Dear reader,
I am very sorry to inform you that the book you are holding is extremely unpleasant, as it tells the bitter story of three very unfortunate children. Despite being charming and clever, the lives of the Baudelaire siblings are filled with misfortunes and hardships. From the very first page of the book, where the children are on the beach and receive some dreadful news, to the last, it seems that misfortunes lurk around every corner. One could say that these children attract misfortunes like a magnet. Already in this small book, the three siblings encounter a greedy and repulsive person, acquire clothes that cause rashes, learn about a devastating fire, uncover a plot to take away their fortune, and eat cold oatmeal for breakfast. I have a duty - a very unpleasant duty - to write these stories, which can only be described as "miserable". However, you are free not to read them and choose something happy instead, if, of course, you belong to the readers of this kind of books.
Sincerely,
Lemony Snicket

The first three books in the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series ("The Bad Beginning", "The Reptile Room", and "The Wide Window") were adapted into a film by Brad Silberling in 2004, titled "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Dreamworks.