Description
From School Library Journal Gr 4 Up-Snicket's latest opens with the author's assertion that it is a book about bewilderment. Writing in the first person, he shares in the first chapter that after having breakfast one morning, he discovers a note under his door that reads, "You had poison for breakfast." This discovery leads him on a search for what may have poisoned him, and he investigates the sources of each of his breakfast's ingredients. He describes his stops at the tea shop, the beekeeper, the seashore, the supermarket, the park, and (happily) the library, and along the way, he chases his thoughts as far as they will go down roads of philosophy, memory, literature, and imagination. The narrative is full of Snicket's trademark clever whimsy; it is so clever, in fact, that it almost distracts readers from the fact that the story line contains very little action. The claim of bewilderment is accurate, but it is the sort of pleasant bewilderment that comes from letting your mind wander down unfamiliar paths. Back matter includes notes about books and people mentioned in each chapter. VERDICT Steadfast fans of Lemony Snicket will surely be pleased with this new entry into his canon, but others may find it a bit too cerebral.-Sarah Reid, Four County Lib. Syst., NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "This little book feels like opening a window to let in air and light.... Filled with curious information and powerful feelings.... Humorous, sad, meditative and rapturous." ― Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian "Lemony Snicket’s Poison for Breakfast will certainly be a hit with his fans because the author’s style is quite unique . . . . I enjoy the distinctive structure, odd tidbits, and repetition . . . . settle in for a fun read." ― Ronna Mandel, Goodreads "A charismatic voyage into the topic of bewilderment, with detours reflecting on death. . . Watch out for the surprising conclusion! This just may be [Snicket’s] finest hour." ― Jeanne Fredriksen, Booklist "Full of Snicket’s trademark clever whimsy... it is the sort of pleasant bewilderment that comes from letting your mind wander down unfamiliar paths... Steadfast fans of Lemony Snicket will surely be pleased with this new entry into his canon." ― Sarah Reid, School Library Journal "We are all bewildered, Snicket says.... Despite this novel being written before COVID-19, this message resonates deeply in our present world. Feeling lost in a constant state. However, Snicket urges us to stay hopeful. For those of you who, like me, grew up reading A Series of Unfortunate Events, this is the perfect book for you.... A wild, philosophical ride." ― Abby Petree, The Young Folks "Fans of Snicket’s voice will adore the book.... A love letter to the concept and inherent power of literature.... Full of the classic wordplay, snark, and insight that long-time fans will be hoping for." ― Michael Cook, Geek Vibes Nation "[Snicket] returns with a delightfully quirky philosophical novel... [H]e reminisces about, among other things... the craft of writing... [Visiting] a library... sets the stage for a surprising conclusion. Snicket laces the narrative with his trademark word definitions... This will delight fans of Snicket’s singular storytelling." ― Publishers Weekly "Daniel Handler has crafted a perfect gem of a true philosophical treatise hidden in a Snicket mystery. I loved every savory bit of it." ― Jon Scieszka Dear Reader, Are you confused? Do you have any idea what is going on? Of course you are, and of course you don’t. This book is about bewilderment, a word which here means not having the faintest idea what is going on at any given time. It is also something of a murder-mystery, in which a dreadful crime is investigated in the hopes of finding out what happened to the poor murdered victim. The person investigating is me. So is the poor murdered victim. The clues in this investigation include a suspicious stranger, an upsetting supermarket, the strange way literature is made, painful embarrassment, long songs, improperly prepared eggs, and other things which I happen to think are important. Some people might call Poison for Breakfast a book of philosophy, and hardly anyone likes a book of philosophy. When a person begins to investigate this bewildering world and their own inevitable death, they begin to suffer from a deeply troubling kind of bewilderment experienced by anyone foolish enough to love literature. Unless you are that sort of person, I recommend reading something else entirely. With all due respect, Lemony Snicket Lemony Snicket is the author of the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events ; several picture books, including The Dark and The Bad Mood and the Stick ; and the books collectively titled All the Wrong Questions. Read more
Features & Highlights
- Washington Post
- Bestseller
- A new stand-alone adventure―appropriate for all ages―by Lemony Snicket, one of the twenty-first century’s most beloved authors.
- In the years since this publishing house was founded, we have worked with an array of wondrous authors who have brought illuminating clarity to our bewildering world. Now, instead, we bring you Lemony Snicket.
- Over the course of his long and suspicious career, Mr. Snicket has investigated many things, including villainy, treachery, conspiracy, ennui, and various suspicious fires. In this book, he is investigating his own death.
- Poison for Breakfast
- is a different sort of book than others we have published, and from others you may have read. It is different from other books Mr. Snicket has written. It could be said to be a book of philosophy, something almost no one likes, but it is also a mystery, and many people claim to like those. Certainly Mr. Snicket didn’t relish the dreadful task of solving it, but he had no choice. It was put in front of him, right there, on his plate. 18 illustrations
