NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
Dear Reader,
If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and this one may be the worst of them all.If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.
With all due respect,
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"This book has to be one of my favourites out of the whole series of unfortunate events. This one really captures you straight away and gets you thinking. It is great for younger chilren (8 years and above)because it so descriptive but easy to read and understand at the same time. I srongly recomend you give these a go and hopefully you will enjoy them as much as i did! There is something about this particular book in the series that really made me not want to put the book down! Great series but you need to read from number 1 to understand the story fully, the series would make a wonderful present for a child because i do think this book is aimed at younger people."
— Daisy (4 out of 5 stars)
“These stories require a hefty suspension of belief on occasion, but that’s part of what makes them so much fun.”
— Barnes & Noble, editorial review“An interesting mix of Gothic suspense and desolation, didactic lessons, and the age-old conflict between good and evil…Snicket’s narration is surprisingly good; his narrator voice has just the right neutral tone, rising and falling in pitch with each plot twist.”
— AudioFile“Bold narration, dark humor, exaggerated emotions and dialogue, humorously stereotypical characters…And a few harrowing escapes make up the giddy, preposterous plot, full of hurricanes and leeches, a peg-legged pirate, and a place called Curdled Cave. Children and fortunate adults will relish the good-natured wordplay…A darkly humorous, look-out-for-the-next-one novel.”
— Kirkus Reviews" Read these with the kids when they first came out "
— Kelly, 2/17/2014" Aunt Josephine is the best character I've read about in a while. "
— Regina, 2/15/2014" The Series of Unfortunate Events are my other childhood favs. They were what got me reading as well as the Goosebumps collection! "
— A., 2/8/2014" This book is full of adventure and mysterious, so if you like adventure come and join Klaus, Violet, and Sunny on their adventure. "
— Mhuang17, 1/27/2014" In The Bad Beginning, things, well, begin badly for the three Baudelaire orphans. And sadly, events only worsen in The Reptile Room. In the third in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, there is still no hope on the horizon for these poor children. Their adventures are exciting and memorable, but, as the author points out, "exciting and memorable like being chased by a werewolf through a field of thorny bushes at midnight with nobody around to help you." This story begins when the orphans are being escorted by the well-meaning Mr. Poe to yet another distant relative who has agreed to take them in since their parents were killed in a horrible fire. Aunt Josephine, their new guardian, is their second cousin's sister-in-law, and she is afraid of everything. Her house (perched precariously on a cliff above Lake Lachrymose) is freezing because she is afraid of the radiator exploding, she eats cold cucumber soup because she's afraid of the stove, and she doesn't answer the telephone due to potential electrocution dangers. Her greatest joy in life is grammar, however, and when it comes to the proper use of the English language, she is fearless. But just when she should be the most fearful--when Count Olaf creeps his way back to find the Baudelaire orphans and steal their fortune--she somehow lets her guard down. Once again, it is up to Violet, Klaus, and Sunny to get themselves out of danger. Will they succeed? We haven't the stomach to tell you. (Ages 9 to 12) --Karin Snelson "
— Al, 1/26/2014" Somewhat lacking, similar to book 2. "
— Jake, 1/2/2014" It's not so much an odd thing that these books can jump from something prosperous to something so down and horrible. Living with Aunt Josephine would have been a nightmarish thing but still it could have worked once she overcame all her fears and actually recognised 'Captain Sham' for who he really was. The children are marvelous and so well thought out characters that you can't wait to see just what they will do next and what they will invent, read and bite. This book had cryptic moments and I love an element of mystery. These books only continue that theme throughout and it pulls you in, wanting to read more and more. "
— Erin, 12/20/2013" It was very good.I loved it. "
— Anthony, 12/6/2013" Listened to audio version read by the author. Took a bit to get used to his voice after Tim Curry but then I came to like his reading very much. "
— Phair, 11/30/2013" This is probably my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed cracking the code of the note and their Aunt's silly fears. "
— Heather, 10/22/2013" this book is very good, its an adventure book "
— Maycie, 10/4/2013" The third in the series.[return]The Baudelaire children are now staying with their aunt Josephine who lives in a house on stilts high above Lake Lachrymose. Of course, Count Olaf appears yet again. "
— Thalia, 9/24/2013" All i can say is AWESOME. "
— Sierra, 7/17/2013" With another new gaurdian ,the chldren think she is a bit crazy, they start towonder if they will ever get rid of that evil charicter that haunts thier every waking. "
— Lizzy, 7/14/2013" Each Baudelaire is smart in different ways...They are so lucky. "
— Norah, 7/7/2013" I just got this book at a crazy sale and in such good condition. I'm so excited, can't wait to read it! "
— Sheero, 7/27/2012" This book wasn't as good as the first two books. This is because one of the characters was extremely odd. This took away from the story. "
— Bre, 4/18/2012" It was not exactly what i was expecting, although it was very entertaining. "
— Sameera, 4/13/2012" A little less imaginative; perhaps I'd set too high a standard after the first two books. "
— Satyabrat, 8/6/2011" I read this in elementery school and can only remember that it was great...guess i have to read it again=) "
— Akire12, 9/22/2010" Meh. It was okay. I'm kind of getting sick of this series, though. It just seems to repeat itself. "
— Weird, 11/21/2007" Haven't read this in years, so I can't review it properly. But it was a little slower and the new characters weren't as interesting or as likable compared to the last entry. Still good though, with a a nice setpiece towards it's conclusion. 3/5 "
— Jack, 10/29/2007" love the book....love the movie.... "
— ijul, 11/22/2006" Loved it. But the audiobook is narrated by the author, and amazingly he's not as dynamic a reader as the narrator of the first two books. "
— Tricia, 9/26/2006" This one is a very interesting book, but the author is reading it, and he has very slight voice changes, but we are still enjoying it. I can't help but wonder how much better it would have been if Tim Curry had read it. "
— smalls, 2/26/2005" Good series! This one was a little odd and sad. "
— Trevor, 1/25/2005" I enjoyed this book much more than the first two. Book #1 is a little too cruel, book #2 is a little too sad. I feel like Snicket is hitting his stride with his particular brand of sardonic humor. Also I enjoyed the mystery and location of this book enough to feel a little more engaged in the world. "
— Michael, 12/17/2004Lemony Snicket is the pen name of Daniel Handler, the author of several children’s biographies, including A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Composer Is Dead.