Abby's Portrait

[bsclover18]

I always cry when I read this book...especially the chapter about her dad. I can't imagine what it's like to come home one day and never see your father again...it must be awful.

[bscfan24]

Jul 7, 2008 19:15:46 GMT -5 bsclover18 said:

I always cry when I read this book...especially the chapter about her dad. I can't imagine what it's like to come home one day and never see your father again...it must be awful.

Believe me, it's not very pleasant.

I think I've only skimmed through this one before. I can never find it anywhere so I'm just going off the bits I remember from reading it in the store.

I think I've always felt a special connection to Abby. Her sections in SS #15 make me cry because it was just so....believable. I'd love to find a copy of this one so I can read the whole thing.

[Deleted]

I loved reading Abby's portrait also (may be a bit obvious since she was my favorite), but the part that always stood out to me was when she talked about how she and Anna switched colors one day to see if anyone would notice. When their dad pretends not to and then later tells them he did, I was practically cheering for them...I don't know why, but I always remember that little story whenever I hear about twins or anything.

Also, I know this is very delayed but Sotypical and Wanderingfrog -- my birthday is April 24th too! Very strange .

[starrynight]

I definitely liked getting to know Abby's dad...he might be one of my favorite BSC parents.

[greer]

I really like Mr. Stevenson, too. He seemed like a really great dad.

[tiff85]

Abby's Autobiography was nice, but sad at the same time. Mr. Stevenson seemed like a very sweet father. I personally liked Abby's book better than Kristy's though.

[anzuhana]

I enjoyed reading this portrait collection book since it gave me a lot of insight about Abby's life before she, Anna and their mom moved to Stoneybrook. I liked getting to know Mr. Stevenson since whenever he's mentioned in the other books, it's not as in-depth as it is in this book. He seemed really close to Anna and Abby, so I can see why his death would be especially devastating (I'm not trying to say that his death wouldn't be devastating if he wasn't as close to them). It was nice that there a picture of Mrs. Stevenson since in Abby's scrapbook, there's no photo of her.

[otempora541]

I found it heartbreaking that the last conversation the twins have with their father is about meatballs and spaghaetti. For some reaso, talking about something as mundane as dinner before such a huge event is so sad.

I love Abby, and this is def. the best Abby book. I am more intrested in the grieving dynamic: the twins seemed to have moved on (considering their FATHER died) while Rachel seemed to be stuck in grief (considering her HUSBAND died).

[oldhickory]

i just got my copy the other day and read this one. i loooved it! this is by far the best one out of all the portrait collections. instead of having really bizarrely detailed memories of little things that didn't seem very important to me (like dance lessons, in MA and stacey), abby's memories are actually important things like i would expect her to remember. and did anybody notice how pretty she looks in every single picture? (except the backpack one -- she looks a little crazy.) but especially her birthday picture she looks really pretty.

[anzuhana]

I love Abby, and this is def. the best Abby book.

Agreed. This is my favorite Abby book as well.

[oldhickory]

i was thinking. do you guys think rachel ever felt guilty that she didn't catch the kiss? if i were in her situation, that's something i could never forgive myself for. obviously she didn't see it when it happened, but i think i remember one of the girs telling her that she missed it. she probably felt that, to some degree, she let him down.

[booboobrewer]

Actually I think Abby said she wanted to tell her mother, but decided against it. I'm kind of glad she didn't know; it was sad enough for us, the readers, to know that Jonathan blew her a kiss she didn't see.

[oldhickory]

^ thanks, i got a little confused i guess :] i agree, it's better that she didn't know. she probably had enough to grieve about.

[oldhickory]

sorry for the double post. i am rereading, and on the morning that their dad died, he warned abby about crossing the street after school because "there are some crazy drivers out there." so sad. i don't know why i didn't catch that before.

[booboobrewer]

I know, so sad I think if Mr. Stevenson had been alive, I would have found more of Abby's books enjoyable. Most stuff between the twins and their mom seemed...I don't know, forced? to me.