A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window (Snicket)

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window, Lenomy Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), 2000

I have found that the third installment of the Harry Potter books was not only of my favorite in the series but also the best standalone story. Now there are several theories about this: Rowling was just hitting her stride with that novel, her popularity was such that the editors gave her more latitude, etc. Here's my opinion: It's the only book without Voldemort! Yes, he's mentioned, and you expect him behind every corner because of the first two books, but he doesn't magically reappear (and obviously, that would have been possible).

Likewise, Snicket's third entry might have benefited from a lack of Count Olaf. Barring that, a conclusion to the Olaf saga. We get neither. We only get the knowledge that these same three children will be running from the same villain not for seven books (as in Rowling's case) but for astounding and improbable thirteen books. I hope we can last that long.

That said, the book isn't bad but it isn't up to the standard set by the other two. The biggest problem we see, however, is that more and more of these unfortunate events are less of a case of bad things happening to good people and more of bad people causing bad things to happen to good people. Their unfortunate situation could improve vastly except there is a maniac looking to nab them and their fortune (which they never seem to benefit from) but no one seems to notice.

If you bought a trilogy edition, you may want to stop here.