Synopses & Reviews
Dear Reader,
I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.
It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket
Review
"Written with old-fashioned flair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish....Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"While the misfortunes hover on the edge of being ridiculous, Snicket's energetic blend of humor, dramatic irony, and literary flair makes it all perfectly believable." Library Journal
Synopsis
Dear Reader,
I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.
It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket
Synopsis
NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.
In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odor.
In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.
Synopsis
NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.
In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odor.
Synopsis
Imagine tales so terrible that as many as fifty million innocents have been ruined by them — tales so indelibly horrid that the New York Times bestseller list has been unable to rid itself of them for seven years. Now imagine if this scourge suddenly became available in a shameful new edition so sensational, so irresistible, so riddled with lurid new pictures that even a common urchin would wish for it. Who among us would be safe?
Begin at the beginning — even if it is a bad one — with the first in A Series of Unfortunate Events, now even more disposable in paperback!
About the Author
Lemony Snicket is often despondent, mostly about his published research, which includes A Series of Unfortunate Events and
The Composer Is Dead.
Brett Helquist's celebrated art has graced books from the charming Roger, The Jolly Pirate, to the alarming New York Times bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events, to the cozy E. B. White Read-Aloud Award finalist bedtime for bear. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.
Reading Group Guide
A Series of Unfortunate Events is the term HarperCollins uses to
describe a sequence of books written by Lemony Snicket concerning
the miserable plight of the three Baudelaire children at the hands of the
sinister Count Olaf. It is a
New York Times Best-selling series and has
sold hundreds of thousands of copies in North America and will soon be
appearing all over the world. This guide is a desperate attempt to stop this
travesty before it is too late. The discussion topics,suggested
reading list and author biography in this reading group guide are
intended to guide the public toward books that are less dreadful and so to
promote comfort and vitality rather than despair and anxiety in our large
and unnerving world.
Questions for Discussion:
- In The Bad Beginning, Mr.Snicket warns his readers, "If
you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would
be better off reading some other book." Yet many people
have insisted on continuing to read this book anyway. What
is wrong with such people?
- The theme of The Reptile Room might be best stated, "Look out
for Count Olaf he will try to murder you!" Why do you think
there are so few books that deal with this theme?
- In The Wide Window, the character of Aunt Josephine is fright-
ened of many things,and then a very frightening thing happens to
her. Is it useful to feel fear, because it prepares you for nasty events,
or is it useless, because nasty events will occur whether you are
frightened or not?
- The Miserable Mill brings up many
important issues of the day, including child labor
in the lumber industry, hypnotism within the medical
profession, gum-chewing, cigar-smoking, cross-dressing,
and the futility of coupons, bankers and optimism.
How does the treatment of these issues in Snicket 's
work differ from their treatment in the newspaper,
on television and in musical theater?
- Does anything in your life compare with the
anguish the Baudelaire children encounter in The Austere Academy? If so,how terrible for you.
If not, how nice. Discuss.
- In The Ersatz Elevator, Violet, Klaus and
Sunny encounter many things which are not what they
seem. Yet The Ersatz Elevator is what it seems a
book containing nothing but despair, discomfort and
woe. Discuss.
- Violet, the eldest Baudelaire child, often risks
her life when using one of her inventions in a desperate attempt to escape
Count Olaf 's treachery. Is this a proper role
model for young women?
- Klaus, the middle Baudelaire child, often finds out disturbing
information when researching Count Olaf 's evil ways.
Is this a proper role model for young men?
- Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire child, occasionally uses her four
sharp teeth in an aggressive manner, in order to defeat Count Olaf 's
dreadful behavior. Is this a proper role model for young babies?
- Each of the books in A Series of Unfortunate Events
is dedicated to Beatrice. When HarperCollins
asked Mr.Snicket about this mysterious woman,
he burst into tears and was unable to answer. Is this
an appropriate author for young readers?
- In each of Mr.Snicket 's books, there is no evidence
that Count Olaf has ever been captured by the
appropriate authorities. Is this more terrifying than
horrifying, or more horrifying than terrifying?
Discuss.
- If Count Olaf is still at large isn't it risky to attract
his attention by purchasing and reading any of Mr.
Snicket 's books? Discuss.
- Who is standing behind you right now? Discuss.