Rating: 
Summary: Quick, fun read
Review: In a recent assignment, my son reviewed "The Bad Beginning":The story of the Baudelaire orphans is a tragic one, telling the miserable tale of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny (the orphans), who lose their parents in a fire that destroys their home and all of their possessions and are then sent to live with the ominous Count Olaf. The Count plots to take control of the entire Baudelaire fortune, while treating the children very poorly, making them do all sorts of chores and providing them horrible living conditions. The book had its ups and downs. For example, I thought the narrator's definitions and repeated warnings that the book was "very sad" were annoying, not funny (as I think the author intended). I didn't find "The Bad Beginning" that sad, probably because I'm a boy. Sure, it must have been pretty sad for the kids to learn that their parents had been charcoaled like hotdogs. But, to me, the book was intended to be read the same way you watch old silent movies (I saw some for the first time this summer ... neat stuff!): knowing it's funny because it's an exaggeration. I'm not putting the book down; don't get me wrong. I plan to read the rest of the series. One of its "ups," by the way, was that the orphans' ideas were really cool.... When I shared my opinion of the book with my mom, who is also reading the series, we discussed how the book is actually plot-driven, not character-driven ... meaning, the focus is on what happens to the Baudelaire orphans, not who the Baudelaire orphans are. When you're done reading, you don't "know" Violet, Klaus, and Sunny the way you know Harry, Ron, and Hermione (from the Harry Potter series, of course), for example. Anyway, if you're looking for a quick, fun read, try this.
Rating: 
Summary: Unhappy Endings
Review: I couldn't put this book down. Neither in school or at my house. Even whan my body wanted sleep my mind wanted to read. It's called the bad beginning because the ending never ever turns out good. So if you like books that always turn out good and end happily ever after then this isn't the book for you!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: "Outstanding" is a term which, when used here means"really, good, great, entertaining - and more than initially meets the eye." Be sure to read the dedications - and as the volumes continue: what, if anything, did Cout Olaf have to do with Beatrice? Why is the writer "compelled" to write this tale?I am sure the answers to these questons will be revealed as the saga continues... For me, money very well-spent for an entertaining, well-written, totally-original two hour read.Those of you who haveread the books will understand the structure of my first sentence.
Rating:
Summary: The Bad Beginning truly perfectly begins the series
Review: I was hooked on the series before I even saw this book, having first seen the next two succeeding volumes in a bookstore. The idea of unfortunate events in the world of children was reminiscent of the ones I used to create while still a child, (do you have bad dreams that are a relief to wake up from? did you fantasize alternate courses for your existence to take? If so, this is your book!) so of course I had to read the _Series of Unfortunate Events_. Lemony Snicket apologizes in each book for the sad events contained therein, but at the risk of upsetting the intro, I'd like to add that in some ways the books are every bit as encouraging as they are unhappy. A common complaint with books in a series is that they often don't stand well alone -- have no fear. This book is a complete story in itself. I warn you, however, that you will most likely end up hooked too, and have to read the whole series anyway. _The Bad Beginning_ was perfect, right down to the surprise ending and the hoped for, but impossible happy solution offered by Justice Strauss. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent, resourceful, and kind, but from the opening pages, you'll see that their good qualities are all the good luck they seem to have. They are orphaned right away and sent to live with a series of people. In this book, you are with them when they learn of their parents' death, and you get the same foreboding feeling about Count Olaf as the children have. Violet can invent almost anything she needs for a sticky situation. Klaus, a voracious reader, knows almost every word there is, and is invaluable as a researcher. Sunny, with those teeth of hers, could be a bodyguard despite her tender age. The special skills of each orphan come brilliantly into play for the resolution of this story. I thought by the end, that I knew how the children would escape from the Count's evil plan to inherit the Baudelaire fortune, but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong about that. Buy it. You'll like it. Your 12 year old neice will like it. By the time you've seen the second book, you'll also be wondering who Beatrice is, and hanging on to the clues given to that seemingly unrelated thread in each book. I also want to add that the volumes of the series are beautifully presented in the physical printed binding way, as if they're destined to become treasured antiques, and why wouldn't they be, after all?
Rating:
Summary: A Series of Unfortunate Events
Review: The book is about 3 kids, Violet, who likes to invent things, Klaus, a book worm, and Sunny, who likes to bite things and say baby words like "Leepo". They inherit the Baudelaire fortune after their parents die in a fire. They are sent to live with a man named Count Olaf who is after their fortune. He comes up with a plan so he can inherit the fortune. He wants Violet to marry him in a play, but since a legal document is involved, Violet is really Count Olaf's spouse. The children read up on the Law and get help from a judge named Justice Stauss. Violet concocts a way so the marriage is invalid. In the end Count Olaf gets caught, but he vowed he would be back to steal their fortune. This book was cleverly created by Lemony Snicket. It deserves 5 stars because it has a great plot and is a great books for kids from 9 and up.
Rating:
Summary: These books are intelligent and humorous.
Review: This book (and indeed, the whole series so far) doesn't have marvellously complex, or clever plotlines. What makes these books stand out, is the wonderful way that Mr "Snicket" narrates them. Most books these days seem be narrated from an objective, third person point of view. This means that the author, or rather, the persona describes only the action as it unfolds, with little or none of his/her own voice coming through. But the persona of "Lemony Snicket" comes through on every page. He frequently digresses from the story, to define words, provide analogies of similar situations, and to talk about "Beatrice" his lost love, apparently! This does not detract from the book. Instead, it adds to it, since "Snicket" is very very, funny. I know that several of the reviewers have criticised this book for being too dark, or for having inappropriate subject matter. But the book is dark in a over-the-top, humorous kind of way. And the inappropriate matter (which I take to refer to when Count Olaf tries to marry 14 year old Violet) is presented in an absurd fashion, and highlights just how dastardly the bad guys are!! I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 8. Younger kids might take it too seriously, as these books play on every kids worst fears eg Parents dying, other adults not believing you when you tell the truth, having to do heaps of chores, etc. A highly entertaining read!
Rating:
Summary: Are You Sure You Want to Read This Sad Scary Book?
Review: When three childrens parents die in a fire at their big manshion, the children must stay with blustering Count Olaf who seems nice at first, but beware!, because Count Olaf is a greedy sicspisios man that is a old fool with a big brain trying hard to get the poor orphans forchain.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!!
Review: This is a great book. It's a sad, sad story but it's still a good book. There pretty much aren't any happy parts in this book, but The Bad Beginning is an awesome book. The three Baudelaire children (the main characters) are orphaned when their parents are killed in a fire that burns their house down. The Baudelaires are sent to live with a far-away relative named Count Olaf. Count Olaf is a very mean man who is only after the children's money left to them in their parents' will. This is a great book that will keep you reading until the last word...
Rating:
Summary: book review
Review: I think you should read this book because it is an awesome book. That's only if you like sad endings. There's a lot of action. It's also sad though because some poeple die in it. So the kids have to live with their relatives. But they get in a lot of trouble.They didn't like who they were living with. They were offered to live with someone else but they weren't allowed. They had to live with a different person and the old person went to jail.So please read the book. It's awesome!
Rating: 
Summary: Inappropriate for children, distasteful for adults
Review: I am so glad that I read this book just before giving the set as a present! The first chapter or so and book description gave the impression of the kind of droll humor I love. However, I actually found the contrast between the light tone and the sadistic aspects of the story disturbing. Given the allusions to pederasty, and the torturing of a baby, I would say this book is wholly inappropriate for children, young adults, and anyone with any sensibilities. Time to shop for a replacemnt present!
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