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alesehunter's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, and Child abuse
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A dark children’s book but not so dark that it’s inappropriate. Definitely check the content warnings and make sure you feel this series is appropriate for your child’s age. But there is no cursing or mature content.m; it’s just dark and has realistically scary things.
We are continuing with the series as a family!
We are continuing with the series as a family!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
ladypalutena's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's been over fifteen years since I last read A Series of Unfortunate Events. I was obsessed with this series in middle school, going so far as to beg my parents to get me a Bellsouth email address so I could create my own website all about VFD. That site is long gone now, of course, but listening to this book (thank you, Tim Curry) brings it all back.
These books are a lot shorter than I remember them being - they look big on the shelves, but there are several illustrations and the margins are really wide. This first book is only two and a half hours long as an audiobook.
These books are bleak. And I know it's a series of "unfortunate" events, but it's even worse than I remember. Every single adult in the Baudelaires' lives fails them, in every single way. Mr. Poe is more than useless, and only picks Count Olaf as guardian because he lives in the same city, and they can stay in the same school system. However, never once in this book do the Baudelaires go to school. They spend it being slaves to Count Olaf.
Listening to this as an adult makes me furious. How dare every single adult turn their back on these kids? They've lost their parents and their homes, and they've lost every single one of their friends.
Tim Curry's narration in this book is great.
These books are a lot shorter than I remember them being - they look big on the shelves, but there are several illustrations and the margins are really wide. This first book is only two and a half hours long as an audiobook.
These books are bleak. And I know it's a series of "unfortunate" events, but it's even worse than I remember. Every single adult in the Baudelaires' lives fails them, in every single way. Mr. Poe is more than useless, and only picks Count Olaf as guardian because he lives in the same city, and they can stay in the same school system. However, never once in this book do the Baudelaires go to school. They spend it being slaves to Count Olaf.
Listening to this as an adult makes me furious. How dare every single adult turn their back on these kids? They've lost their parents and their homes, and they've lost every single one of their friends.
Tim Curry's narration in this book is great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
wuthrinheights's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was obsessed with this series as a kid. I've lost count of how many times I've watched the movie, and for many years, I've been collecting the books. I just realised my collection is complete by now so I started reading it from the first book.
It has been too long since I read this, so I forgot a lot of details, but the one thing I remember (and loved) about Lemony Snicket is how great his voice is. His writing is incredibly unique and unforgettable. It's eloquent, whimsical, humorous, and informative. I love how he would teach idioms or phrases, or explain what certain words would mean in between telling this tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans.
The Bad Beginning was an incredible start to this fantastic series. It is (as per his warnings in every chance he could sneak in) terribly miserable and frustrating. From losing their parents at a young age to getting adopted by this unknown relative who abused them, to having adult friends who were of no help at all, it makes me want to weep for these three beautiful, smart, kind children. I know it's a series of unfortunate events, but my God. It truly is unfortunate.
It has been too long since I read this, so I forgot a lot of details, but the one thing I remember (and loved) about Lemony Snicket is how great his voice is. His writing is incredibly unique and unforgettable. It's eloquent, whimsical, humorous, and informative. I love how he would teach idioms or phrases, or explain what certain words would mean in between telling this tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans.
The Bad Beginning was an incredible start to this fantastic series. It is (as per his warnings in every chance he could sneak in) terribly miserable and frustrating. From losing their parents at a young age to getting adopted by this unknown relative who abused them, to having adult friends who were of no help at all, it makes me want to weep for these three beautiful, smart, kind children. I know it's a series of unfortunate events, but my God. It truly is unfortunate.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Addiction, Death of parent, Incest, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Torture, Sexual harassment, Violence, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Slavery
icedcoffeeandbookss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a fun time. Maybe I shouldn’t say fun, but it was. The mystery of what was going to happen was exciting. It kept me reading when I didn’t love certain parts of the writing. But even those parts I didn’t like, I see why they were in the book. For example, when Snicket describes words he uses and the repetition of a line, etc. I liked the narration too, where Snicket popped into the book too. Also, I loved Justice Strauss! She reminded me of Miss Honey from Matilda and I loved her as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
brooketreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Read this with one of my daughters. She gives it a 4 out of 5 stars.
I give it a 2 out of 5 stars - so I am meeting in the middle for the marked star rating.
I will say, I’ve never read the books. I did watch the movie as a teen and then the Netflix series when it first came out. But, this hit different listening to it with one of my kids.
I love that the audiobooks are read by Tim Curry. And that’s where my positives end.
This felt so problematic for me… and by that I mean it is.
- their parents die
- their children placed with creepy (supposedly) distant relative
- kids treated like servants
- child abuse
- a literal adult man who is supposedly distant relative tries to trick a wedding between him and eldest daughter… who is 14?!
- threats of murder
Probably more ya’ll (I felt like there were a couple inappropriate insinuations)
All this to say, that I’m not encouraging anyone to not allow their children to read this. Just know what your kids are reading and be prepared to talk with them about its contents.
I give it a 2 out of 5 stars - so I am meeting in the middle for the marked star rating.
I will say, I’ve never read the books. I did watch the movie as a teen and then the Netflix series when it first came out. But, this hit different listening to it with one of my kids.
I love that the audiobooks are read by Tim Curry. And that’s where my positives end.
This felt so problematic for me… and by that I mean it is.
- their parents die
- their children placed with creepy (supposedly) distant relative
- kids treated like servants
- child abuse
- a literal adult man who is supposedly distant relative tries to trick a wedding between him and eldest daughter… who is 14?!
- threats of murder
Probably more ya’ll (I felt like there were a couple inappropriate insinuations)
All this to say, that I’m not encouraging anyone to not allow their children to read this. Just know what your kids are reading and be prepared to talk with them about its contents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Child abuse
violet_viper's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
authorannafaundez's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I first read this book (and series) when I was a kid in the early 2000s. After a read as an adult, I'm sure this book (and its counterparts) had a great impact on my vocabulary! So many definitions were inserted into the book in a unique and fun way that didn't detract from the story.
The narrator, despite the sad story, felt kind. I'm a firm believer that children's books should talk about difficult topics, and A Series of Unfortunate Events does that well without leaving the reader feeling hopeless and defeated. That takes talent.
The narrator, despite the sad story, felt kind. I'm a firm believer that children's books should talk about difficult topics, and A Series of Unfortunate Events does that well without leaving the reader feeling hopeless and defeated. That takes talent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Confinement
staceyinthesticks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Child abuse
freesiaelect's review against another edition
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse