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brynalexa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
On the other hand, it’s just as clever and cheeky as I remembered. I was also able to get lots of little lessons out of it like “not all adults are safe”, consent, etc.
Could do without the transphobia, fatphobia, and ableism imbedded in the troupe of bad guys….
Leaving it up to the kids if we carry on the series.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Transphobia, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
amelody's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
stitchbooks22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wuthrinheights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It has been too long since I read this, so I forgot a lot of details, but the one thing I remember (and loved) about Lemony Snicket is how great his voice is. His writing is incredibly unique and unforgettable. It's eloquent, whimsical, humorous, and informative. I love how he would teach idioms or phrases, or explain what certain words would mean in between telling this tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans.
The Bad Beginning was an incredible start to this fantastic series. It is (as per his warnings in every chance he could sneak in) terribly miserable and frustrating. From losing their parents at a young age to getting adopted by this unknown relative who abused them, to having adult friends who were of no help at all, it makes me want to weep for these three beautiful, smart, kind children. I know it's a series of unfortunate events, but my God. It truly is unfortunate.
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
alyvia_jeane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia and Fire/Fire injury
maggieoc_x's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The tone of the story is charming and peppered with conversational notes for children on vocabulary and grammar ("vocabulary and grammar", in this sense means, the words that are used, and in which order, so that they make good sense.) I laughed at parts of the story such as when a child is reading late at night and is so tired that he repeats the same part over and repeats the same part over and repeats the same part over.
I find it a little irksome that to have scary adult characters they lean into the body horror, caricaturing an amputee with two hooks for hands and a fat, gender indeterminate person with white eyes. It's a bit circus freakshow, and challenges my desire for positive representation of Disability. Call me a snowflake, I dare you.
For a book that ostensibly has nothing but unfortunate happenings, sad beginnings, and sad endings, I was still not surprised that the children use their extensive resourcefulness to solve problems. It would be utterly unengaging if there was no hope, but the whole point is that these children are relatively irrepressible (which means that compared to most people, they don't let unfortunate or difficult things stop them). Yes the ending faces them with a new valamity, but such is the way with serial stories.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
sara_n's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
courteneykenyon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Alcohol
bellaq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying and Blood
Count Olaf his klaus and ties sunny in a cage but most of the book is alright