The Bad Beginning

I don't particularly like books with no happy endings, and I don't really know what hit me and made me read this book.
I just the kids were just struck by bad luck and fate was being cruel and playing with them. From rich to poor, that's how their life went. Their parents' death is a mystery to me because there was really no clarification on how the fire started. The kids never cried when they heard that their parents died. I mean, if it was me, I'd cry a river, but I guess they're just tough. I find Mr. Poe as a generous man for taking the kids with him in his house.
When they went to see Count Olaf and mistaken the Judge Strauss' house as his, I thought, they must not be really that unfortunate. But when they saw Count Olaf, I gave up hoping that things would be better for them. The description of Count Olaf was really disturbing, what an unusual person to have only one eyebrow! I can't even live in his filthy house, I'd much rather risk my life on the streets,
I knew from the start that Count Olaf just agreed on taking the kids for money. That's what makes this world go round anyway, money, money and money. It was really clever of Count Olaf to plan and arrange his so-called wedding with Violet to gain their inheritance. And I was really impressed when Violet used her left arm to sign and made the document illegal.
The kids may be really unfortunate, but somehow things turned out well for them in the end. At the end of the day, they're still lucky because they're all together and they have an inheritance waiting for them in 4 years' time.

As a child, I would not have enjoyed this book. The story is bizarre. So is the writing style. The author narrates the story like a parent reads to a child.

I've read hundreds of books in my life. I know the general writing formula. Honestly, it's great to find a story that breaks the rules. This book wasn't happy. It was depressing, but it was different. I also really enjoyed the little definitions the author added in. Bravo.