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The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD)
by Lemony Snicket
| Category:
Ages 9-12, Archive |
| Market price: ¥ 158.00
MSL price:
¥ 148.00
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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Amazon.com (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
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
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Publishers Weekly (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book." So cautions Snicket, the exceedingly well-mannered narrator of these two witty mock-gothic novels featuring the misadventures of 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus and infant Sunny Baudelaire. From the first, things look unfortunate indeed for the trio: a fire destroys their home, killing their parents along with it; the executor of their parents' estate, the obtuse Mr. Poe (with a son, Edgar), ignores whatever the children have to say; and their new guardian, Count Olaf, is determined to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune. But by using their individual gifts (Violet's for inventing, Klaus's for reading and researching and baby Sunny's for biting) the three enterprising children thwart the Count's planAfor now. The author uses formal, Latinate language and intrusive commentary to hilarious effect, even for readers unfamiliar with the literary conventions he parodies. The peril in which he places the Baudelaires may be frightening (Count Olaf actually follows through on his threats of violence on several occasions), but the author paints the satire with such broad strokes that most readers will view it from a safe distance. Luckily for fans, the woes of the Baudelaires are far from over; readers eager for more misfortune can turn to The Reptile Room, for an even more suspenseful tale. Exquisitely detailed drawings of Gothic gargoyles and mischievous eyes echo the contents of this elegantly designed hardcover. Age 9-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Library Journal (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
Grade 4-6-This series chronicles the unfortunate lives of the Baudelaire children: Violet, 14; Klaus, 12; and the infant, Sunny. In Bad Beginning, their parents and possessions perish in a fire, and the orphans must use their talents to survive as their lives move from one disastrous event to another. Surrounded by dim-witted though well-meaning adults, the Baudelaires find themselves in the care of their evil relative, Count Olaf, a disreputable actor whose main concern is getting his hands on the children's fortune. When Olaf holds Sunny hostage to force Violet to marry him, it takes all of the siblings' resourcefulness to outwit him. Violet's inventive genius, Klaus's forte for research, and Sunny's gift for biting the bad guys at opportune moments save the day. However, the evil Count escapes, only to return in The Reptile Room just as the children are settling into a far more pleasant life with their new guardian, Uncle Monty, who is promptly murdered by Olaf and his cohorts. Though the villain escapes again, and beloved Uncle Monty is dead, the children are safe...for now. 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. The writing, peppered with fairly sophisticated vocabulary and phrases, may seem daunting, but the inclusion of Snicket's perceptive definitions of difficult words makes these books challenging to older readers and excellent for reading aloud.
Linda Bindner, formerly at Athens Clarke County Library, GA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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AudioFile (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
[Editor's Note: The follwing is a combined review with THE REPTILE ROOM.]--The three Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, have recently joined the world of children's literature made hospitable by a wizard named Harry. Their miserable lives, an unrelenting series of catastrophes, have become the source of grins and giggles among elementary and middle-grade readers. And who better to read the serialized melodrama than the multitalented Tim Curry, master of multiple voices and deadpan delivery? Fabulously funny, the first two volumes afford Curry, as the deeply sorrowful, omniscient narrator, an opportunity to display his enormous talents - in Mr. Poe's chronic, wheezing cough; Sunny's squawking, incomprehensible gibberish; Count Olaf's sinister and malevolent arch villainy; and Uncle Monty's lisp. An added bonus on The Bad Beginning is a wildly funny interview between Leonard Marcus and Daniel Handler (who is actually suspected to be the author, Lemony Snicket!) that will have kids longing for more. To extend the fun, each audiobook is decked out with an appropriate theme song by the Gothic Archies. Listeners should be prepared to settle in for some serious frivolity! T.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine -This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. |
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Kirkus Reviews (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
The Baudelaire childrenViolet, 14, Klaus, 12, and baby Sunnyare exceedingly ill-fated; Snicket extracts both humor and horror from their situation, as he gleefully puts them through one terrible ordeal after another. After receiving the news that their parents died in a fire, the three hapless orphans are delivered into the care of Count Olaf, who ``is either a third cousin four times removed, or a fourth cousin three times removed.'' The villainous Count Olaf is morally depraved and generally mean, and only takes in the downtrodden yet valiant children so that he can figure out a way to separate them from their considerable inheritance. The youngsters are able to escape his clutches at the end, but since this is the first installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there will be more ghastly doings. Written with old-fashioned flair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish: the Baudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters who encounter a multitude of distressing situations. Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 10-12) - Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. |
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Kirkus Reviews (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
"Written with old-fashioned flair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish: the Baudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters who encounter a multitude of distressing situations. Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun." -Kirkus Reviews -This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Victoria Mulder (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
You wouldn't buy this book if you know what's good for you. It's the beginning of an obsession that I still cannot come to terms with. Only if you are brave and noble, should you dare to lay your hands on The Bad Beginning. Because Lemony is not joking. It does things to you. Not just this book, but the whole series. They've changed my life to the point I lay awake at night-tossing and turning trying to solve every mystery by researching ever secret I can get my hands on. But it's all for the better. Please read this series. We need every Volunteer we can get to be able to make the world quiet again. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
If you are the type of person who blames everyone but yourself for the evils of the world, by all means DON'T read these books. However, if you have a healthy sense of reality and humor (or want to raise children who will!) then read and enjoy these delightful tales.
Lemony Snicket writes for all those kids who know that adults aren't always on their side. His stories are funny, a little creepy and always interesting. The Baudelaire children are the best of what boy and girl heros in books should be and the adults, well, the adults might just be portrayed a little too accurately for some grown-ups to handle. As most children know, adults don't always do what's right, aren't always to be trusted and don't always believe what a child tells them. Reading some of the negative reviews here, some adults would prefer that children not know this. Silly grown-ups, your children already know far more than you understand.
My daughter and I have read book the first and are rapidly demolishing book the second. They are smart books the way Roald Dahl books are smart. The author explains a lot of words or phrases, but not, in my opinion, in a "dumbing down" way. Many of the explainations are useful even for adults who know what the words already mean... for example, the explaination of "literal" vs. "figurative" in book the first.
Enjoy the books and read them along with your kids. You'll be amazed at how much this writing stikes a chord with them! |
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Jenny (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
The novel, "The Bad Beginning", is a story by Lemony Snicket. It begins as a terrible start that leads three wealthy children in to the hand of unfortunate events. The children get adopted in to a terrible man named Count Oalf. He mistreats the children so bad that it could cost them their lives! They are in danger and in need of help until they find someone loving and caring lady. But is she really all that or is he another one of Count Olaf's friends ready to kill them for their huge fortune?
In this novel there are four main characters named Count Oalf, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. The children are very likeable and active. Violet Baudilar likes machinery and she wants to be an inventor when she grows up. Klaus Baudilar wants to read, read, read, all day long. Sunny (the baby) Baudilar wants to chew chew, chew, 247. Count Oalf the most dislikable character, is ugly mean and sloppy. Since the novel is very mysterious and mean the theme must be "You can t always get what you want." Lemony Sniket may have some words that a 4th grader may not understand but he has the definition beside it. I can't stand that because you can figure it out as you read that paragraph the word is in. I was very satisfied with the ending it left me in suspicion about what would happen to them next. Or were there lives would lead them. They never tell you what happens to Count Oalf.... Most people would not like the ending because it is not a, "Then they lived happily ever after." kind of ending....
Lemony Snicket keeps the reader so into the book you would not want to put it down. It tells every question you would want to know if you were confused. He tells very brief descriptions and helps keeps you on task (he will never let you get bored) the way the novel is written. You can fell how the other characters are felling because he gives you real life situations. I think that ages 8-14 would enjoy reading this book because it is not to babyish or to old to put the book down. It is interesting and enjoyable to read. I would prefer kids with imagination and adventurous minds and love to read. I guarantee that if you are all the above you would pick up this book enjoy it, love it, and buy it. He has so far 9 series out so go to your nearest bookstore and buy it before it is to late!!... |
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Tony (MSL quote), USA
<2008-02-15 00:00>
I give this book five stars because:
1. It makes you want to keep reading
2. Its humorous
3. Its entertaining and interesting to read
4. The author has a great sense of humor
5. The author uses descriptive words
Violet, Sunny and Klaus Baudelaire are three very unlucky children. When their parents perished in a fire, they thought life couldn't get any worse. They were wrong. When the three children are sent to live with a distant relative, they had hoped their luck was about to change for the better. Unfortunately, they had reckoned without Count Olaf and his diabolically fiendish scheme to steal the children's inheritance.
The Series of Unfortunate Events are books that are very different to the typical image of children's literature. As the narrator says, "There is no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and there are very few happy things in the middle." The author uses a great sense of humor and depending on how you focus upon the book, it can either be depressing or very funny. I personally found it very good and interesting to read. Even though some of the things that happen to the three orphans are just plain awful, it still makes me want to read more and more.
The characters are both entertaining. Count Olaf is dangerously evil. The Baudelaires are intelligent, clever, resourceful children who enjoying reading and inventing. No matter what happens, they will always find some solution to their problems, even though more bad things are just around the corner.
This book is really fun to read and very interesting. I recommend this book to all kids of all ages. Whoever reads this book will enjoy it and when they start reading it, I bet they wouldn't want to put it down. |
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1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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