wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Sept 27, 2019 16:42:03 GMT -5
I recently listened to the first couple of books on Audible, and it occurred to me that it's kind of odd that the Feldmans don't make an appearance at the christening in this book. You'd think that with family around for Lucy's christening, it would be a good opportunity to work Rob, Rosie, and Brenda into another early book.
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Post by booklover85 on May 24, 2020 11:47:12 GMT -5
I'm reading Janine and Mean Claudia right now, and Claudia is a whiny b*tch in this one.
This book is an missed opportunity to form a friendship with Jenny and Karen. They could have bonded with their love for clothes and play Lovely Ladies with each other.
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bsc
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 21
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Post by bsc on Aug 11, 2020 2:03:17 GMT -5
I just reread this one and wow! Claudia was mean to Janine. I really liked the play group. I loved the Louie part.
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Post by CharlotteTJohanssen on Dec 19, 2020 23:07:49 GMT -5
Did anyone notice that the Arnold's were foreshadowed in this book? Claudia was misdialed the phone number to Chez Maurice and someone said "Hello Arnold Residence." She was 14 books ahead of their first official appearance lol
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on Dec 30, 2020 0:41:33 GMT -5
Claudia mostly did the provoking in this book. She is so jealous of Janine she acts like a spoiled brat.
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Post by sparklymouse on Mar 30, 2022 18:02:36 GMT -5
Mimi looks cute. There's no way Claudia would be competitive in a game of Trivial Pursuit.
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Post by sparklymouse on Apr 8, 2022 15:35:31 GMT -5
I thought that plant above her was an enormous insect crawling down. This outfit is starting to show some funkiness. Matching a cow print with some sort of snake arm cuff. These covers are so similar to the US ones that I wonder why they bothered to redo them. Some title translations. Some of them don't makes sense, so they may not be accurate: Claudia and Janine's seven-sciences (?) Unlucky Joke Valeria and the evil Janine (mean) This plague of Josée Julie is out of luck Claudia is in trouble Claudia and Janine are big heads (hot heads?) An eventful summer for Claudia (true) Claudia and nerd janine (also mean)
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Post by booboobrewer on Apr 8, 2022 16:03:29 GMT -5
Claudia and Janine are wearing practically the same outfit.
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Post by oldmeanie on Jun 22, 2022 0:09:40 GMT -5
I totally take back what I said about not liking Janine in the early books and for feeling bad for Claudia. Claudia is INSUFFERABLE in this book and Janine is a lot more likeable. I'm thinking that since we're seeing her character through narrators who don't like her, she comes across as annoying. Idk if that makes sense. Not in this one, though.
I have no idea what made Claudia so mad when she was with Jamie and why she almost hit her. It came out of nowhere. Then her accusing her of not helping with dinner them being "stuck with" Mimi just really ticked me off. Claudia WANTED to help Mimi and she was originally doing it for free. Argh.
The Louie chapter was actually pretty funny, as was the Karen and Jenny interaction.
Janine confessing that she doesn't feel wanted in the Kishi family was actually really sad. I like that they all pull together to help Mimi, but I have no idea why they didn't think to ask Janine for help. Wtf.
So far, this might be my least favorite, at least of the first 10 books, but it still has good parts.
This didn't occur to me back in the day, but I kind of wish we'd gotten Kristy's perspective during her move. That would've been interesting. Or even a chapter dedicated to it. It's a big deal in the series, so it's odd that it didn't happen.
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Post by wistfuldreamer86 on Jun 24, 2022 21:11:33 GMT -5
^ That's one of the pitfalls of a first person POV, you often want to agree with the narrator even if they're being unreasonable. A lot of it just comes from Claudia's insecurities though, it's not really about Janine. She just feels like Janine is the golden child and she's the black sheep.
I agree that it's odd that Kristy moved in a book that wasn't written from her POV.
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Post by booboobrewer on Jun 24, 2022 22:06:17 GMT -5
I have no idea what made Claudia so mad when she was with Jamie and why she almost hit her. It came out of nowhere. Right? I honestly think it’s Ann writing about her repressed anger (like Mary Anne telling Dawn to get out of her life in the shipwreck SS). Because Janine did literally nothing to warrant that reaction. A sibling who makes you feel stupid everyday of your life is bound to bring out that kind of reaction I think.
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Post by oldmeanie on Jun 25, 2022 22:44:26 GMT -5
I have no idea what made Claudia so mad when she was with Jamie and why she almost hit her. It came out of nowhere. Right? I honestly think it’s Ann writing about her repressed anger (like Mary Anne telling Dawn to get out of her life in the shipwreck SS). Because Janine did literally nothing to warrant that reaction. A sibling who makes you feel stupid everyday of your life is bound to bring out that kind of reaction I think. It didn't stand out to me as a kid for some reason. Janine was just answering a question. Claudia gives her almost no chance most of the time. I do think it's got to be built up anger. I can see how she'd find Janine annoying... although most people that age find their siblings annoying anyway.
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Post by bsclover on Mar 2, 2023 2:13:16 GMT -5
I feel sorry for Janine. I think she loves her family but doesn't know how to express it - and that's completely normal. I dislike how Claudia is so critical of Janine for being pedantic. Behind those big words, lies a person. “Look at me, my Claudia. This is an old baby, I mean, body. It is winding down. All parts have been working hard for many, many years. So, one of them wore out. That is all.” This was heartbreaking to read as a child and it remains despairing. Mimi was so sweet, and she definitely deserved better. Though I believe that Mimi pitted Claudia and Janine against each other, competing for her love (even if that wasn't her intention) Mimi could've done more to teach Claudia to understand Janine's perspective. Mimi should've been an intermediary between the two rather than going along with Claudia's side all the time.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,258
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Post by oldhickory on Mar 2, 2023 10:53:28 GMT -5
She wasn't a great mediator in Claudia's fight with Mary Anne either. I think she's too patient to tell someone to knock it off. She just listens and empathizes with whoever is talking and that makes them feel validated in their complaints.
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