by Lemony Snicket, Harper Collins (1999),
Listening Library (2003),
read by Tim Curry; on 3 Audio discs, approximately 2.5 hrs.
The story of the three wealthy Baudelaire orphans—Violet, age 14 (the inventor), Klaus, age 12 (the bookworm), and Sunny, an infant (with a penchant for biting). After their parents' sudden deaths, the children are forced to live with Count Olaf, a gruesome distant cousin who is interested only in getting rid of them so he may inherit their money. The first of the Series of Unfortunate Events books.
Appropriate Target Audience: GR 4-8, ages 9+; This does depend upon the child, as The Bad Beginning is not an easy story to hear, or funny in the traditional sense. But it is fascinating (like a train wreck?), and its popularity over the years proves its merit.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
This story is not a happy one, as the author warns, but while dark and weird, it isn’t frightening. It may fascinate children in the same way as R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, creepy, but fun. The appeal of the audio format is strong, as Snicket does not hold back with vocabulary. Many of the more complex words are defined in context, and others are literally defined: “The word “rickety,” you probably know, here means “unsteady” or “likely to collapse””, (disc one, chapter one). This stretch forward with vocabulary makes the read aloud very informative and the story more accessible.
Presentation/Content/Technical: Tim Curry is a master of voice. In this original unabridged recording, he was the only narrator, yet the characters were well-represented and varied. You could visualize Count Olaf’s sneering expression, be concerned over Mr. Poe’s coughing fits, and laugh at Sunny’s monosyllabic outbursts of opinion. After the move was released in 2004, another ensemble cast version of The Bad Beginning was recorded, which won a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Spoken Album.
This particular recording is the full, unabridged story, and so it contains all you would find in the print book. This includes an introduction, the “Dear Reader" blurb, read by Snicket, explaining that the book is not a happy tale. And a postscript (also by Snicket) at the end of the recording that tells about the next book in the series. Tim Curry provides some sound effects that pertain to the characters and their persona, such as Mr. Poe’s coughing fits, but this version was not filled with creaking doors, the sound of footsteps, or the clang of a grappling hook.
This audiobook is very well done; Listening Library is quite prominent in producing children’s audio books. There was no feedback or unpleasantness (besides Count Olaf!), and volume had no ill-effects on the enjoyment of this recorded story.
Meaningful/Creative uses:
Have a party at the library and make Puttanesca Sauce for dinner. Create a Poster for the Theatrical Production of “The Marvelous Marriage”; dress as your favorite character and have readings of various scenes.
Hold a maker’s event to create inventions like Violet’s grappling hook (but be careful!).
Awards: Audie Award, 2002 (Solo Narration, Male)
Read-Alikes: The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling (read by Jim Dale), The Goosebumps series, by R.L. Stine.
Other appropriate info: http://www.fiction-food.com/2014/02/pasta-puttanesca-from-series-of.html
Tags: series, dark, weird, Baudelaire_orphans, middle_school, audio
