#029 A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket

Published: Feb. 6, 2017, 12:30 a.m.

What happens when you read a beloved and well-known children's book for the first time, and instead of being a child you're a fully grown adult? It's difficult to involve yourself in the story and let your imagination drive things forward, especially when you can't help but deconstruct the narrative and suck the joy out of everything. But as it turns out for Callum and Ryan – Thug Book Club hosts and part-time book fans – they manage to do a bit of both, as they tackle Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. And after waxing lyrical on Harry Potter and Roald Dahl in previous episodes, this is unknown territory for them. How will they interpret Lemony Snicket's demographically fashioned writing style? Or the literary name dropping on page after page? Or the underlying but very obvious (and therefore troubling) nods to some very dodgy things indeed? One thing is for sure though: this is a behemoth of recent pop culture. So enjoy the nonsensical hot takes and lose yourself in Snicket's bizarre universe. Spoilers and swearing as usual.