A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning 雷蒙·斯尼奇的不幸历险1：悲惨的开始 ISBN9780064407663

The Baudelaire childrenViolet, 14, Klaus, 12, and baby Sunnyareexceedingly ill-fated; Snicket extracts both humor and horror fromtheir situation, as he gleefully puts them through one terribleordeal after another. After receiving the news that their parentsdied in a fire, the three hapless orphans are delivered into thecare of Count Olaf, who ``is either a third cousin four timesremoved, or a fourth cousin three times removed.'' The villainousCount Olaf is morally depraved and generally mean, and only takesin the downtrodden yet valiant children so that he can figure out away to separate them from their considerable inheritance. Theyoungsters are able to escape his clutches at the end, but sincethis is the first installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events,there will be more ghastly doings. Written with old-fashionedflair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish: theBaudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters who encountera multitude of distressing situations. Those who enjoy a littlepoison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun.

"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would bebetter off reading some other book." So cautions Snicket, theexceedingly well-mannered narrator of these two witty mock-gothicnovels featuring the misadventures of 14-year-old Violet,12-year-old Klaus and infant Sunny Baudelaire. From the first,things look unfortunate indeed for the trio: a fire destroys theirhome, killing their parents along with it; the executor of theirparents' estate, the obtuse Mr. Poe (with a son, Edgar), ignoreswhatever the children have to say; and their new guardian, CountOlaf, is determined to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune. Butby using their individual gifts (Violet's for inventing, Klaus'sfor reading and researching and baby Sunny's for biting) the threeenterprising children thwart the Count's planAfor now. The authoruses formal, Latinate language and intrusive commentary tohilarious effect, even for readers unfamiliar with the literaryconventions he parodies. The peril in which he places theBaudelaires may be frightening (Count Olaf actually follows throughon his threats of violence on several occasions), but the authorpaints the satire with such broad strokes that most readers willview it from a safe distance. Luckily for fans, the woes of theBaudelaires are far from over; readers eager for more misfortunecan turn to The Reptile Room, for an even more suspensefultale.