Review: Series of Unfortunate Events 1 & 2

 Lemony Snicket
 Series of Unfortunate Events

Yes, I've decided to do the Netflix challenge and reread the books before I binge on the new show.
with 13 books, and being easy reads (easy as in the writing. these books are not easy - they are very sad) I get through them very quick so my reviews may feature 1 or 2 at a time.

Book the First: The Bad Beginning 

In which we meet the Baudelaire children: Violet, Klaus and Sunny. They have just been told that a fire has destroyed their home, and their parents have perished in the fire as well. 

As per their parents wishes, they are to live with relatives until Violet becomes of age and can take claim to the family fortune.


The only relative that lives close by is a distant uncle of sorts, a Count Olaf.
He is a terrible man.

He is an actor, who's friends are equally ugly and terrible (both in personality and in acting skills).

Throughout the story the children encounter many unfortunate things: the fire, to start, itchy clothes, rude children, one bedroom to share, disgusting food, belittlement from Olaf and his friends, a bird cage, and an inappropriate marriage proposal.

The children are creative though.

Violet is an inventor. You can tell she is inventing when she pulls her hair back with a red ribbon.
Klaus is the brains, and is always reading everything and anything.
Sunny, being only a baby, has marvelous teeth that bite.

The children manage to escape from Olaf's wandering eye for now...

Book the Second: The Reptile Room 

If you thought the first book was sad, please do not continue. Snicket does warn us enough that these children do not get to find happiness. 

With Olaf on the run, Mr Poe who is the Baudelaire's family executor, is in charge of finding the next closest relative. 

That would be Montgomery Montgomery, or Uncle Monty as he prefers. 

He is on his way to Peru, and is happy to take the children along with him. His reason? Snakes. 

With his new assistant starting next week, Uncle Monty sees no reason why this trip should not go according to plan. 

However, if you'll remember that this is not a happy story. 

Snicket's writing is absolutely amazing. He is quick witted, explains his vocabulary through his writing and tells a story so beautifully that as much as your heart aches for these children, you cannot help but read on. 

Who knows, maybe we're all just masochists? 

The best thing about these stories are the things that he gets away with that are absolutely brilliant. Such as a whole page of saying "ever" to explain that you never ever, ever, ever should do what Violet is about to do. 

Unless you know how. 

or are her. 

As someone who has read them before, I will tell you that they just get better as you go along.
But of course, the events that unfold are very unfortunate.