In the tradition of great storytellers from Dickens to Dahl comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is at once literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likable, resilient, and unfortunate children in search of a home been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are charming and clever children, but disaster dogs their heels. Tragically orphaned, they are forced to live with evil Count Olaf, maker of dastardly plans. Dauntless, ...
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In the tradition of great storytellers from Dickens to Dahl comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is at once literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likable, resilient, and unfortunate children in search of a home been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are charming and clever children, but disaster dogs their heels. Tragically orphaned, they are forced to live with evil Count Olaf, maker of dastardly plans. Dauntless, they use their individual gifts (for invention, research, and well-timed biting) to thwart him.
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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.
