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.
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