Rating: 
Summary: An unfortunately wonderful book
Review: This book is a must read! The book is sad, funny, witty, sarcastic, and interesting. I highly enjoyed the sarcasm, the depiction of adults in society, the incredibly intelligent Baudleiers, and the horrid Count Olaf. The book is descriptive so you imagine the story as you read and wish the the best for the Baudeliers even though Lemony keeps telling you that there is no happy ending. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Snicket talks about lawyers as being necessary because no one in their right mind would want to read law books. I really enjoyed this book and even though I do not fit the age category for this book, I recommend this book to anyone who wants to have as Snicket would say "a miserable time reading a depressing book, when you could be outside playing in the snow".
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Summary: The Bad Beginning
Review: In this exciting and unhappy story, three young kids go through serious depression and unhappiness, they loose their parents. Being only a teenage girl, a smart young boy, and a little baby girl their lives become very difficult and things never go as planned. After their parents death, the Baudelaire kids try to start their lives over with their scary uncle. Eyes are watching them, and evil ones at that. This uncle isn't what you would call charming, since he finds out that a big fortune comes with them. Well this evil uncle does all he can to get his hands on it. But luckily or sadly, depend how you see it, they leave their uncle,why? That's what's so extemely bad of this uncle. But, will this unle give them up so easily? Read and you'll find out.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not that great...
Review: But the rest of Lemony's books are awesome. The little amount that it takes to read this book it is worth it. You have to read it to uderstand the rest in the series, which I give all of them 5 stars!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!!!!
Review: I really loved this book. I have only read the first 3 but I am waiting for 4-6. They are one of the best books I have ready for being 12. I couldn't stop reading them. I read the first three for about 12 hours for 3 days! But I do think you should read #1 first because it tells you a lot about the characters then go from there. You could probably not read #2 but I think you should for the excitement. You can't stop reading them because they are so good!!! Well I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!!
Rating:
Summary: Dreadful, Just Dreadful. (But I Loved It)
Review: I suppose I should say, that technically, I am old enough to have grandchildren who might enjoy this book. Nevertheless, I loved it. There is a certain flamboyant flair to the writing, just right for these dreadful tales, and a fair amount of jokes that older readers will enjoy (such as naming two of the children Claus and Sunny). I even read the next in the series, almost as good as the first. Then I made the mistake of getting the third on tape to listen to in the car. Although I am a Tim Curry fan from way back, I thought his reading was wrong for these stories. They need a deadpan, straighforward reading. Curry was over the top. Read this book yourself, or read it to the kids, but skip the audio version.
Rating:
Summary: Fortunately, Things Begin Unfortunately
Review: The Baudelaires have led a comfortable life with their parents in their wonderful home. But on a particularly cloudy day at Briny Beach, their lives are shattered-The word shattered here means, "Their lives were ruined like a window being broken into a million pieces." The curious Lemony Snicket uses this new approach to grammar and definition to tell the tale of the three Baudelaires, (Sunny, Klaus, and Violet) who were once the most fortunate children ever. In a heartbeat, everything changes. A fire consumes the Baudelaires' house, and their parents' lives. The well-intentioned, yet slightly daft, Mr. Poe now has the responsibility to find the Baudelaire children, now the Baudelaire orphans, a new home. He soon finds them shelter with a distant relative, who doesn't live so distant from the Baudelaire's old home. His name is Count Olaf, an evil man who is only keeping the children for his own benefit. The greedy count wants to steal their immense fortune, which Violet will inherit in four more years. In their first unfortunate adventure, the children encounter the friendly Justice Strauss, Count Olaf's cruel acting troupe, a very helpful cookbook, and a play with a script that could ruin it all. Will the quick minds of the orphans prevail, or will Count Olaf grab the fortune and win the game? Once I finished book one, I was begging for book two. Lemony Snicket's humorous writings are amazingly captivating from the first word to the last, a rare trait found in only the best books. Make sure if you read book one, you have book two and maybe even book three near by just to be safe, because even though these books are full of adventure and excitement, you'll find them to be quicker than you thought...unfortunately.
Rating:
Summary: A witty borderline disturbing tale.
Review: I was somewhat skeptical when a friend of mine brought me the audio cd for this book. Seeing as both of us are college graduates I felt that reading a book intended for 10 to 12-year-old kids might not be our cup of tea. But listening to Tim Curry's fantastic narration of the first chapter kept us captivated enough to go through the entire first book. The brilliance of the story telling lies mainly in the fact that it can be understood at different levels. For the kids there's the plane good vs evil idea of the mean villain trying to steal the money. From an adult point of view there's the very disturbing gruesome sexual undertone which makes the read a very disturbing one. But scattered throughout the book are the very funny/sarcastic observations that lighten the mood and keep you laughing hard at even the darkest points. Being a huge Terry Pratchett fan I find some of Terry's sense of humour and social observation in this book, even if no one that reviews this seems to agree with me on this. I doubt that I'll be committed enough to read all 13 books in the series but this one was a fantastic entertainment for a relaxing Sunday. Tim Curry's simply one of the best readers imaginable and the audio cd is a true masterpiece.
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Summary: I LOVE YOU LEMONY SNICKET!
Review: This book is the wonderful beginning to a fabulous series of books. everyone should read it. that's all i have to say.
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Summary: I'm 13 and when I read this book it turfuly was....
Review: Not that great. I think it was ok if you want something different to read. I like the fact that it wasn't a happy ending kind book were ever thing goes right. Maybe if you want to try something different try Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliori , I thought this book was very boring. But some books later on in this Series seem Inserting but I haven't read it yet. And I love books were you like the charters and hate them like you feel know them. But I felt that the main charters were not really lovable or you felt like you know them and NOT easy to feel like you could relate to them really. YES I'm Going to answer a question that people have about this book being a unhappy book~ It is a ok to let your child read this. I recommend 9 and up it even good for a adult to read, if this inserting to you. NO your kid won't get depress by reading this. I think this is good book to at least read one of them because kids need to know that the world is not such a happy place and learn that your life isn't going to go right all the time. Cause this book kind of teaches you a something in life like the truth of happiness and making the best out of things.
Rating:
Summary: Very Unfortunate, Indeed!
Review: Three orphan children from the beginning. You find yourself hopeing and cheering for them, but it would be a waste to do so. The author gives you fair warning there are no happy beginnings and no happy endings. Such truth in the words on the page. It doesn't end the way it should, but if it did end happily, I imagine it would be the end of the series. When I read it, I felt kind of disgusted by certain events. I would guess the author meant to get those feelings. If that was the case, Lemony Snicket has succeeded in that goal. I continued on waiting for any little turn of event that would end the misfortune of those children. Half of a good deed came in the end that me feel a little better about the kids. The book was a very good read, and I thought all of the characters were well described. I could picture Violet, Kraus, and Sonny. I could see Count Olaf and his strange theatre troop. Even Mr. Poe and his neverending coughing was vibrantly displayed in my head. Wonderful imagery, great characters with personality, and a storyline that leaves you wanting to read more. I recommend reading with your kid if he/she decides to read it. Some things are explained in this book but not all of it. I did enjoy the read and will continue with the series. Joy.
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