Three Charming Children and an Abominable Uncle

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are three very happy children. They live in a gorgeous mansion overlooking the ocean with their devoted parents. One day, however, their idyllic life takes a tragic turn. While playing on the beach, the children are distressed to discover that their home has gone up in flames with their parents inside. Now, after a brief stay with a friend of the family who has very disagreeable children, the Baudelaires are off to live with an uncle whom they have never met. Perhaps he will be a very pleasant person who lives in a lovely house and loves children. Or, perhaps not.

Author Lemony Snicket warns his readers time and again that if they are looking for a happy story, this is not the place to find it. He inserts his admonishments in a most amusing fashion, and the reader cannot help but tread the further pages with trepidation. The children have landed themselves into the icy fingers of a repulsive man who calls himself a Count and lives in a broken-down home that feels like a dungeon. The three youngsters are forced to share one bed and are given a pile of rocks to play with. Some fun.

We soon learn that Violet has a passion for inventing things, Klaus has a passion for reading things, and the infant, Sunny, has a passion for biting things. Her baby comments are translated with much wit throughout the book. Lemony Snicket clearly has a passion for words, and it seems that every other page contains a definition of one type or another, sometimes provided by the narration, sometimes by the educated Klaus. These asides are quite often amusing as well as educational.

It turns out the the children's uncle wants nothing more than to inherit their fortune, which is currently unavailable to them. As he forces the children to slave away on difficult household tasks, he concocts a plan to realize his dream. The clever children soon realize that the schemer is up to something, but what? The gears in their brains are operating on high gear as they seek reprieve in the house of their kindly neighbor, seeking answers in her library. Will they figure out how to outsmart their captor in time, or will the first book end in tragedy for the Baudelaire children?

This book is only the first in A Series of Unfortunate Events, so I guess it's safe to reveal that they survive. But has anything really changed for the better? This book is a series of twists and turns, presented in a hardbound edition with thick, uneven pages, which gives it a very antique feel. The book can be read in a couple of hours, and it costs about ten dollars. It's a sound investment for a book sure to bring enjoyment again and again.