This is your friendly reminder that I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH.

This series ranks among cookies and coffee and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for things in this world that I purely love, without complication or exception.

Also, I now understand why I am the way that I am. Clearly, nine-year-old me (who wasn't allowed to read Harry Potter past a certain point in the evening because if I did I'd get nightmares) was NOT equipped to handle this book, wherein a fourteen year old girl is drugged for the sake of surgical decapitation.

THEY TRY TO CHOP VIOLET BAUDELAIRE'S HEAD OFF.

Who can blame me for being slightly damaged? That sh*t is scarring - and not just for Violet. (Buh dum ch.)

This particular installment is amazing even among the thirteen amazing installments that make up the series it is in, for the following reasons:
- the Snicket file, one of many mysterious mysteries to be researched
- the Library of Records, which is one of the top places I'd want to visit if I were in this world

Spoiler

too bad it burnt to the ground

- the continuing quest to discover what V.F.D. is
- the Last Chance General Store, just a great setting
- the character of Hal, a real misguided sweetheart (aren't they all)
- Esmé Squalor's stiletto heels, the heels of which are ACTUAL STILETTOS
- the internal quest in the Baudelaire orphans to decide just what makes a villain - is it the lying and stealing and tricking? Or is it what motivates that?

Okay. I'm done ranting. Maybe.

Bottom line: This book is dopedopedopedope.