#10 Stacey's Problem

[sparklymouse]

Apr 26, 2012 16:45:45 GMT -5 anzuhana said:

Also, I liked that Maureen wanted to open her own clothing store. I wish we could've read about it.

If it was written today and realistically then Maureen would have burned through what little savings she had and probably gone out of business within a year. I liked that she finally started to get her life going the way she wanted it to, but the name changing was stupid timing. Either change it back or don't, but don't wait until after you've started establishing yourself in a new career.

[anzuhana]

If it was written today and realistically then Maureen would have burned through what little savings she had and probably gone out of business within a year.

That would've been sad to read about.

[oldhickory]

Apr 26, 2012 17:37:16 GMT -5 sparklymouse said:

I liked that she finally started to get her life going the way she wanted it to, but the name changing was stupid timing. Either change it back or don't, but don't wait until after you've started establishing yourself in a new career.

i agree. the whole idea was just a reaction to ed and samantha. considering that maureen is portrayed as a strong independent woman who got it together when stacey needed her to provide, it seemed really childish. my dad got remarried 13ish years ago and as far as my mom was concerned, it was none of her business and certainly didn't concern her enough to change her name.

[greer]

Eh I can understand not wanting to carry around the name of a man you're no longer married to. My mom didn't change her name back, but her maiden name was very difficult for people to spell and pronounce.

[sarish]

^ My grandma explained it as not wanting a different last name than her kids, which is why she carried my grandfathers name for about 30 years if not more after they divorced - and to her death.

[sparklymouse]

I have no opinion on the name changing in general. Do what makes you comfortable. I thought the timing of Maureen doing it was stupid. Why didn't she do it right after the divorce? She got a job and started establishing herself within her field and then decided it was a good time to change her name. I assume one major reason why many women choose to keep their maiden names after marriage is because they have career experience under that name and want to stay recognizable. It just seemed a little flakey to me, I guess.

[zoar3]

^ITA Sparklymouse. It was like it took 12 years (time warp) for Maureen to want to change her name. I wonder if Ed had not re-married if she ever would have changed it. That would have been interesting to know. Maybe she was hoping they'd get back together or it really never occurred to her? It seemed (to me) like a complete non issue until this book.

[oldhickory]

personally i would want to keep the same name as my kids if i got divorced. even if he eventually got remarried, i wouldn't want his new wife to have the same last name as my kids when i had a different name. you never really know for sure until it actually happens, but that's how i think i would react.

[virgoscorpio]

Dec 21, 2011 14:59:54 GMT -5 sparklymouse said:

The third choice was this old guy on disability who collected stamps for fun and couldn't do any sports. Mallory wanted him for herself .

Bwahahahahahaha! "Poor Mallory".

[celaeno]

I already had a copy of this book, but I picked up another one at a thrift store today because it was shrink wrapped and had a necklace inside the wrapper. Did anyone else ever see this book coming with a necklace?

[starrynight]

^ No, I didn't, but got my copy used on ebay. Any necklace would have been LONG gone.

[celaeno]

In this book we find out that Mallory started an Internet Club, became president of it, but didn't want to talk about it to her friends because she didn't want to sound like she was bragging. Oh Mallory how I've missed you.

In lots of scenes that include Laine, especially the one in this book, I picture Laine looking just like Evie Zamora from the movie Thirteen. It's like I think they're the same character - then I have to remind myself that Laine, like, reads novels written in French at the age of 13.

[greer]

I don't think that Laine is reading novels in French. I think she got in way over her head with drinking, drugs, etc., I guess like in Thirteen.

[celaeno]

I thought Stacey says in one of the books that Laine reads French literature (in French)? Someone help me?

ETA: Found it, in #18 Stacey's Mistake:

Claudia reads Nancy Drew mysteries, Laine reads French poetry

I choose to believe she's reading it in French.

[greer]

I meant more that she was too busy leading a Gossip Girl party life to read stuff in French