Rating: 
Summary: A bad review
Review: Were it possible for me to portray the adventures of the Baudelaire children in a more positive light, I would attempt to avoid telling you how they become unlucky in their travels. Indeed, the Baudelaire children start out with an unfortunate event, and some would say, the most unfortunate of all. Mr. Poe comes to find the Baudelaire children-the inventing 13 year old Violet, the infant Sunny who likes to bite anything and everything, and young bookworm Klaus-playing on the beach where Mr. Poe informs them of a fire and the passing of their beloved parents.
From there, the children are taken to live with Poe's family. Though given itchy clothes and share the house with Poe's two sons, they are soon removed to live with Count Olaf, a relative. The count treats the children poorly, and is quick to devise a scheme by which he can get his oily fingers on the money they've inherited from their parents. I want to tell you the ending of their tale was a happy one, but even if true, I cannot tell you.
These books are a delightful read. They don't take much time to read and are fairly rivetting. They are not the cheeriest books you can by, but quite humorous. Purportedly written for children, they are a delight at any age, though not necessarily appropriate for youngsters.
Rating: 
Summary: We're the fortunate ones...
Review: ...to be able to read these delightful books! Though I was a bit apprehensive at first, reading the Unfortunate Events series has proved to be a truly entertaining adventure. The books are extremely clever, witty and fun, despite their somewhat unhappy subject matter. They succeed in being cute without crossing over to sappiness. I don't find the stories depressing, and though you do pity the Baudelaires, it's fun to side with them and find out what mess they'll next be presented with. I also think they make you examine and feel better about your own life, because no matter how awful your life may seem at times, it cannot be as bad as the life of a Baudelaire sibling!
Rating:
Summary: How could things get worse after this bad beginning?
Review: It is no doubt a great wrong to take such pleasure in reading about the misery of the three Beaudelaire orphans in "The Bad Beginning," the first book in A Series of Unfortunate Events, but that seems a natural reaction to this tale by Lemony Snicket. Violet is fourteen with a real knack for inventing and building strange devices; Klaus is twelve and very well read; and Sunny is a mere infant who likes to bite and to exclaim single words with great depths of meaning. But none of that seems to matter when their house burns down along with their parents while they are enjoying a day at the beach. The law dictates that the three children be raised by their relative, which turns out to the odious--the word "odious" here means "deservedly hateful"--Count Olaf who supplies them with a single bed and cold porridge for breakfast. While the Baudelaire siblings dream of a better life, Olaf saddles them with a multitude of chores and plots to steal their family fortune. From a bad beginning, things just continue to get worse for Violet, Klaus, and Sunny.Young readers of A Series of Unfortunate Events can prosper--the word "prosper" here means "benefit"--from paying attention to the details of the story. There are slight glimmers of hope in the story, although they never last long, and you can anticipate their brief appearances in the narrative if you read carefully. They will also expand their vocabulary because in telling the depressing story of the Baudelaire orphans author Lemony Snicket tends to use unfamiliar words; granted, he explains what they means, just as he translates Sunny's inarticulate outbursts. Young readers might be depressed and despondent-the word "despondent" means "depressed"-when they have finished reading "The Bad Beginning," but they will have learned some new words to help express their despondency. The only complaint that one (or more) can have about "The Bad Beginning" is that it is relatively short. But then, to be fair, there is only so much about disaster lurking around every corner that a young reader can bear. True, the story comes with a strong warning that it lacks a happy ending, beginning or middle, but there is something to be said for discovering that somebody else's lot in live is worse than your own. A gentleman by the name of Brett Haelquist has been hired to provide illustrations that provide a sense of the despair without actually showing you the evil face of Count Olaf or the man with the hook. There is a handsome cover picture and the book is hardbound, as befits a tragedy of this sort. Against all common sense I have a flicker of hope in my chest for the poor Baudelaire orphans as I procede to the second book, "The Reptile Room," but I fear the worst.
Rating:
Summary: A winning series of "unfortunate" stories
Review: After setting the bar high with Harry Potter, we were having a hard time getting our children to focus on other stories. This one (and the 2 we've covered since then) was a WINNER. The writing is captivating (even for adults); the stories in this and the subsequent books are imaginative and well-told; the characters are developed well; and Lemony Snicket does a great job of blending suspense, humor and misfortune. Importantly, the chapters take about 15 minutes to read aloud - perfect for bedtime.
Rating:
Summary: A quick but satisfying read....
Review: This was a fun book to read. At a short 160 pages, I was able to read it in one quick setting and look forward to reading the others in the series. My son, age 7, received this series as a Christmas present. He finished the first book, which he read quickly, and started to tell me some of the plot line. Well, my wife and I decided that I better read this book to make sure it was okay for a seven year old. Nothing good happens to these poor children throughout the entire book, but, the events happen in such curious ways, and the writer places much wit into the scenarios that I felt it was fine for him to continue the series. I will say that I believe that it is important for a parent to sit down with their child before allowing them to read this book and explain that it is all in fun. I did this with my son and then he felt better about it. I think that the big problem now will be who gets the next book first!
Rating:
Summary: I love this series but...
Review: I was on a cultural exchange trip to China with a bunch of teenagers and twenty somethings. I bought three of these books in case "The Lord of the Rings" couldn't hold my attention on the long plane rides. (Which it could, thankfully) But something magical happened with the SUE books. Every night before bedtime, I had a handful of young adults gather around as I read aloud 2 chapters a night. How unfortunate that I ran out of books before I ran out of trip. It became such an important winding down time for us, I promised my biggest fans that I'd make an audio tape of the next book for them and send it to them when I got home for those tough to sleep nights. I think Snicket keeps the characters somewhat flat so that you don't feel as devastated about their great losses. And yet, I really wouldn't read these to children because they'd be too dark. But in our situation it was wonderful. Next trip, I'm taking SUE along for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Droll, tongue-in-cheek, awful, but funny
Review: I knew I had to buy these books for my children because the author warns us just how awful, depressing and miserable the lives of the Baudelaires are. And he's right. Poor kiddos; dreadful things happen to them but they have each other. The writing style is a rather dry, but humorous. The villan is over the top- filthy, shiny, with icky tatoos, nefarious plots, and worse friends. Violet and Klaus each have admirable characteristics; Violet is an inventor, Klaus is an avid reader. Sunny didn't seem so sweet initially because she is a biter, but she isn't a random, vindictive biter. The children (or orphans!) may seem to be lacking depth, but Lemony Snicket just doesn't go deeply into detail on their emotional lives. Yes, they miss their parents, they cry, but he doesn't dwell on it. I saw through the evil plan of Count Olaf right away, as well as the general idea the books will follow, but I'm not 8. Younger children will be held in suspense a bit longer than most adults. :-P My 8 year old daughter doesn't like these books yet. She doesn't have a droll sense of humor that is necessary to appreciate them, and she has a huge fear of Bad Things Happening to Babies; a Bad Thing happens to Sunny, at which point my daughter slammed the book shut and declared it dreadful. I might have her skip the first book and go to the second............. oh, but she might not like having snakes portrayed as Bad Guys. I would certainly recommend these books over the Goody Two Shoes "Boxcar Children". These have depth, humor, include new vocabulary words, and fantastical situations.
Rating:
Summary: Series of Unfortunate Events: A Bad Beginning
Review: I think this book is great!It is about 3 orphans: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. They have unusually bad luck. In this book alone the orphan's parents die, they have to live with a creepy guy, and they have to where itchy clothes.The creepy guy tries to get their money. He gives them hard chores. In attempt to get their money he hangs a baby,Sunny,out a window. He ends up getting away.The I like it because it is suspensful. I would recommend this book to all readers.
Rating:
Summary: A Sieries of Unfortunate Events, The bad beginning
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. The main chacters are: Violet,Klause,Sunny,Mr.Poe,and Count Olaf. He book is about 3 children whose parents perished in a fire. They don't Know what will happen to the children. They stayed with one of their parents friends. But the children don'tlike it there. They end up With Count Olaf, a relitive. All 3 of the children hate it there even more. Count Olaf is not a very nice man. I think a reader of any age would enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Bad Begining
Review: Iliked this book because it was interresting. It has fun charecters. And some cool scenes. It is one of those books that you just don't want to put down. You just want to keep reading,reading,and reading. I thought the end was the best. Because You were just like what is going to happen next????
Like is Sunny going to live or die? or who knows what will happen? I would like to recomend this book to every one. It is a 5 Star book!!!!
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