I absolutely loved this book. It's a bit dark and violent, and the adults aren't always good (or that bright), but there are positive adults and the kids are fantastic and funny. I think parents may want to read with the kids so if the kids are bothered the book can be discussed.

I've listened to all of the books in this series. The audiotapes read by Tim Curry (most of them) are superb, as his characterizations are very skillful. This book and this series deals with the dreadful theme of how ordinary people cooperate with evil rather than deal with the painful consequences of opposing it. Because the Beaudelaires are helpless children who suffer the consequences of passivity and complacency of the adults around them (many of whom are supposed to be protecting them), the painfulness of these consequences is heightened. Thus, the morality is helpful, if dreadful.

My two children (6 and 8) and myself all enjoyed this book although they did get a little concerned when chapters ended on a particularly precarious note. Questions were raised about what would happen if they became orphans, and who they could turn to for help should they need it. The style of writing was refreshing, and my 8 year old enjoyed repeating interesting words she hadn't come across before.

While the creative and descriptive language would help any youth expand their vocab, sometimes it was a bit too much. The constant sence of tragedy, sadness and fear was a bit overwhelming too. My husband loved this book, but having seen some frightening things myself growing up I could not recomend this to any child under 12. A full comprehension of reality and imaginary is needed.

Highly intelligent and well-written.

I dont like the book that much because it doesnt have a good beginning. Its not well thought out. Especially for the orphans. I cant believe the author would make such a sad book. Nah,if you are going to read it Dont!

I really like this book. Although parents may dislike some of the weird and dark humor, kids eight and up should be able to enjoy this somber yet funny book.

This was a good book and series and very apporprite! There is nothing 2 worry about exept children will find out that not everything is happiy ever after like the storys say! I reed the hole series and i think u should 2 it is great and Lemondy Snicket (athor) Is a great writer and mentions himself in the stroy sometimes but he is not the mail charitar! Witch is really talented most athers cant do that unless they r the main charitar!

this is an amazing book!!! i swear someone covered my hands in super glue it was so hard to put down!!! however for kids that are sensitive it might be hard and tear inducing due to the fact there parents die and they struggle the whole book. it is very humorous for everyone and very educational!!! it has words that i never would have known before this book!!! bottom line:lemony snicket is a GENIUS!!!

If you are interested in stories with happy ending, you would be better off reading some other book. In this Book, not only is there an unhappy begging but also an unhappy ending. In this story it includes three children Violet who was 14 years of age, Clause who is 13 and the youngest Sunny who is 3 years old. The children’s parents have perished in a terrible fire, destroying all of there home and are sent to live with Count Olaf, a greedy man who is after the Bauldelaire fortune. While under the roof of Count Olaf they are forced to do unpleasant jobs and share one lumpy bed. Count Olaf is performing a play called the marvelous marriage Olaf is acting as the husband and Violet is the bride what the audience does not know is that they are actually getting married by having a judge there and her legal guardians permission and signing a piece of paper in their hands, Violet is getting forced to marry Olaf as Sunny is trapped in a cage as hostage. Violet is not really married to Olaf as she did not sign in her hand she signed with her left hand and not her right hand, which means she did not sign in her hand. The Children get taken away from Olaf and off to their new homes.

The story of the Baudilaire children is one I have read twice over! The first captivating installment of the Series of Unfortunate Events will make you want to read the rest.

I love this series! It shows how to cope with adversity and has great, lovable characters that make you want to invent, read, and bite! A must-read! Snicket's a genius!

this is a really good, and i absolutly love the series. but make sure you know your kid and how they react to things. there is a bit of "sexuality" you could call it, nothing physical but the villians comment on Violet sometimes. violence is an iffy, but klaus does get hit, sunny is trapped in a birdcage dangling from a tower, there are death threats, the death of the baudelaire's parents, and having to live with evil people. count olaf and his troup drink a lot of wine, but thats about it for achohol, and the "good" guys look upon it in disgust and the author gives it a negative veiw. there is no swearing, but when the orphans turn somewhere for help, adults (though maybe unintentionally) are made to look stupid, and that they NEVER believe the orphans. i would tell my kids that the law isnt like that and if their is such a problem police and etc will help. but all around a great book!

This is one of my favorite books ever to be on the face of the planet! But there is lots of violence for anyone under 9 years old. Also Count Olaf's friends drink lots of wine when they come over.

If you enjoy reading about devastating fires that destroy homes and parents, evil relatives, plots to steal fortunes, plays about marriage, itchy clothing, and cold porridge for breakfast, then this book is for you. This is the kind of humor all throughout the book series that Lemony Snicket uses. He writes in a fashion to discourage readers, but these are very good books. If you've read the back of the first book and put it down and didn't think about it for a few months (as I did), then you should reconsider. To me, at first, the book seem uninteresting and depressing, but once I started it, I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading the series. I very anxiously awaited The Slippery Slope, and when I got it for Christmas when it came out, I was estatic and read the whole book that day. I then anxiously awaited The Grim Grotto and bought it at a book fair at my school. Something similar to that happened for The Penultimate Peril, and I am a little saddened by The End of the series, but waiting for The End is unbearable! I hope Count Olaf, the evil villain that you grow to hate from the beginning of Book the First, is put to an untimely demise, a phrase which here means, dies a very unpleasant death.

The Lemony Snicket books are funny, dark, have a decidedly evil villian and 3 likable protagonists. If you can get through the first 3, which are, admittedly, quite similar, and the four, which I found dull, you'll be rewarded with a great series. I only hope the last book doesn't end with the Baudelaire's deaths.

Clever, entertaining, and fun for all ages- who can read and don't mind loads of humorous gloominess in their books.

I love the Lemony Snicket series! I will say that the books have so bad language, but not much, and are depressing and misfortunete, but still good and entertaining. Children 8+ could enjoy the series.

i love the intelligent manner of the books Lemony Snicket is awesome!

dont waste your time. Why would anyone want to read something so pathetic and negative??