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The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) Review

I absolutely adore "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I picked up the first book on a whim and devoured the entire series in a month. It had been a long time since I really enjoyed a book series like this. Author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett) brings the much needed absurd in this mock-goth book series. The world of these books is rich, fun and extremely dreadful (but entertaining).

The tone and form of the book are unique, so don't try to compare it to other series. This is a set all on it's own. It's always fun to read and see how the Baudelaires will cope with their situation.

I also love that, unlike most kids' stories where the children lose their parents, the Baudelaires actually have to deal with their grief. They never seem to "just get over it" or have a short cry and it's done. As Lemony Snicket said, ""It is useless for me to describe to you how terrible Violet, Klaus, and even Sunny felt in the time that followed. If you have ever lost someone very important to you, then you already know how it feels, and if you haven't, you cannot possibly imagine it."

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780064407663
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) Overview

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) Specifications

Make no mistake. The Bad Beginning begins badly for the three Baudelaire children, and then gets worse. Their misfortunes begin one gray day on Briny Beach when Mr. Poe tells them that their parents perished in a fire that destroyed their whole house. "It is useless for me to describe to you how terrible Violet, Klaus, and even Sunny felt in the time that followed," laments the personable (occasionally pedantic) narrator, who tells the story as if his readers are gathered around an armchair on pillows. But of course what follows is dreadful. The children thought it was bad when the well-meaning Poes bought them grotesque-colored clothing that itched. But when they are ushered to the dilapidated doorstep of the miserable, thin, unshaven, shiny-eyed, money-grubbing Count Olaf, they know that they--and their family fortune--are in real trouble. Still, they could never have anticipated how much trouble. While it's true that the events that unfold in Lemony Snicket's novels are bleak, and things never turn out as you'd hope, these delightful, funny, linguistically playful books are reminiscent of Roald Dahl (remember James and the Giant Peach and his horrid spinster aunts), Charles Dickens (the orphaned Pip in Great Expectations without the mysterious benefactor), and Edward Gorey (The Gashlycrumb Tinies). There is no question that young readers will want to read the continuing unlucky adventures of the Baudelaire children in The Reptile Room and The Wide Window. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

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Customer Reviews

Didn't expect to like this as much as I did. - E. S. Charpentier - Brainerd, MN United States
Although I am a person who generally enjoys books with happy endings and happy events, and although I am an adult, and not a child, I found myself enjoying this book immensely. Snicket's style of writing, as if having a conversation with the reader, pausing to impart information in a narrative voice, is quite engaging. I am entranced by the Beaudelaires, and will not rest (figuratively) until I have perused all of Snicket's tales of them.

Good book..... - Melissa Hernandez - El Paso, Texas
I read this book for a children's literature class and who doesn't love The Bad Beginning! I want to read the rest of the series when I have time. :-)

Reading with Tequila - Jennifer Sicurella - New Jersey, USA
I saw the movie before reading this book and I believe this is one of the rare instances of the movie being better than the book it was based on. The Bad Beginning tries to be both scary and educational at the same time. Many words was defined instead of allowing readers to deduce the meaning through the context used or just plain using easier works. It was annoying and read like almost like a dictionary in places.

The story itself was bizarre. Every adult character was either stupid, mean or a combination of the two. The overly intelligent children manage to save themselves through exploiting a technicality that was completely unrealistic and shouldn't have been effective. The overtly predatory Count Olaf made me fear for the children's lives, their money and especially for Violet's virtue. I repeatedly got the feeling he had the unseemly plan to consummate his impending relationship with her.

I realize that my objections to this book are probably the work of an warped adult mind reading things into the context of the story, but nothing about this book was enjoyable. I will not be continuing this series.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 24, 2010 14:39:04

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Tuesday, August 24, 2010