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Post by greer on Dec 17, 2011 11:19:40 GMT -5
I can't help but like this one. Why oh why? I've noticed some board members not liking the books around this time of the series, and I for one tend to have some attachment to them. Looking back, I would have LOVED Mallory's experience working for a famous author. I love how Mallory felt so dibble and grown-up taking cabs. Henrietta's house looks beautiful, and I love the scenery, almost as if something I will have myself (or want) as a writer. But I noticed in the Complete Guide that Henrietta's house is kind of close to Mallory's house... like a few minutes away. They make it seem like it's SO FAR. Maybe the Complete Guide messed up so that they could actually put it on the map...I don't know, it's just slightly annoying. This is one of the books I think of when I want a good, November BSC book. I've always liked this book too, even though it seems to be a popular choice for mockery around the fandom. I mean, an 11-year-old assistant isn't really realistic, but in that area, the BSC was rarely realistic anyway.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Dec 17, 2011 11:46:46 GMT -5
I agree, Vanessa. I also liked the descriptions of Henrietta's house, including her office. And if I can remember correctly, her office had a big window that looked out onto the countryside.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on May 27, 2012 2:59:25 GMT -5
I can't help but like this one. Why oh why? I've noticed some board members not liking the books around this time of the series, and I for one tend to have some attachment to them. Looking back, I would have LOVED Mallory's experience working for a famous author. I love how Mallory felt so dibble and grown-up taking cabs. Henrietta's house looks beautiful, and I love the scenery, almost as if something I will have myself (or want) as a writer. But I noticed in the Complete Guide that Henrietta's house is kind of close to Mallory's house... like a few minutes away. They make it seem like it's SO FAR. Maybe the Complete Guide messed up so that they could actually put it on the map...I don't know, it's just slightly annoying. This is one of the books I think of when I want a good, November BSC book. Though I laugh at silly Valery Spike and the whole play thing at school, I do love this book too and like how she worked for the author, though she got bratty too.
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Post by sparklymouse on May 27, 2012 18:30:33 GMT -5
Valery Spike would be an awesomely dramatic pseudonym if Mal decided to go that route.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on May 28, 2012 1:13:28 GMT -5
Valery Spike is a running joke at home, and has been for years
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jun 27, 2012 2:07:45 GMT -5
Some of my favourite parts of this book are the smaller moments, like Mallory describing Henrietta's house to when she's walking her bike down the path after leaving Henrietta the note goodbye and the leaves are falling down around her. Mallory not realizing what non-fiction is was really annoying but I can excuse it for all of the real-life author insight that this book gives. Whenever I'm reading it, I always get the impression that Ann and her publishers may have come up with this idea based on things they wanted to tell fans (like about the form letters and how Ann gets too much mail to read and respond to but she appreciates them all).
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Jul 3, 2012 19:05:49 GMT -5
I liked the descriptions of everything too and maybe that's why I liked the book despite how silly Mallory was at times. I liked reading about the leaves and having the hot chocolate and the descriptions overall.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Jul 4, 2012 13:43:32 GMT -5
^ Now I want it to be fall!
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Jul 6, 2012 22:03:08 GMT -5
No, no you don't. (Do you?)
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,266
Member is Online
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Post by oldhickory on Jul 9, 2012 20:35:21 GMT -5
personally i can't wait for fall! usually by july i'm tired of being hot.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Jul 9, 2012 22:19:55 GMT -5
I'm enjoying the nicer weather more this year than I usually do, but I'm not much of a summer person overall. I like colder weather, changing leaves, sweaters, boots, hot chocolate, Halloween candy, new episodes of tv shows, etc.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Jul 12, 2012 23:20:42 GMT -5
I like this weather, but I am way too hyper this ear and can't calm down.
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Post by zoar3 on Dec 28, 2012 18:31:12 GMT -5
Mal really was cruel to Henrietta. I think it was very nice of Ms. Hayes to basically wait for Mal to come back to her as opposed to saying anything about Mal's tirade. I can understand 11 year old Mal being caught up in idolizing Henrietta, believing that because Alice Anderson was so alive in the books that she (A) had to be "real." When Mal read the article to find out the "truth," naturally she'd be let down but to jump all over Henrietta first in person and then by nasty letter? IMO, both were un-called for. I also still will never get how neither of Mal's parents or Henrietta for that matter, ever took the time to check with one another on Mal's job. What Mal got paid was never stated other than Henrietta initially asking Mal, "How would you like to earn a little money?" I did enjoy the scene at the Stoneybrook Library with Mrs. Kishi and would have liked knowing what other famous authors lived in Stoneybrook. If any children's illustrators truly did live in town, Rioko could have tried to introduce Claudia to them--that would have been awesome. I tried to like this story more this time around but really didn't. I think it also reminded me of my last two years in high school when I was a TA. I have mentioned the crush I had on this (my 10th grade Biology) teacher. I thought like Mal with Henrietta it would be so cool to get to know him a little better while hopefully assisting him as well. I ended up doing way too much work (for no pay either), he did always thank me, but still it wasn't quite fair (to me). This was also the same man who wasn't the greatest of teachers because he publicly at times made known his sexist ways of thinking. I had admired his environmental views and I think also thought having a much younger teacher was such a "cool" novelty plus he really was handsome. Maybe that was my version of Wes and Henrietta combined. Scary thought but maybe true!
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Post by virgoscorpio on Dec 28, 2012 19:09:16 GMT -5
I have to say that Mal's random outburst at Henrietta for not being autobiographical in her work, so to speak, somewhat ruined a potentially good book for me. I like some parts of this. For me, it was really out of character for Mal. She's a smart girl. She likes to read and has an active imagination. Surely she knew better, so that's a bit difficult to get past. I would have liked knowing what other famous authors lived in Stoneybrook. I agree! I can see a possible plot line developing from this ... Famous children's authors get together to help at a BSC carnival or charity or something. (Of course, in BSC land this would happen! haha) I also met a children's author who lived in my city when I was growing up. Our class actually went on a school trip to the Art House where he was speaking. He signed a copy of my book - he's the illustrator of one of my favourite Christmas books, "The Little Crooked Christmas Tree" .
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Jan 4, 2013 13:28:14 GMT -5
Book authors would come to school to talk to us
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