Review: _The End_, by Lemony Snicket
Jan. 30th, 2007 09:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexxkayThis is the thirteenth and concluding volume of _A Series of Unfortunate Events_. I think this series should be read by all children, as it is full of extremely useful subversion. This volume, like the previous ones, features an adult who is positioned as a parental, guardian figure for the Unfortunate orphans -- and whose good intentions turn out to be not at all helpful. The lessons this time include the subtle force of peer pressure, the insidious nature of commands phrased as suggestions, and, perhaps most importantly, a bald statement of what could be said to be the theme of the entire series: the ultimate impossibility of keeping children "safe from the treachery of the world" -- while at the same time acknowledging the necessity of engaging with that world.
Snicket continues his love of wordplay and metafiction throughout. There is a riff about the multiple meanings of "in the dark" and mysterious ballerinas that goes on for several pages and, to use one of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kestrell's favorite phrases, "made my head all spinny". Most of the character names are recognizable allusions to the well-read adult, such as a "Mrs. Caliban" whose first name turns out to be Miranda! Even as well-read a person as I is unlikely to catch all the hidden jokes without an internet connection.
This is not the best place to start the series. It is *full* of references to the earlier volumes. Some old characters reappear unexpectedly; other old characters fail to reappear unexpectedly. (Parse that last sentence any way you like; they're all true.)
Old mysteries are, by and large, left as mysterious as they ever were. This series has always been more about multiplying mysteries than resolving them, and this one, despite being the last, is no exception. Nonetheless, the ending is reasonably satisfying. The only thing that really disappoints about it is the fact that it *is* the ending; I've enjoyed this series so much so much that I don't want it to be over. Oh, and don't be fooled by the first ending. Keep turning pages until you run out :) Highly recommended.
Snicket continues his love of wordplay and metafiction throughout. There is a riff about the multiple meanings of "in the dark" and mysterious ballerinas that goes on for several pages and, to use one of
kestrell's favorite phrases, "made my head all spinny". Most of the character names are recognizable allusions to the well-read adult, such as a "Mrs. Caliban" whose first name turns out to be Miranda! Even as well-read a person as I is unlikely to catch all the hidden jokes without an internet connection.This is not the best place to start the series. It is *full* of references to the earlier volumes. Some old characters reappear unexpectedly; other old characters fail to reappear unexpectedly. (Parse that last sentence any way you like; they're all true.)
Old mysteries are, by and large, left as mysterious as they ever were. This series has always been more about multiplying mysteries than resolving them, and this one, despite being the last, is no exception. Nonetheless, the ending is reasonably satisfying. The only thing that really disappoints about it is the fact that it *is* the ending; I've enjoyed this series so much so much that I don't want it to be over. Oh, and don't be fooled by the first ending. Keep turning pages until you run out :) Highly recommended.