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Post by hitzpink on Jun 26, 2006 21:01:59 GMT -5
I really liked this book. It was fun and not completely unrealistic like a lot of the mysteries are. The subplot with the girls randomly involving Derek Masters in the Janine Mystery was weird, but overall the book was really enjoyable.
Is it wrong that when Claudia describes Janine's "dorky" outfit, I thought it was kind of cute? A skirt and a button-up shirt underneath a sweater. It sounds cute in a preppy way to me. I liked how Claudia helped Janine with her hair and makeup but I felt like she was overly condesending when talking about her lack of makeup skills to the other girls. Sometimes I think the BSC is way too hard on Janine. They relentlessly rag on her for studying, using proper grammar, etc, but I don't think she's that bad.
I'm not sure how realistic Janine's super hunky boyfriend is, but I thought it was cool that they didn't pair her up with some super nerdy boy.
OH! But how sad was this comment that Janine made to Claudia: "he [the hunky boyfriend] told me that he likes me in spite of my looks, not because of them." Ouch! If my boyfriend said that to me, I can't say that I'd be very happy!
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Post by lovelylemontree on Jun 27, 2006 1:28:39 GMT -5
I don't understand what's wrong with any of Janine's clothes described in the books. They aren't trendy or wild, but it's not like she's pairing a plaid skirt with a polka dot sweater (like I'm sure Claudia has). She wears plain, practical clothes, but they don't sound hideous or embarrassing.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Jun 27, 2006 13:34:57 GMT -5
I think Janine's clothes sound cute, too, hitzpink! I love how she borrows Claudia's red sweater and then proceeds to wear it like, 12 times in the next three weeks. heh. I never noticed that quote from Jerry about Janine's looks... that is pretty harsh! I mean, how did that go over well at all? "Janine, you don't need to wear make up and sparkley clothes! I like you no matter what, even if you are ugly!"
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 30, 2006 8:25:51 GMT -5
I remember liking this book and plan to reread. I agree about Janine and often like her better than Claudia. Also, ITA about Jerry's looks comment. One time a boy told me that he liked me because I was nice and I was "almost as pretty" as my best friend but way nicer. It still stings!
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Jul 3, 2006 13:00:40 GMT -5
This one was okay...in my high school, though, a cute guy would never have asked out a "genius" though.
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inge
Junior Sitter
Posts: 767
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Post by inge on Jul 5, 2006 15:30:44 GMT -5
I'm not sure how realistic Janine's super hunky boyfriend is, but I thought it was cool that they didn't pair her up with some super nerdy boy. OH! But how sad was this comment that Janine made to Claudia: "he [the hunky boyfriend] told me that he likes me in spite of my looks, not because of them." Ouch! If my boyfriend said that to me, I can't say that I'd be very happy! Word on the boyfriend thing, but in Stoneybrook all the girls that would be considered less of a catch to (pre)teenage boys, get boyfriends (hunky ones!) none the less: Mallory, Mary Anne, so why not Janine? That quote about the "in spite of your looks" thing was the first thing that jumped to my mind when reading this thread. ouch, ouch, ouch!! Janine seemed happy about it, but I would've cried... or something. That's mean! Anyway, this was one of the better mysteries. Except for the spying part. When they're spying on people, I don't know, it always just bores me.
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Post by hitzpink on Jul 5, 2006 20:25:16 GMT -5
Me too, and these girls always seem to be spying on people! What bugged me the most about it was that they randomly decided to get Derek and Todd Masters involved. I don't think that sneaking around and spying on people is something they should be encouraging their clients to do!
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Jul 6, 2006 7:07:58 GMT -5
They needed Derek's super detective skillz, though!
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Post by sotypical42483 on Jul 7, 2006 13:10:38 GMT -5
Yeah Derek was on a kid detective show or something right? So obviously he was trained to do such things! lol. And hey, it's Claudia, she needs all the help she can get with things that involve ya know, thinking and reasoning.
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courtky10
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,125
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Post by courtky10 on Jun 12, 2008 16:13:05 GMT -5
I like this book, but I don't really care much for Derek. He always seemed too cocky to me.
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Post by candykane on Jun 12, 2008 23:42:48 GMT -5
I always thought Derek acted too old for his age. He was eight, IIRC, but was so knowledgable about the ways of Hollywood. It didn't seem realistic to me for his age.
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courtky10
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,125
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Post by courtky10 on Jun 12, 2008 23:52:26 GMT -5
^That's one of the reasons I couldn't stand him. One minute, he's complaining about getting an F in science, and the next he's practically a genius. Plus, he's a great detective, actor, and badmitton player.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Sept 26, 2008 11:01:52 GMT -5
It was funny how they were pimping Vanessa to get a kiss from him
And I found it weird how even Stacey didn't pick up that Janine might be dating someone, so you have to be unintelligent and cool just to date? Come on that's dumb. For once, Mallory was onto something!
I liked the way it was written though. I loved reading about Janine's makeover, baby sitting for Derek, and even Claudia working with the beads to make jewelry for the craft sale. I thought her parents overreacted about Janine going to Pizza Express though, and for someone smart, Janine didn't know how to say she finished studying early and went out to eat.
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Post by candykane on Sept 26, 2008 11:25:28 GMT -5
^ Yeah, Mallory was right all along, and the rest of the girls just blew off the idea that Janine might possibly have a boyfriend. I never got the impression that Janine wasn't good-looking, either, so I didn't like that Jerry said he liked her in spite of her looks. I think it was more that Janine dressed sort of plainly and didn't do much with her hair and makeup. Still, that shouldn't mean that someone isn't good-looking. Besides, if Claudia is so drop-dead gorgeous and "exotic-looking," I find it hard to believe that Janine wasn't much to look at. After all, they're sisters. I know it's very possible for sisters to not look alike at all, but I'm not convinced that Claudia was so much better-looking than Janine. If my husband had said something like that to me when we were still dating, he probably wouldn't BE my husband now.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Sept 26, 2008 14:39:09 GMT -5
I never got the impression that Janine was ugly, either. I always thought that she was just sort of ordinary-looking.
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