Lemony Snicket

[crickhollow]

Is there anyone here who is familiar with the Series of Unfortunate Events written by the elusive Lemony Snicket? I think they're great, and I especially love the author's unashamedly large vocabulary (and the way he sneaks in an explanation of the word "in case you didn't know", and the children always respond with, "well of course I know").

and besides, anyone with a nome de plume like Lemony Snicket deserves to have his (or her :rolleyes: ) books on the New York Times Bestseller list--that's fantastic!

curious? go here (http://www.lemonysnicket.com)

[katya]

oh my gosh, i need to read some of those. my friend jennifer had one with her in class, and being the annoying person that i am, i picked it up without asking her and started reading it, just to see what it was like. i surprised myself by thinking i might actually consider really reading it. i was done with about 4 chapters soon enough. i never finished it though.

[Shadowfax]

Hmm, interesting. I've never heard of those. I think I might check em out.

[TinuvielChild]

Aaaah yes! One of the most amusing and wonderful series out there! I started with the 3rd one - the Wide Window -, moved to the 5th one - the Austere Academy -, and then read them in order, starting with number one. I love how all the titles are alliterative! and the place names; I think my favorite is Lake Lachrymose.

[crickhollow]

His use of reverse psychology is uncanny! He practically begs you not to turn the page and read what happens next.

I picked up an October calender counting down the days until the release of book the ninth, the Carnivorous Carnival, and each day has suggestions, like:

- Oct 23 It might be wise to cancel your library card today
-Oct 9 Only 20 days left to make arrangements to go live in a bookless cave.
-Oct 4 Instead of reading distressing books, take up a new hobby--like taxidermy.
-or, my personal favorite, Oct 25 Leaves are probably falling. Hide under them.

[cee2lee2]

A few months back I caught a small part of an interview on NPR with "Mr. Snicket". The books sound wonderfully entertaining, but I haven't yet started on the series.

[Aeryn]

There was a question on Millionaire *Covers ears from the storm of groans* and like the hundred dollar question was the dude real name ...well I don't member the name but it is a DUDE!

[crickhollow]

I'm curious as to what the man's name really is...


*curse the 90 second rule*

found out what his name is :
Daniel Handler

[TwirlingString]

AOL has the first chapter of the latest book thats coming out.

[Duddun]

I read the first one and then I got busy and forgot about them they are really good though:D

[TwirlingString]

Have you ever visited the webpage? Its mega funnieness. There's even a copy of a interview where he insists he isnt the author.

[cee2lee2]

He did the same thing (insisting he wasn't the author) when he was interviewed on public radio. Can't remember the name of the show. But the interview was very good - somewhat serious and funny at the same time.

[cee2lee2]

Well, I finally started reading this series and I'm hooked. I have my mom reading them too. Just finished Book the Fourth The Miserable Mill.

Not only have I enjoyed the stories and dismal humour, but I like the the binding for the hardcovers. And they're just the right size -- physically, I mean (not the length of the story). Slightly wider than a paperback but not real tall. (I have this tactile thing going with reading books :D ;) ) I plan to buy them all and save them for my young nephew to read when he's older and knows how to read. :)

[Legolas_Frodo_Aragorn]

i love them! their really good...they came out with the 9th one i think. But there is going to be 13

[cee2lee2]

13 is the perfect number for this series! :)

[Ornelírë Mistë]

I read two or three, and disliked them. They were contrived and not very funny imo, and his plots seemed to follow a certain pattern.

(Elf Girl will not be back here until Friday the 30th.)

[elvenhobbit]

NOT VERY FUNNY
Its called unfourtuate for a reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I enjoy how he puts in info on his life in the metaphors.

[Eowyn, Lady of Rohan]

My dad went to collage w/ him!!!

[IronParrot]

I'm thinking of getting started on this series to get a jump on the film adaptation prior to its release. However, it is unlikely I will read the entire series (insofar as it has been published) in one go. Given that the first volume is often not by itself representative of the whole, would anyone like to make a recommendation as to how far I should expect to go to get a hang of the series?

[Nurvingiel]

I love these books, I read about three a while ago.

I didn't have too much trouble getting in to them, so you should be fine IP. :)

That's how I learnt the word "brobdingnagian". :D

[cee2lee2]

You'll get through them very quickly, so unless you get bored with the pattern of the plots, there's no reason to stop. It won't take you long to read all of them. :)

[IronParrot]

That's how I learnt the word "brobdingnagian". :D
Ooh, so he makes reference to Swift. I like the sound of this already.

[Mrs.Gimli]

The y are very funny! and good

[Mrs.Gimli]

I have read them all

[hectorberlioz]

They are THE most wonderful kids books ever concieved (besides Narnia)!!!
I've read the first five, and I've never laughed harder than when Vice Priciple Nero is playing at his violin recital, and Lemony Snicket is saying..."It is often amusing to try and guess waht inspired a composer to write a particular piece. For instance, some composers have been inspired by nature, and write symphonies imitating bird calls, or a composer might be inspired by a big city and the big lights. Apperantly in Nero's case, he'd been inspired by someone beating a cat."
Excellent, excellent :)

[hectorberlioz]

You'll get through them very quickly, so unless you get bored with the pattern of the plots, there's no reason to stop. It won't take you long to read all of them. :)


They seem repititious...and they are, but notice that they are varying a bit each time. For instance, after the first three they no longer have any relatives. And you start seeing that a lot of things are the same because of count Olaf (such as people's houses bieng burned down)....I need to read the next six!!!

[cee2lee2]

They seem repititious...and they are, but notice that they are varying a bit each time. For instance, after the first three they no longer have any relatives. And you start seeing that a lot of things are the same because of count Olaf (such as people's houses bieng burned down)....I need to read the next six!!!


I agree about the variations. I mentioned the repetition because one of my friends said the plots were starting to get "tiresome." She's still reading them though! :D And I continue to enjoy them too.

[sun-star]

I looked forward to reading these, but I only got through a couple before I gave up. They're fairly clever and funny, but very repetitive. Do they vary at all after the first few (more than in little details)? I might keep going with them, but in general I like children's books which are a bit more imaginative.

I enjoyed the film though.

[jellyfishannah]

I looked forward to reading these, but I only got through a couple before I gave up. They're fairly clever and funny, but very repetitive. Do they vary at all after the first few (more than in little details)? I might keep going with them, but in general I like children's books which are a bit more imaginative.

I enjoyed the film though.

Oh no! Don't stop after the 2nd!! I thought the first two were a bit blander then the rest. They are good, mind you. Just not near as good as #3 on.

I absolutely LOVE these books. Soooo funny. I just finished reading The Vile Village. One of my favorite things is how the author is actually somehow mixed up in the story. Very mysterious, a word which here means "Very VERY cool". :p

[Minielin]

One of my favorite things is how the author is actually somehow mixed up in the story. Very mysterious, a word which here means "Very VERY cool". :p Yes, I love how even the author (and "Lemony Snicket" is such a fun name!) is part of the plot.

[EarthBound]

What's the plan for the movies? Are they making more films with the books?

[tolkienfan]

So, has anyone read The End? I think this is an amazing series. At first I thought they were slightly repetitive, and I thought This is going to get boring with 13!
But IMO they get better. At first it seems like all black and white, good guys and bad guys. But after the ninth book especially you start asking questions like Are there any really bad guys? And then, Are there any good guys? Plus waiting for them to come out is infuriating! VFD, sugar bowl!
They are really very sad though. I guess you can't say he didn't warn me!
I also read the Unauthorized biography, which gives a lot of VFD information, and is very funny! Has anyone read The Beatrice Letters? I'm planning to.
I thought the movie was ok, but I'm surprised that there hasn't been a sequel. They totally set it up for one.

[hectorberlioz]

Actually, thats what I didn't like about the series, the Ninth on...lots of moral relativity for a kids series. Not only that, but the "Busheney" (Bush/Cheney) pot shot was pretty obvious, not to mention the "Scalia" one.

Still, even the later ones were fun to read, and I really liked Sunny's new cooking skills:p

[tolkienfan]

Perhaps it is too much for younger kids, but it's one of the few series I can have an intelligent conversation with my 11 yr. old brother about. I don't think it's exactly a kids series, I'd say ages 10+. Probably just about anyone can enjoy them. I love Sunny's cooking talent too. :cool:

[hectorberlioz]

The author DID milk the scariness out of Olaf chasing them. It got tiresome to try and pretend it was still important by the tenth book.