Has anyone read this series by Lemony Snicket? I think they're very interesting (if a little dark), and there are so many twists and turns! The only problem is that you never totally figure everything out.

Oh, and the humor sometimes is subtle, but, OH so funny. Hilarious.

Feel free to discuss.

I've read most of them, and I had a similar reaction. The funny parts, like the twists on words, were really funny. Count Olaf didn't convince me either, it seemed like he just kept on showing up. There wasn't much motive for him to be so persistent.

Any thoughts on why the series is so popular?

Human nature's tendency to focus on the bad things in life?

Ha ha. Maybe... I'm not exactly sure why, but I might be able to analyze more after I have finished the series. I have about 4 more books left.

Why the series is popular:

1. It makes most other people's troubles look like sunshine.

2. If you look at the political points Snicket makes, and the way he plays on some familiar misconceptions about life, reality, etc...it's REALLY satyrical! It's funny! He uses hyperbole perfectly so we can laugh at mankind's own stupidity.

3. You really ARE rooting for Baudelaires. It's like in a horror movie where the monsters won't stop chasing! You feel so sorry for the people who can't get a break, and you want to see when they finally get a break.

That basically summarizes why I'm reading them. I didn't have it defined like that, but yeah...

He manages to poke fun at oxymorons (and more!) in a backwards way that is quite entertaining.

I've seen the movie...are the books similar? Should I read them, since I did enjoy the movie (though not a favorite)?

eruheran

I think the movie is pretty good but it only covers the first 3 books and they do leave some of the parts out:( So there are still a lot more mysteries in the books. Since you liked the movie I would read the books too.

I heard that the movie basically covers the first three guardians and summarizes their mystery (like you said) in figuring out who Count Olaf really is. But there's how many books in the series?

eruheran

13. They aren't very long, I can read one in about 30 minutes.

Yeah 13, so that leaves you with 10 more books.
But I would still read the first three books.

I read the whole Series of Unfortunate Events, and I can't say I'd recommend them. I loved the movie; it was quite hilarious, and actually ended on a high note. However (it may be just me) I totally did not understand the ending, and I felt (in the books) there were a zillion of loose ends that weren't explained by the end of the series which was disappointing.

The movie covers the first three books, and I would recommend watching the movie rather then reading the books.

I watched the movie and thought it was a good time killer...but I wasn't in love with it. I haven't read the books, though, I picked up my friends copy and stopped reading by the first page.

The movie was a lot better then the books, in my opinion. And a lot funnier. Not my favourite though, like you said Bethy, a good time killer.

Granted, it's a clever story. I just wished for more answers.

*wails* I know!! I was practically jumping up and down wanting to find out what the deal was with the sugar bowl!!

I've never read the books but I have seen the movie - t'was OK, I suppose. I just liked the fact the villain had to relive all of his punishments.

eru

That was hilarious.

Ooh, I read all these books when I was younger and I loved them, they are so funny! My sister and I watched the film but it wasn't as good as the books in my opinion.

I absolutely loved this series. Lemony Snicket is the best narrator since Mark Twain.
The movie wasn't very like the books and the only thing that saved it mildly was Jim Cary and the art direction.

I like the movie but I like the books just a little better. In the second book it was funny that the author has a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter and at the beginning of the next apologizes for not getting to what happens because he had gone to a funeral and he goes into detail. I skipped over most of the narrator's distraction though(hehehee).
I've read up to book eleven and then took a break from the series. I'll probably get back to reading them soon.

I really enjoy this series, especially the last 4 books. The mysterious VFD drives me insane sometimes.... It's sad that they aren't going to make all of the books into movies...

Yes, the VFD. They puzzle me.

I haven't actually read them all, but I have skipped around in them. Everything I have read by Lemony Snicket makes me laugh maniacly. I adore the humor, the setting, and the plays on words. I would read them for "real" except that I'm afraid they don't have much value beyond their humor and exitement. I don't believe my parents would look to fondly on my reading 13 books without that...

Plus, it would probably influence my writing so much that my books would turn out like some kind of Lemony Snicket fan-fic.

The books are quite complex and thought provoking (As well as being quite dark.) I think there is much meaning in the series though it really doesn't take off till the fifth book.

Only warning though is that they are very, very miserable really, and do NOT expect a happy ending. There is none. Also the author is an atheist so if you do not want to read a book by a non christian that is something to consider and also explains to me somewhat of why his books have so many unfortunate events and he can't give the answer because of his believe in nothing.

I think I'll have to reread them this summer.

I was thinking about doing that to if I get the time. I read them when I was quite younger and they could use an older reread.

I was thinking the same thing.

@Varon - I never knew the author was an atheist.

I will assume you meant me (since I said that) and answer you.
I read in several places saying he was a "secular humanist" or " "atheist" The only source I found ready to hand is this paragraph from the Wikipedia article about him.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Handler

Oh, the unhappy endings are one of the things that amuses me. I was disappointed by the upbeat ending in the movie. That constant focus on the miserables-ness of the books (don't bother reading them, really ) entertained me to no end.

Hah, I know, me too! Funny how such depressing books can be entertaining.

A Series of Unfortunate Events was weird for me. I didn't really enjoy it, but it captivated me all the way through. I think that was what it was trying to accomplish all along. Then again, I was pretty young when I read it so most of the jokes probably flew over my head.

They are full of jokes!

I've read a couple more of the books, and I don't like them as much as I did. Things drag sometimes, always knowing that things will turn out poorly no matter what... still, though, they're pretty funny.

I read the first book, and found it dull and dreary, so I didn't read further.

Very wise of you. I found it dull and dreary too, but read the rest of them. There's so many hours of my life I'm not getting back...

I loved the series. Its so dreadfully sad while being utterly hilarious at the same time.

Reading them now that I'm older, I actually find them even funnier because I get a lot more of the hidden references to literature.

Like Isidora (and?) Duncan.

After the dancer who died? Yeah that's one of them.

My sister and I love this series. (We haven't seen the movie, though.) Particularly the audiobook versions - the reader, Tim Curry, did a phenomenal job. These books somehow manage to be both incredibly in-your-face (all the obvious foreshadowing, for instance) and incredibly subtle, with all the hidden jokes and the layers of humor and satire...the brilliance sort of sneaks up on you. I thought the first few books weren't that great...they were entertaining, at least, and funny, but around book 6 things started to get better, and then book 9 we actually had, like, a round character, and then...seriously...The Penultimate Peril was brilliant. In some ways it was disappointing that a lot of stuff was left unexplained, but I think it fits perfectly with the feeling of the books. That's one of the best parts of this series, I think - the atmosphere. The author did a great job evoking an atmosphere of slight irreality, of a bit of wrongness, of something not being quite right...But they still have flaws; I would have liked to see some more developed characters, for instance!

So yeah, these books are layered. You can enjoy them just as hilariously depressing stories, or you can start writing philosophical essays about them like I did. Anyways I need to get my thoughts in order, write a review of this series and put it on my blog.


Ditto on the complexity and meaning. And yes, by the end things get quite atheistic, relativistic, existentialist...but honestly I thought these books did a great job of demonstrating the hopelessness inherent in that kind of worldview. There is no God, and there is no absolute truth, and there is no absolute morality, and so there are no solid answers about anything. You just have to drift around hoping that you're doing something decent and that you're not misunderstanding something. For me, I like reading depressing non-Christian books because I like seeing how bleak the world would be without a loving God.


Yes. Lemony Snicket rocks. A word which here means I wish I could rip off his style.

Has anybody read any of the All the Wrong Questions series, which is about Lemony Snicket as a 12-year-old and thus set in the same universe? My sister and I listened to the first book, and we'll get around to the second. I thought it was quite fun and quite clever, too, by the end. And the few references to ASoUE were awesome. Please, please, can Dewey Denouement have a cameo...?

Goodness it's ages since I read these books. I love your thoughts on them, Sheesania.



I haven't ever heard of that! I will have to look out for it.

Good thoughts Sheesania.

I have read the first All the wrong questions but not the second yet.

Thanks guys I've been totally overanalyzing this series since I like it and because it's pretty easy to analyze - by the end all the symbolism is kind of in your face.

The only problem with All the Wrong Questions is that it implies the Great Unknown (the question mark thingy in book 11 and 13) is the Bombinating Beast, which looks pretty bad for the Quagmires, Fiona & co. Fortunately, this is the kind of author that drops hints both ways, and then you can believe whatever you want.


I caught that reference, but I never really got what the point was...What do the Quagmires have to do with Isadora Duncan? Was he just name-dropping or is there something else going on that somebody could alert me to?

I think it has to do with the fact that Isadora Duncan died a unusual and unfortunate death.

I see.