Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

18 reviews

theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

We’ve been reading these with our kids and we’ve all been enjoying them so far! The nature of this series is quite dark but so far they haven’t been too upsetting for our 8 and 11 year old kids. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Grief, and Car accident

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol

caitlin_123a's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Violence, Death, Grief, and Child abuse

swimfast724's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is one of my favorites of the 13 book series. I think this is actually #1. Their guardian was such a great and interesting man, and this was the first time count Olaf disguised himself to get to their money and

kill him

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Bullying

Minor: Death, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, and Murder

maggieoc_x's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Child abuse

Minor: Kidnapping

erebus53's review against another edition

dark funny informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is instalment 2 of this episodic arc of stories about 3 orphans and their spooky nemesis who contrives to get their inheritance. The theme song for this audio production is entirely too much better than it ought to be, but I found it on Spotify so I can appease my need should I have it stuck in my head for longer than the 2 days it has been O.o

At the start we have the orphans once more rehomed with a distant relative. This man is a herpetologist and Mr Poe (yes I still chortle at the name) is surprised to find that the children are not put off with the man's enthusiasm for creepy animals. I actually spare some love for a story that showcases snakes as being fascinating and loveable  friends, rather than creepy and dangerous menaces... like people.

Tim Curry has clearly smoked more than his fair share in the last few decades as his rendition of the consumptive Mr. Poe has him hacking and wheezing like a champ.. and it's most unsettling. I am just waiting for the character to fall down dead of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (which means, here, that he might be so sick that his airways swell up and he dies).

Not a lot happens in this particular story. It seems that Count Olaf is a master of costuming and disguise.. and that he will insinuate himself into any position in the children's life to try and get their money. I do wish that this episode had more of the children's can do attitude showcased, but the pace slows to a crawl when the adults sit around having a ridiculous argument for over and hour about who should drive in whose car. I think that was supposed to be funny.. but it just dragged. The "bungling adults" trope is wearing.

I am beginning to see a formula. I hope that it subverts itself and shakes things up in future tales.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Stalking, Car accident, Bullying, Murder, and Child abuse

ophycore's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

lilshelly's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I forgot how quick these are to read....and realized how the writing style isn't really my thing anymore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Alcohol

themadbloodstone's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Child abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting

tsuntsundoku's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

4.0

I enjoyed this one! Not as much as the first, but still, it was a brisk and good read. My heart ACHES for these children (and Uncle Monty…😭) so I simply must continue reading to find out what ultimately happens, even though I know it must be Bad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

joisaddler's review against another edition

mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse