Karen's Doll 1-10

[ice_n_darkness]

I haven’t read a Karen book in years, and with good reasons. First off, I only own about eight of them. Second, reading it more than once is like a slow form of torture. But I was browsing through my book box looking for stuff to snark, and came across this one, with a gem of a tagline.

Comments

[kaldary]

Hyacynthia? How is that pronounced? I keep reading it as Hi ya Cynthia.

I know why Karen has to let Kristy know! Hasn't she or one of the BSC members babysat for her before? And even if they haven't, the BSC must plan a get well party, for any sick kid in Stoneybrook. I bet they got started on that the very next meeting. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire BSC was there to visit Nancy in the hospital all bringing their own little homemade gifts.

And I'll confess, I used to make my stuffed animals carry on a conversation with me. *runs and hides*

[kaldary]

And I forgot to mention. The doll on the cover looks like a doll version Karen's sister Emily, which is kind of creepy

[harpsi_fizz]

I never figured out how to pronounce it when I was a kid. I thought (now) that it was "hi-ya-sinth", like Mrs. Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances, but the "ia" in the end is confusing the hell out of me.

[mimithemuse]

WIN for knowing about Hyacinth BOUQUET..aka Bucket...from Keeping Up Appearances. That show makes me laugh so hard! Poor Richard...

HEY...can't you see a bit a of a paralell between Karen and Hyacinth? And Hannie and Nancy are like little girl versions of Richard, drug along into whatever plot their master has created to bring attention to herself.

....cross-over fic? :P

[fairest1]

To be fair, the get well card makes sense; with those things, you'd usually get everyone in the class to write something nice, even if they hate the kid's guts when they're healthy.

[ice_n_darkness]

Sort of, yeah, but it seems like it should be something organized by the teacher, rather than a student, at least at that age. Like, using art time to make a special get well card from each individual kid to the sick kid, rather than someone bringing in a card that s/he made and getting everyone else to sign it.

[fisher_queen]

Yeah, this. The kids in my classes all hated me, but when I got stitches, my whole kindergarten class still made a card for me!

[kakeochi_umai]

Thirding(?) this. I remember at least two incidences where we all had to make get-well-soon cards for a classmate who was in hospital.

[ice_n_darkness]

D8 Ramona is so much better than Karen in every way! But I recently went through my old Ramona books, and remembered her whole marriage thing.

WHAT IS WITH THESE KIDS KNOWING WHAT AN APPENDIX IS?! I bet Gabbie Perkins could write a dissertation on it.

She claims that she forgot the doll at her dad's house. And yeah, Karen's a real brat. "Nancy isn't in school today? At least she already saw my doll." and "I'm going to lend Nancy my doll so she'll feel better... but then only care about the doll and not my 'best friend'." If I had Karen for a friend, I'd dump her so fast.

[mimithemuse]

Add in on the chorus of not equating Ramona and Karen! I reread the Ramona books in the last year, and I loved the hell out of them and that kid. But yeah, she did marry a boy classmate, but that's about where the similiarites end.

[jestingly_yours]

There was a Madeline movie where she got her appendix out and sang a lot of songs about it, teaching small children everywhere all about appendicitis. It was in color, though, so maybe the BSC charges just read the book.

[ice_n_darkness]

I must just have been a weird kid, because I never did the "married" thing. Or had conversations with my toys.

Stonybrook's "small town" status is really debatable, as it is. Though, maybe the hospital is in Stamford, which is described as being a bigger city and not very far away. Eh, who knows. Landmarks fitting the story, and all.

Haha, yeah. Except you don't need to qualify the sentence with the "with nice things". Karen's just irresponsible.

[author_by_night]

Until the end of the year, his other friend and I would be asked every now and then if I was sure he didn't mention a trip coming up, or moving, or something.

If you don't mind me asking - and I understand if it it wasn't good and you'd rather not talk about it - did you ever find out what happened, or at least what might have happened?

[queenhyprshadow]

[ice_n_darkness]

I know. I found it and was like "whoa... Scary." Partly the art style, partly the KAREN'S FACE RIGHT THERE.

Ahaha, that Cynthia was the only thing I thought of. I'm sure Hyacynthia will look like that one soon.

I still have no idea what Karen's deal with Pamela is. It seems like Karen's trying to make her into the Libby of the class (though imho, Karen is way more of a Libby than Pamela).

[borrowedwings]

Karen's Sleepover is all about Pamela being the new kid in class, and Karen thinks she's cool at first, but then Pamela's Libby-ness comes out and she's a jerk to everyone at the party.

[kakeochi_umai]

Libby = from Sabrina the Teenage Witch? If so, then between that and Rugrats I will go into total nostalgia overload.