A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill

Book #153 (Unique books*)
Book #7 in 2012

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill
by Lemony Snicket

"Dear Reader,
I hope, for your sake, that you have not chosen to read this book because you are in the mood for a pleasant experience. If this is the case, I advise you to put this book down instantaneously, because of all the books describing the unhappy lives of the Baudelaire orphans, THE MISERABLE MILL might be the unhappiest yet. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumbermill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log.

The pages of this book, I'm sorry to inform you, contain such unpleasantries as a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident resulting in injury, and coupons.

I have promised to write down the entire history of these three poor children, but you haven't, so if you prefer stories that are more heartwarming, please feel free to make another selection.

With all due respect,

"

February 27th - 1 day - 194 pages

Notes:
*I have read these lots of times but I'm counting it in my total because it's never been published here.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window

Book #152 (Unique books*)
Book #6 in 2012

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window
by Lemony Snicket

"Dear Reader,
If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,

"


February 26th - 1 day - 214 pages

Notes:
*I have read these lots of times but I'm counting it in my total because it's never been published here.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room

Book #151 (Unique books*)
Book #5 in 2012

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room
by Lemony Snicket

"Dear Reader,
If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I'm afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don't be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.

In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a long brass reading lamp, and a reappearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.

I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,
"


February 25th - 1 day - 190 pages

Notes:
*I have read these lots of times but I'm counting it in my total because it's never been published here.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Book #150 (Unique books)
Book #4 in 2012

Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

"Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world’s great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim’s odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most."

February 14th to February 21st - 8 days - 190 pages

The Book Thief

Book #149 (Unique books)
Book #3 in 2012

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."

December 26th to February 14th - 51 days - 552 pages