Rating: 
Summary: Going from bad to worse couldn't be better!
Review: Think your life is bad? Forget about it--the lives of the Baudelaire children are worse! After devouring the first five books in a flash--the word "devouring" here does not mean that we hastily gobbled them up, but rather that we were compelled to read them rapidly in succession--we immediately e-bought Book 6, "The Ersatz Elevator" and Book 7, "The Vile Village." Lemony Snicket's unrelenting(ly funny) account of the misfortunes that befall the Baudelaires is never watered down by saccharine solutions, trust us. Kids 8 and up will find every book in the series hilariously morose and intriguing, including the author's different photos, bios and letters at the end of each book. Parents and teachers will appreciate the unique and humorous way in which Mr. Snicket introduces new vocabulary to young readers. For reasons that remain unclear to us even now, we may never know Lemony Snicket as well as we know JK Rowling, but hopefully his series will contine to get even better, or should I say, worse?
Rating: 
Summary: Filled with intelligence and delight!
Review: When I started this book, I thought it would turn out boring. But after a few pages, I'd kind of like to know what happened to the three orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. I mean by who they went to live with and that everything might turn out okay. But from how Lemony Snicket explains Count Olaf, you'd really start hating him in the next couple of seconds. I would suggest this book to anyone who doesn't care what kind of book they read, and I'll tell you, if you read it, you'll love it!
Rating:
Summary: This Book Was A Gas...
Review: In this context "gas" meaning a great time. While Iwas searching, one of the thngs they said they were excited about coming out was the seventh book in the "Unfortunate Events" series.After just finishing the first I can see why. I desperately want to start the second, to see what unlucky fate next befalls the three Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Three very unlucky children whose parents die tragically and are forced to live with a distant relative named Count Olaf. Imagine Harry Potter never getting the chance to escape from the Dursley's and you'll get the general idea. The author relates their tale of woe with hilarity, including a technique of providing definitions for words that the reader might not be familiar with. Destined to become cult classics and handsomely designed and illustrated in their little hardback form, they're books you're kids/niece/nephew/little sibling will want all of. And you'll be sneaking them away to see what all the fuss is about.
Rating:
Summary: Very terrible--but in this case that is very good.
Review: I read this book in two days. After I read it my brother read and so did my mom. I am ready to order two more more, and two more after that! I like the book, like I liked Harry Potter! I ask Lemony Snicket to write more, and more! I think that Count Olaf came up with a very clever idea to marry Violet.
Rating:
Summary: Dreadful, a word here meaning "Laughed myself silly."
Review: I have read the entire series (and will go on doing so until Snickett puts the Baudelaires out of their misery), and can only be surprised at the people who seem incapable of seeing these hilarious and blatant parodies for what they are. These books read in a doleful, deadpan, Poe-like tone, while discussing terrible events...events that become so terrible that they cross the line to silliness. You have an old-style melodrama villian in Count Olaf. In the three heroes, you have the distilled goodness, courage, resource and sweetness of every hero of every melodramatic childrens book ever written. In Mr. Poe you have the quintessential essence of those eternal, frustrating characters who always refuse to believe children because they ARE children. Every character and situation in the book is a stereotype, overblown and caricatured to the point where you are forced to giggle at it. Sunny's 'conversation', the author's autobiographical notes, and the sometimes hilarious definitions of words add to the spice. For good measure, the three children are honestly likeable! Very well written, both stylistically, and for 'grab' value. A series to be read and reread and snickered over many times! But NOT, for heaven's sake, to be taken seriously. Puttanesca sauce, anyone?
Rating: 
Summary: Decent introduction to a series that gets much better
Review: Lemony Snicket's childrens' books collectively entitled _A Series of Unfortunate Events_ have received a certain amount of notice. I decided to give them a try. The schtick is that the books all involve unpleasant things happening to our heroes, a virtuous and intelligent trio of siblings, and that the endings are all unhappy. So it is with the first book, _The Bad Beginning_. I admit to not being overwhelmed by the first book: I think it's the weakest of the series. But it's still worth reading, and note that the succeeding books get quite a lot better. I should add that my 11 year old daughter, after some hesitation ("Why would I want to read books about terrible things happening to kids?") tried them, and has become quite addicted. The book opens with the three children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, alone at the beach when they learn that their house has been burned down and their parents have died. Things get worse as they are shuffled from the unpleasant home of their parents' executor, a banker named Poe, to the even more unpleasant home of their new guardian, a distant relative named Count Olaf. The Count covets the considerable fortune which is held in trust for the children. Eventually he concocts a diabolical scheme to gain control of the money, but at the last moment he is foiled (in a very unlikely fashion). This sounds like a happy ending, but Snicket pastes on a bit of a downer at the end to keep to his promise. This book is interesting and a decent read, but in the end it was mostly gimmick. The writing was funny in spots, but not quite funny enough, and a bit precious. And the plotting wasn't really sufficiently inspired. Moreover, I was not able to forget the implausibility of the whole setup -- which I think more inspiration in the writing and plotting might have managed. Happily, the writing, at least, is better, funnier, archer, in the other books: or perhaps one simply becomes attuned to the voice. One of the great ongoing delights is the hints of his "personal life", apparently at least as unhappy as that of the Baudelaire children, that the author insinuates into the books. If _The Bad Beginning_ is not a complete success, it is an introduction to a so far quite satisfying series of stories.
Rating:
Summary: Smashing good fun
Review: The "Series" is a charming addition to the world of childrens books. Not only do these books give children the chance to learn new words in a fun way, they are also classic examples of storytelling. Kids will love to hate Uncle Olaf and enjoy the antics of three smart, respectful children. Particuarly, I enjoy the fact that Violet is a 14 year old girl who is interested in engineering, while Klaus loves to read. The reversal of typical "girls love books" "boys love science" roles is valuable for kids to see. Finally, I know that I've read them and come to parts where I have burst out laughing. The clever humor adds so much to the series
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I first heard about this book in a magizine ad. I had not read a good book sinse Harry Potter so I tried it out. As soon as I started it beat Harry Potter by a million years and a third. I love this book!!
Rating:
Summary: Ostenstatiously Onerous
Review: Who wouldn't be intrigued by a series of books by an author named Lemony Snicket? Since getting the first installment in my clutches, I have been engrossed by the dreadful predicaments of the Baudelaire orphans. Are the events depicted therein probable or morally fortifying? No, but that's the allure of the books for me--I feel badly for people who are too uptight to get down in the muck and relish the marvelous mayhem " a series of unfortunate events" can bring. I implore you to read these books, suspend reality for a while and bone up on that vocabulary. With all due respect...
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: I loved the Harry Potter books, and I thought this would be similar. In some ways it is. It's imaginative and clever, but too dark -- almost morbid. If you're looking for something good for kids, try Terry Brooks.
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