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Post by Sideshowjazz1 on Sept 18, 2018 21:47:48 GMT -5
This is probably one of my favourite BSC books. I just liked the column in general - if I had been a kid from SMS, I would definitely have put a message in. I liked reading about the different letters, and seeing Claudia's search for a boyfriend was also pretty fun.
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on May 11, 2022 14:55:25 GMT -5
Even as adults you can suddenly develop allergies to dogs as I have.
This is one of my favourites. Does the column keep going ?
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,234
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Post by oldhickory on May 12, 2022 8:28:32 GMT -5
^ There are small references to it later, but it never comes back up in any meaningful way.
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Post by oldmeanie on Nov 23, 2022 13:59:04 GMT -5
I wrote a novel, I'm sorry.
This one is surprisingly good, and I think it's because of the characterization of Claudia and Stacey. We're always told Claudia is actually really smart, but we're actually shown it here. It definitely takes brains to edit the way she was (yes, Stacey was helping her, but I don't blame her because she's never really done anything like this. Also, according to another book, her worst subject is English). Stacey is also a good friend here; her prank at the end was mean, but I don't think she meant it to be so mean.
Something kind of messed up, though: Claud is talking about how it sucks she doesn't have a boyfriend and says, "Even Kristy has Bart." Oof.
This is the first mention of Dr. Reese in the main series. I looked it up, and she first appears in the Chain Letter. The BSC wiki has some of the letters scanned, and I think Mary Anne's depression would've been a really interesting storyline for the main series. The poor girl has been THROUGH IT, and at this point in the series there's still more to come. It's realistic that she'd just crash and burn like that. As an adult I can't handle that much change, I can't imagine handling it at 13. You know what, I no longer blame her for blowing up in #88 tbh.
Back to this book. I agree with others that Claudia is way too picky (especially for 13 wtf), but her dates were total flops. Brian obviously bored the hell out of her (honestly, though, why did she care that he ordered a healthier meal? Whatever) and Rock was actually straight up offensive (I loved when she asked his ethnicity then asked if he ate kielbasa every night lol go Claud). I can't believe her reaction to Rock's tattoo though... you'd think she'd think that was cool. Out of all the BSCers, I'd roll she was the most likely to get tattoo. I could actually imagine her going all out and getting tattoo sleeves. Maybe at 13 the idea kind of freaks her out, or maybe Rock kind of turned her off of them. Idk.
Very interesting that Alan Gray was disappointed that Claud turned him down. I don't think this is foreshadowing for FF, but it's possible they referenced this book and ran with the idea of them as a couple. Idk. I actually like Alan, so I was sort of hoping they'd go on a date.
Holy crap Mary Anne's ad was cringe as hell and I'm really wishing I didn't know that Logan's pet name for her is "The Tig." I. Hate. This. Also, this book features another stupid MA and Logan fight. Kudos to Mary Anne for not getting mad at Claud or Stacey, though (maybe she saves all her anger for Dawn). Honestly, though, that mistake was hilarious as hell. I'll copy paste it here because it's just that funny: "The ad now said: Fed up girl with dud boyfriend looking to make a switch. I’m pretty, petite, and sweet. Call The Tig at 555-8456. The ad below it said: Your kitten will love you furever. Call Starting Fresh at 555-9302."
The subplot is a bit of a bummer and doesn't really connect to the main plot until the very end, which felt very convoluted to me. I feel really bad for the Barretts. I have horrible allergies (to cats, dust, and pollen more than dogs, luckily my allergy to dogs is really mild) so I actually sympathize with Marnie, especially since mine cause fatigue. I feel worse for Buddy, Suzi, and Pow, though. I 100% understand their reaction. I'm not sure it's necessary to rehome Pow- couldn't he just sleep in a different room, Marnie's is off-limits, Pow gets regular baths (bathing animals is one of the ways to reduce allergens, also, much of the time dogs actually track in pollen, another trigger), everyone pitches in to clean (also get rid of carpet, a nightmare for people with allergies anyway). Idk, it feels like Mrs. Barrett and the doctor were just sort of defeatist about this. I think I'd get it more if they tried all this and Marnie was still miserable. I don't know. Rehoming pets is sometimes necessary, but it should be a last resort. I'm glad he went to the Pikes so Buddy and Suzi could still see him regularly. Maybe that's better anyway, I don't think Mrs. Barrett could keep up with the cleaning lol.
I kind of hate this; in the last chapter they recieve a call from Mrs. Barrett and Kristy says this: “The baby-sitter who goes will also have to feed the gerbils, make sure the hermit crabs don’t escape, and feed the fish,” Kristy went on. “The Barretts are accumulating nonallergic animals fast.” This feels hasty and irresponsible to me. Are these pets ever mentioned again? How can Mrs. Barrett afford all these pets? Argh. She really annoys me, definitely one of my least favorite client parents.
Wow, I had way more to say than I thought O.O I cannot wait for the next book, it's wildly unhinged.
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Post by fernmariposa919 on Sept 13, 2023 15:35:44 GMT -5
Holy crap Mary Anne's ad was cringe as hell and I'm really wishing I didn't know that Logan's pet name for her is "The Tig." I. Hate. This. Also, this book features another stupid MA and Logan fight. Kudos to Mary Anne for not getting mad at Claud or Stacey, though (maybe she saves all her anger for Dawn). Honestly, though, that mistake was hilarious as hell. I'll copy paste it here because it's just that funny: "The ad now said: Fed up girl with dud boyfriend looking to make a switch. I’m pretty, petite, and sweet. Call The Tig at 555-8456. The ad below it said: Your kitten will love you furever. Call Starting Fresh at 555-9302." OMG, Mary Anne's ad was indeed very cringe. Isn't this the only time we learn that Logan's pet name for her is "The Tig"? Barf. I'm certainly glad it never comes up again (as far as I know). Weren't they running out of room when they were editing this particular edition of the paper and Stacey suggested they just take out that ad since Mary Anne is their friend and she would understand. I 100% think Stacey was right...they were already shortening the other personals and this one was more of a stupid message that had nothing to do with finding a date. And I think Mary Anne would have understood if they explained to her what was going on. (It would have also spared her this embarrassing message). But Claud thinks that since she promised Mary Anne she'd run it, she can't take it out. Give me a break, Claudia. But I guess they wanted the drama of having the mixed-up messages, which was pretty hilarious. And why was Logan even reading this if he's already in a relationship with Mary Anne. Unless she told him to read that day's edition, heh! Now if he had any brains and read the ad below it, he would realize they were switched. Duh. But maybe he was so angry he couldn't read any more of the paper. Another question is, why does Mary Anne (aka "The Tig"....terrible nickname, btw) even have her phone number as part of the message? Yes, I realize it's for the added humor/drama of the mixed up messages, but shouldn't it just be the message without the phone number. Logan will know who it is.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,234
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Post by oldhickory on Sept 13, 2023 17:52:50 GMT -5
Haha, imagine if someone else called for The Tig and Richard picked up the phone. He would definitely think it was a weird sex thing. I'm hoping she just chose some dumb name that would make it obvious who was writing it.
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Post by oldmeanie on Sept 14, 2023 12:41:03 GMT -5
You bring up some good points, fernmariposa. Why WOULD Mary Anne include her phone number? I think I can see why Logan would be too angry to read the rest of the ads, though.
Oh no! oldhickory, that thought is both terrible and hilarious XD. I really do hope it's just a dumb name Mary Anne made up on the spot.
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