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

by Lemony Snicket

Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children must depend on each other and their wits when it turns out that the distant relative who is appointed their guardian is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune.

• ISBN10: 0062206044
• ISBN13: 9780062206046
• Publish Date: 29 May 2012 (first published 25 August 1999)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 18 February 2014
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 176
• Language: English

Reviews

Apparently violence and sexual overtones didn't bother me as much as a kid as they do rereading as an adult. The constant references to Violet being pretty and Count Olaf marrying her had me shuddering in disgust and revolting in anger. Don't have any memory of that being an issue the first few times I read this series. What I do remember is loving this series right up until I finished and found that all those unanswered questions I'd been holding onto NEVER GOT ANSWERED!!!

The first book, The Bad Beginning, introduces the three Baudelaire siblings; Violet, Klaus and Sunny. I loved Violet for her creativity and drive. I loved Klaus for his love of reading and breadth of knowledge. And I adored Sunny because she bites. The three siblings start their sad and horrible journey when their parents die in a house fire and they become heirs to the Baudelaire fortune. The executor of their parents estate, Mr Poe, sends them to live with their nearest relative within city limits, Count Olaf and from there events get unfortunate. (Yeah okay I couldn't resist.)

Count Olaf is a violent, cruel and nasty man with a penchant for drawings of eyes. He has an eye tattoo on his ankle and the entire unwelcoming house he lives in has numerous eyes on the walls and ceilings and floors. In the first book, once he realises having the children live with him won't entitle him to their money, he comes up with a plot to stage a play in which he will marry Violet for real and steal all the money. When the children figure out his plan, he puts Sunny in a bird cage and hangs her from the tower in order to force their compliance. Violet goes through with the play until Sunny is brought to them and then reveals that she never signed the marriage certificate in her own hand - being that she's right handed and signed with her left.

I liked this less than the first time I read it - as stated above, violence and sexual tones apparently didn't bother me as a kid - but it was alright I guess. It was fast paced, if sad and depressing but then you are told in the beginning that it would be so I guess it's my own fault. 3.5 stars.

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I'm not sure if it was the audiobook recording, or just a lack of memory, but this book is a lot more grim and horrible than I remembered.

And yes, I know, Lemony Snicket warns you in the blurb.  In the first words of the first chapter.  It's there out in the open that this isn't a happy book about butterflies and kittens, but I had somehow forgotten the sheer level of child abuse in this book?

Because I watched the Netflix series recently enough to have that fresh in my mind, I do remember that the rest of the series is a little less disturbing on this level, but I can't believe I hadn't noticed or at least internalized how abusive Count Olaf is to these kids.  He's set up to be a villain, and oh yes, he is villainous.  From the way he treats the children like servants and refuses to provide simple resources for them like more than one bed, to the physical abuse, to the extreme amount of emotional abuse.

It's just.

Not good.

And I know that on some level, the series is about these children securing their own liberation and taking down this horrible syndicate, but also from a completely different perspective, Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler has made a fortune on a series about children being subjected to cruelty and incompetence that would irreversibly scar them for the rest of their lives.  The abuse is sickening, and the gaslighting and emotional abuse Olaf creates is ... just... horrible.  And despite having read these before, despite knowing this, it never really sunk in until I listened to the audiobook.

Tim Curry's reading is dark and unforgiving.  Olaf isn't a bumbling villain like I've always pictured him - he is sharp and cruel and malicious. From a very technical perspective, the audiobook (even though it's a full cast) isn't great, because the volume leveling on the sound effects and music makes it loud enough to distract (and sometimes cover) narration.  But if you wanted a dark reading of this series, you've got it in Tim Curry.

I'm having a difficult time reckoning my feelings about this book.  I remember reading them growing up, and I know why Olaf is painted the way he is.  You need to hate him.  But I'm not sure I can forgive this first book for the way it behaves toward Violet, Klaus, and Sunny.  I'm just... torn, disappointed, and a little horrified.

For a breakdown on my rating, and other bookish content, please visit The Literary Phoenix
____________________

Original Review (2015): 5 Stars

[tweetybugshouse]

Reading this as I watch the Netflix series first two episodes follow pretty true to the book. Neil Patrick Harris does and excellent job play count Olaf.

[mrs_mander_reads]

Not a new read for me, but the first time I've read it aloud to a grade level. They loved, and I loved it.

[Liz (Bent Bookworm)]

~*Full series overview here on The Bent Bookworm!*~

The Bad Beginning as a title does not exaggerate. These poor kids, let me tell you. It starts off with introducing us to the Baudelaire siblings – Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – just as they’ve lost their parents. Their solicitor, Mr. Poe, is a well-meaning but incredibly thick man who has no idea how to care for children and truly seems unable to see past the end of his constantly dripping nose. The siblings go to live with the evil Count Olaf, who is somehow VERY distantly related to them (how is it their parents have SUCH weird distant relatives and no near ones?) and cares nothing for them except how to get his hands on their money, as their deceased parents were quite wealthy. They move into his horrid house, where there are treated as little better than slaves. There is some comic relief, and also a consistent ray of sunshine in the form of Count Olaf’s neighbor (who, despite being well-meaning, is just as dense as every other “good” adult in this book).

The siblings are far from being normal children. They are all extremely gifted in some form, even Sunny – who is still a baby but is able to both communicate and act on a much older level. Violet is an inventor, and Klaus is a devourer of books and therefore just a general compendium of knowledge. Are they believable? Hardly. But neither are the adults.

The dark, twisted tone of this book really surprised me. This is for children!?! There are elements of abuse of the Baudelaire kids on all kinds of levels, twisting of the law in the worst possible way…and yet, the siblings refuse to be put down and refuse to give up. They stick together and eventually overcome the evil…but the evil is still lurking…and Mr. Poe is just as dense as ever.

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[thepunktheory]

Well, when I started reading I actually found out some surprising things. First of all, I didn't know that A series of Unfortunate Events spans over 13 books and the last of them was only published 2003. Oh, and Lemony Snicket is just an invention by writer Daniel Handler, who chose it as his pen-name.
So, when I laid hands on first novel I was in love from the first moment on. Let me just say how beautifully made the books are: not only is the cover perfect, there are stunning illustrations within it. Furthermore, the pages have rough edges giving an air of Lemony Snicket writing down this dangerous and dark story on the run.
Beside a very atmospheric over-all picture, they story itself is also really exciting. I can guarantee that from the first page on you will feel for the Beaudelaire children. It's hell of a ride and after each turn a new threat seems to be lurking.
What I love about the novel is how cleverly it is written. Despite it being rather dark there is also a lot of humor and even an educational side to it!

The Bad Beginning is one of those books just won't be able to put down. I'm really glade there are many more books in the series for me to devour!

[Jyc]

★★★★ // still as ingenious and amusing as i recall it to be. i’ve always loved and enjoyed Lemony Snicket's dry sense of humor, especially when it gets borderline morbid. heh.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

A Series of Unfortunate Events is like a Pixar movie, entertaining for the kids but enough adult humor for the parents. On both ends it is very imaginative. The Baudelaire siblings are suddenly orphaned after their parents are killed in a house fire. Instead of going to the next of kin they are shuttled off to Count Olaf, a relative they have never heard of but lives the closest in distance. Count Olaf is a bit like Mommie Dearest, the perfect guardian when he has to be but behind closed doors is just plain evil, making the children do impossible chores and presenting them with only one bed. Wait a minute is this Cinderella? The real reason for his interest in the Baudelaire children is their large fortune which only the youngsters recognize because let's face it, adults are idiots.

The Bad Beginning is an excellent Beginning to a promising series. The characters are well developed and the plot, while rather unfortunate has nowhere to go but up. In truth, its a bizarre tale but I had to keep reading to learn of their tragic existence and horrific time with Olaf. The recounting of the three orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny is a very readable, unpleasant story

[boghunden]

What a peculiar story!

I'm a bit sad I didn't get to read this book as a kid, because I'm sure I would've loved it. I really enjoyed this audiobook, it had sort of a magical feeling to it. Time just flew by, and all the narrators did a pretty good job.

It was both funny and sad at the same time, I mean...three kids losing their parents and going to live with thei rather evil "uncle"? Yeah... You wouldn't think that could be a fun story, right? Well, it is!
I loved all the Baudelaire kids, and I found Mr. Poe to be the perfect villain, as well as Count Olaf. My favorite character though, would have to be the neighbour who really looked out for the kids.

I'm off to listen to the next book right this minute!

[ellieroth]

Original de: El Blog del Gato - El Extraño Gato del Cuento

RESEÑA DE TODA LA SERIE

Una cosa muy curiosa que me ha pasado tanto con los libros como con la película basada en los libros es que siempre, pero SIEMPRE, pasa algo que no dejaba terminar de leerlo o verlo. Pero esta vez, cual Lemony Snicket, cogí los libros y me encerré en un bunker bajo tierra para que nadie siquiera piense en interrumpirme. No Olaf, no VFD.

Los trece libros que conforman esta serie me los termine en un poquito más de una semana, quizá ocho días. Como dije, el primer libro ya lo había empezado antes, pero no pude continuarlo. Esta vez, empecé uno en la mañana, terminaba el siguiente en la tarde, empezaba el que le sigue en la madrugada y lo terminaba a penas despertar. Sep, casi tres libros por día. ¿Que tiene tanto de especial la serie? A pesar de que el escritor te dice una y otra vez que no leas los libros, para mi fue literalmente imposible parar.

If you're allergic to a thing, it is best not to put that thing in your mouth, particularly if the thing is cats

Una Serie de Eventos Desafortunados hasta ahora me la habían vendido como una historia tétrica o de miedo, y como soy un gato cobarde, a pesar de tener todas las ganas de leerlo, siempre lo posponia.

La historia que rodea a los desafortunados huérfanos Baudelaire, es una totalmente frustrante. En todos los apuntes que hice de mi lectura, menciona un montón de veces lo frustrante que es no saber y cuando al fin sabemos algo, un millón de misterios más se asoman. Es sumamente fácil sentirte uno de los Baudelaire.

Just knowing that they could read made the Baudelaire orphans feel as if their wretched lives could be a little brighter

Lemony Snicket juega con la mente del lector de una manera muy sutil, con detalles casi imperceptibles o que parecen al inicio de relleno o hasta sin sentido alguno, que terminan derrumbando todas tus teorías y construir infinitas más, para luego también destruir esas. Por esta clase de libro es que una a veces tiene problemas de confianza, pero es genial.

Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean that it's nonsense

Creo que la única cosa que tendría que criticar a la historia, es como empieza muy steampunk, para luego dejarlo un poquito de lado y hacerlo más época indistrual, que va perfecto con la historia, si hubiera sido ambientada en la actualidad creo que no habría funcionando.

THE WORLD IS QUIET HERE

Desde que empecé con estos libros supe que debía reseñarlos todos juntos, aun así tengo una ganas locas de soltar spoilers y teorías.

Luego de maratonearme la serie como si mi vida dependiera de eso; o quizás si, uno nunca sabe con Olaf; me aterra completamente lo que Netflix planea hacer con la historia de los huérfanos, historia que desinteresamente y con esperanza de justicia, Lemony Snicket nos cuenta.

"I don't have time to medically examine the Baudelaires, or shove my face into any best-known novels!"
"Wicked people never have time for reading. It's one of the reasons for their wickedness"

Lemony Snicket trae la desdicha, humor negro y mucha, mucha frustración y dudas a la literatura infantil. Y en el final Final, ¿descubriremos todos los misterios?

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