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

by Lemony Snicket

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.