Synopses & Reviews
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 the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.
If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling 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,
Lemony Snicket
Review
"[H]umorously melodramatic tales." Publishers Weekly
Review
"This is 'Book the Third' in a series about the wealthy and clever but unfortunate Baudelaire children who were orphaned in a tragic fire....The writing is tongue-in-cheek John Bellairs, E. Nesbit, or Edward Eager with a little Norton Juster thrown in. The style is similar to the many books with old houses and rocky shores in Maine or Great Britain including the Edward Goreyesque illustrations. Unfortunately, the book misses the mark. The narrator is humorous but intrusive, explaining words and providing many obvious clues that surface later. Aunt Josephine's constant correction of vocabulary and grammar, while at first humorous, becomes annoying. The book is really not bad; it just tries too hard and there are so many similar books that are much better." School Library Journal
Review
"The third book in A Series of Unfortunate Events...has all the stuff of its predecessors melodrama, bold narration, dark humor, exaggerated emotions and dialogue, humorously stereotypical characters, and an overriding conflict between good and evil....Children and fortunate adults will relish the good-natured wordplay and the attempts at the heights of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll; the three likable, independent orphans wend their way through modern fairy-tale action in a darkly humorous, look-out-for-the-next-one novel." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
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 the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.
If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling 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,
Lemoney Snicket
Synopsis
Catastrophes and misfortune continue to plague the Baudelaire orphans after they're sent to live with fearful Aunt Josephine who offers little protection against Count Olaf's treachery.
Synopsis
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,
Lemony Snicket
About the Author
Lemony Snicket grew up near the sea and currently lives beneath it. To his horror and dismay, he has no wife or children, only enemies, associates, and the occasional loyal manservant. His trial has been delayed, so he is free to continue researching and recording the tragic tales of the Baudelaire orphans for HarperCollins.
Reading Group Guide
A Series of Unfortunate Events is the term HarperCollins uses to
describe a sequence of books written by Lemony Snicket concerning
the miserable plight of the three Baudelaire children at the hands of the
sinister Count Olaf. It is a
New York Times Best-selling series and has
sold hundreds of thousands of copies in North America and will soon be
appearing all over the world. This guide is a desperate attempt to stop this
travesty before it is too late. The discussion topics,suggested
reading list and author biography in this reading group guide are
intended to guide the public toward books that are less dreadful and so to
promote comfort and vitality rather than despair and anxiety in our large
and unnerving world.
Questions for Discussion:
- In The Bad Beginning, Mr.Snicket warns his readers, "If
you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would
be better off reading some other book." Yet many people
have insisted on continuing to read this book anyway. What
is wrong with such people?
- The theme of The Reptile Room might be best stated, "Look out
for Count Olaf he will try to murder you!" Why do you think
there are so few books that deal with this theme?
- In The Wide Window, the character of Aunt Josephine is fright-
ened of many things,and then a very frightening thing happens to
her. Is it useful to feel fear, because it prepares you for nasty events,
or is it useless, because nasty events will occur whether you are
frightened or not?
- The Miserable Mill brings up many
important issues of the day, including child labor
in the lumber industry, hypnotism within the medical
profession, gum-chewing, cigar-smoking, cross-dressing,
and the futility of coupons, bankers and optimism.
How does the treatment of these issues in Snicket 's
work differ from their treatment in the newspaper,
on television and in musical theater?
- Does anything in your life compare with the
anguish the Baudelaire children encounter in The Austere Academy? If so,how terrible for you.
If not, how nice. Discuss.
- In The Ersatz Elevator, Violet, Klaus and
Sunny encounter many things which are not what they
seem. Yet The Ersatz Elevator is what it seems a
book containing nothing but despair, discomfort and
woe. Discuss.
- Violet, the eldest Baudelaire child, often risks
her life when using one of her inventions in a desperate attempt to escape
Count Olaf 's treachery. Is this a proper role
model for young women?
- Klaus, the middle Baudelaire child, often finds out disturbing
information when researching Count Olaf 's evil ways.
Is this a proper role model for young men?
- Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire child, occasionally uses her four
sharp teeth in an aggressive manner, in order to defeat Count Olaf 's
dreadful behavior. Is this a proper role model for young babies?
- Each of the books in A Series of Unfortunate Events
is dedicated to Beatrice. When HarperCollins
asked Mr.Snicket about this mysterious woman,
he burst into tears and was unable to answer. Is this
an appropriate author for young readers?
- In each of Mr.Snicket 's books, there is no evidence
that Count Olaf has ever been captured by the
appropriate authorities. Is this more terrifying than
horrifying, or more horrifying than terrifying?
Discuss.
- If Count Olaf is still at large isn't it risky to attract
his attention by purchasing and reading any of Mr.
Snicket 's books? Discuss.
- Who is standing behind you right now? Discuss.