How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"I'm afraid I may have acted a bit standoffish."
The word "standoffish" is a wonderful one, but it does not describe Count Olaf's behavior toward the children. It means "reluctant to associate with others," and it might describe somebody who, during a party, would stand in a corner and not talk to anyone. It would not describe somebody who provides one bed for three people to sleep in, forces them to do horrible chores, and strikes them across the face. There are many words for people like that, but "standoffish" is not one of them. Klaus knew the word "standoffish" and almost laughed out loud at Olaf's incorrect use of it. (6.14-15)
We're going to side with Lemony Snicket on this one: Count Olaf is most definitely not being standoffish. The Baudelaires only wish he wanted to stand in a corner and not talk to them…
Quote #8
Klaus took his glasses off, which he often did when he was thinking hard. "How could we find out about the law without Olaf's knowledge?"
"Book!" Sunny shouted suddenly. She probably meant something like "Would somebody please wipe my face?" but it made Violet and Klaus look at each other. Book. They were both thinking the same thing: Surely Justice Strauss would have a book on inheritance law. (6.41-42)
We're not sure our narrator is giving Sunny enough credit here. She has a pretty good idea, but he thinks she just has a dirty face. We're with you, Sunny—this one was your brain child.
Quote #9
All in all, the Baudelaire orphans had encountered catastrophe after catastrophe, and Violet found their situation lamentably deplorable, a phrase which here means "it was not at all enjoyable." (11.10)
That's a pretty fun understatement. Just like in the title of the series (more on this over in "What's Up With the Title?"), the author really downplays the terrible situations the kids find them in for a bit of a laugh.