macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Mar 12, 2006 23:10:35 GMT -5
I've almost finished this one, but not quite. I've found it pretty enjoyable, a little over the top. I mean, come on. A personals column for 11/12/13 yr olds? I'm sure it was supposed to be all in fun, but the students of Stoneybrook Middle School seemed to take it quite seriously.
Also, Claudia's date with Rock was an entertaining chapter, although I could do without the obligatory EW! at the mention of his tattoo. Which brings me to another point. Where on Earth are 13 yr olds allowed to have authentic tattoos done?! My friend in HS had one done at 16, but she looked older than her age and was never asked for ID. I find it hard to believe that a 13 yr old could ever pass for 18.
I also enjoyed reading about Claudia's date with Brian and the cringing boredom. Also, the editing error involving Mary Anne's message to Logan was funny - Fed up girl with dud boyfriend ;D ... typical bloody MA and Logan argument, where one of them just reverts to the angry silent treatment and totally refuses to hear a simple explanation.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Mar 13, 2006 4:46:30 GMT -5
Maybe his older brother did the tattoo for him Or maybe he had parental permission? Dunno. I enjoyed this book, for the most part. It's one that I can reread and love and not have any "ugh, terrible" moments.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Mar 13, 2006 4:55:58 GMT -5
No, his parents grounded him for a month because of it!
I liked this book as well. I enjoyed the Stacey/Claudia sleepover. Their friendship wasn't developed much, so it was nice to see some interaction between the two girls.
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Post by bscfan24 on Mar 14, 2006 1:57:25 GMT -5
I liked this book a lot. I loved it when that guy kept asking Claudia whether or not she liked certain Japanese things or not and she got upset. That was pretty funny to me.
I loved the Mary Anne/Logan mix up thing. I loved how she kept getting all these calls from guys who wanted "the Tig". Hmm. Wonder ift hey thought she was some kind of sex-kitten or something? That *does* kind of sound like a porn star's name. Hehe. Geni
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Mar 14, 2006 3:49:27 GMT -5
I found that funny too! And Claud got all snarky, asking him if he was familiar with Polish and Hungarian culture, which was apparently his heritage.
The whole "your cuddly kitten will love you fur-ever" sounded somewhat sleazy to me, as well. At least, way too intimate for a 13 yr old.
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on Apr 23, 2006 0:29:45 GMT -5
I kind of liked how Claud got mad at Rock for calling her a chick. Then he kept using that word. But yeah, Claud got him back with those Polish questions.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Apr 23, 2006 0:45:58 GMT -5
I was impressed that Claudia knew so much about Polish/Hungarian culture!
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Post by lovelylemontree on May 13, 2006 2:17:55 GMT -5
Definitely one of my favorite books in the series. It's fun, but rather ridiculous, and completely enjoyable. I'm glad Claudia got a book that doesn't center around art or her stupidity. Claudia's the last BSC member I would think of working on the school paper, but the personals column totally fits her. She needs more extra-curriculars that boost her self-esteem. I wish the column had been mentioned in some of the other books.
I liked reading all the letters Claudia received and how she'd edit them. There are some strange kids at SMS. I also liked reading about Claudia's dates during her quest for the perfect boy. The kid with the tattoo was my favorite date. I mean, a thirteen year old with a tattoo. So wonderfully ridiculous.
I also liked the Claudia/Stacey friendship in this book. Their best friendship usually seems rather superficial to me, but not in this one. I enjoyed how Stacey helped Claudia out with the column and offered encouragement. It was all very genuine. I liked that.
And another reason I like this book so much. Emily Bernstein! Any book that gives Emily Bernstein a substantial secondary role is okay with me. She's one of my favorite minor characters and totally underused.
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on May 13, 2006 2:29:58 GMT -5
I think they mention Claudia's Personals in Live From WSTO. Claudia mentions it as a reference for her essay. Also, about Emily Bernstein, my memory might be a little hazy but weren't the BSC considering her as a possibility to replace Dawn? I thought when they were cycling through the possible candidates that they mentioned her?
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Post by sotypical42483 on May 15, 2006 12:50:01 GMT -5
I haven't read this one, it sounds kinda good. But as for the whole tattoo thing... this is Stoneybrook, you know, the town where kids of any age can run off to the mall and get their ears pierced without parental permission.
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lisa
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 201
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Post by lisa on May 17, 2006 6:31:19 GMT -5
^ true.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2006 0:05:10 GMT -5
Definitely one of my favorite books in the series. It's fun, but rather ridiculous, and completely enjoyable. I totally agree. I love the books where the girls are all "social". I love the various interaction of the girls (specifically Claud)with several background characters--Alan Gray, Emily Bernstein, Julie Stern. This book made me look at Claudia as a somewhat Carrie Bradshaw character--the unique fashion sense and the supposed experience with the opposite sex played out in a newspaper column. I think I thought this because I only first read this book about half a year ago...years after I had been watching SATC. Poor Claud...will she never find her Mr. Big? Stacey was a really good friend to Claud in this book--helping her with her column (and not getting any credit/recognition), stating that Claud is too pretty, etc....but, what does everyone think of Stacey "inventing" the boy of Claud's dreams via those letters? Heinous? or forgivable? And...you gotta love the opening of this book--Claudia hugging herself to see what it was like to be held close by someone. Um, hasn't she hooked up with several guys across the country?
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Post by bscfan24 on May 18, 2006 3:40:14 GMT -5
^^they did the same thing to Rose in "Golden Girls". The inventing the dream guy. It was hilarious.
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Post by lovelylemontree on May 19, 2006 1:37:42 GMT -5
I decided to reread this one. I enjoyed it as much the second time around as I did the first. Definitely still one of my favorites.
I also like the books where the girls break away and interact with secondary characters. I especially like it in this book because it uses established secondary characters like Alan and Emily. I hate when new characters randomly pop up out of nowhere and are never heard from again. This is Brian Hall and Julie Stern's first book, but at least they make brief appearances later on.
I love Claudia's description of Emily in this book: "In her own low-key, serious way, Emily Bernstein is a dynamo." I'm an Emily fan and I think that's an apt description of her character. Although, my favorite book featuring Emily is Stacey's Movie, even though she's technically the villain.
Claudia comes across as much brighter than usual in this book. She handles the Alan situation quickly and with ease. She can really think on her feet. She also handles Rock and his Asian fixation well. She's also really talented at putting together the personals page, which is more work than one would imagine. She's good at parring down the ads and later, at matching up some of the letter writers. Surprisingly, I think Claudia would have done well writing an advice column for the paper. I wish Claudia had stayed so involved with the Express. Working on the paper made her feel good about herself. At one point, when Emily suggested Claudia help with the layout, I hoped for some future showdown between her and Julie Stern. But, alas, the BSC are not allowed to have outside interests past one book and Claudia was forced back into her box. And that would be the "Claudia loves art and is stoopid" box. Blast the ghostwriters.
Not heinous, totally forgivable. Stacey had the best intentions. If the deception had lasted the entire book and caused Claudia actual humiliation and complications, then it would be heinous. Stacey came clean quickly and willingly. Claudia was disappointed, but Stacey helped her realize that the perfect boy for her was out there somewhere.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on May 22, 2006 6:33:08 GMT -5
Back in 1989, when this book was written, there may not have been so many regulations on ear-piercing, as piercing in general wasn't the current "rebellious teen" trend and ear-piercing alone is a fairly conservative, mainstream thing. When I was 16 (late 90s) I took my then-8 yr old sister to have a second piercing in each ear and parental permission was not required.
Tattoos, however, have ALWAYS been restricted to 18+, well as far as I'm aware anyway.
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