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Post by aln1982 on Jan 9, 2008 17:30:27 GMT -5
^ I always remember that subplot as being one of the funniest. ;D And this is where Sean plays the tuba? Glad to know that since I remember we had a big discussion about that in another thread a while ago and I could not remember what book mentioned it.
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tiff85
Junior Sitter
Posts: 583
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Post by tiff85 on Mar 20, 2009 21:02:10 GMT -5
I loved this book! I might have read this about 5 times! I hated those stuck up prissy riders that thought they were too good. The overall plot is great, even though I don't like horseback riding and never will.
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celaeno
Sitting For The Papadakis's
I have to share a room with Vanessa
Posts: 1,514
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Post by celaeno on Mar 28, 2009 11:34:01 GMT -5
I just finished reading this one. One thing that bugged me is that the writer(s) kept going back and forth on whether there were 6 or 12 kids in Mallory's class:
pg 39, at Mal's first lesson: "Around me in a semicircle were five other new riders..." pg 40 (just one page later!), Mal says: "There were four boys and seven other girls." pg 46, Mal tells Jessi: "There are twelve kids in my class..." pg 92, Mal says: "A few murmurs of regret came from the other six kids." (ok, this would actually make a class of 7) pg 107, instructor Lauren says the class will draw lots to pick horses for the show: "I've numbered these slips from one through six." pg 135, Mal says of her class at the show: "Twelve nervous riders exhaled at once..."
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tiff85
Junior Sitter
Posts: 583
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Post by tiff85 on Mar 28, 2009 20:03:36 GMT -5
All those numbers did seem pretty annoying. The book in general was pretty good, even though I'm not a fan of horseback riding.
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Post by sugarandspicexx on Aug 18, 2009 7:07:32 GMT -5
Growing up with horses and riding myself when I was younger, I quite enjoyed this book. I found a few of the terminologies and description of certain things to do with riding itself to not always be 100% what I'd have thought was right (I'm stuck on specifics, I read this one a few weeks back now) although, it was written some time ago and this is after all an American series maybe things are done a little differently?
Also, I found it odd that as a nervous rider Mal felt more at ease on Pax who is an Arabian. I myself was a fairly nervy rider after a few bad experiences in the past and then I had an Arab, his gait (especially in canter) was basically like an overgrown rocking horse and I always felt like I was about to fall off him compared to other ponies and Thoroughbreds I'd riden in the past. But that's just my personal experience, not 'fact'.
Mal wanting to give up riding seemed a bit 'crazy' to me who would kill to have that chance again, even though I was nervous I still loved it and wanted to become a better rider. Though I do understand her decision, she knew it just wasn't quite right for her.
The other kids in the class sound like complete snobs! And although Jessi was quite rude to Mal on a few occasions, I really felt for her and can understand why she felt the way she did after not being aloud to take the lessons too.
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Post by icequeen on Aug 21, 2009 22:33:13 GMT -5
I really like Mallory's initial self confidence in this book. Introducing herself to new people (not to mention telling them her life story haha ) is something I don't think I could have done at her age. However, with Mal coming from a background where you have to shout to be heard I guess she had no problems speaking up. I enjoyed this book, and thats coming from someone who isnt a horse fan (don't dislike them... just never got into them) I was pretty annoyed at Jessi most of the book for snubbing Mallory so often but I can totally understand where Jessi is coming from. To Jessi, Mal would have sounded like she was bragging and rubbing it all in Jessi's face "The worst thing in the world is that you got invited to a bad party?" Haha poor Mal, she was pretty awkward in this book. I liked that the riding teacher (I've forgotten her name already.) gave Mal a friend's riding habit for the show. And Celaeno maybe Mallory lied about the number of people in her class. She didnt want people to think that coming 6 meant last, so pretended there were actually 12 people in the class Joking of course.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Aug 27, 2009 13:32:43 GMT -5
I also understood where Jessi was coming from. I totally wanted riding lessons when I was younger, and if a friend of mine had gotten them and I hadn't, and that friend had called me up every day talking about how wonderful it was, I would hav been jealous and annoyed, too.
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Post by zoar3 on Sept 20, 2009 23:00:51 GMT -5
I, too, would have been extremely angry at Dawn for "killing" my comfort item as a 4-year-old, assuming I was as attached to (caught up on it) as Nina was. I am honestly a person who does not believe in violence for any reason but admit to LOL-ing when Nina punches Dawn's shoulder. Go Nina! Then there's Jessi before the above happens muttering to herself about not wanting to bother/worry Mrs. Marshall with Nina's blanket problem until she (J) is sure. Um, sorry, Super-sitter Jessi, that ought to be Mrs. Marshall's call! I also TA that once Dawn realized "Blankie" was "missing" she should never have tried to remove it from the dryer. Poor Mal really did get the worst of most everything. At least she got to ride her dream horse a few times. She also ate 6 sandwiches at the party. BTW, is that the first time other than In Logan likes MA, where someone actually has a birthday party and (gasp) maybe ages? I never thought about the fact that the Pike parents were paying for Jordan's piano lessons. Maybe because Mal was earning money they figured she should kick in some $? (pretty much money --what does that mean by the way? In several books someone or another says the sitters earn pretty much money. In Mallory and the Trouble With Twins, one of the Arnold twins says they each have "pretty much birthday money" just not a lot. I never had heard "pretty" used that way before). I just thought of the fact that the Triplets all play Little League and soccer? That must cost money. It is hard to fathom that poet-ess Vanessa has never taken a writen workshop of some kind. Nicky, I don't recall ever taking anything. Claire either. Anyway, I didn't think much of this one--sort of blah.
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Post by candykane on Apr 5, 2010 19:03:44 GMT -5
I really like Mallory's initial self confidence in this book. Introducing herself to new people (not to mention telling them her life story haha ) is something I don't think I could have done at her age. I couldn't have done it, either, but whenever I read those parts I cringe because I actually feel embarrassed for Mal. To the reader, it's pretty clear that the other kids aren't that interested in striking up a friendship with her. The one girl invited her to the birthday party, but to me it seemed like a case of "you have to invite the whole class." I was also embarrassed for Mal at the party when she felt so awkward and out of place. I felt bad for her. I've had a couple of experiences kind of like it where I was at a gathering and didn't really know anyone there that well. It's pretty uncomfortable, especially if you're not the type to just walk up to someone and start a conversation.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Apr 9, 2010 15:22:00 GMT -5
I can't remember anything about the book other than getting the uniform and falling off the horse. I think I was too excited about a trip to Florida that I skimmed the book.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,263
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Post by oldhickory on Apr 19, 2010 15:11:40 GMT -5
i am so glad somebody else realized that the numbers were all off. at first when i saw it i thought maybe i read it wrong, but it kept changing, and it was really driving me crazy.
also, mallory gives sean's tuba to CLAIRE? what the hell!? i will admit i've never carried a tuba, because i wasn't very close to any of the brass players. but a FIVE YEAR OLD carrying a tuba? i doubt it. in live from wsto, claudia considers tuba lessons but she says she would have to take weightlifting first before lifting a tuba. so i doubt claire pike (of all people) could pick it up, let alone walk it from one place to another.
and i LOVE how you guys keep saying the word "horsey" :]
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Post by sparklymouse on Apr 19, 2010 17:45:59 GMT -5
In Little Sister Karen was sick the day the class picked instruments for their music unit and she got stuck with the tuba. A 7 year old. Maybe we should add TUBA to Ann's list of obsessions.
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Post by wiggir13 on May 30, 2011 22:45:57 GMT -5
How many Pike things must we endure! One more talent show and I may punch somebody! Seriously, put away your tuba and pow speaking.....NO MORE!
Let me tell you I had a Blankie named Tubby, he is a stuffed teddy bear that I had since I was one and he went everywhere with me. I still have him, he's put away, but I just couldn't get rid of him. If something happened to him and someone gave me pieces of him, they would be dead!!!!! I would be so mad!!!!! There's no way I would have stood for that.
This isn't the first book the Marshall's were in, I certainly don't remember the mention of this ratty old blanket in any other book.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on May 31, 2011 2:11:15 GMT -5
What a shame Karen got the Tuba AFTER the talent show at the Rodowsky's in Keep Out Claudia!
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Post by zoar3 on May 31, 2011 10:54:36 GMT -5
^Maybe, Mal (Ann) meant there were 5 other brand new riders lin addition to her and that the 6 other kids had at least ridden a horse a couple times? Or, more likely, this was another case, a glaring case, of the Ghostwriter's memory being very faulty.
Wiggirl, aw, about Tubby. I had a Blankie myself that I kept after it began to unravel and turn gray. I don't remember loving it as much as Nina did hers. I did have a stuffed bunny puppet I felt that way about and was absolutely crushed when at 8 or 9 I lost it. I never "forgot Pink Bunny" but did come to take much comfort from another pink rabbit stuffed animal named Minty. (I still have her and another "loyal" friend, Benjy, a stuffed dog).
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