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Post by liss31d on Sept 28, 2006 13:10:28 GMT -5
So Mallory's 'Rainy Days and Froggy Nights' was completely autobiographical ... haha Mallory's a bloody hypocrite... I'm surprised Mrs Hayes didn't shove that typewriter up her ass ;D
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wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Sept 28, 2006 15:23:47 GMT -5
I wonder what the plot of that story was, exactly. I mean, I know it's about a frog in a rainstorm, but I wonder what exactly happens to him (or her). "A frog in a rainstorm" doesn't sound all that exciting.
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Post by bscfan24 on Sept 30, 2006 1:42:55 GMT -5
^^maybe he did a whole 'singin' in the rain' thing. Hehe. I know that's not what the movie was about, but that'd be hilarious to picture a frog doing.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Oct 4, 2006 17:31:09 GMT -5
So Mallory's 'Rainy Days and Froggy Nights' was completely autobiographical ... haha Mallory's a bloody hypocrite... I'm surprised Mrs Hayes didn't shove that typewriter up her ass ;D LMAO!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by liss31d on Jun 10, 2007 4:15:09 GMT -5
Bringing up an old post from the past, but I just relaised after re-watching Little Women on tv that Ann basically used the idea from the Little Women story... except the other way round. Jo thinks writing should NOT be autobiographical and you must write about what you don't know (in her case love and damsels and all that), but her German friend tells her that you SHOULD write about what you know, hence she wrote a fiction novel on her own life (Little Women). I bet Mallory wanted to be just like Jo and thought that was how writing was meant to be... based on your own life... then Henrietta contradicts her and says no it doesn't have to be based on your own life... I think they even mention Little Women in this book.
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 10, 2007 16:05:45 GMT -5
I never gave this much thought, but I think you're right. I remember thinking that the plot with Jo seemed somewhat familiar but slightly turned around when I just read/watched it a few months ago. I hadn't read it forever and I've only read this BSC book once but this might have been the connection I was making. This is on my summer rereading list, so I probably shouldn't comment more until I read and refresh my memory. I remember being able to relate to Mal wanting to work for free or allowing herself to become someone's "slave" (not that the author was really using her like that but I would have almost gone this far in my own experiences) just to be near someone she admired. Also thought she made some really dumb assumptions about fiction vs. reality. Is this the book where the Pike kids picket the play because it is about them? I thought that was funny - and understandable
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alula
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 406
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Post by alula on Jun 10, 2007 16:26:30 GMT -5
I've always wondered if Ann had some kind of weird unresolved angst going on in this book from her side, if that makes sense, like from fans asking her why she didn't have kids if she loves them so much or whatever. Or writing such a giddily innocent, squeaky-clean kids series and being a lesbian, I guess--I mean, I obviously don't see any contradiction between those things, but there definitely are people who would, and the whole book has always struck me as so weird I felt there might be some sublimation going on there. (Even on my first read as a kid, when I had no idea Ann might be gay, I thought it might have come about because she had a personal issue on the topic to work out.)
The assumptions people make about fiction are weird, though--I still find that if I write about characters my own age and gender, people will assume or at least ask if it's autobiographical. In fact, when I was a teenager, for awhile I wrote exclusively from a male point of view because I could get away with having my boy characters do stuff (swear or have sex or be crazy or suicidal or whatever) and people wouldn't automatically assume that I was/had done those things.
Anyway, I can usually call up some sympathy for Mal, but she drives me nuts in this book. She's so self-absorbed and obtuse. Especially when she tries to force Henrietta into talking about her dead daughter--that's just wrong. Although the play she writes is kind of funny in that while it's so awful, it is kind of the Mary Sue thing an eleven-year-old would write.
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 10, 2007 16:35:09 GMT -5
I've always wondered if Ann had some kind of weird unresolved angst going on in this book from her side, if that makes sense, like from fans asking her why she didn't have kids if she loves them so much or whatever. No idea if Ann is gay or not but I can see lots of reasons that someone can love kids and want to write for them and maybe even be around them for limited times but wouldn't want to have them. I know I feel like this about just not being cut out for motherhood. I know many other women from the horse shows (a kids breed) who loved being around and helping out the kids who needed help but never had a desire to have kids of their own. Ann does seem to have some unresolved issues, though, that sometimes are visible in her books.
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alula
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 406
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Post by alula on Jun 10, 2007 16:49:32 GMT -5
Oh, I don't think it's weird at all that someone might like kids and want to write for them and not want to actually be a parent. I know people who work with kids and don't want to be parents, either, which is all totally cool--way better to know you don't want to be a parent than to do it for the wrong reasons. I just meant it's the kind of thing I think a lot of people wouldn't understand or would ask about and maybe she was frustrated about that and it came out in this book.
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 10, 2007 16:55:58 GMT -5
^ Okay. Thanks for clarifying. Sorry if I immediately jumped on this point - having a really bad night ;D Anyway, I agree with a lot of your points, alula. This book is one of my least favorites (usually I like Mal and I can't stand her in this book) and seems to scream of "unresolved" issues. I will reread it this summer, though, and see what I think then.
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alula
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 406
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Post by alula on Jun 10, 2007 21:32:09 GMT -5
^No problem. I can see how I wasn't really clear. I hope tomorrow is better!
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Post by liss31d on Jun 12, 2007 3:35:05 GMT -5
Another connection with Little Women... where do you think Mallory got the Triplets 'burning her play' idea from?
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 12, 2007 7:33:33 GMT -5
^ Forgot about that one. Now I understand why this book always makes me think so much of Little Women I think I need to reread both. Thanks for the understanding, alula. Yesterday was better
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 4, 2007 16:50:54 GMT -5
Just reread and think this is one of the only books that Mallory really bothers me in. I guess she is being a realistic 11 year old, though, (or just realistic person who lacks common sense) with thinking that fiction is reality. I do feel for her with finding out that someone she idolizes isn't what they seem. It does hurt. As for the subplot, did she actually think that her siblings wouldn't be offended? I thought their picketing was really funny. My very favorite part of the book was when Mrs. Pike has the talk with Mallory. I love seeing interaction between the mothers and daughters in the BSC books and wish there was more of it. I really like Mrs. Pike in this book and thought she gave some good advice.
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Post by greer on Aug 5, 2007 7:08:30 GMT -5
I've always really enjoyed this book. Am I alone on this?
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