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Post by aln1982 on Jul 21, 2007 16:32:54 GMT -5
^ Thanks. No, I didn't mean that she was going to leave the lump in. She will probably have a lumpectomy but the research we have done has said that many people over 70 (she's 78) opt not to have radiation and that it actually only decreases the risk of the cancer coming back. It is a lot to go through (every day for 6 months) for the benefits for her. It is definitely the best option for some people, I agree, but we don't think it is necessarily going to do her any good. But we'll know more soon. Good luck with dealing with your treatment! I'll pray for you, too.
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Post by aln1982 on Jul 30, 2007 23:35:45 GMT -5
I finally went ahead and read this one. Abby's grandma doesn't actually have breast cancer for sure but they found a lump and the book ends with her planning to get it tested. Too bad we never find out what happens. Hopefully it was just some dense tissue and a false alarm Anyway, I thought it gave some pretty decent, brief info about breast cancer and also liked the range of emotions that were expressed. Thought it was nice how the Grandma's sister came to the party just because they made up - not because she knew her sister was sick. I think it's hypocritical when people are like "oh, you're dying so I've been a jerk forever but now I'll be nice or actually pay attention to you when I've ignored you for the last 10 years" I did think their making up was kind of quick but I guess the fight was really petty to begin with. I loved Abby's relationship with her grandpa in this book and it reminded me of how close I used to be with my grandpa. Also really enjoyed the subplot with the Pikes' at home Sea City vacation. I never remembered liking that subplot as much as I did but thought it was really funny and really liked the Pike parents. Vanessa's poem had me laughing too. Another thing I enjoyed in this book was the Alice in Wonderland party. I've always wanted to do something interesting like that. Wish my family did parties like Abby's grandparents (and had a house in the Hamptons that they invited me and my friends to visit ;D)
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Post by bscfan81 on Jul 31, 2007 15:09:37 GMT -5
aln- I hope your grandma gets okay. I've had family members with cancer, so I can sympathize.
kickedinthehead- Best of luck with your treatments, too.
I'll be praying for both of you.
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Post by aln1982 on Jul 31, 2007 16:38:37 GMT -5
^ Thank you so much. My grandma's lumpectomy is scheduled for Aug. 7 (my bday ;D) so we're just praying that they don't find cancer anywhere else. When I was reading this book, the reality of the situation kind of hit me when Abby said that her grandma had cancer and people die from cancer. I hadn't ever let myself think in those terms but had all kinds of mixed feelings that were coming out in different ways like anger, annoyance, fear. It's especially hard when other people seem to try to tell you how to react and always seem to be telling you that your reaction is wrong (oh, it's nothin or you should be more worried, it is a big deal or it isn't a big deal.....so confusing) Now I'm starting to understand more of what I am feeling and the range of emotions that go with this and letting myself accept it and that it is a big thing and it's okay to feel however I am feeling. I think this book helped me start to work through this. The BSC often does that and puts things in a clearer light. Anyone else ever have that?
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Post by bscfan81 on Aug 9, 2007 17:22:32 GMT -5
I just read this book for the first time. I actually wiped away a few tears in the scene when Abby runs from the party and her grandma runs after her to find out what's wrong. I thought it was very believable.
As for the Pikes, gotta love the idea of creating a beach in your backyard. :-) Maybe I should try that....
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on Aug 24, 2007 22:43:56 GMT -5
My favorite part of this book was such a minor thing but oh well. I liked that friend that Anna got to invite. She seemed interesting.
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 24, 2007 23:39:58 GMT -5
I always liked Anna's friend, too, and wish we would have seen more of her. Was her name Corely or something unusual like that? Did they ever mention any of Abby's old friends?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2008 16:28:45 GMT -5
I liked this one. I'm not an Abby fan, but liked reading about her family. I grew up on Long Island so I was familar with most of the places that were talkd about so that was fun. Abby didn't seem as annoying in this one!
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starlett2010
Junior Sitter
It's been YEARS but I'm back!!!! :)
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Post by starlett2010 on Jul 24, 2008 19:15:43 GMT -5
I didn't really like this book. It was odd because it seemed more like it should have been included in Abby's Book rather than a regular BSC book. I think it ranks poorly among many BSC readers because it does take place in long island rather than in good old Stoneybrook and it features Abby and Anna, who aren't as well known, as well as their families who we've rarely ever heard of. What I'm trying to say is that there aren't really the familiar elements or the "formula" of a BSC book in this book that readers are accustomed to. Most people, myself included, seem to like the Pike subplot because it seems more familiar to us, IMO.
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msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
Posts: 3,618
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Post by msstock87 on Jul 25, 2008 16:13:15 GMT -5
I haven't read this book in a long time, but I remember thinking the beach plot with the Pike kid's was funny. I don't remember much about the main plot, but I do remember feeling bad for Abby finding out her Grandma might have cancer. It pretty much was how I felt when I found out my dad had cancer a few years ago.
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Post by anzuhana on Dec 10, 2010 10:54:03 GMT -5
I liked reading about the Stevenson family. I thought that the information the book provided about breast cancer was interesting. I wish we found out rather or not Gram Elsie had cancer. I think it could've been an interesting book to read about.
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 21, 2011 20:21:14 GMT -5
I'm editing this to add-in some comments from my original post at the end of last year; no need for two separate posts. I still do agree with Starlett from 2 years ago. This book, probably because there was never any follow-up, seemed out of place and odd. We were made to care about Gram Elsie for nothing? I certainly hope everything turned out well for her but I would have liked to have found that out. I have to give Abby major points for making sure everyone Gram wanted to attend, did. Family and friends who you consider family really are so important. I also thought Grandpa Morris sounded quite spunky and fun. He and Gram were a heck of a lot more genuine than Nannie! It's too bad Abby never did take up their invitation at the end of "Abby and the Mystery Baby" to go visit their home in Florida. I also was never an Alice in Wonderland (or Ann forgive my saying so, A Wizard of Oz) fan so really didn't much care for all those references. Although I did think it was cool that Abby's grandparents chose to have a costume party of sorts to celebrate their anniversary. 4 years ago Amalia said: ^Finally, we got to meet one of Anna's friends. I don't think that phenomena ever occurred in Stoneybrook. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed Abby said Corley was "weird" because of her frizzy red hair and looks. Another Tess moment, I hope not. I loved the Pike beach subplot better than the main one. Speaking of rarely seen "friends," Claire invited Hunter Bruno to one of the parties; amazing. I did realize that Vanessa did not invite Kerry. I wonder if Kerry ever did make any friends?
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Post by wiggir13 on Aug 22, 2011 13:55:59 GMT -5
I really liked the party concept in this book. It think it is fun to have themed parties where people dress in costumes and everything is a reference to the theme. I think Abby's grandparents sound really fun and I hope to have that type of relationship when I get older. As for the rest of the book, I was just so bored and also felt that the book was out of place. I guess at this point they are just reaching for ideas....I wish we would have found out what happened with Gram!!!!
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Post by booboobrewer on Jul 24, 2012 20:04:29 GMT -5
First time reading this one, I enjoyed it. Pleased to discover it was a summer book. I liked the going-on-vacation feeling and the Hamptons setting. We have Stacey in NYC/Fire Island so why not Abby in the Hamptons It's weird, I noticed that Abby said she "feels really comfortable" around Stacey, and Stacey often mentions how gorgeous she thinks Abby's hair is, but they don't seem to ever be all that friendly TO each other. Can anyone think of some nice Abby/Stacey scenes? They had the workaholic parents in common! I actually liked hearing more about Abby's family, and I liked the hopeful feel of the ending. It reminded me of the the ending of Stacey's Broken Heart, when she says she's sadder but wiser. The party sounded like a lot of fun. I was mostly bored by the Pike subplot--seemed so lame to read how they weren't going to Sea City "this time" when they're still all the same ages--but thought it was funny when Margo was like yeah, let's go capture a seagull by the dumpster and bring it home. lol
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jul 24, 2012 22:31:53 GMT -5
^ Interesting observation about the Stacey and Abby pairing. I agree that they're two sitters whose interactions together weren't shown very much. Also, for some reason, I get the feeling that - although they could be good friends - they could never really be besties. It's nothing against either of them, it's just how I see their energies meshing.
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