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Post by sugarmonkey on Jul 4, 2006 12:55:52 GMT -5
I liked this one, though it wasn't terribly interesting. I even read Chapter 2. (I've been skimming them lately, since they all sound exactly alike). I liked Claud's narration.
Claudia's junk food art descriptions made me crave Twinkies and candy bars. I probably would've bought one of her paintings. Although, I'm not sure Alan Gray really fit into plot.
I liked how Claudia offered Mr. and Mrs. Wilder some insight into their daughters feelings, but didn't have a long, sit down, now-I'm-going-to-change-your-life chat the BSC typically does.
Generally, I don't like a neat wrap up of a story's problems, but Rosie just telling Claud that the talk with her parents went well was good enough for me. I've seen one to many sappy moments in this series, so it was nice to know the outcome without it being shown in this case.
Showing Rosie's drawings at Claud's exhibit and telling the Wilders it would be good exposure for Rosie was smart. Which was nice to see after a whole book of Claud saying she felt so stupid.
I loved that Janine got a bigger part in this one.
I am just getting into the higher numbers (I'm going in order) and I've started read books that came out after I stopped reading originally. I'm really enjoying seeing the BSC in new (to me) stories.
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on Jul 4, 2006 14:03:47 GMT -5
I laughed out loud every time I read the description of the drawing he put up with the toothless man sloppily eating a candy bar. I'm giggling just remembering it. I have to go reread that later.
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inge
Junior Sitter
Posts: 767
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Post by inge on Jul 4, 2006 16:23:44 GMT -5
I thought this one kind of dragged on and it was pretty predictable. Also, the junk food art thing didn't really sound like one of Clauds better ideas (don't ask me which ideas I did like - I can't remember any right away... maybe the statue thingy of Jackie Rodowski?) But I liked the different side of Janine we got to see in this one. Not one of my fav books, but not too bad either.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Jul 6, 2006 6:56:45 GMT -5
You know, I never pick this book when I'm thinking of favourites or ones I reread over and over again, but when I think about the plot and subplot in this, I actually quite like it. I loved the paintings of the junk food. I want to see them in real life!
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Post by greer on Jul 6, 2006 12:32:39 GMT -5
This is probably my favorite subplot.
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Post by bscfan24 on Jul 6, 2006 14:16:46 GMT -5
I laughed out loud every time I read the description of the drawing he put up with the toothless man sloppily eating a candy bar. I'm giggling just remembering it. I have to go reread that later. LOL I forgot about that until you said it just now. I had to go and find my book and re-read that. Too funny.
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Post by morbiddadestiny on Jul 6, 2006 22:47:55 GMT -5
this book is what got me referring to food as "comestibles"
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Post by greer on Jul 6, 2006 23:08:00 GMT -5
I say that, too! Someone posted a picture on the bsc lj that was a rendering of the dead cat picture Alan drew. I want people to draw the others, too. They're hilarious. And weird.
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on Jul 6, 2006 23:26:37 GMT -5
^YES. That dead cat picture was so great. I asked her if it would be possible to get the hobo. I would make it my desktop.
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Post by hitzpink on Jul 7, 2006 19:13:14 GMT -5
Um, did people actually buy Claudia's paintings? I can't remember the specifics, but I do remember being a little annoyed at her "gallery" because I can't imagine the entire neighborhood would turn out to see a bunch of random drawings/paintings done by a 13 year old. (Oh -- and an 8 year old!) sugarmonkey, I am just now starting to read new-to-me books, too, as I collect and re-read the series in order.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Jul 7, 2006 19:36:35 GMT -5
The only time I remember her artwork being sold was in "Stacey's Lie", where an art gallery owner was so impressed by Claudia'a photos of sandcastles she offered to blow them up and display them, and she sold three of them. Don't remember if the junk food art was ever sold, though.
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Post by supernatural babe on Jul 8, 2006 9:18:26 GMT -5
I love the bit where Gum gets stuck to this important? (semi?) art dealer's? shoe...And he screams something like 'you call this art? Mr and Mrs Wilder were major bitches. Rosie provides, put food in you're mouth and clothes on you're back and you can't even show you're gratification (is that a word )by letting her get some icecream. They need real jobs and need to stop sponging off their 7 yr old.
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Post by sugarmonkey on Jul 8, 2006 11:06:54 GMT -5
I think Mr. Wilder did have a job. Not sure what though. Otherwise I don't know what he was doing out of the house all day.
Claud sold two or three of her paintings. Janine bought one and I can't remember who else.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Jul 9, 2006 1:20:34 GMT -5
Mr and Mrs Wilder weren't sponging off Rosie, I don't think. I always got the impression that whatever she earnt went towards a college fund or something... Did the books ever specifically mention that?
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 9, 2006 22:38:38 GMT -5
Mr and Mrs Wilder weren't sponging off Rosie, I don't think. I always got the impression that whatever she earnt went towards a college fund or something... Did the books ever specifically mention that? I don't know, but it sounds familiar to me as well. It didn't sound as if the Wilder's really benefitted that much from Rosie's earnings. I think they were just typical "stage" parents pushing Rosie to fulfil their dreams of glory. Not particularly nice either way. I liked the scenes with Rosie and Janine. It was also really nice to see Rosie develop a relationship with Claudia, despite their differences.
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