The Bad Beginning, A Multi-Voice Recording

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1

By: Lemony Snicket

Narrated by: Tim Curry, Full Cast

Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Don't miss the rest of A Series of Unfortunate Events or Audible's exclusive interview with Lemony Snicket!

©1999 Lemony Snicket (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

Audie Award Finalist, Children's Titles for Ages 8+, 2005
Grammy Award Nominee, Best Spoken Word Album for Children, 2005
Book Sense Book of the Year Award Finalist, Children's Literature, 2001

"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.... It's all good fun for listening children and their parents." (AudioFile)

Wickedly funny -- not just kid stuff

I had toyed with the idea of picking up these books on occasion at various places. After I heard the interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air (on my 40th birthday no less), I had to give these a try. This not just kidstuff (although they are completely kid appropriate). These are so much FUN!!! My husband and I listen to them over and over and laugh our heads off. Misery loves company -- and I am hooked.

Too bad the original audiobook isn’t available

I listened to the original book read by Tim Curry alone when it came out years ago. Curry was unbelievably good. As Mr. Poe, you’d have thought he was going to cough up a lung. As the voice of Lemony Snicket alone, he’s still very good, but the original was excellent. This is a good performance, but it’s not the original.

Match made in heaven...

Whoever thought of getting Tim Curry to narrate Lemony Snicket should get a bonus...absolutely genius!

interesting story

I enjoyed this story, but it had a lot of descriptions of various words within its context. I found this very distracting. Tim Curry did an amazing job telling the story I would recommend this as an entertaining listening book.

The Way It Should Be

I know this is YA, but it’s great for adults too. So incredibly interesting and paced just right. Tim Curry is great too. Who would have thought that the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show would introduce us to so many great actors that have had lengthy careers. Just impressive.

Highly recommended.

I love this book this was a wonderful book.

I don't like to read or listen to books but this was a a wonderful book. It had so many good deal of edvencher I loved it.

yes love it

loved him so much he did one absolutely fantastic job. i love this so much

Wonderful

An absolutely engaging performance! Tim Curry gives a remarkable life to the story! Highly recommend

A Great Listen

Where does The Bad Beginning, A Multi-Voice Recording rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This recording is one of the best recordings we have come across on Audible so far. The actors are great, and the quality of the production is top notch.

What did you like best about this story?

We loved the suspense and action that was woven throughout the story.

What does Tim Curry and Full Cast bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator and cast brought the story to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

We laughed a lot!

If you're in the mood, it's quite good

These are uncommonly well voiced by Tim Curry et. al., which was why I bought it in the first place. It has sound effects as well as voicing, but the sound effects enhance and don't get in the way of the story, and Tim Curry is a magnificent orator. I love the way that the more difficult vocabulary words were described for a reader/listener who were not familiar with them, and I enjoyed the pacing of the action. Just when they seem to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the train arrives to run them over again. The action is convoluted in just the right way for adolescent readers, so that they are able to see that creative teens can overcome great hardship, and that solutions often come inside books, not video games or TV sitcoms. I think that because I didn't have any adolescents with me to talk over the action as it was occurring, it became a bit depressing. But that's just me. If you like stories of unfortunate things happening to bright children with good attitudes and strong teeth, you will love these books.