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Lemony Snicket
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The Trouble Begins: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-3 (The Bad Beginning; The Reptile Room; The Wide Window) Hardcover – Box set, October 2, 2001

by Lemony Snicket (Author), Brett Helquist (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,729 ratings
See all formats and editions
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NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

Lemony Snicket’s unhappy tale of the unlucky Baudelaire siblings begins with The Bad Beginning. In this short bothersome book alone, the three orphans encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

Should you not mind deadly serpents, slippery salamanders, lumpy beds, large brass reading lamps, lng knives, and terrible odors, then proceed with caution to the second book in the miserable series, The Reptile Room.

Readers unbothered by inclement weather, hungry leeches, and cold cucumber soup will want to continue with the third installment, The Wide Window. Others will not.

If you’ve got the stomach to wade through the first three tragic tales in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, then this troubling collection might be the one for you. Several loathsome extras, including a compilation of unsettling quotations and a very disturbing portrait, await those who successfully complete the wretched journey. You’ve been warned!
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  1. Reading age
    7 - 11 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    592 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    5.3 x 2.5 x 7.5 inches
  5. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  6. Publication date
    October 2, 2001
  7. ISBN-10
    006029809X
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0060298098
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fans of Lemony Snicket and newcomers to his gleefully ghastly Series of Unfortunate Events will be elated to discover this boxed gift set of the first three books in hardcover: The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window. While it's true that the events that unfold in Snicket's novels are bleak, and things never turn out as you'd hope, these delightful, funny, linguistically playful books are reminiscent of Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens, and Edward Gorey. After they get their paws on this boxed set, there is no question that young readers will want to read the continuing unlucky adventures of the three Baudelaire orphans. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

From the Inside Flap

The first Series of Unfortunate Events gift/box-set of this New York Times best-selling series.

The set includes The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; First Edition (October 2, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 592 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006029809X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060298098
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 11 years, from customers
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 2.5 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,729 ratings

About the author

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Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket

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Lemony Snicket claims he was nowhere near the scene of the crime. He is the author of several other unpleasant stories, including those in the bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Lump of Coal.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
1,729 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline fun, suspenseful, and creative. They also appreciate the good quality, imagination, and characterization. Readers say the books are an excellent tool for learning vocabulary and a great gift pack.

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StorylineCraftsmanshipCharacterizationComprehensionGiftabilityIntended readership
44 customers mention "Storyline"44 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline fun, cute, suspenseful, and well-written. They also say the author's writing style is different, creative, and entertaining.

"...books will not only be amusing, but valuable: they are written in a literate style, ironically formal, and the author's intrusions introduce a fair..." Read more

"Clever, enjoyable. After one whole book of unfortunate events, however, I don't think I am ready for the others in the series...." Read more

"...So far, after book one, he’s hooked. There’s enough action and suspense to keep ones interest for all 13 books...." Read more

"Really fun little group of stories...." Read more

21 customers mention "Craftsmanship"21 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the craftsmanship of the book. They mention that it has good quality, there is hope, and strength.

"The books came in excellent condition. I can't wait to read them with my kids and share this experience with them." Read more

"...I like the series a lot and the books are good quality. But the only thing I that is Ehh are the pages...." Read more

"The collection was in perfect condition and came much quicker than expected. Thank you" Read more

"The books arrived quickly and in excellent quality. No complaints there...." Read more

10 customers mention "Characterization"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the characterization wonderful, creative, and interesting. They also appreciate the author's imagination and use of the story to help build vocabulary.

"Clever, enjoyable. After one whole book of unfortunate events, however, I don't think I am ready for the others in the series...." Read more

"...It is! What a wonderful imagination he has." Read more

"...The book is well written & characters are portrayed well...." Read more

"Although this is probably a YA novel, it was fun and intriguing to this adult. Oh, my, could things get any worse? OH, yes!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Comprehension"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the books an excellent tool for learning vocabulary starting around 3rd grade.

"...formal, and the author's intrusions introduce a fair number of interesting words...." Read more

"...Story is suspenseful and author does a great job of defining new vocabulary words with wit." Read more

"...for her too read that keeps her entertained and gives life to conversations about books." Read more

"...books du jour these days, they still are immensely fun and broadening for young readers. And three in one---how could you go wrong!? :-)" Read more

5 customers mention "Giftability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great gift for granddaughter.

"A great gift for kids." Read more

"...bought this as a gift for my niece and i can say thatyit came in a wonderful box set." Read more

"...It serves as a great gift pack." Read more

"Great package and affordable" Read more

4 customers mention "Intended readership"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a good pick for kids and people with English as a second language.

"...I would say this is a good pick for kids as well as people having English as a Second Language to learn useful words...." Read more

"Nice set of books. Perfect for my grandson." Read more

"...Love the fact he defines words as we read along. Perfect for kids." Read more

"This is a great series for preteen and families. I love reading this series and have read it several times. Love that I can read it on my Kindle." Read more

Pages
4 Stars
Pages
Ok, so overall I like the books ok. I like the series a lot and the books are good quality. But the only thing I that is Ehh are the pages. It wasn't cut well enough, but I don't really care. All the books I ordered in that series was the similar to the pages. So overall good quality.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kathryn Norris
5.0 out of 5 stars Great series to get your kids started on!
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
The books came in excellent condition. I can't wait to read them with my kids and share this experience with them.
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S. Gustafson
5.0 out of 5 stars A malevolent intelligence is at work here
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2002
Verified Purchase
What grabs you first is the prose style. The elaborate introductory letters on the backs of the books, for instance, signed with the somewhat ambiguous closing, "With all due respect --- Lemony Snicket." The drily witty text of the stories reads rather like Miss Manners has been up all night and drinking entirely too much coffee.
The authorial voice intrudes, commenting on events, and providing definitions of words. These are sometimes congruous to those usually found in dictionaries. They are occasionally not --- in which that incongruity is usually both a plot element, and the subject of further comment by the authorial voice. The introduction to the concept of "dramatic irony" in the second book of the package is memorably amusing as well as educational.
I suspect that, as children's books, these will be appreciated mostly by highly verbal and sensitive children, those who have the ability to see behind the text and grasp exactly how their leg is being pulled. For these children, these books will not only be amusing, but valuable: they are written in a literate style, ironically formal, and the author's intrusions introduce a fair number of interesting words. Appropriate adults will find entertainment here too: the literary allusions, the Baudelaires and Poes, add depth to the stories, and clues to the clued-in as to what is really happening here.
Children --- or adults --- who can't or won't follow the ironic premise of the series are less likely to enjoy these.
31 people found this helpful
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Abbey Schott
5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter loved them
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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Fast shipping. Daughter loved adding to her collection
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Timothy H. Gill
5.0 out of 5 stars kids love it
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
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A great gift for kids.
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D. Frey
4.0 out of 5 stars annoying bad things happening to the orphans
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
Clever, enjoyable. After one whole book of unfortunate events, however, I don't think I am ready for the others in the series. There is only so much gloom, doom, and misfortune I can read without it all running together into a morass that starts to sound the same. I confess to skimming the 2nd and 3rd books. ( I got the 1st 3 of the series of 13 in this boxed set). 10 more books of improbable, annoying bad things happening to the orphans, a lot of which they could prevent? So many opportunities to do away with the Count, and they let every chance go by? These kids got on my last nerve.
3 people found this helpful
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Cynthia A Bevis
5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas gift
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2023
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The books arrived on time and in good condition.
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Jessica B
5.0 out of 5 stars Great quality
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2023
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Very impressed. I loved these books when I was younger and now I will read them with my child.
One person found this helpful
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James Ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars Troublesome tales for the young and old
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2009
Verified Purchase
I read these tales with my daughter at night before she goes to bed. It has been as much a revelation to me as it has been for her this series of most unfortunate events, as they differ enough from the movie to give her pause while I enjoy the copious word play of Lemony Snicket.

The three books are each divided into 13 chapters as one would imagine. Not so lengthy that you can't read two aloud in one night. It begins as one expects with the Baudelaires being thrown into the evil clutches of Count Olaf, who immediately starts his sinister plan to work with the help of his filthy assistants. The orphans gain some comfort from their next door neighbor, Judge Strauss, but as they soon learn adults aren't much help and they are forced to pry themselves free from the clutches of Olaf themselves.

Books 2 and 3 take Uncle Monty and Aunt Josephine in turn. Hard to picture them as anyone other than Billy Connolly and Meryl Streep now. The two adventures once again find the orphans matching wits with Count Olaf as he takes on fiendish disguises which all too easily fool the adults, who once again prove no help at all to the orphans. Whereas in Book the Second we get a fantastical story of reptiles, mostly charming snakes, in Book the Third we get quite a little study in grammar that ultimately leads to poor Aunt Josphine's demise.

Mr. Poe is perhaps the most troublesome character in these tales as one would expect after being fooled each time he might wisen up a little, but sadly not, and the kids find themselves moving from one ill-fated adventure to another, all in good humor of course as not to give young readers too much fright.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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C.Demi
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in Canada on May 23, 2024
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Good
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Collatin
5.0 out of 5 stars Très beau coffret.
Reviewed in France on August 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
Cette édition présente les trois premiers volumes avec une belle couverture rigide, un papier ayant un effet ancien ainsi que de belles illustrations. Le prix est très abordable de même que l'anglais utilisé.
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Emyl Beta
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCEPCIONAL.
Reviewed in Mexico on March 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
Llegó antes de lo esperado. Mi único "pero" sería que tiene la calcomanía de Netflix pegada en todos los tomos y que a la hora de quitarsela, parte del relieve que trae el libro se queda pegada en el libro. De ahí en fuera, todo bien. Ah, y que venía magullado de una parte de la caja. Pero los libros vienen en perfectas condiciones. Totalmente recomendables. La historia, bueno, excepcional. Daniel Handler. De mis autores favoritos.
Muy buenos libros si estas empezandoa leer en inglés. Solo que. Ojo, conforme avanza la historia, el vocabulario va creciendo y las expresiones también.
ps: El recorte de las hojas imperfecto se me hizo un detalle muy original.
En resumen: Totalmente recomendable. Tanto envío como historia
2 people found this helpful
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gunjan
1.0 out of 5 stars Different
Reviewed in India on September 4, 2020
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The name of the book is written as truly devious, but the books are completely different.
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gunjan
1.0 out of 5 stars Different
Reviewed in India on September 4, 2020
The name of the book is written as truly devious, but the books are completely different.
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Poppi
5.0 out of 5 stars Una serie di splendidi libri
Reviewed in Italy on March 11, 2017
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Dopo aver visto la serie TV non potevo non leggere i libri! Siccome in Italia non sono tutti reperibili ho deciso di prendere i primi tre libri(in totale sono 13) in lingua in questo cofanetto. Sebbene siano libri pensati per i bambini sono gradevolissimi anche per gli adulti. Ottimo acquisto!
One person found this helpful
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