A Box of Unfortunate Events

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1-4

by Lemony Snicket

#1 The Bad Beginning #2 The reptile Room #3 The Wide Window #4 The Miserable Mill

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Family, Horror

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2002

About the author

Lemony Snicket had an unusual education and a perplexing youth and now endures a despondent adulthood. His previous published works include the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Composer is Dead, and 13 Words. His new series is All The Wrong Questions.

For A Series of Unfortunate Events:
www.lemonysnicket.com

For All The Wrong Questions:
www.lemonysnicketlibrary.com

Reviews

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars based on average of each individual book

[Angela Maria Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

New "A Series of Unfortunate Events" BookTube video!

BookTube Discussion on 1-3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sUJP...
BookTube Discussion on 4-6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjE3h...

I am *so* excited for the Netflix adaptation!
Happy Reading!

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I liked their bad beginning, Uncle Monty, and Incredibly Deadly Viper!
But things get flat with Aunt Josephine, and uninteresting in the lumber mill.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Series of Unfortunate Events
(Books 1-5)
What if your parents died and a terrible actor chased you from place to place trying to steal your fortune? I read the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and I learned the outcome of just that. The genre of this book is fiction, now I say fiction loosely because it is mostly realistic fiction with some elements of fantasy. This book is about the Baudelaire orphans, their parents die in a terrible fire. They are placed in the care of Count Olaf, a terrible man (and actor) who becomes obsessed with trying to take their fortune. He follows them from guardian to guardian using outrageous schemes in an effort to steal their fortune. This is a great book series, the author writes in such a queer way. He tells us constantly that this is a sad book, that we would be better off reading something else, and if we expected a happy ending then we were wasting our time. Another interesting thing the author does is he spoils the book for us. He will tell us right at the beginning that a character dies or that something the Baudelaires assumed is wrong. I will say that it is supposed to be a pretty sad story what with all the deaths, yet it is kind of comdeic. The author makes jokes, develops his characters, and plans out his story well. Overall this is a good series. The story is ridiculous yet realistic, with the most outrageous scenarios. There are also little bits of the bigger story hidden within the books. I recommend this series to any readers of fiction who like a little fantasy. The story doesn’t quite make realistic sense, yet it does. Anyone who is looking for a funny story with a good overall theme should read this series.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia at it’s best

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the movie, liked it a lot, and decided to read the books. I'm now halfway through number three and enjoying them quite a bit. I think that if I were an elementary school teacher, I would joyfully read these books out loud to my students. They are very cleverly written, and contain lots of good teaching moments (vocabulary, spelling, grammar, etc.) sewn beautifully into the story. Each book begins with the warning that if the reader is looking for a happy, cheerful story, they have chosen wrongly. The books are true to this warning, but not too macabre for little children, I think. Maybe I would have to be a sixth grade teacher. :) They are written as if the author himself is witnessing and experiencing the plight of the Baudelaire children and thus feels obligated to record their story. Therefore, his own commentary of the events pops up every so often and almost always gets me laughing.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, it's really entertaining and almost depressing. just when you think that things are going to turn out good for them someone just happens to turn that around. the only thing that i didn't like was that it makes there caretaker seem like an idiot, but that does make sense if the writer is trying to make the children seem much smarter. another thing that i really liked was that for some parts it seems to be breaking the fourth wall because the book will momentarily talk to the reader, and even right off the bat the narrator tells you to look away. all through the book is a roller coaster of emotions. i definitely think that other people should read this series. there is a show that is this series and it is also very good and you should watch that too.

[Mac Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread. I put it as the first four books since they’re so short. So good, Tim Curry is a wonderful narrator. I love everything about these books, would change absolutely nothing, and they have a very fond place in my heart. It feels like coming home to read to these books. Thanks for writing these.

[Kendra Haarmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these when I was younger. Really quirky and creative plots and characters. Very distinct writing style, great mystery and suspense. The series is really long though.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase the first FOUR books of Series of Unfortunate Events here for just $40!

These books are kids classics for a reason, I read them growing up and love to read them once a year even now just because they're so magical and beautiful. It is a world I love to immerse myself in again and again - and I highly recommend you do too (adults and kids alike).

Brooke - The Book Grocer

[Jann Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved these books. went to have 1 autographed and 'Lemony' was kind of a dick - embarrassed me in front of the line of people. still love the books, just not the author! 😄

[Crew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Occasionally when I go into bookstores I peruse the children’s section looking for good kids books. I do it because I sometimes hope to find books that are as good as Harry Potter, you know, written for kids, so they are clean, yet written well enough for adults to enjoy as well. In my perusing, I found the books by Lemony Snicket entitled, “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” A few years before they became terribly popular. I read the first few, but then my sister stole them from me, and I have yet to finish them. They are great short stories. They are not written on the same level as Harry Potter, but good nonetheless. It is about three children, who go to the beach and when they return home their house is burned down, with their parents inside, (the author does warn you that it is in fact a “series of unfortunate events”). They end up inheriting a fortune, and one of their uncles spends the series trying to steal the fortune. In each installment the children go to live with a different relative, who I am sorry to say usually ends up being killed by the evil uncle. It doesn’t sound very happy, but Mr. Snicket does such a good job of writing, that it is very enjoyable to read. I wouldn’t mind reading them aloud to a group of kids.

Excerpted from my blog: http://swertfeger.blogspot.com/2004/0...

[Amairami Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to people who would like to read realistic fiction. This book is very interesting. The reason is because it is about the some kids who's parents have died. So they had to go live with relatives. But a man named count olaf is trying to steel there money. ( There parents were rich and wants there parents money. ) And so in this story they went to live in a place called Lucky Smells Lumbermill. And they are tryin g to find there way to get away from the man I told you about clount olaf. Any way there is more to this book but if I tell you more it would be to ling to I will leave it at this so you can read it and enjoy it. ; )

[Cretinhop · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic voice! I especially loved that about this series, as well as the story, which features, if you happen to be unaware, three children who experience, this is foreseeable so I apologize, a series of unfortunate events, beginning first with the death of their parents and the loss of their mansion, and the introduction of the antagonist in the first book, The Bag Beginning. The books move quickly and easily, and, as previously stated, Lemony Snicket's voice takes you right away. I especially enjoyed his manner of defining various words.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books but the only problem is that lemony snicket always puts the stories on hold and talks about something else and then goes back to the story. In one book, I think it was the 8th one, he said 'now let me come out of this story and tell you another' and then there are 2 pages about this other random story. Then when he comes back to the book he finally says 'the whole point of this story was that this was how the siblings felt.' Like I care! I just wanted to know what happened.
Don't get me wrong, I love the books and I have read mostly all of them but he does go on and on.

[Lesly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that these 13 books in this series are the best 13 books I've ever read in my life. They are just so full of mystery, and unfortunate happenings for 3 small children, Violet, Klause, and Sunny. I recommend these books to people who don't like happy ending to books, and like cliffhangers and mysteries, because every one of these books do not leave a happy ending. They either go missing, lose someone, or get kidnapped.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading the series on a whim. As a college student, I remembered starting to read the series when I was younger and never finishing them, so this time around sh*t got serious. But as I read them, I realized how amazing these books are, especially for young ones. Lemony Snicket does a really good job of teaching kids what new words mean in a way that they'll understand, and teaches the reader a lot of really great life lessons.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing gets better and better with each book. I've been reading the books in conjunction with the new Netflix series. Although the books are far superior, I like the actors they chose for the most part, especially Violet, Klaus and Sonny. The message of the series also parallels what is happening in our country right now. "Life is a conundrum of esoterica."

[Skarlett.Perdaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the suspension it has it makes me feel like I want to read more. It is very fascinating thinking of all the trouble the Baudelaires they have gone through. I love how Lemony Snicket adds a little of his life into it and what he thinks. I love the series "A Series of Unfortunate Events", recommend for people to read the series.

[Paige Coker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lemony Snicket takes a different approach and style in his writing techniques and I'm all for it. Snicket makes it feel like he's talking to you and he's not holding anything back. In the books you get the Bauldaliers story but you also get his story. His books are ones you can't put down, and worth your time.

[Cd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I needed a new audiobook to listen to whole my hands are busy working. I like children's literature because I don't have to think to hard, and well, cuz I am kindof of a big kid :P
So far these are quite entertaining. Tim Curry is great to listen to

[Brian Kilonsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long enire series first couple books are the best. The last few books aren't as good. Thrilling series that keeps you geussing. Will start to lose you at the end though. You will end by feeling for the characters and will want to read on.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are super short but great kid books. I remember when I needed a series to keep me busy other than the ever so popular goosebumps. In my humble opinion this series is better than any goosebumps story!

[Megan Krause · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series when I was 6th grade. I was obsessed with them. It was adventure after adventure. I remember not being able to put the books down. It was full of adventure, suspense, and emotions. I would read them again.

[Maggie Dore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rating it how much I would have rated it when I read it. I remember saying that this book is the best out of all of them, especially the end. It killed me!

Anyways, it has been a while since I've read this, but I remember saying how good it is.
I loved it.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the first three books to be annoyingly repetitive, but the fourth had some nice changes to it. The characters are fun, but it gets tiring of dealing with so many shitty adults who keep ignoring the kids.

[Obviouslyobscure · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the series, and was really excited to see how it all turned out, but the last book gave a VERY unsatisfying ending.

[Capri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I read a lot of children's books, this book was written on a level that was too elemantary. It kept having definitions of words that are very commonly used. I got bored and never finished!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this series and loved it. My sister Heidi is way into it. Did you like this book? Tell me about it! It kinda seems juvenile.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is really good.A lot of bad things happen to the main charactors. The author, Lemony Snicket(David Handler) is a very good author.