malloryfan14
New To Stoneybrook
Hey, did you guys know that Jessi's black?
Posts: 57
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Post by malloryfan14 on Apr 19, 2014 5:44:35 GMT -5
I just finished reading this one and thought it was okay, but I don't think I loved it. i agree with a lot of you that the Pikes should have not ruined so much work and just stuck it out for one more day.
Also, Kristy realled irked me when she was so annoying telling the cameraman that he should be filming the BSC Christmas party even though he was going Christmas shopping with his kids. Her blatant rudeness in someone elses house etc never seemed to bother me before or not that I remember!!
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Post by zoar3 on Dec 14, 2014 12:29:50 GMT -5
I finished this last night and loved how Pike-centered it was. This story really could/should have been more of a portrait for Mal with some chapters by her siblings, too. When Mr. Pike came home from work the day Mr. Henry (TV man) had announced to the Pikes they had won the contest, he (Mr. Pike) read the contract. He may have done so quickly. I did get the impression there was a ton of excitement in the air and room surrounding him. I just wondered this time around if that contract did not go into specifics as to filming. Like it must have said "our crews will be present Christmas Eve and Christmas Day" for example and accompany your family on various related Christmas outings. I also realize wording may not have made that super clear as far as times crew would be with/at the Pikes'. I also get that thrill of being on TV won over logistics at first. All I'm saying is if a little more time had been spent by Dee and John reading the contract and talking with Mr. Henry before signing (to our knowledge) I hope things may have gone better. I did get to thinking last night how the filming may have worked better and came up with a Stoneybrook Christmas Super Special as the answer! Channel 3 could have filmed/interviewed Mal and her family along with some of their neighbors and friends about their Christmas and other Holiday celebrations, how they honored that day/time of year. Caroling, even some baking, volunteer time (not at Stoneybrook Manor at least not without permission or as a surprise to everyone there)Church celebrations, even the nativity play from Christmas Chiller and one of the LS books, Jessi and Abby's celebrations, something on a smaller scale and might truly be more old fashioned and genuine because cameras were in the background and what they were filming not truly staged. What do all of you think? My favorite parts of this book were still Vanessa giving Mal the blank journal to write her own Christmas story, and when at Stoneybrook Manor the kids were singing carols and I think at the mall too, that helped calm things down and bring on more spirit, I hope also remind the kids even a tiny bit of the religious component of Christmas but I won't get started on that and I am glad for the most part the BSC books were more secular, just think sometimes there could have been a few brief references otherwise. Anyway, the caroling in this book, reminded me of the scene in Empty House when Stacey is teary eyed over hearing the kids singing carols. Also did love when the Pikes did their Secret Santa without the crew, would have loved hearing about all the wishes and gifts. Oh and awesome that Uncle Joe came and he felt welcome and apart of things, too. I will start reading Happy Holidays, Jessi tonight. Happy Sunday to all!
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Post by greer on Dec 14, 2014 15:13:55 GMT -5
Ooh, that is a good one to reread! It's interesting, since it was written before reality TV was so big.
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Post by Kylie90210 on Dec 23, 2014 8:09:05 GMT -5
I just started reading this for the first time today. I see Uncle Joe is coming for Christmas and wonder how big an impact that will be on the storyline... And I couldn't help roll my eyes at Kristy and her wanting to get involved in every little thing.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Dec 23, 2014 19:48:54 GMT -5
Reading any BSC book for the first time is exciting! haha
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Natasha
New To Stoneybrook
BSC Reread Update: no 115:Jessi's big break.
Posts: 198
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Post by Natasha on Mar 5, 2015 3:56:27 GMT -5
Yay, been waiting forever for this book to be released from the ibooks store. I really enjoyed this one. One of my favourite Mallory novels so far. Kristy is such a publicity hound, lol. She'd do anything to get more publicity for the BSC.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Dec 20, 2021 11:23:52 GMT -5
Since it's right around Christmas, always good to look back on this book!
This is probably my favorite Lerangis book. It's funny but not over-the-top like he can sometimes be. And I love how snarky he makes Claudia. Like when Kristy is rattling off ideas for the Stoneybrook Manor thing, she suggests Claudia do an art project and Claudia says "How did I know she was going to say that?" I always found that funny. And the Pikes can be annoying but they were really amusing here. I like when they're all debating what to buy with the $10,000 and they all assume they're super rich now. The triplets are arguing whether to get a Porsche or Ferrari, Claire and Margo are ordering around an imaginary butler XD Oh, kids not understanding the actual value of money.
Kristy was a total pain. She always gets stars in her eyes whenever one of the BSC members has a chance of being on TV and then starts rambling about getting the BSC publicity. She always freaks out when they're overrun with clients but throughout the series, she was so hellbent on getting the BSC on tv. Did she ever succeed? I remember how jealous she got when Dawn and the We <3 Kids Club got on tv in California. And then dragging all the charges to Claudia's WSTO show so she could get the BSC on the radio. She was pretty shameless putting Mallory on the spot to have the Pikes host the BSC holiday party. "Uh Kristy, I don't remember being invited." You tell her, Jessi!
I agree with everyone else who was outraged that the Pikes pulled the plug on the show with one day remaining and gave up $10,000. Couldn't they have stuck it out one more day for the money?
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 20, 2021 22:08:54 GMT -5
That was a really interesting thing. Now looking back, it doesn’t seem that important to “reclaim” Christmas. Are you going to remember the time you were eleven and camera guys were in your house filming you opening your presents? It’s just not going to be that big a deal when you’re grown.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Dec 22, 2021 11:15:38 GMT -5
They could have held on one more day for the $10,000!
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Post by sparklymouse on Dec 22, 2021 13:40:38 GMT -5
My family would have held on for half of that.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Dec 22, 2021 15:16:40 GMT -5
My family would have held on for half of that. I know their reasoning was they were sick of the cameras and just wanted a Christmas together but it was $10,000! Surprised the next book wasn't #93: Mallory and the Breach of Contract Lawsuit XD
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,254
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Post by oldhickory on Dec 23, 2021 10:11:23 GMT -5
$10,000 is so much money. Why couldn't they just have a quiet family Christmas a few days later? Quitting to get that exact day to themselves is stupid and negligent.
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swizzles
New To Stoneybrook
Claudia Kishi ruels ok
Posts: 83
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Post by swizzles on Dec 27, 2021 6:46:47 GMT -5
I have always loved this book and thought Christmas would be the perfect time to re-visit it. When I first read it at 10, it introduced me to the delightful word ‘tchotchke’- I’ve always dreamed of having a frame-decorating session with Jessi I loved that section with her and Aunt Cecilia. As much as I love the Pikes, I love how these books typically have B and C plots to get stuck into too. As everyone has mostly said already, I found it ridiculous that they abandoned filming so close to the end. I was trying to suppress the lawyer part of me that really wanted to have a look at that contract and the likely monetary damages the Pikes would be subjecting themselves to over and above the 10k. But then my brain also started thinking about how unlikely it would have been that they were fully paid up in the first place… ahh the perils of re-reading as an adult! Did anyone else desperately want chocolate chip cookies? Mmmmmm
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Dec 28, 2021 11:00:02 GMT -5
I have always loved this book and thought Christmas would be the perfect time to re-visit it. When I first read it at 10, it introduced me to the delightful word ‘tchotchke’- I’ve always dreamed of having a frame-decorating session with Jessi I loved that section with her and Aunt Cecilia. As much as I love the Pikes, I love how these books typically have B and C plots to get stuck into too. As everyone has mostly said already, I found it ridiculous that they abandoned filming so close to the end. I was trying to suppress the lawyer part of me that really wanted to have a look at that contract and the likely monetary damages the Pikes would be subjecting themselves to over and above the 10k. But then my brain also started thinking about how unlikely it would have been that they were fully paid up in the first place… ahh the perils of re-reading as an adult! Did anyone else desperately want chocolate chip cookies? Mmmmmm I know Mr. Pike goes over the contract earlier in the book and Mallory mentions he marks it up but still, that was a massive breach of contract! I loved the frame-making part too! That was an interesting project Jessi thought up. The Stoneybrook Manor subplot was still boring though.
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on May 1, 2022 15:42:04 GMT -5
Having a tv crew kinds of beats the purpose of having traditional Christmas doesn't it?
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