Consistencies/Continuity

[aln1982]

I know there is a thread on inconsistencies but lately I’ve noticed a lot of consistencies. I always like seeing these. One that I found was a mention of MA’s reading glasses (though I can’t remember what book). Another I found today was reuse of Mr. Cheney as a character. I like it when the same minor characters are mentioned again. Sometimes, it seems that the teachers they have keep changing – to the point where I don’t bother keeping track. ;D
Now I’m starting to look for these things and actually finding more than I realized.

[starrynight]

^I've been meaning to start a thread like this, but I keep forgetting.

Let's see...well, they got the number of Pike kids right every time. It's often mentioned that Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne have known each other since childhood. Oh, and Mallory's glasses and braces are always there. You know, it seems like the Pikes in general were some of the most consistent characters in the series, other than the hair color thing and which of the younger kids wore glasses and which didn't.

[Penny Lane]

The Newton family was pretty consistent too, weren't they? I haven't gotten too far into the later series, but until about 80 or so, I haven't noticed any egregious breaches of character.

[sarish]

starrynight- I believe I read in one book where it said something like, "Mallory's 6 younger brother and sisters". I had to read it over and over before I settled on the fact that that is what it said. Oddly, I don't remember which book is says that, but thankfully they got it right for the most part!

They mostly got the pets right too! Janine's character was very consistent as well. She had the same IQ when they mentioned it in the book and took classes at the local college.

[janey83]

Marilyn & Carolyn are consistent with their interests; piano and science, respectively. Sharon is always leaving something in the wrong place. Claire always has the "sillybillygoogoo" thing going on, which is almost always described as a phase, but it never goes away. Claudia has always hidden her candy and other junk food. I liked that the short takes classes were mentioned pretty often -- it wasn't a one time thing that was forgotten about, but actually something that came up in the plotlines.

[aln1982]

With the exception of a few books (Mallory #1 Fan), the Pike ages are consistent, which is kind of amazing considering how many of them there are. ;D Also, Vanessa's rhyming, Margo's bossiness is mentioned a few times, Karen's interest in ghosts and witches, the friendship between Jamie Newton and the Perkins girls and Nina Marshall, Jenny P liking to play Candy Land (noticed this in a few books today).... There are really a lot of these. ;D

[wenonah4th]

In what books were the Short Takes mentioned, other than Mary Anne and Too many babies?

[aln1982]

^ I think Mystery in the Mall. Not sure on others but I know there were some. Maybe Don't Give up Mallory???

[lark]

^ Yes, I'm pretty sure Claudia and the First Thanksgiving also involved a short takes class. There were a bunch. Jessi and the Horrible Prank too, I think.

[aln1982]

Another consistency/continuity I just thought of is Jessi's friends in Stamford and then from NYC. I'm really amazed they got all the minor characters right, though, in every book about Stamford. ;D Even their personalities stay pretty consistent.
Also, Claudia's 7th grade friends are quite consistent.

[greer]

short takes has a more pronounced role in the later books--probably because it is a very convenient thing to organized plots around.

[aln1982]

Just read MA's Book and thought they did a really good job in repeating the story and explaining how she found out about her past. Even details seemed consistent with Secret in the Attic.
I always appreciate mentions of past books, too. I know Stacey's Mistake mentions Little Miss Stoneybrook. They should do more of that anyway since it's a good way to promote the other books. ;D

[greer]

i recall reading uandme4bsc.com that nola thacker tends to do the referencing other bsc books thing a lot.

[sparklymouse]

^I just read one of Nola's and she did mention a lot of stuff. She even mentioned Mal being 6th grade secretary!

[greer]

at least someone cared ;D