janey83
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 374
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Post by janey83 on Nov 27, 2007 18:24:05 GMT -5
^ Before Christmas.
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Post by aln1982 on Nov 27, 2007 20:21:57 GMT -5
^ Thanks. I'll put it on my Christmas reread list, which keeps growing. I'd better get started. ;D
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2007 12:24:45 GMT -5
Well, most mystery writers craft their novels with the ending totally settled in their minds so they can make sure the clues and evidence add up in the end and you can re-read and see how they solved it, etc. I doubt the BSC Mystery writers "crafted" their mysteries though, lol. But yes, I know what you mean. Like, they probably all sat around a writer's table, threw out random titles, grew premises from them, than just tacked on an ending sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I looooved the mysteries (I'm surprised I'm in the minority, but I guess why the series was canceled so early) but they definately weren't "crafted" with care.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 17, 2007 16:25:54 GMT -5
I just reread this one and mostly skimmed over the mystery part as I just can't get into it. Must be because of the mood I was in with Christmas coming but I liked the sleigh ride and winter party subplot much more. As always, I love the description of the Arnolds' house at Christmastime. Even though the twins were a bit overzealous calling everyone right away, I guess I can excuse it considering that they were 8 and very excited about Christmas. I wish I had some "child-like" enthusiasm right now. ;D I like this book as long as I don't pay much attention to the supposed mystery, which just seems weird. ;D
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Post by greer on Dec 26, 2007 20:34:57 GMT -5
sunshine, the mystery series didn't end early--i'm pretty sure it ended shortly before they switched to ff.
i don't really like this mystery because it seems so stupid, and it's out of character for the johanssens to be so irrepsonible. i haven't read it many times, so i ddin't even remember it was a christmas one.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 26, 2007 20:55:37 GMT -5
^ I never remembered that either but this year I actually wrote it on my Christmas reading list so I wouldn't forget (and I just read the Christmas parts because I can't stand the mystery part and agree with all you said about it. ;D)
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Jan 12, 2008 20:12:45 GMT -5
I'm rereading this (I kind of got off track with my "read every book, in the order they were published"... so I'm reading this to "catch up" with the spin offs. I think. I'm so confused, I lost my list.)
That was a lot of extraneous information. Sorry.
My point is, I don't really mind the mystery too much, but I can not figure out why Stacey didn't tell someone besides her friends. If I were house sitting and it looked like someone was coming into the house, using dishes, playing with Carrot, I would be totally freaked out. I would first ask my mom if she went over there during the day, because that would have been my first guess. ...
Also, why didn't the Johanssens stop delivery on their newspaper? I know they said they didn't want to advertise that they were leaving town, but that seems SO wasteful. They aren't going to come back and read all those papers, so ... why? It's not like the paper boy would break into the house -- if I remember correctly, it's Nicky Pike. They better recycle their papers.
I hate the subplot. They have another party for kids. Surprise.
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Post by aln1982 on Jan 12, 2008 20:48:24 GMT -5
^ Is Nicky the paperboy? I didn't remember that. The thought of Nicky breaking in is funny - makes me think of Ghost at Dawn's House where he hides out in the passage. I'm picturing him hiding out from the triplets in Johanssens' house. ;D
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Jan 12, 2008 21:41:35 GMT -5
^Well, Nicky gets a paper route in Poor Mallory, but I can't remember if he keeps it or not. As they all live in the same neighborhood, I would think that it would be a reasonable assumption that he would be the Johanssen's paper boy.
lol at nicky hiding out at the johannssens.
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mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
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Post by mckay on Feb 27, 2008 14:12:20 GMT -5
I just read this one and didn't care for the Christmas subplot, but I liked the mystery! I liked that it had a realistic-ish solution without being completely stupid. Of all the mysteries, this is the one I can most imagine actually happening! A group of kids convinced there's some big mystery when, in fact, it's just a miscommunication. I also liked reading about Carrot. His "say your prayers" trick sounds so cute! I wonder how you'd teach a dog to do that...
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 27, 2008 17:54:48 GMT -5
^ That did sound cute with Carrot, even though I don't usually like dogs. ;D Maybe they used treats to teach him??? ;D
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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 Mar 1, 2008 1:39:49 GMT -5
Of all the mysteries, this is the one I can most imagine actually happening! A group of kids convinced there's some big mystery when, in fact, it's just a miscommunication. ^ I agree. It would be more realistic if more of their hunches turned out to be nothing at all. But then where would we get all of the entertaining mysteries from? ;D
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inconstant heart
Sitter-In-Training
wind is wading on the floor, we won't be lovely anymore...
Posts: 302
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Post by inconstant heart on Mar 1, 2008 8:58:22 GMT -5
I don't like the miscommunication endings, though yeah, wayyyy more realistic than their usual endings. It's why I didn't like this book very much: I don't always like the really serious criminal-based mysteries, but I figure- It's unrealistic for a group of girls in a little town to encounter a series of occurrences that seem to add up to a serious mystery anyway, so why not go all out with a serious ending? It's the same reason 'Jessi and the Jewel Thieves' felt like a cop-out. At least that book involved a lot of NY sight-seeing. This one featured an empty house and a crazy but cute dog in half the scenes. It felt so drawn out. I did like the Winter Party, and especially the sleigh ride. And the slumber party, and for some reason, Stacey's new coat scenes. It sounds pretty! Maybe they thought their neighbours would break in, even though most of Stoneybrook's residents are saints in the making.
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Post by maddieruns on Mar 1, 2008 11:38:08 GMT -5
^hahaha!!
I thought the ending was such a cop-out too and was disappointed.
I remember being freaked out by the red hair Stacey found, because I was so sure that the criminal on the lose was staying at the Johanssen's house.
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inconstant heart
Sitter-In-Training
wind is wading on the floor, we won't be lovely anymore...
Posts: 302
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Post by inconstant heart on Mar 1, 2008 23:25:46 GMT -5
I was sure it'd be the criminal guy too! After all, the psychos just love Stoneybrook. I think they're attracted by the BSC's low, low rates. Good place to raise kids after they've tucked away their jewels, Tiffany lamps, counterfeit money, stolen bank funds...
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