Things I Learn From Pandora

So, earlier in the week, I was listening to my pandora (Missy Higgins, FYI). I came across a random song I'd never heard before - it sounded pleasant.  I looked at it - the artist was Schuyler Fisk.  Something about the name struck me familiar.  Isn't she an actress?  Where do I know her from?

I did some research. She's Sissy Spacek's daughter (Editor's sidenote: what's she up to these days?!). She is (or was?) indeed, an actress.   Why do I remember her name?  Was she in some Nickelodeon show I liked?  She wasn't Clarissa or Alex Mack, so I'm momentarily drawing a blank.

Then I found it.  She was Kristy in the Baby-Sitter's Club movie!  Although I'd only seen the movie once, I think, I loved the Baby-Sitter's Club (as evidenced in this post)!   Dear Schuyler - no matter what you do, you will always be Kristy Thomas in my book (and in my heart)

My Feelings on Sweet Valley Confidential

Ok - before I get started - let me add one quick disclaimer.  I read the various Sweet Valley books growing up.  However, it wasn't my primary series.  I can't say I read all the books.  So, therefore, some of the supporting characters were a complete and utter question mark to me.  And, I suppose, this disclaimer implies that I might not know the main characters as well as some of the diehards.  

Anyhow, moving right along.  Another important sidenote is that Francine Pascal, the writer of said book, is the creator of the series.  However, most of the series was written by ghostwriters.  I know this is a common practice.  This bothers me, and I don't know why.  It's not as though I know Francine Pascal personally, or that I could blindly identify her writing, so I am not sure why it should matter that the stories were written by another author, as long as I liked them.  Cue for the quote about a rose by any other name smelling less sweet?  

Third sidenote:  SPOILERS GALORE.

So, in short - Francine Pascal CREATED these characters.   However, other writers (I believe Kate Williams to be one of them) crafted them into the characters we knew.  I'm guessing Francine Pascal felt she had the poetic license to do whatever she wanted with them, because she took all of them in a completely new direction.  She drastically changed almost all of them.  Now, I'm not going get into the long debate about whether or not people change, however, what the diehard long-term fan readers (basically, the only demographic that intends to read this book) wanted was a where are they now-esque continuation of the characters we knew, not this random piece of fiction with completely-newly carved out individuals she made from the shells she once created 20+ years ago.

Jessica and Todd?  Seriously, no one buys this.  I get it if she didn't want Elizabeth and Todd together.  Maybe Elizabeth should have ended up with an older man, because of her maturity (maybe that one scandalous English teacher?) or perhaps some completely new man.   Maybe Todd could have fallen into a deep depression/drinking from the loss of Elizabeth.  And Elizabeth and Bruce?  No.  Just no.  I can't even begin to explain why it's wrong.   I kind of oddly liked Bruce with Lila - as in Sweet Valley University.  Maybe they should have ended up married.  Or already divorced - there we have it!  That would have made sense.  And I do realize that SOMEONE had to come out of the closet, by definition of a 'where are they now' book - but not Steven Wakefield.  They should have hung the 'I've grown so much' persona on him instead of Jessica - I could see him as a married father trying to do the right thing.  The one thing I liked and found believable was Jessica succeeding in a PR career and being twice divorced.  The gay character should have been Winston.  Or maybe Enid?   Or maybe thrown in a third husband for Jessica who leaves her for a man.  That, and additionally, I HATE the betrayal that takes place between the twins.  HATE.  No one believes that even shady, selfish Jessica could do this, or that it could be somehow overcome in under 300 pages. 

Anyhow.  In short, one of the ghostwriters (or even a random diehard fan) who had a better respect for the characters should have been commissioned to write this.  This might as well have been a complete and total original piece of work, as opposed to a continuation of these pre-existing characters.  When I went to check amazon and various other places for reviews, it appears as though I am not the only person offended by Francine Pascal's new direction with all of these characters.  Several diehards pointed out some historical inaccuracies about when certain characters first met and even character's names!?!  Oh, and apparently someone came back from the dead.  Seriously, Francine Pascal, what were you doing?  Clearly not reading the Sweet Valley series - perhaps just collecting a fat check.  Hmm.

Anyone else read Sweet Valley Confidential?  Your thoughts?

Editor's sidenote:  Ann M. Martin (or one of her ghostwriters) - Baby-Sitters Club where are they now?!!

Sweet Valley Confidential

I just found out that recently, there was a 'ten years later' follow up release for the Sweet Valley High Series called 'Sweet Valley Confidential'.  Apparently, there were some loose ends that needed to be tied up and there was a real demand by some consumers that amends be made.  Or, there was presumed to be a market worth cashing in on (see also: Sex and the City 2).  

Anyhow.  Back when I was a young, vulnerable 12-13 year old, I loved the Sweet Valley High Series.  And the Sweet Valley Junior High.  And Sweet Valley University.  There must be somewhere around 300 books under the 'Sweet Valley' umbrella.  I can't say I read anywhere near all of them, but I did read a decent chunk.  It wasn't my core series (THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB), but it was a noteworthy division of my library.  

Anyhow.  This brings me to a question - are any teens currently reading this series?  I'm guessing not.  They probably like Harry Potter and the Twilight Series.  Kids these days, I tell you.  That brings me to my next question - does anyone actually care about the release of this new book?  I can give you a definite answer - I DO.  I don't know that I, or anyone else, for that matter, was thinking about Sweet Valley High, or demanding this release, but now that I know it's here, I will definitely be reading it (no matter how horrific it ends up being - hey, just being realistic).  

Is it too late to register for this for my birthday?  Hint hint.  Could be a good beach read for San Diego...hopefully it won't be too taxing or overly intellectual....

Baby-Sitters Club.

So, it seems like a mere 8 months ago on this blog, I was talking about the infamous 'Baby-Sitters Club'.  Well, I happened to come across an article on the subject.

If you notice in the comments section - someone says 'spot fucking on'.  I concur.

Sidenote:  I always was torn between being Claudia and Stacey.  Obviously, based on the information set forth, it's official - I am Claudia.  Well, the smart version of Claudia.

More on the Baby-Sitter's Club

So my very good friend and loyal blog reader sent me a couple websites in response to my BSC discussion earlier.

www.claudiasroom.blogspot.com

www.whatclaudiawore.com

Love it.  Love, love, love it.

She also sent me a link to this article.  In it, we learn that Ann M. Martin only wrote the first 60 of the books or so, the rest were done by ghostwriters.  Tear.  Although this isn't shocking to me now that I think of it at an older age, there was a moment of disappointment for me there.

Anyhow - apparently, there is some movement to 'update' the BSC books (phase out the perms and keds and replace them when straightening irons and texting).  I will get into my thoughts on this in a later post.  However, from the comments section in this article, I learned something about myself.

You see, I always wondering whether I was Claudia or Stacey.  Claudia was all about the outrageous outfits and into fashion, however, Stacey was the only child and more studious.  I was always a bit torn between the two.  However, upon reading some of the comments on this page, such as:

*New hipster outfit for Claudia?
Bangs, oversized t-shirt, high-waisted bright pink pants, high tops, various necklaces, chunky jewelry, side ponytail...

*Does anybody else remember when Claudia wore clock-patterned tights with suspenders? Or what about that time she wore an oversized tuxedo with giant shoulder pads and a red cummerbund? Anybody recall her "Miss Frizzle" outfit?

I remember them all too well.

I blame Claudia for all my "artsy" elementary school fashion missteps

*Oh, God, yes. To this day I have an affinity for quirky earrings, which is probably the last vestige of Claud's influence on my wardrobe.

I do love my earrings, so I'll grudgingly thank her for that, though I still haven't forgiven her for inspiring that DIY shredded-and-knotted oversized craft-store T-shirt that I wore everywhere in sixth grade. Yikes.

Jury's decided.  I'm Claudia.

Anyone Remember?

The Baby-Sitters Club books?  I don't know what made me think of these out of the blue, but I used to LOVE them.

Well, I started to wonder,  you know, 'where are they now?'   I think I stopped reading the books back around 7th or 8th grade because, you know, I thought I was suddenly too mature and sophisticated.  However, now I wonder what may have went on to happen in this series (where they always seemed to restart 8th grade every year with no explanation offered - I believe these girls spent around 9 Christmases together in a land where time froze).

Anyhow.  I went to the, cough, 'all-knowing' source Wikipedia for some further information.  As always, it looks as though someone (or several someones) have put in a lot of time and effort into the page.  It appears as though the series ended in 2000 (tear) on book 131.  As I looked over the list, I believe in my day, I got up to somewhere around the 90s.

It also appears as though the series is now out of print (?!?!?!) but will soon be reprinted.  I am not sure what this means.  But seriously, what are kids reading these days?!   That Twilight or Harry Potter crap!?  Please!

Anyhow - I always kind of wondered how this series ended (although I highly doubt anything earth-shattering happened).  One thing that I did find kind of interesting - I remember reading somewhere that Ann M. Martin is a lesbian.  I am not sure the accuracy of the source (I think I read it on some blog), however, it made sense considering that I seemed to remember she divulged a decent amount of personal information with respect to her hobbies and childhood, but nothing about her personal life (and as a children's book author, going back fifteen or so years, this clearly could have greatly affected her career).  Hmm.

Anyhow.  Does anyone have any additional information about The BSC or Ann M. Martin that Wiki seems to have missed?  Anyone else love this series like I did?