Enigma
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 128
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Post by Enigma on Dec 26, 2015 14:37:46 GMT -5
Just read this one for the first time in over 20 years; seemed that all the adult romances moved way too fast in Stoneybrook; met, date, and marry within a few months? It seemed realistic that the girls would be so excited about becoming becoming stepsisters; what could sound better than a live-in best friend to share clothes with and gossip with every night when you're 13?
After reading this one, I'm having second thoughts on whether or not to read 'The Fire at Mary Anne's House.' If her reaction to moving a few blocks away was this dramatic, I don't want to read about that house and all her belongings burning down- seems way too sad and dark for a BSC book, especially for a character as sensitive as Mary Anne. Should I just skip the last book of the BSC series before Friends 4 Ever?
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 27, 2015 5:33:25 GMT -5
I haven't read the Fire at Mary Anne's House yet but if i were you, I'd read it before the FF series because the Mary Anne books revolves around the fire.
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inge
Junior Sitter
Posts: 767
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Post by inge on Dec 27, 2015 6:39:43 GMT -5
^ the romances definitely move very fast, I am rereading book 23 (dawn on the coast) and sharon and richard aren't even dating yet!
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Post by virgoscorpio on Dec 27, 2015 13:27:18 GMT -5
I think the best part of this book is still Goozie Kunka!
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Post by sparklymouse on Dec 29, 2015 15:17:16 GMT -5
I don't know, I can kinda see the Richard and Sharon thing happening quickly the older I get. They had a romantic history, so it's not like they were starting from zero. I've known a lot of girls over the years who moved in with their new boyfriends very quickly. Since that wasn't an option in BSC land it makes sense that they got married.
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Enigma
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 128
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Post by Enigma on Dec 30, 2015 0:02:00 GMT -5
True; have seen couples move in together within a month of starting to date but that's totally different from "tying the knot" (although I do know a few couples who literally got married after just meeting once or twice). I agree that AMM wanted to keep the BSC series wholesome and not portray any hint of living together before marriage and also used that for plots (like having to rush to have a wedding in 'Kristy's Big Day.' Here's the irony of the warped timeline in the books when it comes to the later BSC marriages; many couples might have even married each other before they actually met (or at least started dating). In 'Here Comes the Bridesmaids" they have a December wedding in their eighth grade year but were they even dating when Dawn goes back to visit during spring break (which would be later in the eighth grade year) in 'Dawn on the Coast'? And then in CA Diaries, at the start of Dawn's eighth grade year, Carol and her dad have been married for a few months when Dawn discovers she is pregnant. What about the Barrett-DeWitt's timeline?
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Jan 3, 2016 20:16:59 GMT -5
^ My head hurts now. the BSC timeline can be so confusing. I've thought of Richard and Sharon and how they supposedly rushed into marriage. They were reunited in #4 in February of the girls' 7th grade year. They got married in #31 in (I think) winter of their second 8th grade year. So technically they'd been dating for 2 years if it weren't for the time warp! That's not really rushing... Correct me if I'm wrong.
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inge
Junior Sitter
Posts: 767
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Post by inge on Jan 4, 2016 6:17:30 GMT -5
That is true, but they didn't date all that time if I remember well. Sharon spent most of that time dating the tripman!
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Jan 4, 2016 10:00:36 GMT -5
^ Good point. She was dating the trip man from #9 summer before 8th grade to spring of 2nd year of 8th grade. That's over a year!
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Post by booboobrewer on Aug 30, 2016 18:28:21 GMT -5
Mary Anne asks Stacey why she bothers with nail polish during a meeting, then sounds kind of wistful when she has to wear clear and Dawn gets to wear purple for the birthday dinner. Haha. The dinner is my favorite part of the book. I love planning surprises and it sounded really nice with the champagne, balloons, and cake.
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Post by wistfuldreamer86 on Aug 21, 2019 20:08:14 GMT -5
Don't really have a lot to say about this one, not a lot stood out to me. I did like the note to Kristy, even though it does sound like a goodbye, and the dinner that the girls had with their parents. I thought it was weird that Richard and Sharon didn't sit down with the girls together and talk about living arrangements, what was going to happen to Tigger, etc. And I also think it's weird that suddenly Mary Anne's house is too small when the farmhouse seemed small in the beginning. Oh well. It was fun to read about the twins again.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,234
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Post by oldhickory on Aug 26, 2019 9:10:22 GMT -5
Agree with you about the moving part. I can totally see Sharon waving her hands, not really worrying about the move and thinking things will just work out. But it does seem really out of character for Richard that they never sat down and had a family meeting.
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on Dec 7, 2019 1:06:54 GMT -5
I used to like this one a lot. But a few things grated in my nerves. Why did Dawn and Mary Anne take over the whole wedding? They wanted this big fancy wedding and they didn't even think of how much it will cost. What did they think they were? Wedding experts? Plus they never thought what Sharon and Richard wanted.
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on Feb 5, 2021 5:02:21 GMT -5
Just in case you're wondering why there's so many posts from me in this thread I'm rereading them.
I think Dawn was jealous because she got her mother a daily planner thing which you know she'd never use . Scatterbrained people don't use them . Mary Anne got her something meaningful ! She was pretty lousy to Mary Anne but MA was bitchy in the next one .
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on Feb 5, 2021 5:04:41 GMT -5
This was one of the first 10 or so BSC books (and only ones until about last year) that I owned but I had never read it many times and hadn’t reread it for a long time. I’m not sure why, though, because I just reread it and liked it really well. I never remember all of the good parts it has. I even enjoyed the subplot of the Arnolds, who I usually can’t stand. I was glad to see the differentiations in their personalities and was happy that they got to get different rooms that reflected these differences. I really enjoyed the baby sitting chapter with the Pikes. Hayley signing “monkey brains” to Matt made me laugh ;D All of the games that the kids played sounded fun – Sardines, 7 Up (which I used to love playing in school but had forgotten all about), and Mary Anne’s Game of School. I wish I was a kid so the BSC could sit for me ;D I also liked MA and Dawn giving Richard advice on romantic things to do for Sharon. Reminded me of how I am always doing this for my dad, who reminds me a lot of Richard. In fact, I just had to do this Sunday and always have to advise him on Christmas/Birthday gifts (my not doing so has created some situations that might make good BSC fight plots. My mom gets a bit like MA…) I really like Richard and Sharon’s relationship, anyway. The Pike triplets trying not to laugh at the wedding had me laughing. It reminded me of my mom’s stories about how she and her cousins (she had like 30 1st cousins on each side) used to sit together at funerals and weddings and all it would take to get them all going was one little thing. She was a big laugher who couldn’t stop once she got started or when she was nervous and started cracking up at her grandpa’s funeral. Another potentially good plot or subplot I was really touched by Mary Anne’s note to Kristy. It was something I could see myself doing and I’m always glad to read about the interaction between MA, Dawn and Kristy. Lots of foreshadowing – including the subplot of sibling rivalry – to Dawn’s Wicked Stepsister, which is another one that I haven’t read many times and don’t really remember but am about to reread. I’m glad I reread this one. There were some parts that did irritate me - all of which have already been mentioned so I won't focus on the negative again but for me, the positive aspects overshadowed these and I basically just ignored them. It’s not one of my very favorites but I definitely liked it. needed that today as I am dreading my upcoming dentist appointment – I need to read Karen’s Toothache again, I guess ;D Please use paragraphs !
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