The Reptile Room, a children's novel, is the second installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Having just escaped the clutches of evil Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orphans are sent to live with their Uncle Monty, a friendly man who studies snakes for a living. When Monty's new assistant turns out to be Count Olaf in disguise, the children must figure out a way to warn their Uncle before it's too late.
Giovanni's Room is the story of an American newlywed, David, and his tumultuous affair with a Parisian bartender named Giovanni while alone on holiday in Paris. The novel is one of the earliest instances of a sympathetic portrayal of homosexual characters in Western literature. David wrestles with his sexual identity and with his marriage, which eventually crumbles. Giovanni himself commits a murder of passion and is executed, shattering David completely.