A Series of Unfortunate Events

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1-12

by Lemony Snicket

Experience Snicket in the worst way possible: from the very beginning. Here are twelve books contained in four boxes in one terrible shipment -- complete with four unfortunate gifts.

The first twelve books in Snicket's disturbing serial are slipcased in four handsome boxes that will take readers from the very bad beginning of this upsetting story right through to the calamitous conclusion of the second-to-last book. The Horrendous Heap also contains four gifts, more upsetting than an itchy sweater in an unflattering color, including:

A full-color print of one of Brett Helquist's most worrying illustrations, suitable for framing or burying in the backyard. A door-hanger, designed to keep unfortunate events out of any room with a door. A full page of black-and-white stickers, fit for sticking wherever unfortunate events arise. An iron-on, which can render any piece of clothing a part of the uniform of a secret organization.

Please be warned. This offering is a great deal of misfortune. Lemony Snicket advises against the reading, framing, hanging, sticking, or wearing of unfortunate events. In fact, you might be better off ordering a less horrendous heap, if you prefer that sort of thing.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adventure

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Lemony Snicket had an unusual education and a perplexing youth and now endures a despondent adulthood. His previous published works include the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Composer is Dead, and 13 Words. His new series is All The Wrong Questions.

For A Series of Unfortunate Events:
www.lemonysnicket.com

For All The Wrong Questions:
www.lemonysnicketlibrary.com

Reviews

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these books while I was in middle school, and I read them as fast as my mother would buy them for me. I really enjoyed them and was so excited to find out the answers to all the mysteries in the characters lives. When I finished the last book I wanted to slap someone. I couldn't believe that I read all those books and never got to find out what was going on. It was this exciting goose chase that lead to a dead end. I can't say I hate the books because I really did enjoy them, I just wish the series would have ended differently.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the entire series, include the "unlucky" Book the 13th. Lost the whole set in the fire. Loved them all. These books are delightful. Clever and funny, they will expand your vocabulary, improve your grammar, sharpen your wit, enlarge your understanding of idiomatic phrases while entertaining you. Sunny Baudelaire, the youngest of the three children (my favorite), speaks in apparent gibberish for most of the series, but her baby-talk is taken from other languages, another educational device. Violet, the eldest, is an inventor, whose use of simple machines to create life-saving devices, teaches the reader about mechanical engineering. And the middle child, Klause, is a voracious reader who recalls parts of classic novels and reference tomes to unravel mysteries and cryptic messages.

I don't recommend reading them in quick succession though, because the negative bent of the stories can wear on you. We're so used to things turning out alright in the end, this series is frustrating because there is no resolution in sight for these characters. They go from the pan to the fire and back again, over and over. Another annoying aspect is that none of the adults is ever of any real help to the children, even if they have a good heart. They're all useless in one way or another. If the kids ever ended up in the care of a responsible adult, that adult disappears or is killed. The others are rendered useless be a single personal credo to which they cling so rigidly that they cannot make adjustments to suit even urgent or dire situations. However, that said, if the author didn't use those literary constructs, the children would probably not keep falling into harms way and the stories would come to a dull end.

[Meredith Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

These aren't the best because of the story line. In fact, after the first three if your reading for a great plot you'll be let down. The writing and the reading experience, however, is so good I didn't care that the plot was repetitive. I loved these books! However, the author did let me down as I neared the end. It ends with no real hope for good in the characters or in the world, which I think is untrue to the start of the series and a worthless/disengaging message to give to children, teens, or adults.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was good, but the rest are to similiar to it. I knew exactly what was going to happen before I even picked up the book. :-(

[Janina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all the books of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' from #1~13, I loved this book when I was a child
I remember my friends recommending it to me, and I think the plot is very cool :)

[Holly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these books in middle school and decided to read them again at 33… because I’m an adult and I’ll do what I want. They were my absolute favorite books as a kid and I still enjoyed them as an adult even if they are way below my reading level. They are some very unique books and I actually enjoy greatly that they don’t end it with a pretty bow.. but very ambiguously.

[Kaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the Series of Unfortunate Events. The reason why I like the series so much is that each story makes me want to read more. I could probably sit and read the whole series. The author creates a lot of suspense at the end of each chapter. This book made me feel really bad about the 3 children, and what they had to go through. I would recommend the series to anyone at any age.

[Stevi K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this series as a kid and LOVED IT!!

[Jennifer Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started reading these in 4th or 5th grade. Absolutely loved them and can't wait to share them with my kids.

[Emma Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wait, you can review 1-12? What about book 13? Why on earth does this exist?

[Not Well Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bad Beginning ★★★★

The Reptile Room ★★★★

The Wide Window ★★★★

The Miserable Mill ★★★☆

The Austere Academy ★★★

The Ersatz Elevator ★★★

The Vile Village ★★★

The Hostile Hospital ★★★★

The Carnivorous Carnival ★★★★

The Slippery Slope ★★★★

The Grim Grotto ★★★★

The Penultimate Peril ★★★★

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Series of Unfortunate Events was the first book series that really sparked my love and passion for reading. I was so intrigued with the mysterious fortune and all the devious deeds surrounding the Baudelaire family, especially the secrets of a mysterious fire that were slowly revealed throughout the series. Lemony Snicket left so many little hints in his drawings and chapters that I was inseparable from the story at the very start. I really can’t imagine my love of reading starting without these books and I’m so glad I discovered them all those years ago! I think people of all ages can find something to love about these books even now, so I highly recommend giving them a try!

[Gwennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first few books, and kept plugging along, even when disappointed. Overall, this series was great fun, and the language and wordplay kept me coming back for more. I hated Book the 13th...and have reviewed it seperately for that reason. Favorite quote from Lemony Snicket? "Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like."

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series. There is some obvious and some subtle humor. I love the mysterious persona "Lemony Snicket" and his enormous vocabulary and extraordinary thesaurus skills. I loved the progression from bad to worse and slowly catching glimmers of hope until the ambiguous ending. My favorite thing about these books, however, were the literary allusions throughout ("Call me Ish," for example. I giggled out loud!)

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all Lemony Snicket books. // I may have been too old for these; after awhile, they seemed to grate on me. A bit repetitious and formulaic, perhaps. Humorous; quirky; dark and different. I liked them initially, but my enthusiasm fizzled toward the end of the series. Young teens/pre-teens would surely appreciate them more [than an old lady like me].

[Iveth Martínez · Rating 5 out of 5]

3,248 páginas donde sentí amor, obsesión, frustración, enfado, tristeza, alegría y un sinfín de emociones muy diversas a lo largo de esta hermosa saga.
Es una historia completamente diferente: trágica, pero a la vez bastante hilarante. Jamás leí una historia tan larga, ni tampoco sentí tantas cosas. Sé que no son los mejores libros, pero cómo no amarlos? Ellos dejaron huella en mi. ❤️

[Tracy]

I have read books 1-3 and hoping to get to the rest soon!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 13-book set is a simple, easy read. The author has a great sense of the absurd and these are worth reading just for that. However, the series ending was a true disappointment. What a shame.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series! The author is very witty and makes the books entertaining for adults as well as children.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are so much fun.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all of these books and I thought they were amazing!!! I never knew what was going to happen next!!!

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids enjoyed them.

[Linda Cerna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series!! It will always be a part of my childhood!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best kids writer i've crossed since Pullman - hot favourite of both myself and my ten year old daughter.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite go-to fun novels as a child. love

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favorite books are in this collection.

[Katerina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too fond of these books.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like all of it

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it A LOT until I got to the last book. I was very disappointed with the ending.