Name: Shannon Leigh Williams's review of Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
Item: Poison for Breakfast
Rating: 5
Author: Shannon Leigh Williams

Lemony Snicket

Has Lemony Snicket been poisoned? A standalone novel for all ages -- a contemporary fable in the great tradition of The Little Prince and Sophie's World -- by one of the twenty-first century's most beloved authors. For more than twenty years, Lemony Snicket has been one of the most famous narrators in contemporary middle-grade fiction, leading millions of readers through a mysterious literary world of bewildering questions and unfortunate events. Now, with this latest book -- a love letter to readers and reading, and a meditation on the vagaries of real life -- longtime fans and new readers alike have an opportunity to experience Snicket's distinctive voice in a new way. This true story -- as true as Lemony Snicket himself -- begins with a puzzling note under his door: You had poison for breakfast. Following a winding trail of clues to solve the mystery of his own demise, Snicket takes us on a thought-provoking tour of his predilections: the proper way to prepare an egg, a perplexing idea called tzimtzum, the sublime pleasure of swimming in open water, and much else. Poison for Breakfast is a classic-in-the-making that -- in the great tradition of modern fables like The Little Prince and The Phantom Tollbooth -- will delight readers of all ages.

Poison for Breakfast

A brand-new book from the bestselling author of A Series of Unfortunate Events – a cautionary tale about his own demise. For curious children and adults alike. ‘A strange, beguiling, beautiful book. No one else could have written it, or anything even a little like it. If Lemony Snicket didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him.’ Anthony McGowan, author of Lark ‘Poison for Breakfast is a book to savour... I am a long-time Lemony Snicket fan and this is his best yet.’ Sarah Hagger-Holt, author of Nothing Ever Happens Here ‘Witty, clever and unsettling – it’s Lemony Snicket at his finest.’ Rachel Delahaye, author of Mort the Meek For more than twenty years, Lemony Snicket has led millions of young readers through a mysterious world of bewildering questions and unfortunate events. With this latest book – a love letter to readers young and old about the vagaries of real life – long-time fans and new readers alike will experience Snicket’s distinctive voice in a new way. This true story – as true as Lemony Snicket himself – begins with a puzzling note under his door: You had poison for breakfast. Following a winding trail of clues to solve the mystery of his own demise, Snicket takes us on a thought-provoking tour of his predilections...

angie

We do not understand anything but we should try our best to understand each other. 

It is lonely, sometimes, to be alone, but some people are good at being lonely. I am one of them. I am a loneliness savant, a word which here means that loneliness comes naturally to me, so I am quite good at loneliness, if I do say so myself. I like to think about lonely things, poems and philosophy and sad songs I admire, and places and people I do not know, or will never see again.

I always feel hopeful when I step into a park. When a city or town sets aside a piece of land for public relaxation, it is a sign that someone is thinking about the happiness of someone else, that some people are trimming grass and sweeping pathways just so other people can have picnics and take walks or perhaps just sit and think. 

You want friends who choose you, because they find you charming and fascinating, rather than just each and every person who walks through your door.

 I didn't mind this kind of weather, weather that cannot make up its mind, because I am often the same way, or at least I think I am. I don't know.

I always like to have a book with me at breakfast although sometimes I do not read much of it. Some breakfasts I do not even open the book, but it sits  beside me like a quiet companion while my thoughts  wander all over the morning. 

Daniela Kajanová 

Happiness, in my experience, is like a bowl of bananas, because if you pay too much attention, it gets gobbled away, but if you forget all about it, either a robber steals it or it ends up rotten mush.

 I like to think about lonely things, poems and philosophy 

avarni

The sentences 'Our primary concern is that our food is not spoiled' or 'Our primary concern is that the floors aren't so slippery you will fall and break your leg' or 'Our primary concern is that none of our bread has been poisoned', I thought, would be more welcoming

It has never interested me much to learn the names of different birds, because, of course, you are not really learning their names at all, just names we call them. When a person tells you their name, they are telling you what they want to be called, but a goose or a sparrow, for instance would likely be confused if they learned we were calling them these things. "Red-breasted robin?" a red-breasted robin might repeat in astonishment. "That's not my name. And why are yon focusing on my breast? That's inappropriate."

"In a manner of speaking," I said, using one of my favorite ways of saying "No, you are wrong."

Riley

Shannon Leigh Williams

2.5 

was there even a plot? i can’t say that this is a bad book. parts of it were very funny, and parts of it were quite boring. i love how he predicted the mediocrity of his own book when he said “they will pluck my book off the shelf and use it to stand on, to reach the book they are excited to read.” at 54% of the book, i felt like i was getting nowhere (he must be getting into my head somehow trying to confuse me further). it’s a book of philosophy, so i guess that’s to be expected.

Jensyn Ronca

“Remember what you learned, years ago: You’re never sorry you brought a book. Besides, it’s a small book. Look, it fits easily in the pockets of your coat. It’s why you like that coat so much, because books fit in it’s pockets, so you can take books with you on all your journeys.”

one word: bewildering. i'm glad that this is my first read of the year. this book is like a story with a thousand (this is an exaggeration) stories in it. 

if you're looking for something quite an adventure, word play so good it will make you chuckle, words in between these word plays that would seep through your conciousness at random hours of the day, and with a bonus movie & book recommendations — then this book is for you! 

a great book to start the year! 4/5 🌟!

Megan BV

Briar's Reviews

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket is a quirky, unique read that brings back one fantabulous writer to the reading circuit.

I grew up reading A Series of Unfortunate Events, so naturally I would want to pick up more by Lemony Snicket. Lemony's writing style is so unique and out there, it was only natural to want to dive into another work. And it's safe to say, the book was rather quirky. It has sass and attitude, which is why I enjoy reading these books. It's wild, out there and just something different.

I wasn't totally encapsulated by this book. It was okay, but it didn't hold my full attention. That being said, I really liked the style this book had. It's very funky and odd, in all the best ways. The repeated comments over and over (like the little breakfast poem) drove me insane though. 

Overall, this is a nice, quick read that has a lot of spunk in it. It's like peeking into someone's mind instead of reading a story. There's lots of twists, turns and oddities to read through.

Two out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

this book is just a stream of consciousness and i loved every second of it

I loved this short little philosophy/mystery mash-up. 

Katelyn Caillouet

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.

Taylor

i don't have anything intelligent to say other than i had the pleasure of meeting the author at a signing in pittsburgh and he was lovely

i received an ARC of this book from netgalley

MARIYAM ASHRAF SIDDIQUI

A book which is packed with nothingness and everything in it all together. 
A very strange read but very relaxing, sometimes funny and yeah very informative too. I really liked it

Natalie Patino

Crying from the nostalgia of reading Lemony Snicket again as an adult. I loved that.

I loved this book! It felt like just one long stream of consciousness thought and it was so fun to follow all the twists and turns. I didn’t know I was a fan of philosophy but I suppose I am now. And the ending is totally something I would do. It was a quick easy read and I’d 100% reread when the mood strikes. Also bonus points because this got me out of a two month reading rut!  

Claire

Julianna Reynolds 

I just read this in one sitting!

What a thought provoking, luxurious journey for anyone who loves wandering words and philosophical, questioning tangents.

In other words, this is a new favorite. The references to literature, poetry, and especially librarianship, spoke to me deeply. Though I obtained this book via my public library, I can easily see myself purchasing a copy to reread and annotate.

✨Tyler ✨

I saw someone describe this as Snicket for adults and was very excited. Sadly, I really didn't enjoy this much.

I wasn't a big fan of the ATWQ series either. I think Snicket as the main character falls flat for me. He works much better as a distant but present, quippy narrator.

This book felt like reading ASOUE book, but with all the plot removed and all of the Snicket narration expanded by pages and strung together into a very loose story. Not my cup of tea, unfortunately.

Dianna Jorgenson

I skimmed the last 60 pages because I couldn’t get through it. Rolled my eyes at the “reveal”. I thought I liked his writing but it’s just rambling for 99% of the book.

It's the nostalgia for me, personally. This was a quick and fun read that reminded me how much I love Lemony Snicket's incredible voice and writing style. It was nonsensical, whimsical, and appropriately bewildering. I know that he style isn't for everyone, and I probably would not have enjoyed it half as much had I not loved ASOUE as a kid. 

TWs: mentions of kidnapping, slavery, colonialism, and prison camps.

Margo Lindner

This book was simply not for me. I understand the philosophical aspects of it. I really did enjoy the philosophy behind this book. I in fact want to read more about the works cited in this book. Where I took issue is in the writing, where it should be noted that not once in my life have I ever vibed with Lemony Snicket's writing style. The tale is not much of a story, there is no murder mystery component it's simply an ode to literature and a love story to the conundrum that philosophy allows in literature. That being said, this book will work for a lot of people. But if you want a deeper, more philosophical take on literature this book is not it.

A new stand-alone adventure--appropriate for all ages--by Lemony Snicket, one of the twenty-first century's most beloved authors. For more than twenty years, Lemony Snicket has led millions of young readers through a mysterious world of bewildering questions and unfortunate events. With this latest book--a love letter to readers young and old about the vagaries of real life--longtime fans and new readers alike will experience Snicket's distinctive voice in a new way. This true story--as true as Lemony Snicket himself--begins with a puzzling note under his door: You had poison for breakfast. Following a winding trail of clues to solve the mystery of his own demise, Snicket takes us on a thought-provoking tour of his predilections: the proper way to prepare an egg, a perplexing idea called "tzimtzum," the sublime pleasure of swimming in open water, and much else. Poison for Breakfast is a classic-in-the-making that--in the great tradition of modern fables like The Little Prince and The Phantom Tollbooth--will delight readers of all ages.

Lee Schneider

Shannon Jade

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket is anything but expected, detailing the author's bewildering journey from a poisonous breakfast to a long list of potential poisoners.

True to Lemony Snicket's trademark tone, Poison for Breakfast is witty, funny, and clever, offering something new and innovative that is unlike anything else on the literary market. An unreliable narrator makes the story ever the more interesting and unique.

But Lemony's cautionary tale of poisonous breakfasts (mind the eggs, won't you?) is far from being only comedic. Rather, Poison for Breakfast offers a beginner's look at complex topics like mortality, philosophy, and meaning.

As you journey past locations and ideas, you'll soon find that a poisonous breakfast might be brought about by any number of important and not-so-important people, ideas, and events. Perhaps a poisonous breakfast is impossible to trace. Perhaps it isn't even poisonous at all.

Fans of Lemony Snicket's other books will love this not-quite-a-memoir. If you're looking for an inventive story to add to your TBR, this one might be the right choice for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for providing me with this eARC.

Shannon Leigh Williams &
Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket

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Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket