Poison for Books

Lemony Snicket is a prominent figure in literature (and other forms of entertainment). Prominent is a word which here means that he is quite influential, and, even if you haven’t read any of his works, you likely know who he is or some of what he has done. He is most often recognized as the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events (which is also a TV show and movie now), though he has written many other works spanning fiction and memoir/semi-autobiography.

I recently read one of his books, a semi-autobiography and philosophy book, Poison for Breakfast, which was published in 2018. This story (which is totally true, by the way), follows Lemony Snicket as he narrates how he ate poison for breakfast. His breakfast, as he tells the reader, consists of

“Tea

with honey,

a piece of toast

with cheese,

one sliced pear,

and an egg perfectly prepared.”

After he finishes eating, he finds a note informing him of the poison included in the contents of his meal. Bewildered, a word which here means surprised, caught off guard, and unsure of what to do, Snicket decides to investigate his breakfast. He takes the reader through this investigation as he follows strangers to the origin of each of his breakfast items. In less than two hundred words, the reader visits a tea shop, the sea, a supermarket, a park, and, finally, a library.

Through his eloquent (a word which here means well written) narration, the reader feels as immersed in the story as Snicket is in the sea. The philosophy of this book is not subtle, though it does not stand out as much as other books of philosophy do. The philosophical thoughts flow simply and concisely, and complement the rest of the narrative, connecting everything together in a rather poetic way. This book is short and sure to grab your attention quickly. In only 154 words, Snicket hooks the reader and conveys a story “as true as Lemony Snicket himself.” This book, as well as being a wonderful story and philosophical text, also gives insight into the process of writing and imparts valuable lessons for anyone wishing to put their thoughts to paper.

All in all, I give this book five stars. It is a perfectly prepared egg, although to understand that, I’m afraid you’ll have to read this book for yourself.