Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunate for the characters and the unsuspecting reader
Review: Nickelodeon, the movie company behind Rugrats and Jimmy Neutron, have announced their intention to make movies from the popular book series Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. ("Lemony Snicket" is actually the pen name for Daniel Handler, who's adapting the books for the screen.)Nickelodeon's VP says the books are about "fanciful stories and kids in an empowered situation." Did he say empowered or impoverished? Having read the series' first entry--Book the First: The Bad Beginning ...--I feel like the screamer in Munch's painting, wishing to loudly warn the general public against inflicting such a book upon your kids. In smugly dark-humored style, the book tells of the Baudelaire trio of children: resourceful Violet, bookworm Klaus, and baby Sunny, who demonstrates her feelings by the depth of her toothy bite. One day while the children are enjoying themselves at the beach, a vague acquaintance of theirs named Mr. Poe walks up and gravely informs them that a freak fire has burned down their house and killed their parents. And with this funhouse-mirror version of "Once upon a time," the three orphans' lives become a Candide-like series of tortures. They briefly live with Mr. Poe's family in his gloomy house before being shuffled off to the even gloomier Count Olaf, who is their only known relative. Count Olaf puts them to work all day long, strikes Klaus when the boy dares to defy him, hatches a plan to marry Violet and obtain the children's fortune, and locks Sunny in a cage dangling from the top of a high tower when Violet at first refuses to go along with the scheme. I'm sure to be labeled an old fogey for not enjoying the supposed humor of this premise, but I just don't get the joke. Much of children's literature has initially dim outlooks, of course--just think of Harry Potter's selfish uncle and aunt, or Matilda's brutish father--but eventually the children find enough resources and inner strength to overcome their obstacles and give their young readers some hope. By contrast, the Baudelaire children are subjected to one life-threatening crisis after another, and the reader is expected to snidely chuckle at their problems because, after all, it's only a novel. The only good thing about the book is that it repeatedly warns its readers that nothing happy will happen in this story. "Lemony Snicket's" disclaimer on the back covers states as much, and there are similar warnings throughout the book itself. (Talk about truth in advertising!) Once again, our old friend Irony is expected to distance us from these adventures enough to make us absorb them. But if no hope whatsoever is offered for these characters, why get engrossed in their story? This book seems proof enough that four million people can be wrong. I can imagine punkish collegiates embracing the novel, but I'd feel like a Judas if I recommend it as choice reading for children. As far as I can see, the book's only virtue is that it might make you treat your own children a little more kindly--starting with never showing them this book.
Rating:
Summary: What was he thinking?!
Review: When I read this book, along with my two boys, we kept reading in hopes of finding something to catch our attention. This book was boring and morbidly sad. It is truly a bad story in every sense of the word. The author was indeed correct in the Introduction. I won't be reading any more of the series, it's not good reading. Perhaps there should be a warning attached to alert parents of the depressing qualities of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: You Should Read The Bad Beginning.
Review: I thought that the Bad Beginning was a really great book even though it was sad because it has a lot of voice and powerful words in the story. I was surprised when at the beginning the kids Violet, Klous, and Sunny find out the news about their house and what happened but that is what leads to everything else. I think it was unfair but at least Count Olaf didn't get their fortune and they go elsewhere. I think if you like the book you also might enjoy reading the other books that come after The Bad Beginning.
Rating:
Summary: The Bad Beginning
Review: This book is an outrageously funny book, if you like
books with devious plans and evil villains you will love
this book.Once you start reading, you will not want to put
it down.
Rating:
Summary: The Bad Beginning
Review: A Series of Unfortunate Events:The Bad Beginning was the best book I read in fourth grade. It is about the three "parentless" Bauldelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, who get stuck with their very old relative, Count Olaf. They think they will have a good time, but when they meet Count Olaf's theatre troupe, things take a 180 degree turn for the worst. I liked this book because it was suspenseful and you have to keep reading. I really hope you will read this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Bad Beginning
Review: The Bad Beginning was the best book I ever read that is part of a series of the Unfortunate Events. It is about three orphans named Violet, Klaus, and the youngest, Sunny. Their parents died in a fire, so they are left with a huge fortune (which they can't use until she is of age). They try to live with a horrible person with a horrible name, Count Olaf. He was their greedest of all person. Count Olaf was being nice so they knew he was up to something.
I chose this book because it was exciting, sad, and fun to read. You would think that in the end they would live happily ever after but every end he escape which made me want to read the next box.
Rating:
Summary: " THE BEST SERIES IN THE WORLD"
Review: I have been a major fan of the books since the first one came out in 1999 i was looking on the shelf that said new for kids and it said THE BAD BEGINNING. I couldn't refuse to buy it cause you don't find books with a title like that very often and after that i was obsessed with THE SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. I can't wait till the #9 one comes out THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL coming to book stores October 28,2002. I herd of a rumor that they may come out with a THE BAD BEGINNING MOVIE!!!!! but rumors aren't always true
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely terrible, never seen a truer title
Review: The book is terrible. It is boring and predictable, and seems like something someone with no writing skills would write for a middle school project. I read it in thirty minutes, and was thoroughly disappointed. I cannot believe that anyone would ever compare these books to the Harry Potter series. Defining words in every other sentence is annoying and does not help a young readers context reading skills.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bad Beginning
Review: The Bad Beginning takes place at the Baulblaire mansion. When the three youngsters, Violet, Kalus,
and Sunny are in fo a big surprise. Their house had caught on fire and their parents had been killed, so
the three children lived with Mr. Poe for sevral weeks. After living with Mr. Poe they went to go live with
their distant relative, Count Olaf. Count Olaf was a creul, creul man. The three children must share one
bed and he has an awful tatoo on his ankle. The only reason Count Olaf takes responsibility for the
children is to steal the Baulblaire fortune which can not be used or spent until Violet came of age. In order tosteal the fortune, Count Olaf has his theater troupe make a pplay called The Marvelous Wedding. Count Olaf has Violet play the part of the bride so as soon as she sighns the wedding forms he would take controll of the Baulblaire fortune, because as soon as you get married the man has all controll of the brides money, to find out what happens read The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbing and possibly dangerous book
Review: I agree completely with the review of A Reader from Los Altos -- I read this book and was deeply troubled at the message it sends kids. Specifically, it tells them that their parents and other adults are entitled to do "whatever they want" to kids, including life-threatening physical abuse and sexual abuse, and that no one can or will intervene. Even a judge is shown as powerless to intervene and help the kids. If a child is being abused, especially sexually abused, it is very difficult for the child to confide that to an adult and get help. Why in the world, then, would a children's book author give kids the message that if they do confide in an adult, they will not be helped -- and will, in fact, be told that the abusing adult has the right to do so? For the first time in my life, I am thinking about physically destroying a book, so that my copy at least will not be read by any children.
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