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Post by greer on Dec 26, 2007 20:28:07 GMT -5
Just read this one to get into the mood for New Year's. What did you guys think of it? I thought people overreacted to what Karen did, and it was mean of Lisa and Watson to have everyone else spy on her. It kind of reminded me of Karen's Shoplifting Trip. Also, Kristy was pretty mean to Karen in this one--I often feel that way about Kristy in LS.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 26, 2007 20:34:52 GMT -5
^ I agree, Greer. I'm glad for the agreement on Kristy. I think she's mean in a lot of them, too, especially in Karen's Birthday when she calls her greedy. Everyone seems to forget that Karen is 7 and also never seem to be willing to see how they can really relate. I know I think that something is bad at first but then on second thought, realize that I've made the same mistakes. ;D I'm about to reread this one (fellow "to get in the mood" reader ;D) so will probably have more thoughts then. ;D
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 26, 2007 22:15:32 GMT -5
^I always keep in mind that Karen is seven, but the things she said at the table--especially about Nannie--were insensitive and rude. Maybe she thought she was doing a good thing for them all, but wouldn't it have been nicer to approach each person individually if she was really upset about them breaking their resolutions? Instead she called everyone out at the dinner table to allow each of them to see each other's faults and to feel more important about keeping her resolutions (which she didn't!) It's one of my least favorite Karen moments.
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Post by sparklymouse on Dec 27, 2007 17:42:50 GMT -5
Karen changing her resolutions so that she could keep them reminds me a little of me. Whenever I make "To Do" lists, I always add easy stuff that shouldn't even be on the list because I know I'm going to do it. (Eat breakfast, pet the cat, etc.) It's just something silly to make me feel productive when I cross stuff off the list.
Karen loves rules and is pretty hardcore about them. I never get why her family is surprised when she goes overboard. They should have been prepared for problems when they shared their resolutions and she had a long list for herself and tried to make some up for Emily and the pets.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 27, 2007 17:51:53 GMT -5
^I always keep in mind that Karen is seven, but the things she said at the table--especially about Nannie--were insensitive and rude. Maybe she thought she was doing a good thing for them all, but wouldn't it have been nicer to approach each person individually if she was really upset about them breaking their resolutions? Instead she called everyone out at the dinner table to allow each of them to see each other's faults and to feel more important about keeping her resolutions (which she didn't!) It's one of my least favorite Karen moments. Agree that Karen made a mistake. I think the point I was making, though, was that people (at least I do) tend to do things not out of maliciousness but with good though misguided intentions. Karen should have handled the situation better but a seven year old (and lots of older people) doesn’t have as much “sense” about what is helpful, etc. I don’t think she was trying to be mean and I think the adults would have handled things better by sitting her down, explaining why she was wrong, and then making her apologize. Karen usually feels bad for what she has done as soon as she realizes it and I think she did in this one too. She just needed to understand. The adults, though, often seem to get mad at her without explaining to her why she’s wrong. But it’s been a while since I’ve read this one so I’ll see what I think after I reread.
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 27, 2007 17:58:28 GMT -5
Karen changing her resolutions so that she could keep them reminds me a little of me. Whenever I make "To Do" lists, I always add easy stuff that shouldn't even be on the list because I know I'm going to do it. (Eat breakfast, pet the cat, etc.) It's just something silly to make me feel productive when I cross stuff off the list. Karen loves rules and is pretty hardcore about them. I never get why her family is surprised when she goes overboard. They should have been prepared for problems when they shared their resolutions and she had a long list for herself and tried to make some up for Emily and the pets. Right. I'm not suprised that she did it, I just wish she hadn't. Also, I didn't think her changing her resolutions was that bad...I could see myself also probably doing the same at that age. Just the acting superior to everyone else when in the end she also broke hers was what bugged me. Again, I'm not suprised that she took everything so seriously though. I agree aln, that Karen does feel bad about some of the things she does immediately afterwards, which is good of her.
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Post by sweetvalleygirl99 on Dec 27, 2007 20:30:09 GMT -5
It kind of reminded me of Karen's Shoplifting Trip. Lol, I love that fanfic even though I'm a Karen fan. I was in hysterics throughout the whole thing lol. Anyway, I haven't read this one. I read Karen's Mistake, which was another New Year's one, but not this one. I hope someone can upload it to the LJ community soon .
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Post by Karen Brewer on Dec 28, 2007 17:37:22 GMT -5
I just ordered this one. I hope it arrives before the New Year!
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 28, 2007 19:07:18 GMT -5
Hope so too! I always reread this one and Dawn's Big Date for the New Year's parties in both.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 28, 2007 20:38:23 GMT -5
^ Does Dawn's Big Date have a New Year's Party? I don't remember that. If so, I'll have to read before New Years. Karen's New Year is on my list for tomorrow or Sunday. ;D
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 28, 2007 21:49:49 GMT -5
yes...they have it at Dawn's house.
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msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
Posts: 3,618
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Post by msstock87 on Dec 28, 2007 22:31:30 GMT -5
I don't think what Karen did was right in this book, however I think the adults should have handled it better, personally I don't think spying on your kid will teach them anything, they should have sat her down and talked to her about it and explained why it was right and wrong, not just go and do what she did to them.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 29, 2007 8:54:09 GMT -5
^ Agree. Those are my thoughts on the adults, too. I wish they would actually explain things to Karen more to show her why she's wrong instead of just immediatly calling her a "brat" (not in those words but....) and getting mad at her. That's what I'm saying about her being 7 - a 7 year old doesn't understand sometimes and needs adults to teach them right from wrong and not just expect them to know it. I wanted to read this one last night but since we had no electric, I read Karen's Hurricane instead. ;D
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 29, 2007 16:35:24 GMT -5
They did make her apologize; she calls her big house family on the phone at the end. I know she's just a kid but I don't think her parents just "expect" things of her without letting her know what those things are, usually. They are always telling her to be polite, use her indoor and outdoor voices, and I think she does have a good sense of right from wrong. She's a stickler for rules, after all. IMO it's more an issue of manners. Isn't David Michael the same age as her? Karen just craves the attention more. (And not that DM's a perfect angel child...Kristy says he's a "champion whiner." )
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 30, 2007 1:26:56 GMT -5
Agree that Karen does know right from wrong and that she is a stickler for rules. One thing I can really relate to her on. ;D I was takling more about 7 year olds in general and going off on a tanget about parenting more than just about Karen's parents, I think. ;D I'm starting to confuse myself so I'll stop thinking about this now. ;D I did start reading this one and loved Andrew's confusion with New Year's and Karen's patience (though you could sense her teeth gritting with a bit of frustration - I know mine would have been ;D). She is such a good big sister to him.
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