YOUth Review: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

The book that started the whole A Series of Unfortunate Events series.

The Bad Beginning is about three children who lose their parents in a horrible house fire. The three orphans, (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire) go to live with their closest living relative Count Olaf. But it turns out he is an evil man who only wants their fortune.

I love this book. I think this is a great first book for this series, it explains what the whole series is about perfectly. I love how Snicket writes. It’s like you’re reading a 1920s old-timey mystery book. I also love how Lemony Snicket is the narrator and a character in the books. One of the downsides of this book (and this series) though is sometimes the narrator will spoil a big thing that happens next in the book. But this is a
book you can read over and over again because it’s that good. I’ve probably read it like 3 times.

This is a good book for people getting into reading because it has a good pacing and isn’t a hard read. The book uses big words at times but Snicket always explains the big words and expressions some might not understand. The book also explains heavy themes such as death and grief.

If you’ve watched the show or watched the 2004 movie and you liked it then you should definitely read the books they’re based on, because they’re so awesome! I recommend this book (and the series) if you like Charlotte's Web or Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Review written by Carol H.