The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13)
by Lemony Snicket
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childrens-books
In the final pages of The End, the recently-released final volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events, Klaus Baudelaire announces his intention to read the novels of P. G. Wodehouse. I like seeing a shout out to my favorite writer, and I could see how Plum’s influence is evident throughout the series. Both are farcical writers, and both rely more on the telling than the tale to entertain the reader. I have read that Wodehouse would labor over his prose, trying to pack a joke into every sentence:...more
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2006,
childrens--young-adult
Paige's Review:
I have decided to do these all together because that is easiest, but I have things to say about various books.
First, I think the fourth book was the hardest to get through. This is because all the first four books feel exactly the same. Hooray for book five and the Quagmire triplets! It always felt good when something nice happened to our young heroes. I feel from the there the story continued improving for several reasons.
First, it was good to know the Baudelaire's ha...more
I have decided to do these all together because that is easiest, but I have things to say about various books.
First, I think the fourth book was the hardest to get through. This is because all the first four books feel exactly the same. Hooray for book five and the Quagmire triplets! It always felt good when something nice happened to our young heroes. I feel from the there the story continued improving for several reasons.
First, it was good to know the Baudelaire's ha...more
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Humans
I can never say enough good things about Daniel Handler, or his fictional pseudonym, Lemony Snicket.
These books aren't just some of the best books for children to come along in years, these are some of the funniest most compelling, intelligent and layered books EVER.
An easy way to look at the concept for this series would be to say that they are an unconventional children's series designed to buck the established traditions in kid's lit. The stories are on the surface unhappy, the bad g...more
These books aren't just some of the best books for children to come along in years, these are some of the funniest most compelling, intelligent and layered books EVER.
An easy way to look at the concept for this series would be to say that they are an unconventional children's series designed to buck the established traditions in kid's lit. The stories are on the surface unhappy, the bad g...more
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Read in January, 2007
"A Series of Unfortunate Events" is brilliantly written, and though disturbing, you will not be able to stop reading the next in the series and the next and the next. You somehow feel driven to know what happens to the poor Baudelaire orphans. Every time something finally starts working out for them, the bottom falls out and they find themselves in even more dire circumstances than previously. After the mysterious death of their parents in a fire, the three children are shuffled form...more
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What I have enjoyed throughout this series is the way the author makes the reader think. By think I mean, research, investigate and remember important events, words, etc. You are encouraged to keep a journal to write down your thoughts and insights. It is dark humour and probably appropriate for about age 8 and up depending on the sensitivity of the child. It does deal with some sad things like the fact that our protagonists become orphans and the adults are either trying to off them or are too...more
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bookshelves:
girl-heroes,
ya-lit
Read in January, 2006
Basically, this book is about how kids are hella smart, and adults just don't give them enough cred. The Baudelaire children have just become the Baudelaire orphans, and everything bad that could ever befall them happen in this series. Each child has a skill: Violet is a brilliant inventor, Klaus is a bookwork with an incredible memory, and Sunny has razor-sharp teeth. Together, they are the ultimate machine.
There is mystery, multiple attempts at murder, serious pun-action, and a gothic oversh...more
There is mystery, multiple attempts at murder, serious pun-action, and a gothic oversh...more
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Read in May, 2005
I started reading the Limony Snicket books when Nick was studying for the bar the first time around. We were living with his family, and I was having a bit of a hard time--not having my own space, etc. I finished reading the books after Stacy died.
So now you have the backdrop of my life while reading these. While a work of fiction, the three characters became my friends. They were friends who made me laugh when times were tough. I loved their ingenious ideas, using their own unique gift...more
So now you have the backdrop of my life while reading these. While a work of fiction, the three characters became my friends. They were friends who made me laugh when times were tough. I loved their ingenious ideas, using their own unique gift...more
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bookshelves:
childrens--youngadult
I have decided to do these all together because that is easiest, but I have things to say about various books.
First, I think the fourth book was the hardest to get through. This is because all the first four books feel exactly the same. Hooray for book five and the Quagmire triplets! It always felt good when something nice happened to our young heroes. I feel from the there the story continued improving for several reasons.
First, it was good to know the Baudelaire's had friends.
S...more
First, I think the fourth book was the hardest to get through. This is because all the first four books feel exactly the same. Hooray for book five and the Quagmire triplets! It always felt good when something nice happened to our young heroes. I feel from the there the story continued improving for several reasons.
First, it was good to know the Baudelaire's had friends.
S...more
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2 comments
bookshelves:
best-books-ever-
Read in January, 2007
1. The children find out their parents have perished in a terrible fire.
2. The children go to stay with their Uncle Monty, and expert in snakes, who also has a library of knowledge.
3. Aunt Josephine takes the children under her wing, who lost all confidence after her husband was murderered.
4. The children are forced to work at a lumbermill.
5. The children move to a boarding school where they meet another set of triplets.
6. The children stay with their loving relations, Jerome and Esme,...more
2. The children go to stay with their Uncle Monty, and expert in snakes, who also has a library of knowledge.
3. Aunt Josephine takes the children under her wing, who lost all confidence after her husband was murderered.
4. The children are forced to work at a lumbermill.
5. The children move to a boarding school where they meet another set of triplets.
6. The children stay with their loving relations, Jerome and Esme,...more
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Read in September, 2006
I began reading the series after the first 12 had been released. I read #13 as soon as it came out. I think that the strength with this series is in its entity as a series.
For example, in the first books, there's a dichotomy between good and evil, but as the children go through their series of unfortunate events, morality becomes blurred. This was one of the things I admired most about the books.
In addition, Sunny is one of the most interesting and overlooked characters in the series, e...more
For example, in the first books, there's a dichotomy between good and evil, but as the children go through their series of unfortunate events, morality becomes blurred. This was one of the things I admired most about the books.
In addition, Sunny is one of the most interesting and overlooked characters in the series, e...more
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childrensliterature
I adore this series. When it was still incomplete, I had kids (4th graders) every year who ate them up. They loved exploring them, seeking out clues. The ancilary books (the autobiography, the Beatrice Letters) and the web additions were incredibly fun and clever, in my opinion.
These work bcause of the language, word play, mystery (we still haven't learned much more about the narrator and I'm still convinced we are to learn more one day somehow), literary references (to every sort of lit...more
These work bcause of the language, word play, mystery (we still haven't learned much more about the narrator and I'm still convinced we are to learn more one day somehow), literary references (to every sort of lit...more
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Though the premise is interesting, what killed it for me with this series was the writing style. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to be witty, but instead came across to me as really condescending and annoying. In particular, what annoyed me most was the explanations of random terms. I'm sure the author thought he was being so entertaining and funny, but it got annoying very quickly. It got to the point that if I saw one coming, I would just skip that part. Plus, it becomes more and...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommended to Noretta by:
Mostly Likely my 4th grade teacherrecommends it for: 10 and up
Well I read the books 1-9 in fourth grade and 10-13 in 5th grade. I have to say, Lemoney Snicket is probably my favorite author. These are my top 20 fav books! My favorite book out of these series is the last one, "The End". It ends so sad.........unfortunate events. It turns out Count Olaf was like a good person but evil. It's hard to explain really. A lot of sad things happen 1-13 to the Bauldilares (I'm close by spelling their lastname right.) Every family member that they met-dead!...more
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Read in October, 2006
Overall I am glad I read this series, although I absolutely hated the last book. Snicket's wry style hooked me from the beginning and kept me going through some of the early books (which tend to drag a little due to the repetitive nature of the earlier books). The overall plot of the series is well laid out and really starts to hit its stride around book 6. I loved that the characters started to grow and develop at that point as well. The books deal with some important themes and raise great que...more
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bookshelves:
young-adult-lit
Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
teens
#1: The Bad Beginning; #2: The Reptile Room; #3: The Wide Window; #4: The Miserable Mill; #5: The Austere Academy; #6: The Erstz Elevator; #7: The Vile Village; #8: The Hostile Hospital; #9: The Carnivorous Carnival; #10: The Slippery Slope; #11: The Grim Grotto; #12: The Penultimate Peril; #13: The End
After the three Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny) lose their parents in a house fire, they experience so much misfortune and so many narrow escapes from the evil Coun...more
After the three Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny) lose their parents in a house fire, they experience so much misfortune and so many narrow escapes from the evil Coun...more
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bookshelves:
light_hearted
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
perpetual pessimists
what to say about a series whose title says it all? very wittily-written prose and nonsensical...nonsense at the same time. if you don't have a kid in you and don't have the ability to pull yourself out of the dark depths of your psyche, then don't read these books. even the author advises you to walk away, bury them in a deep dark hole and let the worms eat the pages. i don't exaggerate.
but despite the absurdly depressing stories and repetitive formula of the plot...i ended up liking it...more
but despite the absurdly depressing stories and repetitive formula of the plot...i ended up liking it...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommended to Tamra by:
Shambryrecommends it for: ANYONE!
LOVED this series. I got introduced to it when there were only 9 books published. I read all 9 in a 3 day period. They are fast, easy, and clever reads that are highly entertaining.
I also love that he makes his bad and good guys so complex. In a lot of children's literature, bad and good are pretty black and white. Almost all of these characters are some shade of grey, and I think that's pretty realistic.
I was disappointed that #13 didn't wrap up how I wanted it to. But that, also...more
I also love that he makes his bad and good guys so complex. In a lot of children's literature, bad and good are pretty black and white. Almost all of these characters are some shade of grey, and I think that's pretty realistic.
I was disappointed that #13 didn't wrap up how I wanted it to. But that, also...more
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Read in January, 2002
recommends it for:
Everyone!!
The way Mr. Sniket writes his books is unipue.You never can find out when the fantasy ends & when reality starts.The only criticism-in my opinion-is that sometimes the explanation is too much that makes the reader bored.And another thing -which I would like you to say if its an advantage or disadvantage- is that in some parts the events that happend have such stupid reasons that make it hard for the reader to believe:that could really happen.The series have a kind of attraction that makes yo...more
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این کتاب ها، یکم اعصاب آدم رو خورد میکنه! ولی خوندنیه! نویسنده اصرار داره بگه که کتابی که میخونیم اتفاق خوبی توش نمیوفته، ولی هر قسمت قهرمان ها نجات پیدا میکنن! داستان حول و هوش مسائل مزخرفی میگذره! خوندنش تا قبل از 15 سالگی توصیه میشه ولی بعد از 15 سالگی میفهمید چه چرتی خوندید! دا...more
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