A Series of Unfortunate Events #8: The Hostile Hospital

by Lemony Snicket

Other authorsMichael Kupperman (Illustrator), Brett Helquist (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2001

Status

Available

Local notes

Fic Sni

Barcode

550

Collection

Publication

HarperCollins (2001), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 272 pages

Description

On the run after being falsely accused of murder, the three Baudelaire orphans find themselves in the Heimlich Hospital, with the evil Count Olaf in close pursuit.

Awards

Golden Archer Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2006)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2002)

Language

Original publication date

2001-09-04

Physical description

272 p.; 5 inches

User reviews

LibraryThing member hjjugovic
Ah, the poor Baudelaires go from bad to worse. Their series of horrible guardians seems cushy compared to their current fugitive status. Snicket adds a nice twist in this installment, but I'm still frustrated by the otherwise-brilliant Baudelaire's inability to put the VFD pieces together. Still,
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I'm glad to see them learning from their previous misfortunes and taking their fate into their hands.
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LibraryThing member aethercowboy
I must say, what a dreadful hospital! It's only fitting for the plight of our poor orphans.

Oh, I'm sorry, you caught me thinking out loud. As long you're not "certain people," and after you catch me thinking out loud, you don't put me in a holding cell filled with flesh-eating lemurs, then I
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suppose you're allowed to catching me thinking out loud every once in a while. Though, if I'm really thinking out loud, why do I hear a typewriter? Do you suppose somebody is transcribing us talking right now? I suppose it may just be the old pipes clattering about above us, or the machine gun shooting range above that.

Did you read The Hostile Hospital yet? It's Mr. Snicket's account of the poor Baudelaire orphans, who really haven't had a break since their parents died in that miserable fire. This time, after fleeing the Village of Fowl Devotees, still the accused murderers of Count Olaf, who was not actually dead at the time, they find their only refuge: the Heimlich Hospital, which was only half a hospital, as there was an unfinished wing in which those poor orphans waited out the night each night during their stay.

But every cloud has a silver lining, right? I mean, they did learn a valuable secret, but at the same time came upon an even more mysterious mystery to go along with the other mysteries they have encountered.

And that cloud's silver lining attracted the only creature that would be so greedy as to seek out the silver linings of clouds, Count Olaf. I was so terrified when he and his accomplices came to the hospital and made matters worse for the orphans.

I certainly hope that those orphans have found their rest. Or at least a lull in the terrible events that plague them.

You haven't read it yet? Well, I would definitely recommend you do, provided you have read the preceding seven tomes happening before this one. You will probably be disappointed, but it will not be because of Mr. Snicket's writing. But what is life without a little disappointment? I suppose it's "enjoyable," but that is beyond the point.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must figure out what that rattling noise is...
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LibraryThing member BrynDahlquis
This is a very sweet volume in the story, because the orphans have a lot of sweet moments. Aside from that, of course, there's a lot of tragedy.

The Baudelaire Orphans grapple with the possibility of turning into a villain, and they get separated and have to rescue each other and then face the
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possibility of being separated again and it's all just very cool. Plus, Klaus is just AWESOME in the operating theater scene. Love that guy. Plus, Sunny is always AWESOME.

We get even more scattered and useless information about VFD and the Baudelaire fire.
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LibraryThing member bibliophile26
More of the same. I need to take a break from this series because I'm tiring of it. I rolled my eyes at several things that happened...the world these children live in is so damn preposterous!
LibraryThing member catz
This book also pulled me in and I like how in this book they're not all working together.
LibraryThing member delaney.h4
Summary: The Baudelair's are undercover at a "hostile" hopspital. But are their disguises too convincing, as Violet is put into a sticky situation?
Review: This was my favorite one in the series.
LibraryThing member thc_luver6
Kind of weird for me...this book. But it was good just like all the other books.
LibraryThing member Othemts
Picking up where the last installment left off, the Baudelaires find their way to a half-built hospital, which contains an archive with more secrets about their parents and VFD. Of course, they can't learn much as Count Olaf attempts to decapitate Violent and then burns down the hospital. The only
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escape for the Baudelaires is to hide in the trunk of Count Olaf's car!
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LibraryThing member EmScape
The suspense is increasing as we accompany the Beaudelaires on another terrifying adventure. Learning more about the mystery of V.F.D. and what, exactly, Snicket himself has to do with the tale besides being its author.
LibraryThing member readafew
This is the eighth eviscerating episode in the lives of the Baudelaire children. The Baudelaire's narrowly escape a police net and fall in with some hippy's who give them a ride to the Heimlich Hospital. The Baudelaire's become much more proactive in this book trying to improve their situation, not
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counting on others to fix things for them.

Another good book in the series and if you have made it through the last 7 books I'm sure you'll also hate the Horrible Hostile Hospital.
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LibraryThing member KarenAJeff
I wish I hadn't started reading this series but now I have to find out how it ends.
LibraryThing member miyurose
I'm glad Snicket's continued to shake up the pattern of events in the book. The end of this one was the best cliffhanger yet.
LibraryThing member GBev2009
As the series continues and the clues fall in place I am more and more hooked. Another very good entry (there have been some not so good ones) that continues to add to the mystery. It was fun having Count Olaf only participating in the story over the hospital intercom.

It's also good to see the
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books continue to break away from the format of the early entries in the series which was getting a little monotonous.
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LibraryThing member paj1999
A book where Violet almost gets 'accidently' killed in a opperation.
LibraryThing member 15jenniferY
It is a very interesting book and I really enjoyed it because at first the orphans was sent to an evil man's house and then they had to conquer all the difficulties. Also, after they've solved one problem, another pops up and it goes on and on. It was very exciting to read about the methods and
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their ideas when the evil man was making traps for them to fall in so that he could get the huge fortune their parents left for them, and I would also be very nervous for them when they were escaping because I was feeling like I was also escaping with them. Overall I think it is a book very worth reading.
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LibraryThing member ababe92
This is my favorite book of the series. It is very suspenseful and Violet has her greatest idea yet in it. i recommend to children who like the series.
LibraryThing member KeRo0306
This is such a thrilling book. I can't believe that it's only the eighth in the series and yet so much is to be untold. Many things happen; as in a character almost getting their head chopped off which made me wanna keep reading.
LibraryThing member smg-sbrowne
this book is a stroy that has been continued about the Baudlures and the their problems with a caritor name Count Oler this a great book because it has kidnapping, fire and muder.
LibraryThing member raizel
The books manage to be fresh and hold my interest even though only the details and clever use of words is all that changes.
LibraryThing member riverwillow
In the book the horrors facing the Baudelaires increase and Count Olaf nearly succeeds in killing Violet. They also discover that one of their parents may have survived the fire at the Baudelaire mansion. At the end of the book the siblings are faced with a terrible decision. I love how just when
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you think the Baudelaire's have suffered enough, Count Olaf pops upto make them suffer further.
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LibraryThing member heidilove
i love this series. how could you not?
LibraryThing member themulhern
The Baudelaire orphans experience new difficulties as they find themselves in morally ambiguous situations and confronted with hostile mobs. A strong book with some powerful satire. Excellently read by Tim Curry.
LibraryThing member martensgirl
I really enjoyed this book and I am eager to see how this story ends. This series manages to remain gripping despite the fact that in each book Count Olaf is after the children.
LibraryThing member lisa211
The 8th installment is darker than the previous installments of this series. Close calls for the 3 main characters are quite a close shave indeed in this book that would glue you to this one until you're finished with this one.

The three Baudelaire orphans, Violet (the inventor), Klaus (the
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intelligent) and Sunny (the biter) are on the run because they are now three most wanted fugitives who are charged with murder of the Count Omar (Olaf by misprint of The Daily Punctilio). They needed shelter where they could hide and hopefully people won't recognised them from the pictures printed on the Daily Punctilio regardless they misnamed them. A chance encounter with the ever so suspicious VFD (this time Volunteers Fighting Diseases), brought them to the Heimlich Hospital because they were on the run from the store keeper who recognized them.

Things took a worse turn (again), when they heard a very familiar voice in the speaker. Count Olaf (the one who are after their entire fortune and would do anything to get it. and i mean ANYTHING!) found them again and this time with a chance they found the files about their parents in the Library of Records, which Count Olaf was looking for. Esme Squalor however found them and Violet got captured when the Baudelaire orphans split up. This time the Baudelaire orphans found themselves a fixed where Violet was about to get kill by Count Olaf's crew!

I have to admit, it took me a while before I actually reach this book and sit down with it. The characters really pull me in with the fast thumping plots. The kids grew up with you in this book. You'd find them in a much mature state, Sunny finally could utter real 1-2 words. There is also the usual vocabulary lessons between the storylines. I pretty much enjoyed reading this installment like the earlier ones. I'm sure the lot of you would too.
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LibraryThing member AudreyFord
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are the three main characters whose parents have both passed away in a horrible fire. During this whole series of books, these children are trying to run away from evil people who want them killed so they can take over their fortune left by their parents. In this particular
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book, the children are accused of murdering Count Olaf who is the main guy trying to catch the children so he can kill them. However, the children did not kill Count Olaf. So they help volunteer at a hospital where they hope nobody will recognize them from the papers. However, Count Olaf has found them and kidnaps the oldest sibling. It is up to the two younger siblings to rescue their sister and escape Count Olaf.
This book, and also the rest of the series, would be great for kids to read in a classroom because it would teach them many things. One thing I especially like is the character of the middle sibling, Klaus. He is a very intelligent and bright boy. During the course of this book he would use very big words, which could be intimidating to a young reader, but he would go on to further give a very simple definition of that word. Also in this book, there is a very strong bond between the siblings. It is a great book about family love and protection.
I really liked this book because the suspense level was extremely high. I also liked the fact that the children were all very smart and quick on their feet. The book was a very easy read and one that never had a dull moment, so even students would be able to read through it quickly and more importantly really enjoy every page.
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Pages

272

Rating

½ (1458 ratings; 3.8)
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