Lemony Snicket Gift Pack: "A Bad Beginning", "The Reptile Room", "The Wide Window" Nos.1-3 (Series of Unfortunate Events)

I had not read the books and so these CDs were my first glimpse into the world of the Baudelaire orphans.

Well what can I say - what horrible stories - but compelling all the same! I'm hooked!

I personally wished that Tim had read all three books in this box set (Lemony Snicket narrates the Wide Window). I had built up a relationship with Tim's 'voices', therefore it was a disappointment to switch to another voice and interpretation for the third book. Unfortunately this did spoil it a little for me.

However, I certainly have a taste for the books now and will continue to read/listen in trepidation!

"Scream and Run Away." (5/5 people found this helpful)

This is a review mainly of the unabridged recording of "The Bad Beginning" ISBN 0-8072-6178-5 read by Tim Curry, with an interview of Lemony Snicket by Leonard C. Marcus. And the song "Scream and Run Away preformed by the Gothic Archies. This is also a review of the hardback book ISBN 0-06-440766-7.
Initial listening of this book brought horror and disgust (which in this case means repugnance.) Determined to finish the story despite the author's constant warnings, I must say that I became enamored of his style.
There are several pluses to listening to the recording. The pace of the recording helps keep you going when you would have set the book aside. The absence of the book's illustrations by Bret Helquist allowed you to imagine a more sinister Count Olaf and a cuter, yet with a tad of tomboy, Violet. Now the significant plus is the unmistakable voice of Tim Curry of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Oscar" (1991 as Dr. Poole) fame. His interpretation of the voices gave just as much panache to the characters as Lemony's writing.
Not in the book, but as additions to the recording are two significant items that help with the understanding of the story, where it came from, and where it is going. First is an interview with the author. It covers many of the standard questions asked in an interview; the answers and the communication style is somewhat unique and a little over the top. Also there is a recording of a song that Mr. Snicket says is played by the Baudelaire memorial orchestra; I have since found that it was really preformed by the Gothic Archies, written by Gay and Loud.
I do not want to give away the plot however I can tell you that at one point they are forced to eat "boiled chicken, boiled, potatoes and 'blanched'- here means 'boiled'- string beans"

! (1/1 people found this helpful)

Very good set of books, wonderful to read for young and old! My little brother read and loved them, and I read them and enjoyed them even more! Great books.

A Series of Unquestionably Good Recordings (6/6 people found this helpful)

For anyone who is unfamiliar with these books, they are about the inescapable series of, as the title says, unfortunate events that befall a set of three orphans. "Unfortunate" is rather an understatement, as the first of these events is their becoming orphans. Things only get worse from there on in.

The first book introduces the villain of the series, Count Olaf, and his band of followers. The second gives you the brief impression that the orphans may have escaped Count Olaf. By the third you realise he is going to turn up in all the books and you are watching for him...

Tim Curry's deadpan, dry reading is perfect for the bleak, dark humour of Lemony Snicket's series of unfortunate events. His Olaf voice is suitably greasy and evil sounding, and the other character voices are similarly effective, but it is his quiet, calm narration tone that draws the listener in. He fits the tone of the books as well as Stephen Fry fits JK Rowling.

Lemony Snicket Gift Pack: "A Bad Beginning", "The Reptile Room", "The Wide Window" Nos.1-3 (Series of Unfortunate Events)

Lemony Snicket

Reader Reviews:

CD Box Set of Books 1-3 (2/2 people found this helpful)

"Scream and Run Away." (5/5 people found this helpful)

! (1/1 people found this helpful)

A Series of Unquestionably Good Recordings (6/6 people found this helpful)

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