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Post by zoar3 on Jun 16, 2010 11:40:39 GMT -5
^Exactly, oldhickory.
Anzhuhana, that is very true, too. We know this book was a one time departure from typical BSC and Kristy's character. Still, I would have rather seen K talking with her family and breaking things off or lol "cooling them off" (MA line to Logan) for a while while SHE took time to think about what had happened and her feelings. Perhaps eventually she'd even have the desire and guts to talk to Bart himself or he'd come to her. Just a case of so much build up for nothing.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Mar 16, 2011 23:14:35 GMT -5
I think this might be one of my favourite Kristy books. I enjoy the fact that it puts her in a different light (and Ann M. Martin explains in the back why Kristy, in particular, was chosen for this book -- and I agree). I love the cover -- although I talk about that in another recent thread.
I have a few comments. First, Bart is one randy 13 year old. I'm surprised that at 13 they were making out all the time. I remember in Grade 7 when we discovered what '69' meant and that was a big deal. I was never as randy as Bart was, always mackin' kisses, but then again I am gay so that could have made things a lot different.
Also, David Michael was a b*tch in this book. It definitely put him in a different light because, usually, DM and Kristy have a close relationship where Kristy always babysits him! Practically acts like his mother and takes care of him, and in this book he was a thingy to her. Granted, it does shoe a true sibling relationship, but after all Kristy does for DM, I thought he was a bit out of hand.
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Post by wiggir13 on Jul 26, 2011 10:46:58 GMT -5
I found this book odd. I felt sort of sorry for Bart as it seemed to me that Kristy was sending lots of mixed signals. It seemed to me that even in the end she was sending us mixed signals too. I mean if she didn't want to be his girlfriend, she probably shouldn't have kissed him. I'm am by no means saying that Bart did nothing wrong! I feel like he should have at least passed her a note - do you want to be my girlfriend - check yes or no!
This whole book was just confusing to me and the subplot has to be my absolute least favorite!!!!!
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Post by zoar3 on Jul 26, 2011 17:48:01 GMT -5
^Good point about feeling sort of bad for Bart. Until this book, other than the occassional Krusher-Basher games which were declining (at this point in the series) and a chapter 2 mention, we really never heard about him. He supposedly was invited to Dawn's party in #88, but I don't remember reading that he came. Kristy and Bart went from sporadically dating and/or just hanging out (besides coaching) to wham practically having sex? I know they were 13 and hormones at 13, particularly boys, but come on!
Kristy herself didn't exactly get a good deal in this one. I just don't get being shunned like a pariah (thanks Mary Anne and Claud) to her room all weekend. IIRC, other than telling her no phone calls, her mom doesn't even speak to her until Sunday night at which time she gives the decree of "I trust this won't happen again?" Kristy seemed more mad about being cooped up than Bart, so of course she lashed out at him. For once she acted her age and saw him as the person who caused her to be banished to her bedroom. I know alot of you don't like Bart, but other than how creepy he was in "Kristy's Mystery Admirer," I did, early Bart anyway. I don't buy that Kristy wasn't ready for a bf. She may not have been ready for a more committed relationship like MA and Logan but I think she enjoyed being a little more than friends with Bart, she certainly liked being his friend. Just my long 2 cents that it was too bad he (much worse this "issue) was written off this way.
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Post by wiggir13 on Jul 27, 2011 0:40:12 GMT -5
I think she definitely enjoyed the kissing part!!!!
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Post by zoar3 on Jul 27, 2011 10:41:03 GMT -5
^It sure sounded like it which was why I will always wonder what might have happened had they not been interrupted. It's good they were but from the racy description anything could have happened. I forgot, was Kristy baby-sitting that night?
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Post by wiggir13 on Jul 27, 2011 10:50:37 GMT -5
She was!!!!! Bad babysitter
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Post by zoar3 on Jul 27, 2011 11:32:56 GMT -5
Ooo real "bad." One of the kids could have walked in. Darn it, that heightens my disappointment in how Edie and Watson handled the situation.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jan 10, 2012 1:07:34 GMT -5
Sorry everyone. I have a lot to say about this book. I really like it. In fact, it *may* just be one of my favourite Kristy books. You'd expect it to be a Stacey book or something, and I like how it's from Kristy's point of view. I think this is a time where many 13 year old girls like boys but want to be friends with them, and maybe don't necessarily want a boyfriend...or know where the boyfriend and girlfriend lines being drawn.
With that being said, I didn't agree with Kristy getting grounded. Kristy does SO MUCH for Watson and Elizabeth, especially in the way of child care. Heck, even when Kristy is grounded, Andrew wakes her up at 7:30am to make him breakfast! That goes to show how much she parented those kids. He didn't go wake up Watson or Nannie! Plus Kristy is HELLA responsible with school, the BSC, Krushers, her bazillion camps and festivals and all that jazz. I don't think that was fair on her. I could really see her side. I think parents should really know their kids personally and weigh things out, because I find that really damages kids in the long run (when they're good and really helpful but get punished). There could have been another way for her to learn a lesson. I did, however, like how Kristy wouldn't come out of their room to show them how much they'd miss her... snark!
The many kissing scenes are classic, and I actually forgot about Charlie's make-out scene in Chapter 1! Bart sounds like a bad kisser. I love the picture on the front, and that image is classic Kristy to me. I even have a vision of this book on my nightstand as a kid. I know these later books were too new for some of you, but I was still very much into the BSC at this time. I like how the blue colour matches Kristy's jean-style side strip thing.
Some LOL moments: when Claudia talks about something being "lionine" and Abby says she's feeling "icicline". Or when Kristy makes up this big elaborate idea that Abby will get an asthma attack and collapse during Krusher's practice and the whole town would find out about her kissing fiasco and blame HER for it. That was so in character for Kristy (but what wasn't was her not defending herself in front of Watson and Elizabeth when she was caught kissing).
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Post by greer on Jan 10, 2012 19:44:59 GMT -5
I think Kristy was punished for consistency--they have a house rule about significant others when no parents are present, Kristy disobeyed it. It wouldn't have been fair to Sam and Charlie if Kristy hadn't been punished.
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Post by BuckinghamAlice on Jan 25, 2012 18:31:33 GMT -5
Kristy was totally sending mixed signals. She obviously liked Bart (enjoyed spending time with him, palling around, making out), but she wasn't ready for a relationship. That much I understand. But her saying, "I don't like him like that" seems kind of inaccurate -- it's obvious she does. So when he goes to the dance with another girl and she's hurt, I can understand how she feels, but she has no one to blame but herself. If she'd said that she wanted things to be like they were before, Bart probably would have been okay with that.
David Michael is annoying in this. But Kristy was kind of dumb to believe him when he said Bart was on the phone talking about kissing her and giving her flowers and all that other crap. The scene where she was grounded in her room was funny. I was never grounded either (um, no... I had a TV, a bunch of video games, and tons of toys in there), but I can imagine how she felt. I totally get her blaming Bart. It obviously wasn't his fault alone that she got in trouble. She knew the rule, she enjoyed the makeout sesh.
I do think it was pretty lame that Elizabeth wouldn't let Kristy out to help Abby out with that record setting BS that the kids were doing. Kristy had made a commitment, and because she wasn't able to carry it out, Abby suffered. The whole punishment was over the top -- meals brought to her in her room and all. She did deserve to be punished for breaking a house rule, but it seemed a trifle silly to me that her mother didn't even try to talk to her about what had happened. And I think Kristy should have explained to her mom why she was trying to call Abby. She deserved a head's up at the very least.
And Kristy should have tried to explain things to her mom. It could have been a bonding moment between the two of them, and maybe her mom could have helped her sort out her feelings. Although post marriage Elizabeth and Watson are such lackluster parents that she wouldn't have given good advice anyway. *eye roll*
And yeah, the subplot is ridiculous. That record setting/breaking BS was another of Kristy's "great" ideas that was actually ridiculously stupid (glares at copy of Kristy and the Baby Parade).
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Post by greer on Jan 25, 2012 18:42:34 GMT -5
^i don't believe in "mixed signals," at least not in that context. Kristy wasn't ready to be so physical, end of story. It is ALWAYS ok to say no!!!!!! If Bart couldn't respect that, eff him.
I'm glad for this book, because it sends a good message in its own way. I mean, once I had a guy get mad at me for not putting out when he bought me KFC and it was just like "Really?" mixed signal or not, I was hungry and there is no tacit implication that accepting anything=consent or obligation for physicality.
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Post by BuckinghamAlice on Jan 25, 2012 19:31:48 GMT -5
^I definitely agree that Kristy had every right to feel the way she did and say no to him when she wasn't ready. What I mean is that she wasn't entirely honest with him about how she felt, and that's how the whole thing ended up going so wrong.
I agree that the book has a good message over all. I remember when I was in 8th grade, having a boyfriend seemed like the most important thing there was, and quite a few girls I knew ended up in situations more r-rated than the one between Kristy and Bart.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,251
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Post by oldhickory on Jan 26, 2012 1:39:01 GMT -5
I mean, once I had a guy get mad at me for not putting out when he bought me KFC and it was just like "Really?" that's one of the funniest things i've heard in a while. i absolutely don't believe that sex should ever be expected as thanks for favors, but if he really wanted it he could have tried a little harder than that :] |
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Post by greer on Jan 26, 2012 8:27:20 GMT -5
that's one of the funniest things i've heard in a while. i absolutely don't believe that sex should ever be expected as thanks for favors, but if he really wanted it he could have tried a little harder than that :] ugh dude i was working as his assistant for a while and he fired me because I wouldn't hit it.  |
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