The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1)

by Lemony Snicket

You and I, of course, would never do this to any of our grieving acquaintances, but it is a sad truth in life that when someone has lost a loved one, friends sometimes avoid the person, just when the presence of friends is most needed.

“And I would like to look at books on wolves,” Klaus said. “Recently I have been fascinated by the subject of wild animals of North America.”

Sunny banged on a pot with a wooden spoon, singing a rather repetitive song she had written herself.

the Fountain of Victorious Finance.

It is very useful, when one is young, to learn the difference between “literally” and “figuratively.”

If you are figuratively jumping for joy, it means you are so happy that you could jump for joy, but are saving your energy for other matters.

Olaf’s evil in loco parentis ways.

people who hate stories in which terrible things happen to small children should put this book down immediately.

“Around the time of your weasel lady,” Klaus said, flipping through the enormous book he had been reading, “a group of actors put on a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and none of them wore any clothing.” Violet blushed. “You mean they were all naked, onstage?” “Only briefly,” Klaus said, smiling. “The police came and shut down the production. I don’t think that’s very helpful, either. It was just pretty interesting to read about.”

All his life, Klaus had believed that if you read enough books you could solve any problem, but now he wasn’t so sure.

In my room, for instance, I have gathered a collection of objects that are important to me, including a dusty accordion on which I can play a few sad songs, a large bundle of notes on the activities of the Baudelaire orphans, and a blurry photograph, taken a very long time ago, of a woman whose name is Beatrice. These are items that are very precious and dear to me.

Violet stroked Sunny’s hair and murmured that everything was all right. But of course, everything was not all right. Everything was all wrong.

“Oh my word! I get to wear makeup.” Justice Strauss had on a dreamy expression, as if she were about to be crowned queen, instead of just having some powders and creams smeared on her face.

They didn’t understand it, but like so many unfortunate events in life, just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it isn’t so.