Rating: 
Summary: Book Has Clues, not Answers
Review: Let ring the bells to celebrate this book's release! I thought this was wonderful, and it confirmed many of my suspicions about VFD, Count Olaf, and Emse Squalor. For those who have the patience to piece them together, the book does offer many clues, but in a typically Snicket-ian obtruse and round-about way. If you pay close attention you will be able to find answers to some of the questions you have been asking yourself about the Baudlaires. "The World is Quiet Here"
Rating:
Summary: Huh?
Review: Huh? This book makes no sense. Ah, never fear, it doesn't really matter. This book is incredibly funny whether you know what it's talking about or not.Who is Lemony Snicket? Don't read this book if you really want to know. I have more questions about this hilariously funny author now then I did before (I think that's the point). The good news is that after reading this book I have a renewed interest in his popular book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I have not read all the "Unfortunate" books, but I don't believe this made much difference, I only think I was maybe a bit more confused. I can't imagine understanding this book either way. This book did provide me with some good laughs. The reversible book jacket is my favorite (be sure to read it all, this is worth buying the book to see). I also enjoyed the section of the book where Mr. Snicket is musing on what to name a book about himself to pass the time ("Lemony Snicket: The Story of a Man Who Has Never Burned Anything Down" or "Lemony Snicket: The Story of a Man Who Has Never Burned Anything Down, Despite What You Might Have Heard"...plus many others just as funny). If nothing else, be sure to try and look up the term V.F.D. in the back index. That was an amusing, if fruitless exercise.
Rating:
Summary: don't read anymore of this horrid review
Review: For all of you who have read A Series of Unfortunate Events you will understand what i'm talking about when i say this is a very odd book...but the person who comes up with this stuff is a amazing! As you can tell from the beganning this book will not clear up any of the questions you have had, but in the end it leaves you with more, and now we have to wait until October to read some more...But beware you may want to read the whole series before you read this book...or you may be more confused then the rest of us...
Rating: 
Summary: Amazingly Weird, Weirdly Amazing
Review: One of the most unusual books I've ever read...you have to read it at least two times to find the hidden story and learn all the secrets that are inside. Codes and other clues help. It's not like other books for kids - it's a puzzle and a story at the same time. Can't wait for Carnivorous Carnival!!!
Rating:
Summary: A few tidbits if you read it ALL
Review: I must admit, my first reaction when I heard about this book was "huh?" I have the entire Series of Unfortunate Events (SoUE)and I love Snickets irreverent style. Still, I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of slogging through blurry pages discussing an imaginary author. Fortunately, Mr. Snicket (who is in hiding from a diabolical plot and is not, repeat NOT, Daniel Handler) is writing more to his adult readers and we are never bored. The book, though it may look a bit dull at first, is crammed full of inside references to SoUE and plenty of hints as to the real nature of VFD, whether the Beaudalaire parents are alive and (probably the most asked question) who Beatrice is. Naturally, none of the questions are answered directly but there are plenty of tantalizing hints. We are given transcripts of the VFD meetings, photos (all blurry of course) of the elusive author, pages torn from other books, coded messages, a delightfully twisted copyright page and a song about Lemony Snicket's childhood abduction (!) As pointed out before, the dust jacket is one of the best parts of the book. Don't forget to use it! Your very life may depend on it. Lemony Snicket just keeps getting better and better, I can't wait for the next installment of SoUE. This book has more than whetted my appetite.
Rating:
Summary: The Plot Thickens...
Review: I just received this book yesterday evening, and I was up all night devouring it. Anxiously awaiting the next installment of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, I was surprised to find this unauthorized biography of the reclusive author. The book is a mystery trapped in a riddle and an altogether intriguuing collection of clues to what brought about the events that changed the lives of the Beaudilaire orphans forever. Whether it is a clue about the identity of Beatrice or a particularly frustrating anagram, there is much here that will lead readers to spend hours attempting to solve the mysteries contained in the book. Suffice to say, I have not finished yet and look forward to picking up where I left off last night--attempting to unscramble at least some of the clues our inscrutible author has left behind. Alas, I still have not discovered what VFD stands for--although I am getting close...
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable!
Review: This book is awesome and unbelievably well thought out. Even though Mr. Snicket doesn't exactly excist does NOT mean you should not buy this great mystery of an "autobiography". BUY IT!
Rating: 
Summary: Dont waste youre money.
Review: This book is just plain stupid, it doesnt answer any of the questions you'd HOPE to find answers for.Most of the time they just show old letters and diary entrys and stuff, it really all doesnt make any sense, most of the time what is written is stuff you know nothing about. Plus the jokes are really lame, unlike the ones in the actually Series of unfortunat Events, they seemed really forced and unatural.It's a pretty boring too, not what I expected after reading the Unfortunate Events series...Though it is, um...., nicely made. The pages are glossy, and it comes covered with a nice dust jaket thats reversible. It's really all to bad, because I really miss reading the series and im not the kind of person that reads books over again, but this is the next best thing to read until the Cavornous Carnival... I only reccomend it becasue it looks good on the shelf with the S,O,U,Es books....and its a Lemony Snicket product.
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Summary: At last, an author we can revere!
Review: I am an elementary media specialist, and Loney M. Setnick's 'The Pony Party' is just the kind of children's book which makes the soul-bells of this reviewer ring. This is the first in a series destined for glory, a book which should prove soothing to those who fear children's literature is becoming a sinkhole of depravity (a word which here means "a nasty way of doing things.") Instead, Miss Setnick presents a joyous picture of happy children and their lucky lives. Their hard work is appropriately rewarded, and their cheerful demeanor is an inspiration of the first rank. Even with the dark cloud of cranky, savage Old Man Grumpus hanging glumly over them, the children's presiding genius of cheer never deserts them. They always say "Please" and "Thanks" to authority figures, are kind to their ponies, help others be useful members of polite society, refuse to read books subversive to their innocent childhood, and keep their rooms clean, fresh, and lemony! Ring the bells in celebration--Loney M. Setnick is an author we can all adore without fear of contradiction, or even of finding coded messages running throughout her books!
[Hint: READ THIS BOOK!!!]
Rating:
Summary: Huh?
Review: Okay, don't get me wrong. I've loved all of the other books. Couldn't wait for this one. And yes, there are about 3 or 4 good laughs here (especially the back of the dust jacket). But mostly, it's just sort of... well, incomprehensible. I certainly can't imagine what anyone who hasn't read all of the other books in the series would make of it, that's for sure. None of the burning questions are answered, of course, and a few more are raised. But it's mainly just a bit more weird than funny. I think it'll hold me for a while until the next in the series comes out, but if I'd missed it entirely, it wouldn't have been a tragedy.
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