The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)

Reader reviewed by Jessie

This story is sad from the beginning. But you get hooked on it. There are few books now adays that have this kind of sad irony. How often do you see the heroes of stories always lose? Not often.Usually it is happily ever after. And while we all somewhat enjoy the poor orphans misery we still root for them and hope that in the end they come out on top and it does not end with an unfortunate event. Because who really wants count Olaf to win???

Reader reviewed by Flak Monkey

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.

Reader reviewed by CRYSTAL

THE BAD BEGINING,THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES,WHERE IT ALL STARTED.
THE BAUDELAIRE CHILDREN,VIOLET,KLAUS,AND SUNNY.VIOLET,LIKED TO INVENT THINGS,KLAUS LOVED TO READ,AND SUNNY LIKED TO WELL...BITE THINGS.
IT STARTED ONE NORMAL DAY AT THE BEACH,MR.POE,THEIR PARENTS BANKER,APPROACHED THE BAUDELAIRES WITH A WORRIED LOOK ON HIS FACE.
MR.POE SAYS"IM SORRY TO INFORM YOU OF AN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE EVENT,YOUR PARENTS HAVE PERISHED IN A FIRE THAT HAS DESTROYED YOUR ENTIRE HOME."
SO,THE THREE BAUDELAIRES ARE SENT TO LIVE WITH THEIR CLOSEST RELATIVE,COUNT OLAF.NOW HE ISNT THE KIND OF GUY YOU'DE EVER WANT TO INVITE TO DINNER,HE IS TERRIBLE.HE CAUSES THE BAUDELAIRES GREAT MISFORTUNE AND HE IS THE REASON WHY THEIR IS NOW 11 TERRIBLE BOOKS IN THE SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS.

Reader reviewed by koolguy Aaron

I might be only 12 but I can dish out the facts. (Heres where I dish out).

The Bad Beginning is a wonderful book with action, mystery, and almost everythning you can think of.

One of main reasons why I like this is because the author tells you what each character is like. For an example. At the start of the book he gave the three Bauldare's personalitys. Also he discribes Count Olaf prettty well to, an evil man who tries to take a fourtune of three orphans.

But altogether the book is well done with a very good story. I find that the book dosen't deserve a 55 because I find it unrealistic in some parts , but it still deserves a 45 for pure goodness.

well thats all I got to say everybody. You can read thebook but read this first( and many more of my reviews) lol! BYE!

Reader reviewed by Kelly

This book was an easy and quick read (for me, at least). It is very entertaining. I felt so bad for the children and I hated Count Olaf...what a mean uncle! Once I started to read the book, I couldn't put it down. Now I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Reader reviewed by lainie

i thought this book was cut. tells the story of three children who loose their parents in fire that took away their home and changed their lives.
in this book they are sent to live with their distant relative the evil count olaf. count olaf is suspicious from the begining and he forces the children to work for him. the children try to tell their troubles to the bubbling and very cluless mr. poe who doesn't belive them, leaving them to fend for themselves.
this book sounds like it should be rather sad but though it pulls the occasional heartstring it is actually exciting . i found myself cheering for these children.this book is the bad beginig of a wonderful series of unfortunate events.

Reader reviewed by McGee

The first time I read this book was somewhere around fifth grade. At around this time a devastating incident occurred leaving a good friend without a parent. Instantaneously this book appealed to my friends and I. It told the story of recently orphaned children and their struggle to remain alive, remain safe, and more importantly remain a family. The author does a good job of creating humor into this story that is about something so sad. Since the author does a great job, I was able to let my younger sibling read it. The large words were explained, and even if he didnt get the underlying meaning, he was able to read a good book. A must read for a middleschooler.

Reader reviewed by Reagan

It was a good book for a younger reader because of the way it explains and gives definitions to words. It is easier for a younger child to read. The mystery in the book was very intriging.

I cant wait to see what they do with the movie, the book really was good.

Reader reviewed by none of your buisness

This book is about three orphans named Violet who is fourteen and is an inventor,Klaus second oldest and LOVES and when i say loves i mean loves to read,and the third oldest a girl named Sunny is under the age of one and likes to chew things and talk to her siblings with her weird language that is not words. Their parents (I'm sad to say) die in a fire while they are at a nearby beach(the children). Well then a local bank teller (named Mr. Poe who has uncontrolible coughing) is in charge of them (and ,until violet becomes of age,their family fortune).He places them with their cousins aunt's brother's ect. who's name is Count Olaf. He has a tatoo of an eye on his left ankle.Keep that in mind it will help in the later books (witch there is 9 of).He is trying to capture their family fortane and trying to do so by.........
Whoops i can't tell you that. It would ruin a big chunk of the book.I think this is a great book to read.My teachers even reading it!!!!!!!!