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smacey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I originally read the SoUE books as a kid growing up, back when I fit the population that this series was meant for. I loved them. I am re-reading them now as a 27-year-old, and upon finishing book #1, I am sensing why I may have always liked them so much: these books are essentially the juvenile version of trauma porn (in a good way, to those who also believe that is a thing). I thought that my enjoyment of dark, twisted, trauma-filled stories started in adulthood, but I now think that maybe I've just always been this way. Regardless of the self-reflection this book has brought about for me, this was definitely a different reading experience as an adult vs. child.
I have critiques of this book for sure, but when I take a step back and examine those critiques from the perspective of what audience this book is intended for, they mostly don't hold. My main example is how Justice Strauss and Mr. Poe are insanely inept, to the point of being entirely frustrating and seemingly unrealistic as their obvious incompetence and consistent dismissal of the three main characters goes against the expected character of a high court judge and experienced banker. However, when you view it through the lens of a young person, their inability to listen to the Baudelaire children and the way in which they miss the obvious signs of abuse, neglect, and general cruelty of Count Olaf despite allegedly being intelligent, well-meaning adults can be, and likely is often, extremely relatable as a kid around the age of Klaus or Violet.
Essentially, this book is entirely well-written in the utterly unique Lemony Snicket style which I don't believe could ever be replicated, and although the pace is quicker than I'd like and the plot isn't as complicated as I'd prefer, once again, as a piece of children's fiction, it does exactly what it was meant to - create a relatable but simultaneously far-reaching (but still believable) fictional story focused on characters the same age as its intended audience and told in both a captivating and educational manner. My only standing critique is I would have loved more detail/a slightly longer story (but I also know that happens with each expansion of the series, which I look forward to re-delving into). Despite the maturity I now have a decade since my first read, the story still holds.
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Transphobia, Murder, and Alcohol
buzzinfly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
sierra5304's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, and Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
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
kate22492's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Death
alligatortoast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Also as others have said, the constant explaining of words is a bit annoying after a while. I understand this is meant for a younger audience but some of the words explained are words I knew at that age. And the author constantly uses more complicated words that aren't overly explained, so it makes the explanations seem redundant and cumbersome.
Overall this is a solid debut for an excellent series. The later books delve deeper into the story and subplots, but this one is more about introducing the concept and style of the series.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood and Fire/Fire injury
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
We are continuing with the series as a family!
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
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
targrhaegar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This very short book introduces you to the Baudelaire children, their tragic life, the useless and absurd adults around them and Snicket's witty and funny writing.
I love it.
Lemony is a great narrator and I am in love with his ASOUE world.
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
mckiheather's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail