The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: Overdoing it?
Review: While I thoroughly enjoy all of the books by "Lemony Snicket" (do you honestly think that's his real name?) there is always the fact that he's overdoing it. Honestly...if the orphans had luck that bad their fortune would already have been taken away and they would already have been killed. Why are they still alive? Because Lemony Snicket wants money.

But besides for that, the plots are satisfyingly intricated with quite a bit of strange surprises, even though there is always that slight lacking of maturity and the slight shadow of naivette that slightly destroys their would-be-almost-gothic darkness. However, they are simply not dark enough. There is always a bit of a sarcastic outlook without the type of humor that can be considered 'gothic'. All in all, they are perceieved in the wrong way. Lemony Snicket's books are not goth-like novels--more for people who enjoy being either saddened or who like to compare their own situations with the situations of others to show themselves that their life is not bad. Not a bad idea.

I have almost the entire series, but I read the books many times each. Unfortunately, as the author is trying harder and harder to finish his books quickly, he is beginning to lack the almsot realistic quality of his first book, The Bad Beginning. The rest of the books did not have a tone even remotely as realistic, with the exception of The Unauthorized Autobiography The Wide Window, and The Reptile Room, but they simply didn't share the same air. The books are all worth a read, but the quality is definitely slowly deteriorating as the series continues.

CasiquireZiphonium

Rating:
Summary: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
Review: The Bad Beginning, a modern fantasy, keeps readers in tune with all the mishaps of the Baudelaire children. Snicket pulls readers in with the misfortune of wealthy children who are used to living carefree, to children who have been reduced to house slaves for a distant relative. The few illustrations in the book, placed in just the right place to focus the reader's attention to specific details showed important features. THe Bad Beginning strengths were cretainly plot development with its constant rise in action and character development as we see the children develop throughout the story to save their lives.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Beginning
Review: "Was ever book containing such vile matter so fairly bound?"

I found out about these books when I worked at a children's museum and can say that the appeal extends to adults as well. These books follow a long tradition of neither condescending to nor underestimating the intelligence of children (although this tradition has been trampled and spit on in the last few decades). As you will read in the other reviews, the books have some dark subject matter. However, it is dispensed with a hefty dose of IRONY. Imagine that in these days of overprotected soccer brats, as another reviewer called them. No, kids are not too stupid to understand irony. If you would let your kids read Harry Potter or Roald Dahl, you can let them read these and they just might ENJOY themselves, an experience too few kids have when reading.

I highly recommend that everyone jump on board with the Baudelaire orphans.

Rating:
Summary: this is creepy...extreamly creepy
Review: the bad beginning (a series of unfortunate events, book 1) is depressing, boring,and creepy. this story has no story line and plot. all it is is a bunch of "unfortunate events" rolled into one! the characters (sunny,klaus, violet, count olef, jusstice struass ect.) are all one deminsional and extreamly hard to relate (if a person could relate to them at all). the author is very clear that the book is not a happy one, and right he was! this book contains no happy events whatsoever. the book starts out with the bauldaire kids spending a day at briny beach where they then find out their parents have died in a fire from a guy named mr. poe, go to live at his house for one night, and then go to live with their uncle count olef who is adopting them. count olef is an evil man who out to steal the kids fortune that their parents left them. sound interesting? well...it's not. by the end of the book count olef plans on stealing the bauldair children's fortune along with marrying voilet. the count also abuses the children horriably. this book is not okay for the age group that it is pointing at (9-12) year olds. also, the author explains words every other sentence, which gets extreamly annoying. you would think that the words explained here, 9-12 year olds would already know...but acording to the author of this book they don't. i've read many good books in my life, and this is not one of them. this is one of the worst i've ever read. i got a headache from reading it. to all those people who said this book was good...what is wrong with you? this is horriable! also, what kind of pen name is lemony snikket?

Rating:
Summary: Good Writing, but NOT Age Appropriate!
Review: In Lemony Snicket's, "The Bad Beginning," the Bauldaire children are faced with catastrophe after catastrophe. The author does indeed earn a few "good" points in this book. To mention a few: He defines many difficult to understand words and describes the meaning in context. Also, he winds this tale in such a way that the reader feels as though he/she is sitting around a fire, listening to these frightful events.
On the other hand, I find a few problems with the content that I cannot overlook. As both a teacher and a parent, I don't feel that the content of the book is appropriate for this age group. For example, the general mood of the plot is dreary and hopeless: a mood that I don't want my child focusing on all hours of the night, as any good story line tends to do to children. In addition, Snicket refers to a bank robbery and the manner in which one would mastermind such a plan: again, a well-planned crime is not on my list of teahable information. Next, Snicket makes a number of references to the eldest of the children, Violet, that are sexual in nature. Any reader, at this target age, can figure out his intentions when the evil-doer, Count Olaf, mentions her beauty and strokes her face continuously throughout the book. Also, the idea that an infant is to be dangled from a delapitated tower for 2 days may leave children with a VERY false idea that an infant could go without food, changings, etc.. for this period of time and only yell out, upon her release, that she would like "cake." This angle is sick in itself without any elaboration on the idea of child abuse. E.A. Poe may not have committed the crimes that he concocts, but I certainly would not want my children associated with him! Last, Snicket mentions that he is not allowed, by law, to enter an area of land that is probably near you (speaking to the reader). This statement in itself leads one to believe that the speaker is NOT a law abiding citizen and has been punished by being banned from MY home town. Why then, would I want to delve into this speaker's mind? As a child, I'm guessing that this would arouse a sense of danger and overwhelm my curiosity. Again, this is NOT a curiosity that I want my child being curious about.
Some of these points may seem minor to some people, but if there is anything that I have learned, it is that good influences breed good ambitions; likewise, bad influences breed a poor sense of judgement and dangerous curiosities. As a 6th grade teacher, I would be extremely apprehensive in reading this to my students, and my child for that matter. Again, as an adult, I applaud Snicket's writing skills; otherwise, I do not feel that the content of this book is fit for budding youngsters. If Mr. Snicket were to decide to "up" the vocabulary, increase the age of the child characters, and extend the length of the book, then this would be both interesting reading and appropriate for an older audience. Until then, I will choose to label this "Bad Beginning" as it really is: a bad beginning for this age group.

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.