'If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book.' Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are most unfortunate children. Orphaned after the sudden death of their parents in a house fire, they are left in the hands of their guardian, Count Olaf, who has diabolical plans for them . . . 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' has sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, has been translated into 41 languages and was adapted into a 2004 film starring Jim Carrey. 'Wicked good fun' - ...
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'If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book.' Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are most unfortunate children. Orphaned after the sudden death of their parents in a house fire, they are left in the hands of their guardian, Count Olaf, who has diabolical plans for them . . . 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' has sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, has been translated into 41 languages and was adapted into a 2004 film starring Jim Carrey. 'Wicked good fun' - Kirkus Reviews
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A delightful beginning to the book series, not due to plot of characterization, but to the author's style, something that is lacking in so much juvenile fiction.
The tongue-in-cheekiness throughout just tickled me. Even the cover and page design is enough out of the ordinary to clue you in that this book is something special.
Be sure to read every word: fronispiece, back cover, every bit of the book, for they all add to the quirky--which in this case, probably means odd or peculiar--charm.
If you want your children to love reading, I would recommend this series above Harry Potter.
Mumsie
Feb 19, 2009
Liked it!
Daughter read this book for college freshman seminar class (along with another book written by same author, Daniel Handler). This one she actually enjoyed.
P.S. Be cautious of books written under the author's real name!
missmona
Apr 3, 2007
A Good Beginning
In this first book about the three Baudelaire siblings, the reader is drawn into their young lives through experiencing the tragedy of their loss and the subsequent consequences, --- a phrase which here means "all the bad things that happened to them after that" --- brought to them by a well meaning banker who was put in charge of their affairs, --- a word which here means "a vast fortune" ---. Enter; the VILLAIN, --- a word which here means "very nasty man" --- in the form of Count Olaf, who will do whatever it takes to get his hands on the vast Baudelaire fortune. The writing style of Lemony Snicket is what holds the reader's attention, especially when he continues to tell us to stop reading this book, and read something else. His droll wit and humor in the telling of the tragedy of the Baudelaires, hooks the reader from page one, --- a phrase which here means "you want to read all of the books before you go to bed" ---. He puts his own spin on the meaning of words that are used throughout the book, as well as explaining the 'special' words that are used by the youngest Baudelaire, Sunny, who is an infant...with extraordinarily strong teeth. The oldest Baudelaire, Violet, who is 14 years old, has a talent for inventing things. Klaus, who is 12 years old, is an avid reader and loves to do research. The three children use their special talents to escape from one situation --- a word which here means "all the nasty things that Count Olaf does" --- after another. This book is not for the 'faint of heart', but is well worth reading...if you enjoy reading about "A Series of Unfortunate Events" that happen to someone else...if only to take your mind off of your own.
