macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 30, 2006 22:53:19 GMT -5
As a kid, I hated this one - I generally hated any that dealt with mysteries, ghosts etc. I don't mind them too much these days though, although I get sick of how the supernatural issues are never fully resolved and any other issues generally involve a jealous b*tch, a totally dibble crush or Cokie Mason. I haven't got into the mystery series much, but hopefully they're an improvement over the "mysteries" in the standard series.
ANYWAYS... that said, I actually enjoyed this book in my "old age" ;D the meeting with Mr Hennessey truly WAS intruiging his note at the end was a nice touch, although it definitely left the reader at a loose end unlike most BSC stories that are generally wrapped up in a neat little package.
But the best part about this book? Charlotte's relationship with Stacey. I loved reading about Char crawling into bed with Stacey after her nightmare and when she attended the BSC meeting.
Worst part? Stacey's CLOTHING. Ugh, girl I thought you were NYC urban chic? A short white skirt with pink polka dots, suspender straps and an oversized white t-shirt. Pink high-top sneakers with the tops rolled down to show their striped lining and these ultra dibbly fresh earrings - pink plastic hearts dangling from a bigger heart. Oh and in another scene she wore a "totally wild" necklace made of plastic sea creatures.
How old was this girl again? Six? Seven?
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Post by aln1982 on May 1, 2006 7:49:06 GMT -5
But the best part about this book? Charlotte's relationship with Stacey. I loved reading about Char crawling into bed with Stacey after her nightmare and when she attended the BSC meeting. I also just reread this book and liked it a little better than I did as a kid but agree that I didn't really enjoy the ghost aspect. I loved Charlotte attending the BSC meetings and thought the girls were so nice to her - even Kristy seemed much softer and more human than she does in some books when they make her out like a dictator or something. This reminded me of how "cool" and grown up it made me feel when I was a kid and older kids were nice to me and included me. Like Charlotte, I was an only child but had some "big sisters" like Stacey so I enjoyed seeing this relationship developed in a BSC book.
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inge
Junior Sitter
Posts: 767
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Post by inge on May 1, 2006 12:24:06 GMT -5
This was a nice book, I actually liked Charlotte in it, which I usually do not. Although I thought her getting sick was sort of a cliche. Anyway, I'm not a big fan of the ghost themes either, especially when they're not solved - Stacey seeing fire at the end which nobody else sees. I liked the stories Mr Hennessey made up, though. Haha.
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Post by hitzpink on May 1, 2006 20:29:49 GMT -5
The ending of this book bugged me. I hate it when things don't get resolved -- just like in Mallory and the Ghost Cat. It kinda leaves you going "wait, so that's it?"
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Post by booboobrewer on May 1, 2006 22:53:33 GMT -5
Agreed about the loose ends. I was like WTF when Stacey supposedly saw flames from the house while everyone around didn't notice a thing. The girl hallucinated? I didn't really like the end but felt everything leading up to it wasn't bad. I also enjoyed the Charlotte storyline a lot.
Yup. I thought the suspenders sounded cute, but definitely not something Stacey would wear. She also looks strangely demure on the cover, in a long green sweater.
I love the beginning, where she describes her city weekend. The wild purple jacket, the heart-shaped sunglasses, shopping at Fiorucci, spotting movie stars...just dibbly fresh.
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Post by lovelylemontree on May 1, 2006 22:54:55 GMT -5
Although the Stacey books are generally my favorites, I quite dislike this particular one. The main reason is the presence of Charlotte Johansson, one of my least favorite kids. Her whiny, babiness annoys me, as does her attachment to Stacey. She gets old real fast. I'm always waiting for Stacey to finally yell, "Charlotte! SHUT UP!" If only...
Well, it was the late-eighties. Stacey's clothes are rather hideous by today's standards, but they match up pretty well to clothes seen in 80's movies, or descriptions from other 80's books. Often when I watch Degrassi Junior High I think, "Oh, Stacey would totally wear that!"
And actually, I don't think that outfit's that bad. But then, I'm a huge fan of eighties clothes.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on May 2, 2006 1:25:00 GMT -5
I agree with booboobrewer, about the bit in New York! That bit was awesome.
I didn't like the mystery in this one, but I really liked the Charlotte subplot! I liked the description of how Stacey and her mum made the room nice for her. And the description of the spaghetti and meatballs, and the ice cream soda with a flower in the vase.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on May 2, 2006 21:12:12 GMT -5
I guess I see your point, it's just funny to hear how outrageously chic and sophisticated Stacey is when she's wearing a white skirt with pink polka dots and suspenders. Kind of like when they gush over Carolyn Arnold's ultra trendy mullet haircut.
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ktag
Junior Sitter
Posts: 694
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Post by ktag on May 31, 2006 0:05:08 GMT -5
I also loved how Charlotte got to go to the meetings, and how Kristy let her wear the visor. Cute.
Stacey was going to put out the fire by herself with a wheelbarrow? What was she thinking?? And no one heard Charlotte screaming "fire" at the top of her lungs?
How did Mr. Hennessey know to single out Stacey?
And of course the requisite he/she line:
Wrong for once.
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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 Jun 1, 2006 12:55:25 GMT -5
I have to agree with everyone who liked the Charlotte stuff in this book. For me, though, the loose ends made the book more enjoyable. I felt the same way about "The Ghost at Dawn's House," which is one of my all time favorites.
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Post by lovelylemontree on Jun 1, 2006 13:56:06 GMT -5
It's so annoying when people do that. I once had a crazy Women's Studies instructor who interrupted a girl to chew her out for saying, "If you go to the doctor and he..." Of all the things to nitpick and argue over. It's just not a big deal. How awkward would it be to constantly say "he/she" all the time?
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jun 1, 2006 19:25:57 GMT -5
^ Exactly. Feminism for the sake of feminism, that's all it is.
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blossom114
Sitting For The Papadakis's
Posts: 1,504
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Post by blossom114 on Aug 6, 2007 15:23:41 GMT -5
Ahh i'm bringing this topic back from the dead. This one was one of my favorites when I was little...I have to admit mainly because of the whole Stacey/Charlotte thing. I did think it was weird that Mrs. McGill dropped her 13 year old daughter and Charlotte off at the doctor's office...say what? And Stacey talking about how she didn't see the pediatrician anymore because she was 13. Imagine my surprise when at 13, i still saw my pediatrician!! haha
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 6, 2007 16:32:02 GMT -5
^ Also thought Mrs. McGill dropping the girls off was strange. But then again, I have to pretend that Stacey isn't 13 but much older ;D Still, though. I never could really get into this one but haven't read for a while and will have to reread before commenting too much more ;D I do remember really feeling for Char with being sick while her parents were gone. I also remember liking how they met the old guy who used to own the house.
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lark
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 104
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Post by lark on Aug 6, 2007 16:44:25 GMT -5
I just reread this one a few days ago. It's okay, not one of my favorite Stacey books (and she's my favorite.) I wasn't a big fan of any of the supernatural stuff, but I liked the parts with Charlotte and Stacey together and how Charlotte was staying over at Stacey's house.
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