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Review
"Written with old-fashioned flair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish: the Baudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters who encounter a multitude of distressing situations. Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun." Kirkus Reviews
--This text refers to the Unknown Binding edition.Product Description
There is nothing to be found in the pages of these books but misery and despair. You still have time to choose something else to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and clever Baudelaire children read on...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. Then again, why trouble yourself with the unfortunate resolutions? Avoid these books in Lemony Snicket's international bestselling series and you'll never have to know what happens!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Even though this is a book targeted to kids by its publisher, I think that the author wrote it considering a much broader audience. I would say that as Rowling did with "Harry Potter", Snicket will captivate people of all ages. A word of warning though, the author clearly states that this is an unhappy story and that if you do not like this you should not try to read it. He is not joking! The story is sad and every time there is a glimpse of hope, it is quickly quenched.
The three Baudelaire siblings are the main characters in this unhappy story. Violet is a fourteen-year-old who loves to think constantly about possible inventions. Klaus is twelve, intelligent and enjoys reading all kinds of books. Sunny is the little infant that is going through a biting stage and will go at anything with her four teeth. Everything starts out wrong right from the beginning, when the Baudelaire siblings, now orphans, find out that their parents died in a fire. They have a huge fortune, but they will not have access to it until Violet reaches adulthood. In the meantime, Mr. Poe, the executioner of the estate will manage the funds and take care of finding a place for the orphans to live in.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny end up living with Count Olaf, in a house that is a disaster and has a weird feeling about it. Also, they quickly realize that the Count's only interest is in the money they have and in nothing else. The kids are forced to take care of the house chores and only find solace in their friendly neighbor, Justice Strauss. But any glimpse at happiness is quickly extinguished by new terrible events. We even get a second warning by the author halfway through the book: "...people who hate stories in which terrible things happen to small children should put this book down immediately". However, my recommendation is: keep reading, you will not be disappointed.
The start of the series left me hooked and I will read the following books in the near future. I like the story, even with its sad tone, and enjoy the author's style. He has a humorous way of writing, defining obvious words and explaining some things that do not need explanations, even for kids. I think this is his way of satirizing some children's book that treat kids as if they were unable to comprehend simple matters. Moreover, there is a point in which he will start defining words using other words he defined before.
I am extremely satisfied with the experience of trying out this new author and would highly recommend it to people of all ages.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's hard to give this book a rating - it definitely ranks five stars for originality, has some of the most clearly defined characters in childrens' literature, and the author has a hugely distinctive style which is both fun and educational (he makes a point of using obscure words and phrases and then defining them in a quirky way which is so appealing to kids that they don't even notice they're learning something new and challenging). But despite all that, the story is so contrived that it feels less like a story and more like an exercise in stringing together a bunch of ideas. This feeling grows the further into the series of books you read, and the more used to the formula you become. I have to say though that, despite that, my daughter loves it - perhaps not as much as Harry Potter et al, but she loves it all the same. And I appreciate the subversive education she gets from it, and the fun I have playing all the different characters as I read it aloud to her.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For those of us who are sick and tired of the cheery world of children's literature, complete with talking rabbits and other fluffy little creatures whose every problem is resolved to their complete and undeniably cheery satisfaction comes the very opposite. Lemony Snicket makes no pretensions where his books are concerned; each one of these magically morbid tales, of which this is the first, features deaths aplenty and more than a few situations which would have less realistic children's authors of yesteryear spinning in their grave. The whole thing is buoyed along on a bobbing tide of grim humour, and every book contains at least one moment of delicious realisation that the very worst you could possibly imagine is, yes... it's going to happen. The illustrations add a most macabre realism to the proceedings, and the three children's characters are not only depicted lavishly in glowing prose but also shine through in each meticulously detailed image. One can only hope the Baudelaire orphans never find happiness, for to do so would mean the end of a fine series of books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good Book
A page in the middle had a corner ripped which momentarily spoilt enjoyment of the book since we had to look up the words from a library copy. Otherwise the book condition ok.
Published 3 days ago by Neeta
A Series of Fortunately Great Stories!
This is a really nasty little book. Unabashedly so. The orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny are subjected to unfortunate events at every turn...exactly what the title promises! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anna Clare
great book
We bought this for our 9 year-old daughter, who needed to read it for a school book club. She absolutely loved it, and now intends to read all the other books in the series!
Published 3 months ago by Peter
great read
Bought the first of the Lemony Snicket series for our grandson in Finland. Our intention is to provide age appropriate interesting material written in English. Read more
Published 3 months ago by grandma
The title says it all
The title actually does say it all. When three siblings are orphaned, they are sent to live with an evil distant relative who wants nothing more than to steal their... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
The Bad Beginning Review.
This book is brilliant for all ages. I am 17 and enjoyed it, my sister is 21 and also enjoyed it. It's not very long (Only 13 chapters, and the pages aren't filled too much with... Read more
Published 10 months ago by James Hawkins
Well worth a read.
Although I am 19, I thought I would give this book a chance and I am glad I did, the story overall has a good plot, I wouldn't say the events are 'predictable' and caught me by... Read more
Published 10 months ago by jacko
Great books - not just for kids!
Great value, postage fees were reasonable and it arrived within the time specified.
The books themselves are fantastic! Read more
The books themselves are fantastic! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Hannahhhhh
There is now a Kindle version!
Amazon have very sweetly made a Kindle version for us to sink our teeth into, which is great news. I'll download it soon, but I know the book well enough to give it 5 stars.
Published 13 months ago by Laurence
The Bad Beginning - He Wasn't Kidding!
I've read countless numbers of cheery and happy children books. Occasionally they include a small tragedy in the story, such as the child having to deal with losing it's dog. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Charly
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