to expect otherwise. The siblings are left alone on the steps of a public building with two people who mean well but are worthless, because meaning well is sometimes worse than meaning ill. However, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny come to this acceptance that the adults in their lives will fail them, but they will never fail each other. No matter what happens, no matter how well-intentioned and useless people are, no matted how wicked and vile, or cowardly and spineless, or oblivious and ignorant, these three siblings have each other and will take care of each other to the best of their abilities, always. And that, despite all of the terrible, is beautiful.

---

This book has always stuck out to me as one of my favourites & re-reading it made me wonder why? Is it because the Baudelaires start to be more pro-active? Is it because it's so critical of people obsessed with what is "in"? Is is because I hate Jerome The Most? So curious. So many notes scribbled. So many thoughts. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2008 Squiggles{Kelly} rated it it was amazing

The first of these books that I really and truly loved- but I like all of them. I can't say enough good things about them so I'll say one bad thing- they're not for everyone. You may not like them and I can't convince you of how good they are. I can't list all of the reasons why they are great, but I'm sure other reviewers can- things like how amazing Daniel Handler is to not only concieve a mind-blowing series like this, a twisting plot centered around a huge bundle of secrets, a children's ser ...more

1 like · Like · see review