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Post by claudiaslastringding on Jun 18, 2014 9:38:23 GMT -5
I remember this book really depressed me when I was a kid, because I'm really close to both of my grandmothers and I really can't imagine how I'd cope if anything were to happen to them. I always wished that Mimi had of been around for another few books, in hindsight it seems like it was fairly early on in the series for her to be killed off. And I always loved reading about her and Claudia bonding over special tea and whatnot, and Mimi getting really into Wheel of Fortune.
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Post by thejunkbucket on Sept 9, 2015 23:59:02 GMT -5
Claudia went through most of the stages of grief (denial, anger, etc), so I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. She did act stupidly in some ways, but I chalk it up to her being 13 (despite their pretending to be mature adults, it's nice to see that they're not). Like when she got mad at Mallory...poor girl is always the punching bag. Her "Be quiet!"s were just as bad as if she'd said "shut up!" Intense. I laughed at that part. Poor, Mallory. Always so awkward. She was just trying to revive that "Remember when Mimi..." game they'd played a few days before, only to have Claudia chomp her head off! I wonder if Claudia's annoyance was partly Mary Anne correcting her (i.e. "culpable of/capable of") and Mallory foolishly bringing up a memory of where Mimi pretended to be sick so she wouldn't have to attend the county fair? I mean, Claudia had just invoked the memory of Mimi via a quote of hers, when she told Jessi she should try out for Swan Lake at the civic center. That's when Mallory chimed in with her own memory of Mimi. So it wasn't like Claudia didn't want to the mere mention of Mimi's name, but I guess Mallory's memory of Mimi feigning an illness didn't help matters, especially since Claudia was blaming Mimi for giving in to her illness and giving up. Plus, Claudia already seemed annoyed by Mary Anne's correction of her grammar a few moments earlier. But, like ktag said, Mallory becomes the "punching bag."
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Post by thejunkbucket on Sept 10, 2015 2:52:57 GMT -5
^It sounds like the Kishis had cellar stairs (going from their yard to the basement). I imagine it looking like this. Yeah, those are very common in New England. We had one in my childhood home in MA. We called it 'the bulkhead.' It was pretty cool as a kid to walk up those steps into the light of the yard.
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Post by thejunkbucket on Sept 10, 2015 3:09:42 GMT -5
This has already been mentioned in the thread, but it's from 6 years ago so I'm bringing it up again...I know things can get a little politically correct in these books, but I think this book might contain the most ridiculous example, with Claudia calling Russ " American American." I was genuinely confused for a second or two when first reading that sentence, because I was like "Wait...are they trying to say he's white? What?" They couldn't have been that uncomfortable with the word white, since they call Mal white in this book's chapter 2. I'm just so confused by this terminology. Or was this intended to be an intentionally funny Claud-is-so-dumb moment? I think she meant that Russ' family had been in the US for generations and was most likely a mongrel (since white people of different nationalities tend to interbreed), so he's just 'American,' whereas Claudia's parents (including Aunt Peaches) were first-generation Japanese, with no other mixture, so they're 'pure Japanese.' This also ncludes Claudia and Janine. On the other hand, Russ and Peache's baby would be considered a hāfu, i.e. ethnically half-Japanese. In Japan, hafus are looked down upon, ridiculed, and rejected, because there are many Japanese who believe in the purity of Japanese culture and traditions, i.e. Yamato race.
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celaeno
Sitting For The Papadakis's
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Post by celaeno on Sept 12, 2015 1:03:17 GMT -5
^That is an interesting point! That actually does make sense.
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Post by anzuhana on Sept 12, 2015 7:32:24 GMT -5
This has already been mentioned in the thread, but it's from 6 years ago so I'm bringing it up again...I know things can get a little politically correct in these books, but I think this book might contain the most ridiculous example, with Claudia calling Russ " American American." I was genuinely confused for a second or two when first reading that sentence, because I was like "Wait...are they trying to say he's white? What?" They couldn't have been that uncomfortable with the word white, since they call Mal white in this book's chapter 2. I'm just so confused by this terminology. Or was this intended to be an intentionally funny Claud-is-so-dumb moment? I think she meant that Russ' family had been in the US for generations and was most likely a mongrel (since white people of different nationalities tend to interbreed), so he's just 'American,' whereas Claudia's parents (including Aunt Peaches) were first-generation Japanese, with no other mixture, so they're 'pure Japanese.' This also ncludes Claudia and Janine. On the other hand, Russ and Peache's baby would be considered a hāfu, i.e. ethnically half-Japanese. In Japan, hafus are looked down upon, ridiculed, and rejected, because there are many Japanese who believe in the purity of Japanese culture and traditions, i.e. Yamato race. I remember reading an article earlier in the year about a Japanese beauty pageant. In it, a woman that was obviously biracial won (she was half black and half Japanese). There were some Japanese people that thought she shouldn't have won because of that, and how she hoped to improve race issues in the country (she spoke about how when she was a kid, none of the other kids would want to touch her because they thought that by touching her, their skin would become black as well or something of that nature).
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Post by bscfan1997 on Oct 11, 2015 1:40:56 GMT -5
The Sad Goodbye is truly a terrific but sad book. I hated seeing Mimi die. I loved her, and I think she died too soon in the book. She shouldn't have died at all, imo, but they could've waited till about between 40 and 60. Anyway, I just adore the Claudia and Mimi dynamic. Like Claudia, I don't burst into tears when a loved one of mine dies. It takes a while for it to sink in, then it hits me and I bawl. I liked the subplot with the art class. I find it unrealistic that Myriah knew a little sign language to communicate with Matt. She's six years old and hadn't been around him except for Krushers. Of course, there's nothing wrong with her knowing some signs, just unrealistic. I'm honestly surprised that Gabbie doesn't know sign language. Corrie Addison and Claudia bond is sweet, and I disliked her parents very much. And the Mimi stories are fun and wonderful!
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inge
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Post by inge on Jan 2, 2016 17:28:51 GMT -5
Ooh how I wish Mimi had stuck around longer! I am sure had Ann known how long the BSC would run for, Ann would have kept her around. Mimi is such a sweet, giving and lovely character. I liked how in this book seeing the little Asian baby gave her joy as it reminded her of baby Claud.
The book is spot on by the way. Back in 2006, I know I commented otherwise, at that time I had only lost my grandfather at age 13 with a pretty standadd reaction - lots of crying, etc. It would never have occured to me to for example, be angry at him for leaving us. Since then, I have lost my grandmother and very recently, my dad, who was only 58 and he died out of the blue. While I am not angry at him I do feel cheated - like I was owed more time with him. Like Claudia, I zoned out at the funeral because it was too surreal and hard to take it all in. I am still learning to deal. That is why I say now, spot on. In other cases, too. The classmates avoiding you? After my dad died my mom was flooded with calls (And they were divorced!) But my good friends were mostly silent. They wanted to "Give me time" but like Claud, I needed them around. That is definitely a lesson that is, I think, learned with age. And Kristy's note congratulating Claud on acting like nothing happened... Terible empathy but also realistic, one of my friends when she was 14 lost her dad and I didn't know how to deal so I just wanted her to be OK. Death is so hard and there are so little suitable words!
The chapters of taking care of Mimi were hard as well and I didn't like that so much fell on Claud, again. Sometimes when a dear loved one dies after a sickbed, death brings some relief - the end of their suffering and the end of our constant worries...
The subplot was OK, but I too cringed at Claud telling the parents off. However I do think it was selfish off them to always drop their child off way too early and pick her up way too late. Claud might have had other plans! And when a class is 1,5 hours, it is not ok to leave your kid there for 2,5... Come on.
So I revise my opinion. This book is so sad, spot on and well written. All in character.
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Post by wistfuldreamer86 on Aug 1, 2019 20:36:34 GMT -5
^ Oh yes, that moment with Mimi and Claudia was very sweet! Also that phone call between them was very bittersweet and so...normal. I think it was very realistic how Mimi was doing okay, she was about to come home, and then she was just gone. It's hard to wrap your head around that and I think this book showed that quite well.
I also liked that Janine felt lonely and went to the first BSC meeting after Mimi died. And I liked that Claudia sat in her mother's lap when she found out. And I liked the pizza party scene. I actually just liked...all of this book. Her feelings and reactions felt real, especially for a 13 year old, and I liked that she finally put Mimi's picture back up on the wall at the end.
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Post by gertiethedino on May 17, 2020 14:10:55 GMT -5
I'm re-reading this book now, and I couldn't even wait until finishing before coming here to comment just how awkward the "filling holes" conversation reads, with Kristy talking about Claudia filling a hole in Corries's life, and Corrie filling "Mimi's hole" in Claudia's.
It also surprised me that they used Claudia's basement being finished as a reason for being a better option than Mary Anne's for the art class. You'd think with the potential for paint, glue, and other materials to get splattered around, an unfinished basement or garage would be more ideal as long as they could find enough extra lighting.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Oct 4, 2020 11:13:06 GMT -5
I also wish they had kept Mimi around longer, she was such a lovely character and I loved her relationships with Claudia and Mary Anne. In Ann's biography, she said that she was inspired to write this book after losing her own grandmother so I guess that's why we got it at this time.
I thought Claudia's grieving was accurate. Everyone grieves in different ways and Ann showed how complex it can be sometimes - Claudia finding it hard to cry, then throwing herself into the art class to distract herself, then being mad at Mimi for dying.
I agree with others that I was surprised by Claudia confronting Corrie's mom about how she never spends time with her kids. That was pretty bold!
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Post by sparklymouse on Apr 14, 2022 21:11:50 GMT -5
Blurry. Claudia's pretty. Mimi's looking rough. That one sad side pony tail... Titles: Claudia and the sad farewell Joke and the great sadness Claudia’s farewell Goodbye Mimi
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Post by anzuhana on Apr 14, 2022 21:41:53 GMT -5
Claudia is definitely gorgeous on the second cover. I love her hair and tank top. I wouldn't mind trying the hair style though I don't imagine that I'd look good with it.
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Post by oldmeanie on Jul 12, 2022 11:57:07 GMT -5
Yeah this is a hard read. It's one of the best written books in the series (probably the best Claudia book). It portrays grief really well- I know when I was dealing with my brother's death, I was desperate for things to feel normal. I actually went to class the next day and didn't tell my professors anything because I didn't want to be treated differently. Claudia's anger is 100% relatable as well. I really felt for her here and am glad that Stacey returns in a couple of books.
I did think the Corrie stuff was a little forced, but I liked the idea of the Saturday art class. It's one of the better projects the BSC did and I liked the combination of Mary Anne and Claudia.
I really like Mimi and I wish she'd been around for longer. I too wonder if AMM would've kept both her and Louie around a bit longer if she knew the BSC was going to run as long as it did. As it was, I think both plots were written very well.
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Post by sparklymouse on Jul 15, 2022 17:58:44 GMT -5
I'm sorry for your experience. I know when my grandma died last year I didn't tell people until a week or two after. I didn't want to deal with their reactions even though I know they would have been kind. On the flip side, when someone around me has a loss of sorts I know I act differently around them even though I'm not trying to. I'm just an awkward human.
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