Journal Entry 1 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Saturday, December 30, 2006

I read this book once before but I wanted to re-read before I start A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket book spiral.

The books are quick reads and written such that both adults and children can enjoy.

From Our Editors
The Bad Beginning is actually a great beginning. It's the first book in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, a wonderfully different and disastrous children's story starring three highly unlucky siblings. In this first book, readers are introduced to the unfortunate Baudelaire children -- 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus, and their infant sister, Sunny -- when they learn they've just been orphaned by a terrible house fire.
The executor of the Baudelaire estate -- a phlegm-plagued banker named Mr. Poe -- sends the children to live with a distant relative: a conniving and dastardly villain named Count Olaf, who has designs on the Baudelaire fortune. Count Olaf uses the children as slave labor, provides horrid accommodations for them, and makes them cook huge meals for him and his acting troupe, a bunch of odd-looking, renegade good-for-nothings. When the children are commandeered to appear in Count Olaf's new play, they grow suspicious and soon learn that the play is not the innocent performance it seems but rather a scheme cooked up by Olaf to help him gain control of the children's millions.

All this bad luck does provide for both great fun and great learning opportunities, however. Violet is a budding McGyver whose inventions help the children in their quest, Klaus possesses a great deal of book smarts, and Sunny -- whose only real ability is an incredibly strong bite -- provides moral support and frequent comedy relief. Then there are the many amusing word definitions, colloquialisms, clichés, hackneyed phrases, and other snippets of language provided by the narrator (a character in his own right) that can't help but expand readers' vocabularies. Though the Baudelaire children suffer myriad hardships and setbacks, in the end they do manage to outsmart and expose Olaf's devious ways. But of course, with luck like theirs, it's a given that Olaf will escape and return to torment them again some day. If only misery was always this much fun. (Beth Amos)


From the Publisher
Within the pages of this novel, readers will discover one of the books upon which the movie Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is based: The Bad Beginning. Like the movie, this book tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children, who despite being clever and charming lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very beginning of this volume, when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing onto the last page of this distressing story, disaster lurks at their heels. Unlike the movie, however, this book is printed on paper.

Count Olaf is not only smart, he is also intelligent. A renowned, talented, and handsome actor, he certainly could have his choice of marrying any number of beautiful women, but for the time being remains single and, sadly, childless. Fans of theatrics should watch for the name "Count Olaf" on marquees and in local newspapers everywhere.

P.S. He is also very good-looking.


About the Author:


Lemony Snicket was born before you were, and is likely to die before you as well. His family has roots in a part of the country which is now underwater, and his childhood was spent in the relative splendor of the Snicket Villa which has since become a factory, a fortress and a pharmacy and is now, alas, someone else's villa.

To the untrained eye, Mr. Snicket's hometown would not appear to be filled with secrets. Untrained eyes have been wrong before. The aftermath of the scandal was swift, brutal and inaccurately reported in the periodicals of the day. It is true, however, that Mr. Snicket was stripped of several awards by the reigning authorities, including Honorable Mention, the Grey Ribbon and First Runner Up. The High Council reached a convenient if questionable verdict and Mr. Snicket found himself in exile.

Though his formal training was chiefly in rhetorical analysis, he has spent the last several eras researching the travails of the Baudelaire orphans. This project, being published serially by HarperCollins, takes him to the scenes of numerous crimes, often during the off-season. Eternally pursued and insatiably inquisitive, a hermit and a nomad, Mr. Snicket wishes you nothing but the best.

 

Journal Entry 2 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Such a nice change from children's books that are about all the good things that happen to children.

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are intelligent children with an evil relative after their fortune, a banker in charge of their destiny, and very very bad luck.

Good read. This is being released as part of the Celebrate Life Challenge. This is in celebration of the children in my life. 

Journal Entry 3 by NMReader at Post Office in by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (1/19/2007 UTC) at Post Office in by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I will be mailing over my lunch to heartsong2

Left on the list to read
Luintaurien
bigcurlyloz
AnglersRest
cross-patch
Mary-T
ladybug74 

Journal Entry 4 by heartsong2 on Thursday, January 25, 2007

Arrived today! Thank you! This will be fun! 

Journal Entry 5 by heartsong2 on Sunday, January 28, 2007

JE by heartsong2's son NS:

This is a freaky book! My favorite part is when Violet has to marry Count Olaf. But Violet is so smart that she doesn't marry him. If I tell how she gets out of it I'll be giving it away.

Now it's mom's turn! 

Journal Entry 6 by heartsong2 on Monday, January 29, 2007

This book spiral is going to be great fun! I just completed book #1 and I love the sarcastic humor and writing style. It is also very fun to be able to talk about the stories with my son! He keeps asking me "what's happening now" and I have to remind him not to give away any secrets! On to book 2! 

Journal Entry 7 by heartsong2 on Saturday, February 03, 2007

Posted on to missprisy this am!

Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 8 by missprisy from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA on Thursday, February 08, 2007

Arrived today, will start by this weekend. I'm excited to read these books. 

Journal Entry 9 by missprisy from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA on Sunday, February 11, 2007

Journal Entry 10 by TaleofGenji from North Jersey, New Jersey USA on Saturday, February 17, 2007

Arrived today! Looking forward to starting tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 11 by TaleofGenji from North Jersey, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, February 20, 2007

At first I was going nuts with the author giving definitions for everything but I'm starting to look forward to them. It was a fun read. Having seen the movie I knew what to expect. I look forward to the rest of the series when we get into unknown plot. Moving onto book 2. 

Journal Entry 12 by TaleofGenji from North Jersey, New Jersey USA on Sunday, February 25, 2007

Putting in the mail Monday. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 13 by collectorkerri from Springfield, Illinois USA on Sunday, March 04, 2007

Received yesterday. Will read ASAP. 

Journal Entry 14 by collectorkerri from Springfield, Illinois USA on Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Like Ctychic, I was a little annoyed by the author's habit of defining random words, but then I remembered that it's a children's book. I really enjoyed how intelligent this book is and look forward to many more of the series.

Sent on to the next reader today. 

Journal Entry 15 by katintheboots from Ventura, California USA on Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Today has been an interesting day for me, with both some disheartening and good news. As I walked to the mailbox this evening, I was wishing that I'd have a little BC package waiting for me. And I did! Nothing like a little BC pick-me-up to make my day.

Like NMReader, I've read this book before, but this is the only book I've read in the series and that was several years ago, so I figure it's worth a quick re-read before diving into the second book. 

Journal Entry 16 by katintheboots from Ventura, California USA on Friday, April 13, 2007

This was a nice quick read. I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as I did the first time around, but I'm not sure why...I'd definitely forgotten the details of the plot.

I PMd Luintaurien for an address so hopefully I will be able to ship this off when I finish the second book. 

Journal Entry 17 by katintheboots from Ventura, California USA on Monday, April 23, 2007

I sent this to Luintaurien this evening via media mail.

DC #: 0306 0320 0003 6820 6627 

Journal Entry 18 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Friday, April 27, 2007

Got this today. Will read and pass on ASAP. Have 1 book before it (Danielle Steele) that I am half done with. 

Journal Entry 19 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Great book. I really enjoyed it. Will get it out as soon as I get the next address. 

Journal Entry 20 by lostbookisland on Sunday, September 23, 2007