A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ominous Omnibus (Books 1-3)

by Lemony Snicket

Book Overview

Within the pages of this omnibus, readers will discover all three books upon which the movie Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is based: The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window. Like the movie, this thick volume tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children, who despite being perfectly well-mannered are perfectly ill-fated. From the very beginning of Book the First, when the children learn of aterrible fire,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0023STIPU
• ISBN13: 9780060782528
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.5" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other boo

THE BAD BEGINNING: BOOK 1 - The three Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, never complained about their life. Their parents loved them dearly, and the three children loved them back. They were allowed to attend adult parties given by their parents, read all the books that they wanted, invent whatever scientific item that came into their mind, and spend time walking and playing along the shores of Briny Beach. That is, until the good bankteller, Mr. Poe, comes to speak to them one day, and announces the death of their parents in a tragic accident. The three Baudelaire children, now the three Baudelaire orphans, are immediately swept away from their lives of love and luxury, and tossed into a gloomy old mansion with their "third cousin four times removed, or fourth cousin three times removed," known as Count Olaf. Count Olaf treats the three orphans horribly, forcing them to cook and clean for not only himself, but also for his friends, and soon the orphans are looking for a way to escape from their horrible new life. With no friends left except for Count Olaf's kind neighbor, Justice Strauss, the orphans feel lonely, and know that it's up to them to come up with a fantastic escape plan to leave their treacherous life with Count Olaf behind. THE REPTILE ROOM: BOOK 2 - Since being forced to live with their crazy, money-hungry uncle, Count Olaf in the last book, THE BAD BEGINNING, the three Baudelaire Orphans, Violet (14), Klaus (12), and Sunny (an infant), are horrified to think about what could happen now, as they are being brought to live with another relative, Uncle Monty. After all, they have been through so much as it is, and deserve only happiness. Luckily, that is what they find with Uncle Monty, as he is giddy, and fun, and treats the three Baudelaire Orphans quite well. He even allows them to assist him in his office, known as THE REPTILE ROOM. Everything is going along great, until a money-hungry relative from the Baudelaire Orphans' past comes back to destroy everything that they have earned, including Uncle Monty. THE WIDE WINDOW: BOOK 3 - It's hard enough being an orphan, and even harder to be an orphan that is shuffled from home to home every few weeks, due to the evil Count Olaf, a man who spends his days trying to get custody of the three Baudelaire orphans - Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Mr. Poe, the kind, yet clueless bank manager, is on his way to deliver the Baudelaire orphans to their dear Aunt Josephine, who happens to be afraid of everything, phones, the stove, the radiator, pretty much anything that deals with electricity. Yet her home is perched high above the waters of Lake Lachrymose. The one thing Aunt Josephine is unafraid of, is the proper grammar of the English language, which she forces upon the orphans day in and day out. That is, until she meets Count Olaf, who is posing as Captain Sham, and mysteriously disappears, leaving the children to Captain Sham. Now the three orphans must find Aunt Josephine before

NOT THE 12TH BOOK!

very good book, though everyone thinks that it is the 12th book! IT IS NOT! the 12th book comes out October 8 (see the preorder tab underneath "book the 12th?!") everyone also thinks that it's called the omnious omnibus b/c kit & the children will get on a bus, but another definition of omnibus is an anthology of articles on a related subject or an anthology of the works of a single author. so NO it is not a bus, it is the collection of books 1-3. did i mention that it is not the 12th book?

Not Done Reading It, But It's Good!

I have just started reading this book, and it is a collection of the first three books: The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window. I love this book from what I've read. It's got pages that look like napkins and says to buy the movie instead so you won't buy this, but buy it! It's really good! The book contains the first three books, in which the movie was inspired by. Why is it better to buy the book instead of the movie? Because it has some parts that weren't in the movie. The books are about the misery of the Baudeliere orphans: Sunny, Klaus, and Violet. Their misery just gets worse when they have to stay with their "third cousin removed four times," Count Olaf. He has the children tortured, and lets them be in his play. But is his play a trick to get the Baudelaire's fortune? To find out, you either have to see the movie or read the book. I hope this was heplful to you. I hope I helped you choose this book over the movie.

Don't jump to conclusions...

Several reviewers believe this to be the anticipated Book the 12th. However, an "omnibus" can be a collection of writings, as well as an actual bus. Judging by the unusual length of the book and release date(not September,) I'm guessing that this is not the next in the series, but something else. No doubt I'll buy it regardless...

Hope It's Good

I've read all of the books in the series and i'm hoping this one will be the best. I just couldn't stop reading the Grim Grotto (book the 11th) because it was to good to stop and I'm thinking the Ominous Omnibus will be the same. This will probably be the best one I think. Nick H.