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

Reader reviewed by paywis

this book tells the story of three siblings whos parents have died druning a terrible fire. they are force to live with a relitive who makes them take care of him and his company.
Violet the eldest is forced to marry thier gardian because until she is of age to collect her parents fourtune is locked up with Mr. poe.
the siblings are about to start on a hard journey.

Reader reviewed by Zac

Lemony Snicket garbs his readers' attention with his simplicity and humor. Though his subject is somewhat grim (almost far-fetched), it is presented is such a way that is sure to bring a smirk.

Violet, Clause, and Sunny are the victims of a horrible fire that kills their parents. In the wake of this tragedy they find themselves in the clutches of an evil man who will do anything for their enormous fortune.

Reader reviewed by Claire

"The Bad Begining" is as told the one of the most frightful and unhappy books ever written. You follow the Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire through the begining of many unfortunite events. From their parents dieing in a dreadful fire, to being sent with a relative who only wants their fortune. A man that will do anything to get it from hanging sunny in a cage to marrying Violet. Even though the story is sad it is filled with humor. From the villens silliness and mistakes to Sunny's own language. Lemony Snicket captures the reader in the many twists and turns of the story. Snicket writes in a style all of his own with puns, and literal responses on every page. This in one of the most extrodinary books written.

Reader reviewed by LaLa

I'll be honest, this is my favorite of all the Lemony Snicket books. I love the start of a series, when it's fresh and new. Not that the rest of the books in the series are bad (I've loved them all). It's just there's something refreshing in meeting the orphans for the first time. You have a clear mental image without wondering about the VFD and looking for hidden clues or keeping track of all the villians and good guys. I have to say that the begining of the series, while not filled with hope, is fresh and different.

Reader reviewed by wwegurl

This is the very beginning book of the series of unfortunate event s series. I really liked it, it mad eme want to read the rest of the series. It starts out with you meeting violet, klaus , and sunny. You find ot that their parents have died and they have to go live with their evil relative, count olaf. They have to work for him while hes trying to steal their fortune. He even tries to marry violet! This is a very good book and i recommend that you read it!!

Reader reviewed by FlooCrookshanks

Definitely my least favourite of the series, but it's worth reading just so you can move on and get to the good stuff. It doesn't take long to read either (if you're an older reader, at least) so I suggest you plow through it and move on.

Is there really any point in summarising the plot? I'm sure it's been done dozens of times in other reviews here.

Three siblings' parents die in a fire and they are passed on to the care of a creepy bloke called Count Olaf who just wants their money.

Brilliant, strong, eccentric characters make the series worth the read. I know some people are often put off by the "simple" writing-style (with it being written for children and all), but if you look past that it really is very funny. (Intentionally so.)

Reader reviewed by Carter

At my middle school we love all of his books and this one triggered all the follow ups. If you want fun, misery, drama, comedy, and random quotes mixed into one book, here it is. But beware, as soon as you finish one you have to read the rest! Kind of like Lay's potatoe chips. I dare you to try just one. Read one now and be satisfied.

Reader reviewed by Andi Ferree

In the beginning, the author, Lemony Snicket, doesn't encourage you to read this book. It's strange, but the book is really good. When he is trying to describe something someone felt like, he would compare it to your life so you would get the feeling of it. I can't see why you would tell people not to read your books because they all start like that, and they all are fantastic. I wish I could meet my favorite author Lemony Snicket. Which he has been since this book came out which was when I was in fourth grade and now I am in seventh. Thanks for writing such fabulous books!

Reader reviewed by Milanna R.

i really did not enjoy this book. it was boring and just horrible. it was a dumb book but the others were pretty good. it is about three children and their parents die. they have a pretty big fortune and the uncle wants to steal it. he makes up these plans to try and steal their fortune. i would have to say that this is one of the books i least enjoyed.

Reader reviewed by Justine

I love this book. It is a great beginning to the Unfortunate Events series. If you watched the movie first, big mistake. It's a rip off of the book. The book is much better. Very gripping story you just can't put down.