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Post by aln1982 on Mar 5, 2006 16:55:37 GMT -5
I might be alone but I like Janine. They are always complaining about what a "genius" she is and I know she does get a little bossy at times. It isn't her fault that she is smart, though, and sometimes I think she has a lot of patience to put up with Claudia not being good in school and not seeming to care. Also, Janine always seems more than willing to help the BSC with whatever they need and is really good with trying to help tutor Claudia. Another thought about Janine... I thought it was really funny when she went to take Claud a change of clothes at the Newtons' (I think it was in Kristy and the Haunted Mansion) and wondered how she was going to feed Lucy the cheerios without her getting milk on herself. I always thought it was interesting when Janine interacted with the charges.
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Post by sugarmonkey on Mar 5, 2006 21:05:17 GMT -5
I agree. Janine was super patient. I loved the fact that there was tension between Janine and Claudia. It made their relationship seem more realistic. Although, now that I think about it, Janine being a genius (and it being mentioned in every chapter 2) as well as her uptight personality served to emphasize Claudia's weakness in academics and her, um, "creativity" towards life.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Mar 5, 2006 23:24:57 GMT -5
I like Janine! Personally I think Claudia was meaner in "Mean Janine" - asking how school was and then bitching when Janine gave a genuine answer.
I also liked Janine in Claudia and the Genius of Elm Street. That girl has unlimited patience!
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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 Mar 6, 2006 2:38:29 GMT -5
I didn't even know that Janine was supposed to be hated. I think the way she talks all textbook-like was just the way she operates. She gives dignified responses to questions. She shouldn't have to change the way she talks in order to fit Claudia's preference. I actually thought that she thought that she was just HELPING out Claudia's friends whenever she corrects their grammar and so forth. I'm not sure if any of those girls actually told her that they would prefer her not to do that.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Mar 6, 2006 5:33:25 GMT -5
I liked Janine in Mean Janine, too. There aren't actually any instances that I can think of where she was unreasonably bitchy. I loved her in the Mystery at Claudia's house... it was cool to see her asking Claudia for help.
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ktag
Junior Sitter
Posts: 694
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Post by ktag on Mar 6, 2006 8:41:00 GMT -5
I like Janine, too. I thought Claudia and the others to a lesser extent weren't very nice to her. Janine would try to reach out and Claudia, always the impatient one, would snap at her after three words. I even liked some of her grammar lessons. They're so true and kids really should learn them. It's too bad there wasn't more (non-babysitting) sibling bonding in the series.
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Post by aln1982 on Mar 7, 2006 10:44:40 GMT -5
I agree that there should have been more sibling bonding between Claudia and Janine but I actually like Janine better than Claudia. I guess maybe I can relate more to her. I don't think that she was supposed to be hated but it did kind of annoy me how Claudia always seemed annoyed with Janine's mannerisms. It does get on your nerves when someone corrects your grammar, but other than that, there is nothing wrong with being smart. Maybe Claud could have taken a few tips instead of seeming so proud that she didn't care about school because she was going to be an artist. Sorry that I am kind of down on Claudia right now because I just finished "Claudia Kishi, Middle School Dropout" and she said some things about not needing school that irritated me.
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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 Mar 7, 2006 22:37:24 GMT -5
It seems to me that it's a common theme to have contrasts between siblings or paired-up people in the series. Becca - not really that gracefully athletic, but Jessi's a dancer. Andrew's shy, Karen's chirpy. Richard and Sharon. Mallory and her siblings. Shannon and Tiffany. Oh and Jessi & Mal (just kidding ^^).
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Post by buffykay70 on Mar 14, 2006 5:52:50 GMT -5
i liked janine, at times i thought that claudia was quite mean to her. its not her fault that she excels at academics and is smart. she was a bit annoying with her 'superior' speech and talking but overall shes a good character.
although i didnt like when she stole claudias clothes in the mystery at claudias house. and she could have been a little nicer to claud for helping her out with make up and dressing and all. it was different to see janine with a boyfriend and see her act more girly though.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Mar 27, 2006 17:43:58 GMT -5
I like Janine. I thought the BSC were pretty bitchy towards her, like "OMG! We have to RUN by Janine's room on our way to Claudia's so she doesn't talk to us!" I think Claudia was just super jealous of her. More jealous than she let on. Janine was cool, being smart isn't a bad thing and speaking correctly isn't either. I loved when she corrected Claudia or used big words around her I thought it was lame that just because she was the genius, she had to dress in skirts and oxfords.
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Post by booboobrewer on Mar 27, 2006 18:35:24 GMT -5
lol I thought of that too. What was the worst that could happen? She would *gasp* say hello?! I really like Janine too. She would do nice, subtle things here and there, like when Claudia is tutoring Emily Michelle and has her come to the Kishi house - Janine is waiting to greet her with a balloon. There's of course the talk with the principal when Claudia was accused of cheating. And in Claudia's Big Party, she makes such an effort to bond with Claudia that is cute and annoying at the same time. Also, she snagged Jerry, who was supposedly a total babe.
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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 Mar 28, 2006 1:30:54 GMT -5
Ooh, I remember that balloon incident also. See that is the kind of person she is. She not only gives you something but also teaches you something in the process. If roles had been reversed, Claudia would probably just given Emily some Lucky Charm cereal necklace, pfft. I like Janine.
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Post by aln1982 on Apr 23, 2006 16:21:12 GMT -5
I also loved the balloon incident! I just read Claudia and Mean Janine and thought that it should have been mean Claudia. I didn't think Janine was bad but that Claud was the one who acted like a jealous brat. Janine was just being Janine. As I've said before, she can't help it that she is smart. I thought she was trying really hard a lot of times to be nice - like with Jamie and Lucy. I couldn't believe that Claud almost slapped her - real good example for the super mature babysitter to be setting for little Jamie.
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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 24, 2006 1:55:32 GMT -5
I guess the only good thing that Claudia could claim over Janine is that she might be a better babysitter than her. I mean, when Janine walked little Kristy, MA, and Claudia to school she always walked while reading a book and ignoring the kids.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Apr 24, 2006 2:11:58 GMT -5
And in Kristy and the Haunted Mansion, Janine has no idea what to do when Lucy Newton starts crying.
Claudia definitely does have skills that Janine does not. The annoying thing is that in the books, all of Janine's skills (the academic, book-smart stuff) is portrayed as a bad thing, and she's made out to be this annoying character, when really, she's not that bad. In fact, as this thread shows, there are many instances where readers are more sympathetic to Janine than Claudia.
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