A Series of Unfortunate Events #4: The Miserable Mill

As we have discussed previously, a book’s first sentence can often tell you what sort of story the book contains

he knew it would be bootless, a word which here means “useless and worthless.”

Remember, sometimes something might seem like bad news, but it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”

I don’t care if we’re impolite,” Violet said, “to such a disgusting person as yourself.”

Dr. Orwell, in behaving politely, had been the honey, instead of the vinegar. The children, unfortunately, were the flies. And Count Olaf, sitting at the receptionist’s desk with an evil smile, had caught them at last

It’s just a fancy way of saying that you’re more likely to get what you want by acting in a sweet way, like honey, rather than in a distasteful way, like vinegar.”

Sunny gave a little shriek of fear. Violet, of course, was too old to shriek except in emergency situations, but she was not too old to be frightened

Klaus was clearly in trouble, and Violet could not shake the feeling that it was her responsibility to get him out of it.

“You are the eldest Baudelaire child,” her parents had said. “And as the eldest, it will always be your responsibility to look after your younger siblings. Promise us that you will always watch out for them and make sure they don’t get into trouble.”

My chauffeur once told me that I would feel better in the morning, but when I woke up the two of us were still on a tiny island surrounded by man-eating crocodiles, and, as I’m sure you can understand, I didn’t feel any better about it