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chavagrenville's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Pedophilia
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I was so incredibly lucky to get the first 6 books of this series in the delightful 25th anniversary editions on an author's evening with Lemony Snicket himself :3 I cannot state just how lovely he was, so many fantastic stories! And these editions, just absolutely breathtaking! Emily Gravett did an excellent job with them.
I think we all know these books, even if you haven't read them (yet!). I read these as a kid back in the early 2000s, lost my old copies though so I grew up re-watching the film to give me my fix (Yes, I know it's really bad... I can't help but love it still though in it's own, quirky book chopping ways :3). It's been so long I've practically forgotten all of the stuff from the books so getting the opportunity to re-read them is such a delight!
I was pretty surprised by how short and light on character development this was though. I guess iirc it was originally made to be 13 books so I guess I should look at it like that, but if I went into this with no additional context, no history, etc I don't think I'd get as hooked into it from this starter alone. But I think nowadays it's pretty hard to separate it's fame from what it is, and we have all 13 books out to binge read at once so I don't think that's much of an issue at all to be honest.
Characters are just as loveable and creative as always, the writing is very creative and while it might repeat a bit too many things (like for example, if one of the kids does something while another of the kids isn't there, what they did will get repeated back even though it only happened a page or so ago). The humour was dry, but in a very good way - the classic Snicket way.
One thing I've never really realised before though about these is somehow despite being so incredibly dark and heavy with it's topics while being also humorous, it does actually handle the topics pretty well. The abuse itself isn't a joke, nor are the after-effects, and it doesn't feel like tonal whiplash either. I also get it's the whole "the kids have severely bad luck" but children being ignored and "parents know best" in this is sadly pretty realistic. It's not until the abuser slips up and shows themselves in-front of others that people actually take note finally.
I do really recommend this though, and if you're looking for some beautiful covers look no further than these 25th anniversary ones, my favourite so far has to be the second book with the snake wrapping around both sides though, it's so cool!
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief
ssweeny's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
- 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
We are continuing with the series as a family!
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
wuthrinheights's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
authorannafaundez's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Confinement
caitlin_123a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
alyvia_jeane's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Grief, and Bullying
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Pedophilia
maggieoc_x's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Confinement, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The tone of the story is charming and peppered with conversational notes for children on vocabulary and grammar ("vocabulary and grammar", in this sense means, the words that are used, and in which order, so that they make good sense.) I laughed at parts of the story such as when a child is reading late at night and is so tired that he repeats the same part over and repeats the same part over and repeats the same part over.
I find it a little irksome that to have scary adult characters they lean into the body horror, caricaturing an amputee with two hooks for hands and a fat, gender indeterminate person with white eyes. It's a bit circus freakshow, and challenges my desire for positive representation of Disability. Call me a snowflake, I dare you.
For a book that ostensibly has nothing but unfortunate happenings, sad beginnings, and sad endings, I was still not surprised that the children use their extensive resourcefulness to solve problems. It would be utterly unengaging if there was no hope, but the whole point is that these children are relatively irrepressible (which means that compared to most people, they don't let unfortunate or difficult things stop them). Yes the ending faces them with a new valamity, but such is the way with serial stories.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Bullying