It took me a while to get in to this story of vaguely antropomorphic bears, and I didn't find nearly as much humor in it until I read "Lemony Snicket's" reader's guide at the end. The guide is more memorable than the text itself, though it occasionally takes a cue from epic poetry and is filled with fun illustrations. The overall feel is a cross between a neoclassical epic with a touch of morality and a history textbook of sorts.