• The Wide Window

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events #3
  • By: Lemony Snicket
  • Narrated by: Lemony Snicket
  • Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,304 ratings)

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The Wide Window  By  cover art

The Wide Window

By: Lemony Snicket
Narrated by: Lemony Snicket
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Publisher's summary

Now a Netflix Original Series

Dear Listener,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and this one may be the worst of them all.

If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Don't miss the rest of A Series of Unfortunate Events or Audible's exclusive interview with Lemony Snicket!
©2000 Lemony Snicket (P)2001, 2003 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Snicket's narration is surprisingly good; his narrator voice has just the right neutral tone, rising and falling in pitch with each plot twist." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Wide Window

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Snickett Should Stick to Writing

For those of you who loved the first two audiobooks in this series as I did, you may find yourselves disappointed with this one, as Lemony Snickett has decided to read the book himself. Unfortunately, Tim Curry does a MUCH better job of it all the way around. It appears that Listening Library figured that out along the way, because although books three, four and five are read (very poorly) by Snickett, he appears to have been sacked and Curry brought back on.

Tim Curry really brings these books to life. In fact, I love his style so much that I have listened to almost every book he's narrated that Audible offers, and have never been disappointed.

That being said, the Series of Unfortunate Events books are truly fun, and very funny. Snickett does have a delightful way with words, a dry wit, and an uncanny knack for telling the same story over and over and over again (albeit with different characters and settings) and making it fresh and funny each time. I am 32, my significant other is 46, we have no children, and we get a kick out of listening to the Snickett books in the car or at bedtime. A rolicking good time for both children and adults! (In fact, most of the Lemony Snickett fans I know are over the age of 30, so that tells you something right there!)

This book CAN be enjoyed in spite of Lemony Snickett's stilted reading, but I'm looking forward to the later books in the series more. I rate the book 2 stars because of the narration; if Tim Curry had read it, it probably would have been three. It's not great literature, but it's fun nonetheless.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Better with Tim Curry

Any additional comments?

The story is quirky and fun. The author does an ok job narrating, but the ones narrated by Tim Curry are so much better it just makes no sense to have left any out.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Tim Curry, we want you back!

Love the book, missed Tim Currys narration. Glad that he is back as the series goes on.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Quirky author brings book to life

The Series of Unfortunate Event books are quirky. Daniel Handler is a quirky guy. While he is not a professional actor, I find his reading to fit perfectly in with the tone of the books. It is like your dad reading you a funny book at bedtime. Personally I find his characterization of Mr. Poe and Aunt Josephine to be spectacular. It makes me laugh out loud everytime I listen to this audiobook.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

don't like authors reading their own books

I love these books. I loved that Tim curry did some of them. I don't like when authors read there own books he was very boring and sounded like a 19 year old monotoned kid.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wicked good fun

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.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Mo
  • 04-13-16

Enjoyable read but prefer the narrator prior

I really like this series but I have to say that I don't really care for Lemony Snickett's narration. I had gotten used to the narrator on the second and first book! Also the music in between new chapters got to be quite annoying! Hopefully they will omit that in the other books to come.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Like the narration

I don't think these books are funny, nor intended to be. I think they're poignant. I think they're introducing children to adversity that has the vague, irrational form that is the most difficult to deal with.

At first, I was put off by the narration. Its not as professional as the best narrators. However, I got used to it, and then loved it. LS is speaking from the heart. It is like your Dad talking to you, in the best way - not reading to you.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is my favorite book of 2016. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes mystery

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

Loved the reading of this book. Couldn't put it down. It's dry humor keeps me enthralled lol!

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1 person found this helpful