Rating: 
Summary: Happily Ever After? [NOT!]
Review: Not written for the overly indulged and exceedingly sheltered suburban soccer brat, this manuscript appears to be written more for the youngster with a dubious attitude toward "happily ever after." I'm still trying to decide quite WHAT I think -- I acknowledge being appalled when insidious Count Olaf slapped Klaus, bound Sunny and attempted to marry 14 year old Violet. But it might give credibility to the child who understands powerlessness? Probably the intended audience has some experience along those lines? I thoroughly enjoyed the interweaving of vocabulary and definitions, Violet's "inventing" tendencies, Klaus's fascination with books, and the rather smarmy narrator conveys MUCH with his voices. This should appeal to an adolescent who might not buy the goody-two-shoes books directed at that generation. My friend who recommended this series says that the books become more clever language wise, and that the author "starts making his views known on things he finds absurd - for instance, people who follow trends, the "in" crowd, etc." So, I think I'll stick with Lemony for a bit.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as "frightining!" as everyone says
Review: Although this book may be "depressing" under some people's standerds, I find it more realistic, and a very good book. I think good books do not have to end with "and she kissed the prince, and they lived happily ever after" blah, blah, blah. Lemony Snicket is just smarter then your average children's writer. I have looked everywhere for a good children's book, and Lemony Snicket's series I like. However if you disliked the first one (how dare you!), you will probably hate the rest, they just get more complicated and sinister, which to me, is all the fun. So for all those people who say they don't like it because it's too dark for kids, I think they're wrong! Although, I still wouldn't recomend it to 4 year olds. But I'm 10, and I can "handle" the Lemony Snicket books. So go out and at least try the first one, you might like it (as did all my friends and I).
Rating:
Summary: Good, but Contains Some Very Unpleasant Situations
Review: This book is the first in a series that appears to be continuing, as "The Carnivorous Carnival," the ninth book in the series, has recently been released. I had thought at first that the eight original books formed a limited series with the eighth being the last. Apparently the torment of the Baudelaire orphans gets to continue for some length of time in the future.We meet the three Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and baby Sunny, on a beach, on a somewhat hazy or even foggy day. Through the fog comes Mr. Poe, a banker who takes care of their parent's financial affairs. We discover that the gloomy day is a harbinger of Mr. Poe's even gloomier message; their parents have perished in a fire. The story becomes even gloomier as a new home for the children means moving in with their distant cousin Count Olaf. It turns out that Count Olaf seems to regard murder and possibly pedophilia as acceptable pursuits. Count Olaf seems to find it acceptable to hang baby Sunny in a cage from a tower, and later to tell the children that all but Violet will be disposed of after he gets his hands on the fortune their parents have left to them. Furthermore, Count Olaf and at least one other character do things that are strongly sexual in nature with respect to Violet. In spite of the relatively gloomy story, there is a somewhat happy ending, though that ending segues into the setup for the next book. The question is whether this book, and the series of books, is suitable for young children. My thought is that the child reading the book should likely be at least 8 years old, and perhaps 9. Each parent needs to decide whether their child is sufficiently mature to handle the subject matter in this book, and the subsequent books. While the nearly overt sexual situations may make some parents uncomfortable, not to mention the references to torture and abuse of children, as well as death threats, given that these situations actually occur in the real world, could these books be an opportunity to explain things that can happen and do happen to people in the real world. By recognizing characteristics of these situations, children can better be prepared to avoid such situations and even be prepared to tell someone about what they know is wrong. One strong point of these books is that they have a strong educational message. Throughout the books words are defined as they are used in conversation, making these books good transition books for children in the 9 to 12 age range. We all want to protect our children as long as possible, and somehow hope they will remain innocent forever. However, we all must grow up, and often as we grow up we must face unpleasant images. This book presents some of those unpleasant images in a way that allows parents to address real-life concerns. I recommend this book, but be very sure you know your child and what is in this book before you allow your child to read it. Four stars for an interesting approach to a story in this age range.
Rating:
Summary: My view on the book of Bad Beginnings
Review: Like many intelligent authors do, Snicket instigates a conflict in the story line of The Bad Beginning in its initial chapters. Although, this does not mean that Snicket is just like many intelligent authors because, unlike most authors, he chooses to conclude the book in such a way that no solution to the conflict, or shall I say conflicts come about. In fact, all that the story really even contains is conflicts, and troubles, and "unfortunate events" for the main characters, the Baudelaire children.
It is terrible enough that Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire must try to cope with the bereavement of their loving parents. The charming Baudelaire children did not deserve any of the dreadful misfortunes that were to follow the first ill-fated event, a horrible fire that caused the death of their parents and destroyed the beautiful mansion that they called home. But to follow that event with another crisis, and another dilemma, and another difficulty, all equally horrible, makes for a very unfortunate life for the Baudelaire children. After the death of their parents, the children are forced to live with a distant relative, who, to say the least, is not a fan of children.
Count Olaf, their only relative who lives close by, treats the amiable children extremely poorly and forces them to do demanding chores all day long. Though Violet is just fourteen, Klaus is just twelve, and Sunny is only an infant, Count Olaf makes them chop wood, repair windows, and even prepare a large supper for fourteen people while he is away at work. After being treated so badly, Violet and Klaus begin to realize that Count Olaf is more than just a terrible man; he is trying to steel the inheritance that Violet received from her parents, one that is not available to her until she is grown-up. The two older children, who are very intelligent for their age, must then find a way to stop the plan that the malevolent and sneaky Count has devised in order to get the money, and they must come up with a plan to save their young sister, who has been kidnapped, put into a cage, and hung from the top of a tall tower. Finally, just when things seem to be going the way the Baudelaire children would like, and just when the story seems to be ending on a happy note, more unfortunate events creep in.
The Bad Beginning is an unforgettable book. Because of its nature, its unhappy beginning, middle, and ending, it stands out as one of a kind. Though it may seem that a book containing only terrible incidences would be one worth overlooking, Snicket disproves such a theory. The Bad Beginning is entertaining and comical, and can reach children at many levels.
To begin with, Snicket grasps the spirit of children by turning the narrator into a very likable storyteller, one who could actually be sitting with the readers on a rug, sharing his story and his thoughts. At different parts of the story the narrator stops to explain what a word means or pauses to warn the readers that the events that follow are not any happier than those which have already been told. This is one way that Snicket makes the readers feel that they are there where the story is taking place.
Snicket also clutches the emotional side of children. Though the events that take place in the lives of the Baudelaire children are more horrible and outlandish than most children face, Snicket finds a way to share their emotions with the readers. The beginning of chapter two illustrates this very well. The narrator says, "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..." When children can relate emotionally to characters in a story, the story becomes powerful and moving. Children can learn and grow just by relating real life experiences to those in a book. It seems that Snicket is aware of this fact.
Finally, a book that only contains unfortunate events could teach children a great deal about life. How often do children think that their own lives are so much worse than their friends or relatives? As soon as they get to know Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire it is likely that they will realize their lives are not so bad after all. For once, children that are unappreciative might even become grateful for the fortunate lives that they have.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible
Review: I would not recommend giving this book to a child. The message it sends is one of hopelessness. Its plot centers around the abuse and blackmail of newly-orphaned children, and it smacks of pedophilia. (The villian blackmails a fourteen year-old girl into marrying him by dangling her baby sister from a tower, then speaks of his bride going home with him for their "wedding night".) Don't waste your money. There are many wonderfully written children's books out there that are in much better taste.
Rating:
Summary: Read This Book If You Like Bad Endings
Review: Would you want to live with a robber? Well read The Bad Beginning and find out what it would be like. Is the play going to be a good one? I like this book a lot. But if you don't like bad endings maybe you won't want to read The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickit. I liked this book because I like bad endings. Will the kids get to live with Justass Stress? Rea d The Bad Beginning and find out.
Rating:
Summary: What is the big deal?
Review: What is the big deal? This is the most stupid story line I have ever read. I personally believe that all real life is boring, but if fantasy isn't your cup of tea (for me it's a big gulp) then read something more real lifish at least. You have to be pretty low if you are reuced to reading a story about the awful tortured lives of children. I am writing this review to tell people that even though these books are so poplar not to read them. Also heed the warning on the back cover which literally says if you like a book with any happiness in it at all then don't read this.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat disappointing
Review: When I first heard of this series, I was mildly intrigued. Then I heard the series being likened to Roald Dahl's books, and, having worn my childhood copy of *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* to bits, I had to check them out. Mr. Snicket is no Roald Dahl. Sure, both writers understand that a lot of kids like to read about pretty gruesome stuff. But, where Dahl's stories are inventive and charming, *The Bad Beginning* is pretty simplistic and derivative. Things seemed to resolve themselves a bit too quickly. It's not a bad book, just not worthy of its hype. If I happened to find the next book in the series lying in the street, I'd probably read it, but otherwise, probably not.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, I can't understand what all the hype is about!
Review: First of all, I want to state that I am very passionate when it comes to 'good' children's books. The HARRY POTTER books are some of my favorite books of all time (my top twenty list). The Newbery Awards were all given to deserving books that I have adored. For a while everywhere I went, the Lemony Snickett books were being lauded as fabulous children's literature. After seeing a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, I went out and bought the whole 'shebang' (is that even a word?) at my school's book fair (I'm the counselor)! I was terribly disappointed with the first book. Yes, it is easy reading, and yes, it does introduce new words (even though my parents always said, "Go look it up, you'll remember it!"). But the content of the story is so depressing and so unhappy that I was miserable the entire time I was reading! Character development was so poor that I wasn't even sad when horrible things happened to these children. Normally I cry when a baby is kidnapped, bound with duct tape (even over her mouth) and put in a birdcage to hang from the top of a tower! Well, I didn't bat an eye (and I become a sprinkler when reading a Patricia Polacco book).
There are eight books left in my crowded library to read; I'll keep you posted if they get any better!
Rating: 
Summary: Depressing Tale of Woe Makes for Intriguing Read
Review: If I were to describe "The Bad Beginning," in one word it would be- depressing. Yet what more can one expect from the first book in "A Series of Unfortunate Events." The story begins with the Baudelaire children playing on the beach on a seemingly nice day. The mood of the day changes quickly as the children receive news that their parents have been killed in a fire that destroyed their entire home. The children are then sent to live with the man who is in charge of their estate. Their luck goes from bad to worse when they are sent to live with Count Olaf, a distant relative the children have never heard of.
The Baudelaire orphans are resourceful children, each with special talents and gifts. Violet is the oldest child and has a knack for inventing and building odd devices. One can tell when Violet is developing a new invention in her head by her pulled back hair and furrowed brow. Klaus is the middle child and incredibly intelligent. He loves to read and would spend hours in his families' library learning about everything from Julius Caesar to the organisms found at Briny Beach. Sunny is the youngest Baudelaire child and simply put she likes to bite things. One of the most enjoyable parts of Sunny's personality is the way in which she speaks to her brother and sister. They understand each other in a way that is both sweet and memorable. The author does a wonderful job of developing the character of each of these children. To the point that the reader is able to identify with the pain each must feel as the events of the story unfold.
The children's relationship with their guardian, Count Olaf, is a poor one due to his evil nature. Count Olaf is only interested in taking hold of the children's fortune and does not care for their welfare. The treatment these children receive by Count Olaf is contrasted nicely by the joy they light up with upon even the mention of Justice Strauss. She is a kindly neighbor whose assistance brightens the otherwise dark days the children experience. Also, while the author hints at a happy ending just a few pages before the end, there is no such hope. This book is as dark and grim as its title suggests.
Many middle school children, along with everyone else in America, are enthralled in the Harry Potter series. The books have been compared by many readers because of the dark mood they share but "The Bad Beginning" lacks the morals found in the Harry Potter books. Lemony Snickett makes no attempt to fashion characters that are overtly honorable or intentional role models. Instead he seems to focus on fashioning a story that is far beyond any experience the average middle school child might face. The depressing nature of the book makes it unlike the books many teachers would recommend for the students. It is also unlike the books that many parents will remember reading when they were in middle school.
The highlight of this book in my opinion is that it does offer an alternative to the fairy tales normally written for middle school children. Life is not full of happy endings and prince charmings and this book makes that extremely clear. "The Bad Beginning," is a refreshing alternative to the typical young adult novel focused on pre-teen girls and their issues with boys and their parents. While the above elements make for an enjoyable story this book lacks the high morals and realistic experiences that I look for in books my children will be reading. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a light, intriguing read. I would not however recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story containing strong characters of high morals that their children can identify with.
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