oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,224
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Post by oldhickory on May 7, 2010 4:02:17 GMT -5
i didn't like tess at all. i felt sorry for her and i hated that she was being picked on, but i thought she was cold and mean. stacey was totally out of line bossing her around, but tess was so stubborn. when my friends made me over i loved it. i loved getting to borrow clothes instead of buying them, and learning how to do my makeup different ways. instead tess was just like "i'm fine, leave me alone".
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on May 11, 2010 13:52:52 GMT -5
Well, if she was fine with how she dressed, I can understand her not wanting to change it and therefore not being receptive to Stacey's suggestions. I personally think it's rude to offer advice more than once or twice when it is obviously unwanted and unnecessary (Tess's clothing choices aren't hurting anything but Stacey's eyes).
There's also the fact that it can be hard not to feel insulted by someone suggesting alternative fashion and makeup techniques -- it's basically saying that what you're doing now is unattractive. Look at how defensive people get on What Not to Wear -- and they've already allowed themselves to be made over. IIRC, Tess never asked Stacey how she could make herself look better.
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Post by anzuhana on Jun 25, 2010 13:28:44 GMT -5
I agree with lilafowler. Stacey was being rude by offering advice that was unwanted and unnecessary. Besides, Tess was happy and comfortable with how she dressed and she didn't want to change, so why should she?
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,224
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Post by oldhickory on Jun 26, 2010 0:07:10 GMT -5
^ no, i agree that stacey was being a cow. but there's a difference between "no" and "no thanks."
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 11, 2011 11:45:33 GMT -5
Okay now I am seriously questioning how I can possibly be such a big BSC fan. These later books, particularly this one, are terrible! Worse, they are an insult to both the BSC and us, its loyal fan club. The only "good" part of this one was indeed Barbara Hirsch. I really liked her and often had hoped Mary Anne would have remained friends with her and Gordon Brown. In this case she'd have made an great long term friend to Tess and possibly Claudia, as well.
It's a toss up to me as to which sitter I dislike more in this story, Stacey or Abby. Abby's remarks at the top of page 10. The girls are at a BSC Meeting. "Maybe she made up that weird way of talking to go with the rest of her weird self." Stacey "Don't you like her?" Abby: "She's okay, I guess. I don't really know her."
Later, same meeting, at the top of page 21 Abby is saying how Tess is strange because of how she dresses. Kristy (yay Kristy), calls her out on it. Abby replies, "I'm not say it makes her a bad person. She's just strange, that's all."
In other words, Abby has written Tess off. Not saying Stacey was "better" just that I also did not like Abby.
The subplot of Nicky as a bodyguard to Jackie should have referenced the time Nicky and Buddy acted "macho" in order to defend their manhood against MA's sewing class.
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Post by wiggir13 on Aug 13, 2011 19:18:40 GMT -5
Oh I agree zoar - I feel like I don't even know the characters in this book!
I wish that Stacey had been straight up with Tess and told her about the teasing. She kept saying that she wanted to protect peoples feelings, but she just didn't want to have a hard conversation with her. UGh Stacey and Abby made me so mad in this! Kristy is the only one I actually liked b/c she called Stacey on her stuff.
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 13, 2011 19:58:43 GMT -5
^Exactly, Wiggirl. Also, Stacey didn't exactly protect anyone's feelings, least of all Tess' since all she (S) did was barrel onward with her Tess makeover plans. I wish Kristy had talked with Tess when Stacey (or anyone else) wouldn't (didn't). Come to think of it, if Barbara were really interested in becoming a friend to Tess, she should have been second in line (behind Stacey) at Mr. Taylor's office once the bullying began and didn't let up. I think Mr. T's "big lecture" was ridiculous and obviously accomplished zilch. I'm not sure what he should have done instead, but definitely not have allowed the horrible teasing to fester into injuring Tess.
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Post by wiggir13 on Aug 13, 2011 20:34:09 GMT -5
I thought that Barbara should have said something too. I mean why would you let your supposed friend continue to be bullied. I realize sometimes you can't fight everyone, but at the very least you can tell the person why they are making fun of her. I would stop wearing pink if people called me a pig!
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 13, 2011 21:04:40 GMT -5
^Nodding, you wouldn't just stand by while a friend was bullied. A "better" question is how none of the adults at SMS noticed? But then, they were blind to Mal's ordeal, too aside from the English teacher assigning her class extra homework. I wonder if Tess ever said anything to her parents? Although, probably once they set foot onto Stoneybrook soil they (her parents), turned indifferent to anything involving their daughter--you know, to keep up with the natives.
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Post by wiggir13 on Aug 13, 2011 22:11:59 GMT -5
Hahaha - why even bother to have parents anyway. I mean obviously 13 yo girls know all the answers to life!
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Post by zoar3 on Aug 13, 2011 23:03:28 GMT -5
^They certainly do. If you are 11 and a member of the BSC, you (sometimes) do as well. I think if SMS had been a typical middle school, where all three grades were not completely segregated from one another, Tess might stood out less. But then poor Mal sure "stood out" a few books later so maybe not. :/
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jan 16, 2012 14:46:02 GMT -5
I don't really know what to think of this book. I'd say it was a waste of paper, but then I believe that's a horrible thing to say to any writer's work. There were some moments I did like, such as the fact there was a lot about SMS, many tertiary characters were in the book -- including Barbara -- and they book tended to focus on something outside of the BSC for a change.
However, the approach that this book took was horrible. I am trying to determine what the message of the book was. Obviously it was anti-bullying, but was it really? No one was really reprimanded for bullying. In the end, Tess never gets her "just desserts"... she just gets broken and sprained bones. And how horrible are all of the kids for throwing hot dogs at her? It just seemed way too over the top. I guess the lesson could also be, "Don't judge a book by its cover" because when reality they might be fashionable in Paris?! Ugh. It didn't make sense.
Also, I just pictured Tess as being tall and thicker, not fat. Weight is always determined by body size, that's the most important thing. Tess wasn't fat, just thicker, let's say. And her outfit on the cover doesn't look that bad. And those glasses she always wears are really in style.
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Post by anzuhana on Jan 16, 2012 14:53:23 GMT -5
I didn't think that her outfit was that bad either, vigoscorpio. I just didn't like how her hair looked. I think it should've either been a longer (at least shoulder length) or it should've been a lot shorter, like the hair style that Rachel Stevenson has. Or maybe Tess should've had her hair in a srunchie because again, I don't think her hair looks that good on the cover.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jan 16, 2012 15:39:17 GMT -5
^ Funny you mention her hair, anzuhana, because her hair actually reminded me of when I would cut off Barbie's hair as a kid (and use a butcher knife). Sounds morbid, I know. The knife would give the hair a distinct blunt cut, that looks like Tess' hair on the cover.
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Post by anzuhana on Jan 16, 2012 15:46:05 GMT -5
^ It does sound morbid, virgoscorpio. Out of curiosity, why did you do that?
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