Like a car alarm, bagpipe music, or a doorbell ringing in the middle of the night, hearing this all-new audio edition of The Bad Beginning will only upset you. This unique multi-voice recording brings the first book in Lemony Snicket's alarming A Series of Unfortunate Events to such terrible life that no one should really have to experience it. Unless you have an ear for such ghastly details as a tragic fire, a nefarious villain, itchy clothing, and cold porridge for breakfast, all narrated in chilly detail by the distinguished, and disturbed, Tim Curry with a team of talented readers, you would be better off listening to something else.
"A good children book, and a nice beginning, I must admit that the character the author has invented for himself, Lemony Snicket, a gatherer of evidences about the Orphan's story, is something that interested me more than the actual story at first but the story kept me entertained and put a smile on my face at times and made me want to read the sequel. The writing style is endearing, fast paced, I did learn a new word thanks to this book... what was it ? Ah, yes. Incentive ! Also, I must point out, I'm french, and english is not my native language, so the author way of explaining some words could be a tad bothersome to a some adults, but I think it's a good way for kids to learned new words, that they don't particulary have a change to hear from adults, and more importantly, they get to learn them used in a simple sentence, something that you might not find by looking a word up in the dictionnary. The plot is introduced at the very beginning, so no time for me (or kids) to get bored, which is good, the character are simple, there's not too many of them. It's a good children book, and Snicket world is interesting, and I can't wait to plunge in it more deeply !
P.S.: I teach english to french children, and that definitely a book I'd recommend for an easy first read.
Oh, and I almost forgot, the illustrations were enjoyable, I especialy liked the one on the cover of the book, good use of colour."
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Lola (4 out of 5 stars)