Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on Apr 19, 2006 17:53:52 GMT -5
I agree with the above. If Mrs. Pike really loved little kids then she should have opened up some kind of daycare place or something. I mean, sheesh, she didn't have to be continually knocked up. I guessed she liked the mood swings.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 20, 2006 16:42:03 GMT -5
^ she's one of those nutty women who are addicted to being pregnant - the hormonal highs, the extra attention from society, etc.
Considering how many babysitters the woman hired and her inability to have a family vacation without two mothers helpers (who had to take seperate nights off) her habit of popping out babies was more about a psychological disorder than an apparent love of children.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Apr 21, 2006 5:35:26 GMT -5
Aw, I never thought of Mrs Pike as a nutter until you mentioned it!
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 21, 2006 17:34:04 GMT -5
^ neither did I, until I started analyzing these books waaaaaaaaaay too much.
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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 Apr 21, 2006 23:04:03 GMT -5
Well . . . I hear what you're saying and agree to a certain extent, but I still have to say that she had all of those kids because she genuinely likes kids. I mean, she doesn't seem to be depressed about having to take care of all of those kids or anything. As for the mothers helpers thing, I think it is deserved to want some time to yourself. And for hiring so many sitters, isn't at least one of the sitters always Mal? It seems as if she is just helping her own kid out by supporting something she's in, and in a way is paying Mal back for giving her a lot of responsibilities. And maybe teaching her the value of a buck. I dunno.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Apr 22, 2006 1:32:43 GMT -5
I don't think Mrs Pike was ever portrayed in a negative light. A lot of the things we're picking her up on (mother's helpers, not allowing Mallory to sparkle) are things that are there as plot devices (So how *can* we get Stacey and Mary Anne off to Sea City? What is something Mallory can whine about?) and whoever dreamt up the plot device didn't really think about the implications.
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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 Apr 22, 2006 1:40:52 GMT -5
^ Yeah I know. I just like to say things for both sides.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 22, 2006 6:06:13 GMT -5
Well . . . I hear what you're saying and agree to a certain extent, but I still have to say that she had all of those kids because she genuinely likes kids. I love babies and little kids as well, but getting knocked up after having newborn triplets and a one yr old? Ugh. No way. Either way, Mrs Pike and her brood don't really exist (I forget that about these characters sometimes!) so there doesn't have to be more to it than mere plot devices and Mrs Pike simply loving kids. I dunno, just like to analyse these books, give them some snark. TBH, I quite liked Mrs Pike, particularly in Mallory Hates Boys (and Gym).
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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 Apr 22, 2006 23:15:03 GMT -5
As for me, I can see how analysis can support some of the outright claims the books make (that are used as plot devices, etc.) (i.e. Mrs. Pike simply loving kids) and can also support other ideas that can be concluded from reading (Mrs. Pike is kind of nutty). I dunno.
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Post by aln1982 on Apr 23, 2006 16:13:49 GMT -5
I just read this one and have to say that I think Jeff was a brat. Richard really seemed to be trying hard to be a good stepdad. It wasn't his fault that he wasn't athletic and didn't know anything about boys. Got to give him credit for trying. Though MA was pretty bratty herself, Dawn shouldn't have kept making rude statements about her dad - especially at the BSC meeting. I loved it that they visited the Freedom Trail but was a little surprised that MA didn't know anything about the Boston Tea Party. This seems to go against her character. Would have made more sense if it was Jeff. As for the Barretts/Dewitts, inviting a sitter for the first time the families met??? I guess they can't deal with their own kids. Maybe they should have thought about that before having three and four. Stoneybrook parents seem to need a babysitter on every outing. I know it is to give the girls a story but...
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 23, 2006 18:38:12 GMT -5
ITA. The inclusion of that scene was obviously to give the readers a history lesson, but they really should've thought about it more.
Word on all your other points too. Glad everyone seems to think Jeff was a brat.
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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 Apr 23, 2006 20:41:21 GMT -5
ITA. The inclusion of that scene was obviously to give the readers a history lesson, but they really should've thought about it more. She tends to do that sometimes. I guess she's trying to educate kids a little while entertaining them.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Apr 24, 2006 0:03:15 GMT -5
Sorry, what does ITA stand for?
I agree with your comments about the Barretts/DeWitts hiring a baby-sitter! If they only need 2 baby-sitters to look after the entire Oike clan, you'd think that two adults who were actually parents could manage to take care of their seven kids.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 24, 2006 2:40:08 GMT -5
ITA - I Totally Agree.
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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 Apr 24, 2006 3:27:54 GMT -5
I agree with your comments about the Barretts/DeWitts hiring a baby-sitter! If they only need 2 baby-sitters to look after the entire Oike clan, you'd think that two adults who were actually parents could manage to take care of their seven kids. I think that that is just another example of parents being spoiled by the BSC.
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