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The End: Summary and book reviews of The End by Lemony Snicket, plus links to an excerpt from The End and a biography of Lemony Snicket.

The End

The End
A Series of Unfortunate Events #13
by Lemony Snicket
Hardcover: Oct 2006,
368 pages.

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BOOK SUMMARY

You are presumably looking at the back of this book, or the end of the end. The end of the end is the best place to begin the end, because if you read the end from the beginning of the beginning of the end to the end of the end of the end, you will arrive at the end of the end of your rope.

This book is the last in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and even if you braved the previous twelve volumes, you probably can't stand such unpleasantries as a fearsome storm, a suspicious beverage, a herd of wild sheep, an enormous bird cage, and a truly haunting secret about the Baudelaire parents.

It has been my solemn occupation to complete the history of the Baudelaire orphans, and at last I am finished. You likely have some other occupation, so if I were you I would drop this book at once, so the end does not finish you.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket
BookBrowse

Some early reviews for The End comment that the story ends rather suddenly without any real conclusion; don't be put off by these reviews which you may find published elsewhere, as they may well be based on reading an unfinished copy of the book. Wanting to give reviewers a chance to read the final volume but also wishing to maintain the suspense, the publisher sent advanced reading copies to reviewers but purposely did not include the last two chapters. Unfortunately, a few of the early reviewers did not pick up on this all important detail when writing their reviews!  (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).

Full Review Members Only (983 words).

Media Reviews

  New York Times - Henry Alford
Where, in the end — and in “The End” — does the “Unfortunate Events” series leave us? It leaves us reminded of what an interesting and offbeat educator Handler is. In between all the exotic ethnic food references and the gallows humor and the teaching of words like “denouement” and “vaporetto,” the books seem at times like a covert mission to turn their readers into slightly dark-hued sophisticates.

  The Houston Chronicle
The series' ending is sad. And definitely unfortunate: The End leaves some loose ends....It does, however, provide a bittersweet ending, one that readers won't expect.

  San Francisco Chronicle
Handler never talks down to readers. In fact, he talks up to kids: His text is full of literary allusions (starting with the orphans' last name, taken from the 19th century French poet Charles Baudelaire) and sophisticated vocabulary that narrator Snicket wryly interrupts the story to explain.

  The Guardian (UK)
[A Series of Unfortunate Events] is America's answer to JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series, the seventh and also last of which is hungrily anticipated. Both have captivated children and brought them back to books.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Lone Wolf
The End but Not The End
The End has left me wondering more and driving to read more of the mysterious Lemony Snicket. The book leaves in the end reminding us though unfortunate events happen you must keep on going. The Baudelaire's story will never end and will entertain...   Read More

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Tanayja Ford
Four Thumbs Up!!!
Lemony Snicket is a FANTASTIC writer! High schoolers could even enjoy this series because my mother even loves to read these books!

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by BookWorm
GREAT!
This book was FABULOUS. I have been waiting so long for it and now i have finally read it. I couldn't put it down! (No really, my mum had to pull it out of my hands to get me to eat dinner!). I HIGHLY recommend the entire series- IT WONT BE A WASTE...   Read More

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by maddie holtson
a wonderful book!!!
I've read the whole series and I absolutely love it!!! The only part that I had a problem with was the ending because I expected my questions to be answered. I think that is part of Lemony Snicket's mysterious way of writing! I still think it is...   Read More

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Thomas
BEST ONE YET!!!
This book was the best out of the whole series. It is definitely the most adventurous one yet!! It is also the best series of books I have ever read. I recommended it to all my friends and they said it was the best. Happy Reading =)

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Veronica
The End Has Come!
I loved this book. I recommend it to anyone. It was the best volume out of the whole entire series. Of course the series is the best series I have ever read. Sure beats any other book or series. You should read the whole entire series not just The...   Read More

...1 More Reader Reviews

Did you know? (continued)

  • Handler started writing the Lemony Snicket books after he published his first novel The Basic Eight.  The suggestion came from Susan Rich, a children's book editor who now works at Harper Collins. Initially he thought it a terrible idea thinking that the sort of things he would come up with would be totally inappropriate for a children's publishing house, but then he had an idea - which she liked, and the rest is history. 
  • His pseudonym came about while researching The Basic Eight, when he needed to contact right-wing organizations to get pamphlets and learn their dogma but didn't want to use his real name.  It quickly took on a life of its own and became an in-joke with his friends who presented him with Lemony Snicket business cards one year and invented a drink called the Lemony Snicket (Handler is partial to cocktails), it also came in useful when writing letters to the editor of the local paper as an undergrad, and for ordering...

Continued...  Beyond the Book (members only)

Readalikes Full readalike results are for members only

If you liked The End, try these:


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This is one of 3 readalike suggestions for The End. Members have full access to all readalikes. If you are a member, please login. To find out more about membership, click here.


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