Kristy Thomas

[booboobrewer]

Yeah, I found those parts where she frowned at others' ideas because she didn't think of them first so annoying. Like she was the official "idea machine" and nobody else should dare to use their own imaginations...

[sotypical42483]

I actually thought it was kind of endearing. I don't know why. I think I'm developing a soft spot for crazy Kristy.

[wanderingfrog]

aln1982 said:

Also got me thinking about how the books are always talking about what a good businessperson Kristy is but yet she seems almost angry when someone else comes up with a good idea or makes a point to improve on one of hers - like she's the only one who is allowed to have ideas. A good businessperson, according to my understanding, should accept and consider others' views and ideas with hopes of gaining something. Of course, Kristy has been successful with her ideas but some of the other girls had good ideas, too, that she immediately rejected (often with the "look"). This is the one aspect of Kristy's personality that drives me crazy.

Well, you've got to remember that Kristy is only thirteen. She's not as mature as a grown-up businesswoman (even if thirteen-year-olds in the BSC universe are trusted to take care of infants, allowed to work as busboys and wander strange cities without adults present, and go on dinner dates at fancy restaurants), so maybe as she gets older she'll realize that it might be a good idea to actually listen to other people's ideas instead of automatically disregarding them because she's jealous.

[msstock87]

I always liked Kristy. She was often portrayed as bossy and loud, but I liked it whenever her soft side came out. I remember a few of Kristy's moments where she cried, and for some reason I got more respect for her then.

[booboobrewer]

Yeah, I think we get a look at the "real" Kristy in her own books. I've always found her fun and flawed and fascinating, she was a very layered character.

[liss31d]

Also in one book, it says that Karen and Andrew only come two weekends a month! Think that was a mistake though, typical ghost writers

[aln1982]

I think Karen and Andrew did only come two weekends a month at one time but then in one of the LS books it talks about how they want to spend more time at Watson's. They switch houses every month after that. Maybe most of the books that feature them happen to take place during the "big house" months?

[Deleted]

Karen and Andrew definitely only spent every second weekend (therefore two weekends a month) at their dad's house. this happened up until around little sisterbook 50 where it was switched to alternating months.

[aln1982]

The chapter 2s always seem to mention how Kristy is "not at all interested in boys, except maybe Bart." I don't find this true. After all, she kind of likes that guy in European Vacation, double dates with Claudia, and dances with the kid from NYC named Coby in Stacey's Mistake. I think that she just isn't obsessed with having a boyfriend (like Claud seems to be in Claudia and the Perfect Boy) and not "boy crazy" like Stacey. Unlike MA, she isn't the type to have a "marriage" in jr. high, either. Basically, I think that Kristy is interested in boys but they are not even close to the top of her priority list. And she isn't like Dawn where she will go all out to change herself to get a guy to like her. I really like this about Kristy and can relate to it. As a kid, it made her my favorite sitter and I was always disappointed when books focused on her realtionship with Bart (who I can't stand anyway).

[sotypical42483]

I never got the impression that Kristy was truly interested in boys. Sure she went on a couple dates and stuff, but to me she never seemed like she really cared. I couldn't relate to that as a kid, I was all about trying to get a boyfriend, lol. It is a nice quality for her to have though.

[wanderingfrog]

bscforever said:

Karen and Andrew definitely only spent every second weekend (therefore two weekends a month) at their dad's house. this happened up until around little sisterbook 50 where it was switched to alternating months.

#48, Karen's Two Families is about Karen and Andrew being dissatisfied with their custody arrangement and trying to get it changed so that they can see the big-house family more often. #49, Karen's Stepmother, is about Karen's first full month at the big house and her fighting with Elizabeth.

[msstock87]

Was that the little sister book where Karen tried to ruin Elizabeth's mother's day surprise? Or am I thinking of another little sister book?

[aln1982]

I think that might have been Karen's Gift but I'm not sure. I'm about to reread both for Mother's Day.
Sotypical, out of curiousity, what did you think of Kristy as a kid? Who were your favorite sitters? I know I liked the ones I could relate to most and wondered if this was the case for you, too.

[sotypical42483]

Kristy reminded me of myself a lot as a kid, yet for some reason I didn't like that in her. I liked the sitters I wanted to be like... mainly Stacey and Claudia. I thought they were awesome and I was so into how they always had boyfriends and were sooo dibbley fashionable. I disliked Mary Anne cause of how shy she was, didn't like Mal cause I thought she was a dork and never really had much of an opinion on Dawn or Jessi. Weird cause now I love MA and Dawn the most and Kristy is probably #2.

[aln1982]

That's interesting, Sotypical. I think I liked Stacey and Claud the least as a kid, Kristy the most and then Dawn because I thought they were "individuals" like me. I also liked MA okay and Mal but didn't have much opinion on Jessi. Now I can't stand Dawn and Stacey has become one of my favorites (though I can't say I relate to the boy crazy stuff and "fashion" stuff still). Strange how we change with experience and time