The Bad Beginning: A Multi-Voice Recording (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Lemony Snicket (Author), Tim Curry (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Series of Unfortunate Events (HarperCollins Audio)

Like a car alarm, bagpipe music, or a doorbell ringing in the middle of the night, hearing this all-new audio edition of The Bad Beginning will only upset you. This unique multi-voice recording brings the first book in Lemony Snicket's alarming A Series of Unfortunate Events to such terrible life that no one should really have to experience it. Unless you have an ear for such ghastly details as a tragic fire, a nefarious villain, itchy clothing, and cold porridge for breakfast, all narrated in chilly detail by the distinguished, and disturbed, Tim Curry with a team of talented readers, you would be better off listening to something else.

Featuring Tim Curry

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lemony Snicket is often despondent, mostly about his published research, which includes A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Composer Is Dead.

From AudioFile

Tension-producing orchestral music, scene-setting sound effects, and most of all, Tim Curry's chocolate-voiced narration captivate the listener in this multicast production of the Lemony Snicket that started it all. As most people know by now, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire's parents die in a tragic fire, leaving the three children alone and pitted against the dastardly Count Olaf and the idiotic Poe family. Yet, no matter how dreadful their situation, the children triumph with their wits and manners intact. The cast of seven at first sound self-consciously formal until one realizes that the acting is supposed to be as mannered as the clever writing. It's all good fun for listening children and their parents. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Audio CD
• Publisher: HarperCollins (October 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060765798
• ISBN-13: 978-0060765798
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,843,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actually, a great beginning!, August 3, 2005

By 

Rebekah L. Sprecher (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bad Beginning: A Multi-Voice Recording (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) (Audio CD)

I downloaded this book from Audible. My sons and I listened to it in the car and finished the whole thing in one day. When we went on errands, they even asked if they could stay in the car and listen while I did what I had to do.

We loved it!! It was silly, educational, and entertaining all at once, with suspense thrown in. The boys' favorite character is Sunny, while I rather like Violet.

Especially engaging was the multicast recording. We have since missed this in the subsequent Lemony Snicket audiobooks.

I want to warn those who have seen the SOUE film: Expect something different in the books. The film combined three books, and not very well. The books have much more substance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Fantabulous!, December 10, 2008

By 

Fushia Emerald (San Jacinto County, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bad Beginning: A Multi-Voice Recording (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) (Audio CD)

My students and I read this as a "just for fun" class novel. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The multiple voices really made the story come alive. It felt like we were actually in a theatre. I have this entire series on audio; this one is tremendously superior. While all have voice performers, the others are merely "read" in comparison; this one is "acted." We read along with a lot of audio books in my classroom; it is very effective for accommodating multiple learning styles. I received the greatest student response and more positive feedback regarding this audio book than any other (and we have read some phenomenal books). The only problem I had was that it was SO FUNNY that I had to repeatedly remind my students that we had to "laugh respectfully" so we did not disturb our neighboring classroom; that's actually a compliment to the awesomeness to this recording. I utterly captivated a classroom of co-ed fifth graders. I wish the other book in this series were equally as superbly, fantabulously terrific.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Fun!, December 2, 2006

By 

mattiesmotors "mattiesmotors" (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bad Beginning: A Multi-Voice Recording (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) (Audio CD)

This recording is so fun! It has sound effects and different voices for each character. It makes it seem like you are watching a movie in your mind. I think kids would really enjoy this version, I sure did!