“You never love a book the way you love a book when you are ten,” proclaims Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket). AND THEN? AND THEN? WHAT ELSE? is a delightful, dark, honest, funny and altogether compelling look at Handler’s life thus far. And at the relatively young age of 54, we assume he has a lot more living to do. From his favorite books, Handler finds ideas, images and theories that relate directly to his own life and uses them to give us the 411 on what he’s been up to during his fascinating time on Earth.

AND THEN? AND THEN? WHAT ELSE? is part memoir, part writing handbook, and mostly paean to the many books that shaped Handler’s imagination. His early discovery of the French poet Charles Baudelaire came back to assist him in fashioning the Baudelaire orphans in his A Series of Unfortunate Events. The schlock fest Attack of the 50 Foot Woman gave his wild ramblings further weight and foundation. Louise Fitzhugh’s HARRIET THE SPY, one of the greatest books ever written (according to both Handler and myself), along with Emily Dickinson and THE CHANGELING by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, all contributed to these tales as well.

"It is with all due respect and admiration that I beg of you to read AND THEN? AND THEN? WHAT ELSE? Daniel Handler will never steer you wrong."

Handler crafts each chapter around a particular book or piece of media and a theme that he finds central to both comprehending his work and what he has done personally to understand his life and turn it into art. His nervous breakdown during his freshman year in college leads to a series of hallucinations that haunt his brain well past the time it took him to find some mental fitness again. He has such an offhanded and self-mocking tone (familiar to anyone who has read any of his other work) that it is sometimes hard to parse what is really happening and what he invented. But the nervous breakdown part is pretty horrific, and any question soon gives way to concern and then relief that he eventually was able to move forward.

As with so many of the writers we love, reading is the ultimate inspiration. The words, stories and amazing characters of Handler’s childhood favorites bring his own ideas to life, giving them validation and helping him become a most prolific writer. Unlike Stephen King’s remarkable ON WRITING: A Memoir of the Craft, Handler doesn’t directly address young writers in his audience, nor does he give them lists or how-tos. But in discussing how his favorite art has impacted his writing life, he does offer qualified and usable advice to those who are hoping to follow him down the path to literary success.

Handler tells us funny or heartfelt stories and gives us his most personal thoughts about his process. Baudelaire takes center stage here as he describes in several chapters how important the poet has been in shaping and helping him deliver his off-kilter brilliance. He has worked with artist/memoirist Maira Kalman and others, but still it is Baudelaire who has had the greatest impact on those collaborations as well as his individual works.

If you were a Rory Gilmore growing up (as I was and still am), attending social events with a large copy of the combined works of your favorite poet in your bag in case things got boring, this book is made for you. If you love Handler’s work and want to understand how he got those wonderful ideas, this is a good book for you. If you want to be a writer, this book will help justify and qualify your greatest hopes and dreams.

It is with all due respect and admiration that I beg of you to read AND THEN? AND THEN? WHAT ELSE? Daniel Handler will never steer you wrong.