The Hostile Hospital (Series of Unfortunate Events, #8)

by Lemony Snicket

Fleeing the village of VFD, after some time in the Deluxe cell for a murder they did not commit, the Baudelaires hide with the Volunteers Fighting Disease on their way to the Heimlich Hospital. Addressed by Babs, who can only be contacted through an intercom speaker on a desk, the orphans start work with the near-sighted Hal in the hospital library of records. Hal says he remembers a file in the records to do with the Snicket fires, but before the children can find it, Babs is suddenly replace by Mattathias - none other than Count Olaf - who plans to inspect every employee in the hospital. Staying late to find the file, the Baudelaires find a picture of their parents with Jacques Snicket, and another, partly obscured figure who may be a writer. But at that moment Esme Squalor arrives - Klaus and Sunny escape, but Violet is led to the operating theatre for a cranioectomy. Disguising themselves, Klaus and Sunny manage to rescue the unconscious Violet, but not before Esme has set fire to the library of records, adding arson to the false charges now facing the children.
Chased through the now burning hospital, they make their escape, only to discover that the only way out is to hide in the trunk of Count Olaf's car - possibly the most dangerous place of all.

• ISBN10: 1405206128
• ISBN13: 9781405206129
• Publish Date: 1 May 2003 (first published 1 August 2001)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 24 November 2015
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Egmont UK Ltd
• Imprint: Egmont Books Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English

Reviews

[thepunktheory]

We've reached the point where the whole back and forth between the Beaudelairs and Count Olaf is not the only main plot string anymore. The mystery surrounding their parents, the fire and VFD becomes more fascinating and obscure with every book. By now I am binge-reading as I'm so interesting in finally finding out what it's all about. But in The Hostile Hospital we learn just enough to get even more excited, the answers await somewhere else.
I also enjoy that we can finally put that "let's find a new guardian" - thing aside and focus on what everybody is after. Thus, the story gains more speed and while reading I often felt like a smoker who light a new cigarette with the last one he just smoked. As soon as I finished The Vile Village, I opened up The Hostile Hospital. The next part, The Carnivorous Carnival is already waiting for me.

Another thrilling Lemony Snicket story with an intricate plot, amiable characters and lovely illustrations!

[celinenyx]

Really liked The Hostile Hospital. I love how the Beaudelaire's use Olaf's own tricks against him. As always the characters were very loony. We're coming ever closer to discovering the secret of VFD... I love how Snicket manages so many abbreviations resulting in VFD.

The eighth book, The Hostile Hospital picks up straight after the events of The Vile Village, with the Baudelaire's leaving on foot and walking all night long. They're hungry, tired and have been declared criminals - even though they're innocent. They come across a small shop but soon find their reputation precedes them and nowhere is safe.

Fleeing the shop, they catch a ride with the V.F.D's - Volunteers Fighting Disease - who are headed for the hospital to sing songs and cheer people up. The children find themselves working in the Library of Records where they hope to discover who Jacques is and to clear their names.

They find neither. The thirteen Snicket files having already been removed, leaving only one lonely page that contains a photo of the Baudelaire's parents, Jacques and a fourth mysterious man standing outside of 667 Dark Avenue - Esme Squalor's home and one line of text that suggests one of their parents may have survived the fire. But just when they discover a ray of hope, Esme and Olaf catch up with them and while fleeing, Violet finds herself captured.

The youngest two hide and try to come up with a plan to save the day and they manage it - by taking a page out of Olaf's playbook - disguise! I enjoyed that they're using Olaf's own tricks against him. Dressed up as doctors, they pretend to be the two pale faced ladies of Olaf's gang and manage to fool their way into Violet's room. Unfortunately it not only doesn't clear their names, it makes things worse with them now being accused of murder and arson. On the other hand, they escape so it's a toss up as to whether or not it was a success.

The three children manage to leave the hospital and find themselves at a loss as what to do next until they see Olaf and his crew leaving. When they hear them talking about the Snicket files and that they're heading to where they might be hidden they decide to follow - by jumping into the trunk of the car and hitching a ride.

Once again, more questions than answers. Is Beatrice the Baudelaire's mother? Why did Snicket steal Esme's sugar bowl? What does VFD stand for? The lack of adult help makes me angry but I found it easier to deal with in this book since they don't actually have a designated guardian. But like it repeatedly reiterates this series is a bleak sad read of very unfortunate events. 3 stars.

[ibeforem]

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.