Mystery

(2.5 / 5)

There were some decent moments in this book, for example a humorous play on the phrase "deja vu." It was interesting that Olaf and his acting troupe were out in the open this time, while the Baudelaires were the ones spying. It was also nice to finally get at least one answer to a series-long mystery. And there were some decent moments in this book, for example a humorous play on the phrase "deja vu."

On the other hand, this book had whole new, over-the-top annoyances for me. The "freaks" whined constantly about their "deformities" which would have made more sense if one of them wasn't simply ambidextrous. I'm sure it was some kind of humor that I just do not get, but the fact that both of Kevin's legs are equally strong is something I really could have done without being reminded about all through the story. And the guests to the carnival were ridiculously blood-thirsty. But at least there's Tim Curry. Slim consolation prize at this point. ( )

Estimado lector,

La palabra "carnívoro", que aparece en el título de este libro, significa "comedor de carne", y una vez que has leído una palabra tan sangrienta, no hay ninguna razón para seguir leyendo nada más. Este carnívoro volumen contiene tal angustiante historia que consumir cualquier parte de su contenido hará que se te revuelva el estómago, incluso más que con la comida más desequilibrada.

Para evitar causar molestias, lo mejor es que no mencione ninguno de los desconcertantes ingredientes de esta historia, sobre todo un mapa confuso, una persona ambidiestra, una multitud incontrolable, una tabla de madera, y a Chabo la Bebé Lobo.

Desafortunadamente para mí, todo mi tiempo está relleno con la investigación y el registro de las desagradables y desencantadas vidas de los huérfanos Baudelaire. Sin embargo, tu tiempo podría estar relleno de mejor manera con algo más apetecible, como comer tus vegetales, o dárselos de comer a alguien más.
Con todos mis respetos,

Lemony Snicket

The previous book in the series, The Hostile Hospital, last saw the Baudelaire's fleeing the mob at Heimlich Hospital and making a split second decision to escape via the trunk in Count Olaf's car. The ninth book, The Carnivorous Carnival opens with the Baudelaire's still hidden in the trunk and on their way through the hinterlands to the Caligari Carnival.

Caligari Carnival is home to fortune teller, Madame Lulu and her House of Freaks. Madame Lulu has been predicting the whereabouts of the Baudelaire's every time they're moved and Count Olaf is confident she will be able to tell him the location of them and their possibly alive parent. So the Baudelaire's once again utilise Count Olaf's bag of tricks and disguise themselves as two headed Beverly (Violet) and Elliot (Klaus) who eat corn clumsily and Chabo (Sunny), the wolf baby - half baby, half wolf. Following Madame Lulu's directive, the Baudelaire's are set to "give the people what they want" - which in this case is violence and sloppy eating - and are introduced to their fellow freaks - Hugo the hunchback, Kevin the ambidextrous man and Colette the contortionist.

Then there's some very hungry lions. A brief stint of inventing that never goes anywhere. Philosophical discussions about whether using what they've learnt from Olaf makes them bad (frankly no - it makes them survivors but whatevs) and the reveal that Madame Lulu is not all she seems. Or exactly what she seems - a complete and utter fraud - a member of the V.F.D. named Olivia who has taken the motto give them what they want to a ridiculous extreme. Actually I take some of that back - I mean yeah, she's not a fortune teller but she does manage to predict (cough*research*cough ahem cough*read a newspaper*cough) an awful lot of locations. So it's just the name, the clothes, the crystal ball and the fortune telling scene she creates that's completely fake. You know, everything else. But she does come through with a location for the possibly alive Baudelaire parent - an old V.F.D. headquarters. I mean it's a complete guess but good on her for giving it a shot. Then there's some double crossing from a jealous Esme who wants to get rid of her competition for Olaf's affections (Madame Lulu) - (and who has a surprisingly decent plan to manipulate the freaks into thinking they can be real boys and girls as well as a job offer to join their evil troupe) but also a triple crossing from Madame Lulu who is a friend to no one , some extra hungry lions and an inevitable end of a lynch mob, a fire and a desperate escape. You know, par for the course, with this series.

The Baudelaire's are left broken with Sunny in Olaf's evil clutches and the older two siblings careening along in a caravan that has limited food, no steering or brakes and a likely dangerous end.

At 312 pages, this book tacks on an extra 30 or so pages on the last three installments and it's a slog. For all it's the longest book, it has the least amount of action and fails to answer any of the numerous questions posed. To be fair, it also didn't seem to bring up any further ones but there's only so long I can go without deciding I just don't care enough. I'm hanging on but it's a Slippery Slope. 2 stars. ( )

Gosh I love this series ( )