I absolutely loved these books in middle school, which I see as the perfect age range for them. Elementary schoolers arent really ready for the subject matter or the humor present.

The books are a very beautiful and gentle ode to the Baudelaire siblings, while also being a cutting take on the banality, tragedy, and absurdity of growing up.

OP I really think you kinda missed the subtler aspects of the books. They are meant to be very exaggerated and farcical because they are satirical. They are meant to show the best and the worst of humanity. And yes they are meant to be repetitive because that adds to the tragedy and the farce.