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| Phone: 845-679-1002 | | FAX: 845-679-3874 | | Email: | | [email protected] | | US Mail: | | 84 Zena Road | | Kingston, NY 12401 |  |
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| The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) | | by Lemony Snicket | | HarperCollins |  | | | | List Price: | $11.99 | | Our Price: | $9.59 | | You Save: | $2.40 (20.02%) | | | Release Date: | 30 September, 1999 | | Media: | Hardcover | | ISBN: | 0064407667 | | | Availability: | Usually ships within 24 hours | | Average Review: |  Based on 675 reviews. |
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| | Description:
Make no mistake. The Bad Beginning begins badly for the three Baudelaire children, and then gets worse. Their misfortunes begin one gray day on Briny Beach when Mr. Poe tells them that their parents perished in a fire that destroyed their whole house. "It is useless for me to describe to you how terrible Violet, Klaus, and even Sunny felt in the time that followed," laments the personable (occasionally pedantic) narrator, who tells the story as if his readers are gathered around an armchair on pillows. But of course what follows is dreadful. The children thought it was bad when the well-meaning Poes bought them grotesque-colored clothing that itched. But when they are ushered to the dilapidated doorstep of the miserable, thin, unshaven, shiny-eyed, money-grubbing Count Olaf, they know that they--and their family fortune--are in real trouble. Still, they could never have anticipated how much trouble. While it's true that the events that unfold in Lemony Snicket's novels are bleak, and things never turn out as you'd hope, these delightful, funny, linguistically playful books are reminiscent of Roald Dahl (remember James and the Giant Peach and his horrid spinster aunts), Charles Dickens (the orphaned Pip in Great Expectations without the mysterious benefactor), and Edward Gorey (The Gashlycrumb Tinies). There is no question that young readers will want to read the continuing unlucky adventures of the Baudelaire children in The Reptile Room and The Wide Window. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson | |  | | Similar Products
| | | | | | Customer Reviews
| | | Average Customer Review: Based on 675 reviews. | |  Depressing Tale of Woe Makes for Intriguing Read
If I were to describe "The Bad Beginning," in one word it would be- depressing. Yet what more can one expect from the first book in "A Series of Unfortunate Events." The story begins with the Baudelaire children playing on the beach on a seemingly nice day. The mood of the day changes quickly as the children receive news that their parents have been killed in a fire that destroyed their entire home. The children are then sent to live with the man who is in charge of their estate. Their luck goes from bad to worse when they are sent to live with Count Olaf, a distant relative the children have never heard of.
The Baudelaire orphans are resourceful children, each with special talents and gifts. Violet is the oldest child and has a knack for inventing and building odd devices. One can tell when Violet is developing a new invention in her head by her pulled back hair and furrowed brow. Klaus is the middle child and incredibly intelligent. He loves to read and would spend hours in his families' library learning about everything from Julius Caesar to the organisms found at Briny Beach. Sunny is the youngest Baudelaire child and simply put she likes to bite things. One of the most enjoyable parts of Sunny's personality is the way in which she speaks to her brother and sister. They understand each other in a way that is both sweet and memorable. The author does a wonderful job of developing the character of each of these children. To the point that the reader is able to identify with the pain each must feel as the events of the story unfold.
The children's relationship with their guardian, Count Olaf, is a poor one due to his evil nature. Count Olaf is only interested in taking hold of the children's fortune and does not care for their welfare. The treatment these children receive by Count Olaf is contrasted nicely by the joy they light up with upon even the mention of Justice Strauss. She is a kindly neighbor whose assistance brightens the otherwise dark days the children experience. Also, while the author hints at a happy ending just a few pages before the end, there is no such hope. This book is as dark and grim as its title suggests.
Many middle school children, along with everyone else in America, are enthralled in the Harry Potter series. The books have been compared by many readers because of the dark mood they share but "The Bad Beginning" lacks the morals found in the Harry Potter books. Lemony Snickett makes no attempt to fashion characters that are overtly honorable or intentional role models. Instead he seems to focus on fashioning a story that is far beyond any experience the average middle school child might face. The depressing nature of the book makes it unlike the books many teachers would recommend for the students. It is also unlike the books that many parents will remember reading when they were in middle school.
The highlight of this book in my opinion is that it does offer an alternative to the fairy tales normally written for middle school children. Life is not full of happy endings and prince charmings and this book makes that extremely clear. "The Bad Beginning," is a refreshing alternative to the typical young adult novel focused on pre-teen girls and their issues with boys and their parents. While the above elements make for an enjoyable story this book lacks the high morals and realistic experiences that I look for in books my children will be reading. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a light, intriguing read. I would not however recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story containing strong characters of high morals that their children can identify with. | | Very Original!
A very interesting, original story about all the bad things that happen to the 3 Baudelaire children. I absolutely loved the way this book was written and seems to flow smoothly.However, I think that some of the situations in the book were depressing, and may be scary for very young children. Otherwise this book was wonderful, and I found myself rooting for the Baudelaire children, and despising Count Olaf and his friends. | |  pointless
Maybe if I hadn't heard so many wonderful things about this book (as well as the entire line of follow-ups) I wouldn't be reviewing it so harshly.
This book is nothing but pointless, weightless children's fluff. Amusing if you are under 10 years of age & looking for some light (ULTRA light) reading, but completely unsatisfying if you crack the cover expecting something more along the lines of 'Harry Potter'.
The plot is very thin, and I can only assume it's due to this being one of a series, and thus the overall tale of the Baudelaire orphans is spread over the 10+ novels that have since been released. But this left the first book with very little substance, and left me feeling like I didn't care enough to give it another go with the second installment. |
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