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psalmcat's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure what to make of this book. But I do love Lemony Snicket, so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt pending further thought.
sanadw's review against another edition
2.0
Love the illustrations and the weirdness and Lemony Snicket. But I didn't get it. I really didn't.
rahthesungod's review against another edition
3.0
This is some Lemony Snicket nonsense. Fantastic by definition; strange.
patriciau36's review against another edition
4.0
More odd mystery from Lemony Snicket. 29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy is a compact little offering that tells us all sorts of things about the mysterious pharmacy. My favorites are:
11. When the town aches, the Swinster Pharmacy aches with it.
12. In all of our dreams, the Pharmacy squats in the middle of the block like something blue and hungry. In the morning it is on the corner.
14. Your lies bounce off its windows like spinning discarded tops.
Essentially, this is a cleverly presented illustration of how imagination can turn even the most mundane thing into something mysterious and nefarious.
Well done Mr Snicket. Well done.
11. When the town aches, the Swinster Pharmacy aches with it.
12. In all of our dreams, the Pharmacy squats in the middle of the block like something blue and hungry. In the morning it is on the corner.
14. Your lies bounce off its windows like spinning discarded tops.
Essentially, this is a cleverly presented illustration of how imagination can turn even the most mundane thing into something mysterious and nefarious.
Well done Mr Snicket. Well done.
reader44ever's review
3.0
Text/Story: 1 star - did not like :(
Illustrations: 4 stars - really liked :)
Book as a Whole: 2.5 stars - average/so-so :/
I checked this book out from the library because it looked interesting. Sadly, its looks are the only thing I found interesting about it. I totally didn't get the point of the story. (Was there one?)
I thought it would be a listing of 29 fun myths about the Swinster Pharmacy. Instead, I read a listing of 29 dull observations made by the child narrators. Was I supposed to pretend I was a contestant on Jeopardy! and rephrase each fact as an answered question, or a true/false statement? How else does one get myths from the text?
About the only thing I liked about the text part of the story was the dog. (And the illustrations featuring the dog were positively great!) :)
Can I mention again that the point of this story was lost on me? But on the other hand, I really enjoyed the illustrations. They were by far the best thing about this book for me. I may even look for the other book/s [a:Lemony Snicket|36746|Lemony Snicket|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1199734355p2/36746.jpg] and [a:Lisa Brown|77051|Lisa Brown|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1266280432p2/77051.jpg] did together just so I can look at Lisa's illustrations.
Illustrations: 4 stars - really liked :)
Book as a Whole: 2.5 stars - average/so-so :/
I checked this book out from the library because it looked interesting. Sadly, its looks are the only thing I found interesting about it. I totally didn't get the point of the story. (Was there one?)
I thought it would be a listing of 29 fun myths about the Swinster Pharmacy. Instead, I read a listing of 29 dull observations made by the child narrators. Was I supposed to pretend I was a contestant on Jeopardy! and rephrase each fact as an answered question, or a true/false statement? How else does one get myths from the text?
About the only thing I liked about the text part of the story was the dog. (And the illustrations featuring the dog were positively great!) :)
Can I mention again that the point of this story was lost on me? But on the other hand, I really enjoyed the illustrations. They were by far the best thing about this book for me. I may even look for the other book/s [a:Lemony Snicket|36746|Lemony Snicket|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1199734355p2/36746.jpg] and [a:Lisa Brown|77051|Lisa Brown|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1266280432p2/77051.jpg] did together just so I can look at Lisa's illustrations.
beecheralyson's review
Hmmm...not sure what I think about this one. I like the concept. I think I even liked the 29 points, but somewhere along the line I missed something. Additionally, I am not sure who this book is for. Be interesting to see how kids respond to it.
andizor's review
3.0
This is a fun little book that is reminiscent of Harriet the Spy and, you know, my childhood of making things out to be much bigger deals than they actually were. Lisa Brown's illustrations are great - bright watercolors with pencil detailing. I really like Lemony Snicket's stylistic choice of making this like a series of vignettes, rather than a straight forward prose story. It really is JUST like something I would do when I was a kid. (ALSO THE JACKET. LOOK AT THE JACKET!)
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Snicket makes our world a better place, I think. A Haruki Murakami for the younger set.