The Bad Beginning Review

In the way a Shakespearean tragedy makes you feel better about the events of your own life while using a masterful diction, such is the case in Snickett's The Bad Beginning, the first in a long series of unfortunate events that plague his protaganists, the Baudelaire orphans. Like all in the series, this book focuses on the miserable lives of the Baudelaires in the aftermath of a terrible fire that claims the lives of their parents. In a world that seems terribly unfriendly and unjust to children, the Baudelaires learn to draw upon each other when they are faced with their new guardian - a treacherous man named Count Olaf who schemes to steal the orphans inheritance.

While some events are sad, granted, the series has earned it's reputation for being extremely accesible by children. Snickett's keen focus on reading and vocabulary as a necessary skill in his plots helps encourage young readers to continue reading, and helps to build a strong vocabulary, not to mentioning an immensely entertaining story-line, extremely clever literary devices, and references to dozens upon dozens of famous authors.

A lot of value in a short read.