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  • I really enjoyed reading this entire series, and since I put them all up at the same time, they'll all get the same comment.

    It was great to read and watch as the lives of the three siblings went on. It was amazing that they were always driven away from a good life, but still survived out in ... Continue

    I really enjoyed reading this entire series, and since I put them all up at the same time, they'll all get the same comment.

    It was great to read and watch as the lives of the three siblings went on. It was amazing that they were always driven away from a good life, but still survived out in the end.

    One thing I'm disappointed in is that I never got to find out what was in the sugar bowl.

    The Thirteen books of this series left several things open-ended, which is by no means bad. It just makes me madly curious.

    I am satisfied with how the ending went, but I won't say anymore about it. You need to read it for yourself. =)

    My top three books of the series:
    The Reptile Room
    The Penultimate Peril
    The End

    

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• ― Fiction Rover said on Jul 8, 2008 about the Hardcover edition| Add your feedback

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  • I really enjoyed reading this entire series, and since I put them all up at the same time, they'll all get the same comment.

    It was great to read and watch as the lives of the three siblings went on. It was amazing that they were always driven away from a good life, but still survived out in ... Continue

    I really enjoyed reading this entire series, and since I put them all up at the same time, they'll all get the same comment.

    It was great to read and watch as the lives of the three siblings went on. It was amazing that they were always driven away from a good life, but still survived out in the end.

    One thing I'm disappointed in is that I never got to find out what was in the sugar bowl.

    The Thirteen books of this series left several things open-ended, which is by no means bad. It just makes me madly curious.

    I am satisfied with how the ending went, but I won't say anymore about it. You need to read it for yourself. =)

    My top three books of the series:
    The Reptile Room
    The Penultimate Peril
    The End

    

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• ― Fiction Rover said on Jul 8, 2008 about the Hardcover edition| Add your feedback

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  • Written with such lucidity. I can see and feel every description. I can taste cold cucumber soup! I find it humorous how we are taught new words at various times through out. His work is Off-color, but genius!

    

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• ― Saphire said on May 9, 2008 about the Hardcover edition| Add your feedback

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  • Through a weird set of circumstances, I came to read The Reptile Room with a group of students. This, as many know, is the second book in the A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. This is a series I have wanted to read, but frankly, with such a lengthy list of unread books, I have not ta ... Continue

    Through a weird set of circumstances, I came to read The Reptile Room with a group of students. This, as many know, is the second book in the A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. This is a series I have wanted to read, but frankly, with such a lengthy list of unread books, I have not tackled. As I read The Reptile Room, my OCD kicked in. I just had to read the first book in the series.

    For the past week I had been wanting to stop off at the used bookstore in town to pick up a copy. It didn’t happen. But yesterday Beetle remained home with her mother, which freed my trip home from work. I stopped in and found two copies of the first book (The Bad Beginning): one hardcover and one paperback, both priced the same. :( I selected the hardcover.

    Upon opening the book, the nameplate was signed with a familiar name; the boy who lives across the street had owned this book. I took this as a good omen. :)

    The Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny) do indeed have a series of unfortunate events. First their parents die in a house fire. Then they are shepherded off to Count Olaf, their closest (in distance) relative. The Count, a drunkard, actor, and otherwise miserable brute devises a plan to take control of the vast Baudelaire fortune.

    Ah yes, dear reader, upon Violet turning of age (she is 14 now) she will inherit a great fortune. Until then, Violet and her siblings are bounced about among the seedy.

    While the fortunate remains safe for the time being, there is no happy ending, as Lemony Snicket is fond of highlighting. Life is miserable for the Baudelaires.

    Lemony Snicket’s writing is a breath of fresh air. The author frequently takes time out to explain terms and events to the reader. These read much like movies/television shows where the actors break out of character and address the camera. What great fun! The Bad Beginning is classic English humor that, much in the spirit of the late Roald Dahl, captures the reader immediately.

    Follett states the reading level of this book sixth grade (ages 11-12). Much like Rowling’s Harry Potter series, A Series of Unfortunate Events has captured young readers. Many of my fourth graders are reading the series and an even larger group of fifth graders are too. Interesting, well-written prose will always find an audience and this book is just that.

    It looks like I will be visiting the bookstore again real soon . . .

    

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• ― Batona said on Jun 4, 2007 about the Hardcover edition| Add your feedback

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  • I found this book very depressing, it sometimes surprises me at how popular the series is. I can't say that I will be rushing out to read the next books in the series.

    

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• ― SheReads said on Mar 5, 2007 about the Hardcover edition| Add your feedback

Dear Reader,

"Rare" is a word which can mean either "not burnt to a crisp, and likely to make you ill" or "slightly harder to find." I'm sad to say that this rare edition of the bad beginning fits both of these definitions. In this alleged box, you will find the following:

1. A woeful story entitled the bad beginning, featuring a disturbing new cover.
2. An entire chapter of previously unpublished author's notes, which are arguably even more woeful than the tale itself.
3. An alarming portrait of the heroes and villains of this tale, ready to display in a souvenir frame. You may prefer to display your own, less disturbing, 4" x 6" image.

It is my sad duty to provide these miserable materials to the public, but you are free to look for something easier to find and less likely to upset your stomach.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

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