Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Series
Review: I like buying series such as these for my kids as they are more eager to read the next book and to keep up the love of reading.I'd also recommend the new series by RT Byrum - the first being Mystery of Shrieking Island. You dont have to worry about witchcraft, evil or gore in any of his books.
Rating: 
Summary: You Don't Know What You're Talking About.
Review: I like this story. It's a little intense and it's very good. So, I don't know what some of you people are talking about. So get over with it. I like this story. It's amazing, excellent and incredible. So what can I say? I wish I had about 14 books of those. Even though there isn't 14. So, back off and I like this book.
-Jazzlynn
Rating:
Summary: Much more than 5 *s
Review: I've read all these books and then read them again, awaiting for the 10th book to be released Sept. 23rd. Many of my friends have read these books and agreeded with me, these are the best books i have ever read!! There are too many words to describe them to write down. Along with my friends, my parents have read and agreed too!!!! if you buy ever single one, you wont be sorry!! It is worth the money!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Bad Beginning
Review: I've read Books 1 and 3,and I love the series!!! I'm 22, but enjoy a bit of juvenile fiction after final exams:-) His writing style is addictive-simple but not dumbed down for kids-somewhat sophisticated. The stories are not over the top with magic or witch craft. These are real things that could happen, and have happened in many peoples lives. Even with all the unfortunate events, it's not depressing... There's suspense and excitement to get caught up in , too. You start to root for the main characters even though we know things won't ever be perfect for them. I like the time period and the artwork, as well. I am going to collect the series for my future children to read! C... The author reads the story which enhances the feel of the series!
Rating:
Summary: these books don't talk down to kids
Review: I've read on the few of the reviews that these books are not recommended for "very young" children. I'd agree that kids under the age of 5 or so might not be interested, but mine are 7 and 8 and LOVE these books. The 7 year old still needs quite a bit of help with the bigger words, but both kids love to have the books read to them and it's fun reading for a grownup.
Rating:
Summary: Hooked on these books...
Review: I've read several books in this series, and they seem to be addictive. The incredible perils of the Baudileare children, the incessantly evil imagination of Count Olaf (WHERE will he turn up next?!), and, of course, the hilarious place names (Lake Lachrymose! Curdled Cave!) combined with a very droll writing style make these a fun read over the course of an evening or two. The books themselves are very attractive, with deckle edged pages and a nice binding. The illustrations are just right. If you're having a bad day, just read a few chapters of this series of unfortunate events and your life will look much brighter!
Rating:
Summary: The story continues
Review: If this series was categorized into box sets by plot formula, for Snicket is a lover of parallelism and symmetry in his writing, "The Miserable Mill" would likely be placed with the novels found in books one through three, "The Trouble Begins" box set. This book has much in common with its two precursors. In its pages, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are given to yet another guardian, the foreman of a lumber mill, but a man who takes no effort to parent the children, leaving them emotionally on their own more than in either "The Reptile Room" or "The Wide Window." Additionally, this book begins the childrens' requirements of hard physical exertions to protect themselves and satisfy their caretakers, a theme that will repeat itself in future novels and testify to the growing strength of the protagonists under hardship and comardery. But not to confuse potential readers - these children's lives are described most houndingly in terms more negative than positive, and Snicket's threats of misfortune are most real. When the orphans' legal representative runs out of living relatives after book four, the children are sent to a most unequal boarding school, where two new characters are introduced. This development resumes an active dynamism between novels, lost between the second and fourth books, where one could theoretically skip one or all of these narratives without losing a bit of the larger plot. Somewhere between these two books, Snicket appears to have found a new way to add depth and interest in his books - here only slightly, but later on with increasing strength. The author has perfected his style of adding completeness to a single novel: placing the characters in a strikingly different environment, reinforcing particular themes of vocabulary and diction, and forming each story to a blueprint which gives the reader a clear indication of position within the story's plot. Now, and finally, Snicket can work on creating a larger and slowly-revealed mystery surrounding the Baudelaires. Book six, "The Ersatz Elevator," appears at first to continue simply with Snicket's guardian blueprint, but unresolved elements of the previous novel quickly appear and grow, rather than conclude. Book six is the first of A Series of Unfortunate Events which never felt slow to me as a reader, even as the books slowly increase in volume. Features of the grander mystery - V.F.D., the Baudelaire house fire - now begin to increase curiosity regarding questions that remain unanswered, propelling interest in the series as a whole. Though Snicket seems to be doing an awful lot of ad-libbing as he goes, readers who think his teasing won't go anywhere will later find themselves disproved. Snicket is indeed inventing a story of shifting character and escalating tension, and he continues to get better at it the more he writes.
Rating:
Summary: Can It Get Any Worse?
Review: If you liked the first three Lemony Snicket books, "The Bad Beginning," "The Reptile Room," and "The Wide Window," available individually and in a boxed set, you will enjoy the next three books collected in this set, "The Miserable Mill," "The Austere Academy," and "The Ersatz Elevator," even more.
The first of the three books is "The Miserable Mill." The orphans have moved to another relative, this one the owner of the Lucky Smells Lumbermill in the rundown town of Paltryville. I'm not sure of the relationship of this new person to the children, and we really see very little of this uncaring person in any case. Furthermore, we never know his name; he is just called "Sir" or "The Boss".
The children toil in the lumber mill from the time they arrive in Paltryville. Soon they have splinters and are tired and hungry, because they get nothing for breakfast, almost nothing for lunch, and casserole for dinner. There are multiple labor and child abuse laws violated in this book, but perhaps it might make some readers more appreciative of what they have.
As has happened in the previous three books, the children are able, principally through their own efforts, to overcome the bad guys. Unfortunately someone does die in a gruesome, though not detailed, way. Once again the children are on their way to another home.
Of the four books thus far, this one was my least favorite. The style of the books is such that bad things happen to these children on a regular basis, but in this book it seems as though bad things are happening to nearly everyone. This book is very depressing. I was also a bit annoyed with the extremes that the author went to in his exaggerations.
The fifth book in the saga implements several changes, all for the better. The first change is that we are no longer with a relative. Instead, we are at Prufrock Academy, a boarding school. Secondly, the Baudelaires acquire two friends at this new school. There are additional positives. They actually get to eat, they get to study, and they get to read. For a moment you might actually think that things are looking up for the Baudelaires. Ah, but for those familiar with the series, you know that can't be true.
If the Baudelaires violate any of a series of bizarre rules they must endure a series of equally bizarre punishments relating to their meals. Included in this list of punishments is loss of silverware, loss of a cup, though you still get your drink, it's just in a puddle on your tray, and even having your hands tied behind your back at mealtime.
As you have probably also guessed, Count Olaf does eventually show up. However, Count Olaf does not immediately try to spirit the children away from Prufrock Academy. Instead, he has them exercise nightly, all night long. The children try to figure out his scheme all the way up to the point where he does execute his scheme, and I can say no more or you will miss all the fun.
In this book the children meet triplets who are now twins because one of the twins died. The five children become good friends because they are all orphans. They all get along well and work together to try and beat Count Olaf. However, the children are at the mercy of Count Olaf almost from the point he shows up to nearly the end of the story.
The children have usually escaped from Count Olaf due to their own abilities. This time the children are saved due to a combination of fortunate circumstances, including the help of their new friends. We do not find out where the children are going next at the end of this book, but of course we know that they will have another home in "The Ersatz Elevator".
In "The Ersatz Elevator" the Baudelaire orphans move in with a non-relative in a penthouse apartment. While you might think that a penthouse apartment (which has something like 71 bedrooms) and kitchens, and sitting rooms, and on and on, would be a lovely place to live, you would be thinking wrong.
This time the problem is that Esme Squalor (the sixth most important financial advisor in the city) and her husband Jerome are way too hung up on what is "in". Esme must go to only the "in" restaurants; she must wear only "in" clothes, which includes the children, and on and on. Unfortunately, being "in" also means multiple compromises in terms of comfort. For example, the penthouse is on the top of a building with 66 stories, and elevators are "out". So the Squalors and the Baudelaires must walk up and down the 66 stories each time the go in to and out from the building. They certainly received sufficient exercise. Before I forget, orphans are also "in".
Of course, we know that Count Olaf must eventually show up, and he does. However, there is a mystery. We find that Count Olaf went up to the apartment and did not later leave the building. Therein lays the crux of the mystery for this story.
This story climaxes with the children running briefly into old friends, and then losing them again. They also nearly catch Count Olaf, again. In the end, the children are forced to find a new home once again. Unfortunately I am unable to tell you more, because Lemony Snicket, should he ever escape from his current predicament, would hunt me down and provide me with agony should I reveal the end of this Baudelaire tale. Suffice it to say that the Baudelaires have their best adventure yet, with even better to come.
This box set is a great way to collect this series if you have found that you like the unconventional way the Lemony Snicket has written these books. I recommend them cautiously, and principally for children 8 or 9 or above.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing, rewarding reading!
Review: Kudos to Mr. Snicket (althought we know that's not his name).
Here we have the next three in this marvelous series! The Baudelaire orphans get into worse and worse situations, with the author's grief at having to present us with this information never becoming schtick or overused.
The writing is friendly and open, inviting the reader into a dark, serious world where there is nothing funny about a baby having to use her teeth to climb an elevator shaft.
Of course you will want to read this next set of books! The author continues to develop the story quickly, with little frill but with great charm and vivid descriptions.
All in all, it is very hard to find a weakness in these books.
Rating:
Summary: can I have my kid back yet??
Review: My 11 year old will not get his nose out of these books! They are very popular in his 5th grade classroom. Lemony Snicket simply cannot write fast enough to keep us reading! Lemony, please, more!!
|
