Author: Lemony Snicket
Year: 1999
(A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 1)
So, as I looked on my bookshelf a couple days ago, I thought to myself which ones to go through again so I can review for you guys. The Series of Unfortunate Events obviously stood out. (there are thirteen of them after all) I thought to myself it would be a short read, and to be able to reread the entire series would allow me to pump out a lot of review pretty quickly. So, a couple minutes ago I finished A Bad Beginning, which I believe is the shortest in the series. I remember usually after each book saying each book was better than the last one, but that's how it is with a lot of books. If this is my least favorite, that's good, because this still is a nice book. It's very short, it is a children's book after all. Now that I've read, this one feels really classic, and is better than the first time I read it. The first time I hadn't thought much of it, but that's why it's the beginning of the story of the Baudelaire children, or as there more famous name the Baudelaire orphans. The story for those who haven't read the series, it is about three children, (Violet, Klaus, Sunny) and a bout their less than pleasant life after their parents perish in a terrible fire claiming their house. The orphans are soon in the hands of a man named Count Olaf (probably my favorite character in the series) and he is more worried about getting the children's large fortune than actually being a good guardian. In this book is basically the beginning, the more diverse story and character development is farther along the way. This book merely sets the stage of what happens later, and you simply meet the characters. Like for instance this is possibly Count Olaf's worst performance, but not cause he isn't a good character, but rather he for awhile is still pretending to be nice or secretive to the orphans, or just doesn't have enough screen time. But for those of you who don't know, the Series of Unfortunate Events is a very unique one, and Lemony Snicket, or should I say Daniel Handler makes a very dynamic universe that you want to know more about, and the less this guy tells you, the more you grab. I'm not joking, if you haven't read the books, this guy will tell you many times to not read it, not give you a lot of story, and the more that happens, the more you want. I'm not going to spoil anything he doesn't, and he tells you right away there won't be a happy ending. He gives you an option at one point to stop reading, and to not read more, as at that point you can assume a good ending, but you know you'll keep reading! The reason I feel the book is a little classic is at this point it feels like a old memory, it isn't really pleasant as only bad things happens, but it's a good memory under a different sense... it'll make sense when you read these books. I would recommend this series to anybody, and I think because it's such an easy read that kids will love it too. The book doesn't do much in this one specific entry, as it is a stage setter, and the characters aren't really unique yet, and I don't even think deserve the character badge. A book has to have a certain level of quality characters higher than movies, and I feel this just doesn't do it, or at least not yet, just wait, the characters will get WAY better. A Bad Beginning is a good book, and even though this entry isn't phenomenal, the series is great, and doesn't have a single bad entry despite having thirteen in the series, and I think is very underrated.
A Bad Beginning gets a 3/5
Spoilers: First off, I would like to delve more on moments that felt a little classic and I read them. Like when Violet created a grappling hook, I don't know why scenes like that were a lot better when I reread them. Also, knowing the story of how the wedding worked also helped. I noticed how many times Snicket had stated that Violet was right handed too, and I enjoyed envisioning the scene knowing she used her left hand to thwart the problem. Not exactly the most climatic story ever, but I still thought it was okay for story, and I'll know forever that you should sign important documents with my better hand. Also, now that I know the fate of so many of these characters (I don't want to give to many spoilers but a good amount die) it's good to see them again, even if I know their fate later on.
Badges
(Obtained no badges)
