Poison For Breakfast

By: Jamie Steinberg

Bewilderment. That is the theme that surrounds Lemony Snicket’s (or “Mr. Snicket” as he prefers to be addressed) latest novel Poison For Breakfast. After having his daily breakfast, Snicket finds a piece of paper under his door that reads “You had poison for breakfast.” This leads him on a detective-like adventure to figure out where the poison would have made its way into his meal. This intriguing tale is Snicket’s first “non-fiction” book for all ages that feels like a Sherlock Holmes mystery meets philosophical exploration.

Could it be the chicken that laid the egg? Could it be the tea shop owner? Maybe it happened at the supermarket? Snicket takes readers on a tour of his neighborhood shops in order to determine where the poisoning could have happened. Along the way we readers revel in Snicket’s philosophical takes on finding clues, remembering odd moments from childhood and finding bewilderment in every contemplative moment. My favorite escapade is when Snicket heads to the water to find a bit of peace to the inner workings of his mind and the worry that comes with being poisoned for breakfast. It has a truly calming effect on the man and refreshes him, as he believes it will be his last day on Earth. It also seems to give him a new outlook on his search for understanding.

An intriguing read, for sure, this tale by Lemony Snicket stands out from his other works. Yes, the charm, intrigue and clever writing is there; however, there are no children. The sole focus is on Snicket finding out the responsible party for the poisoning. Readers will be intrigued to read page by page to learn the identity behind the culprit. The suspenseful tale of Poison For Breakfast is certainly worth the read for Snicket’s insight into his own murder and to gain some perspective from his philosophical outlook on life.