The Bad Beginning

Last night my wife finished the latest "chapter" book we've been reading to Duncan just before he goes to bed. We take turns. One chapter a night. It was The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. This is the first in the series. I think there are currently about 11 of them, with more planned. They all have that double-word-starts-with-the-same-letter title. Others include The Slippery Slope, The Reptile Room and The Wide Window. You get the idea. Or you can buy them all together as The Cumbersome Collection

When I finished the last Harry Potter book, we discussed other good childrens books. I was told by my sister-in-law that there was a complete series of Lemony Snicket books. Luckily she had them (about 9 of them at that time), so I just initially borrowed the first three, but since then I've read all 11. They are a unique size, hardback, with uneven cut pages and with several illustrations throughout the book. I'm guessing that they are aimed at readers about ten years old or older.

So what are they about? To quote the start of the editorial review on Amazon for the Bad Beginning:

The Bad Beginning begins badly for the three Baudelaire children, and then gets worse. Their misfortunes begin one gray day on Briny Beach when Mr. Poe tells them that their parents perished in a fire that destroyed their whole house.

And indeed it does just get worst. The evil villain in the stories is Count Olaf, who is trying to get the kids family fortune. He and his gang of henchmen (sorry, henchpeople), try plot after dastardly plot to achieve this. The books are filled with a cast of supporting people who just can't see the predicaments that the three youngsters are in.

I found the first one or two refreshingly different from what I'd read before. I liked the way that the author took a new word, and described what it meant in the context it was currently being used. A tad too specifically which was humourous. I like the way that Sunny, the "baby", could say a single unintelligable word and the other two children immediately knew the complete sentence that she's just conveyed. I could even understand the black humor that is percolating through these books. I wondered if children could appreciate it that way though.

But then the same old plot repeats and repeats. Evil people. Dastardly plan. Children in peril. Stupid supporting cast. Misery and woe. It got very tiresome.

One thing I will say is that the author makes it very clear what you are in for:

Dear Reader,
I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe.

So it's you're own fault if you buy the book and read it expecting happy and wonderful things to happen.

When my wife finished the book last night, and Duncan realized that there was no happy ending and that the unfortunate adventures would continue in the next book, his eyes went wide. I don't think he was too happy about that. I will add that he picked this book out of the school library himself. I suspect he won't be following it up with the second in the series though.

I'm now curious. To the parents out there who have children that have read these books; did they enjoy them? Are they avidly waiting the next book in the series with the same urgency as people do for the new Harry Potter books?

And I see there is now a film coming. And books based on the film based on the books. Will the misery never end?

[Technorati Tag: books]

( Nov 18 2004, 07:37:34 AM PST ) [Listen] Permalink