CLAUDIA'S NOT SURE SHE WANTS TO FIND OUT WHO'S ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.
Welcome to the discussion post for week two! I hope nobody minds that it's up a bit early. It's Mother's Day here tomorrow so I won't get a chance to put the post up. If our FIRST discussion post was anything to go by, people will be in and out over the next few days. :)
Don't panic if you haven't finished Claudia and the Phantom Phonecalls yet - we're all in different time zones, so things will be a little bit staggered. The post doesn't have an expiry date on it, so just comment whenever you're ready.
This is the post to discuss your reading of Claudia and the Phantom Phonecalls.
What was your favourite part? What was your least favourite part? Any memorable quotes you'd like to share? What had you forgotten about since the last time this book was read? If someone wrote a fic set during the timeline of this fic, what should they write?
There are no mandatory questions or points of discussion for this - anything you want to talk about in relation to this week's book, go ahead!
Next week's book is BSC #3 - The Truth About Stacey
Because I am a giant nerd, I took notes while reading:
- Claudia's IQ is also "above average"
This really jumped out at me. Like it made me feel really sorry for Claudia and highlights that yes, she can be clever, she's just not interested. I relate to this a lot - school just wasn't structured in a way I could find easy or interesting. I wasn't as terrible at it as Claudia, but I had to work really hard just to kind of hit "the middle" and it sucks to hear the old "if you just put more effort in, you'd be a great student!!"
- "Books are eyes into the hearts and lives of other people"
OH MIMI ♥ Any scene with Mimi in it just hit me right in the feels. I loved all the portrait sitting, and the lines about Claud trying to get Mimi's eyes right but it being impossible because there's just SO MUCH she sees there.
- Trevor has jet black hair and dark, brooding eyes
All of these years I have totally pictured Trevor as blond, whoops. Also I had forgotten he writes poetry! Is this ever mentioned again? Is it a totally huge Trevor plot point through every single book he's mentioned in, which I have just somehow forgotten?
- Kristy mentions her mom took a bunch of antique toys from "Grandma's"
Is this another weird change made to my book because the Aussie Scholastic team thought it best, or is Kristy potentially referring to "Nannie" as Grandma here? OR, did Elizabeth take a bunch of old toys from Patrick's mother's house? I think probably the former but can you imagine the latter? "He doesn't pay child support so I'm taking a bunch of antiques, okay? Okay."
- Mary Anne reading the Stoneybrook News and screaming aloud at the article about the Phantom Caller.
LOL ♥
- Alan Gray tells the math class Kristy was late because she had to go to the doctor for a flea bath
^ This actually made me laugh out loud. Alan ♥ Also I got annoyed that "mom" has been changed to "mum" all through this book but "math" hasn't been changed to "maths" -- be consistent, Scholastic!
- Claudia hates spiders
And now I want adorable fic of everyone having to rescue Claud from creepy crawlies all the time. With all the food around her (messy) room, I don't find it unreasonable for there to be spiders and/or ants or whatever around.
- Stoneybrook is the nearest town to Mercer
Is Mercer ever mentioned again? Or does it just get replaced by Stamford?
- Stacey comes up with the code
THE CODE. And the ridiculous argument they have while trying to work it out, hahaha. It's a clever idea but they're SUCH a bunch of preteen girls as they're trying to get it all finalised.
- CLAUDIA HAS A BOW TIE WITH LITTLE SCOTTIE DOGS ON IT
THIS IS ADORABLE
- Stacey imitates Mr Taylor on the phone with Claud
I love the dorky little moments like this, they're such a realistic take on things IMO. Stacey's also the one who does an amazing Porky Pig impression, though I don't think this has been revealed yet, so her imitating the teachers just gives me all sorts of glee.
- Watson calls Andrew 'Andy'
ADORABLE. Does this happen much in the later books? It's totally my headcanon and I've written it into fic, but I can't actually remember any other instances of it happening in canon.
- Watson buys Karen a book called 'The Witch Next Door'
SERIOUSLY DUDE, WHY
- Kristy decides to read it to her bit by bit on each baby-sitting visit
ADORABLE
- "frowsy gray hair"
This is used in Kristy's description of Morbidda Destiny and it's such a great description. Also what the actual fuck at Mrs Porter handing Kristy A BAG OF MOUSE PARTS.
- Stacey and Charlotte watch spook theatre
STACEY WHY
- Mary Anne says David Michael is like her brother ♥
Omg so many Spier and Thomas feelings ♥
- Mary Anne goes into Sam and Charlie's room and goes through their tape collection
SO MANY FEELINGS This has the potential to be "wtf such an invasion of privacy" but I love the idea of her being so comfortable in that house she's totally okay with digging through Charlie and Sam's stuff to find what she needs.
Also her burglar alarms are amazing but her job was the LEAST scary job out of everyone's. MARY ANNE, YOUR DAD IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. (I can't be too mad, I am most like Mary Anne and would be freaking out if my mind was on home invaders and I was home alone, but I kind of wish the burglar alarms had been used on one of the scarier jobs.)
- "Everything" makes Kristy think of Alan Gray
God just get MARRIED already, you two.
- Stacey cries when she finds out Sam has a date with Tamara the punk
Oh my god I laughed so hard at Kristy's description of Tamara and then I felt bad for Stacey when she started crying.
- The parents on Bradford court formed a playgroup
OH ♥ God I would kill for fic of this. All the Bradford Court parents having playgroup sessions and catching up on neighbourhood news and gossip, pleeeease.
- Kristy imitating Sam's phone call
Lollll I loved this. When Claud (?) asked if the phantom caller could be Sam, and Kristy was like "No, Sam would want credit for it" and then she made up an example. So perfect.
- JAMIE WEARS OFFICER DREW'S HAT
ADORABLE. ♥
- Kristy demanding that Alan answers her questions before the policeman's questions
LOL FOREVER
Yup, I still love this book. It's been years and years and years since I read it, and I'd forgotten a lot of it, but it's adorable and I love it. I also thought the actual mystery of it was quite clever.
The part about Claudia's IQ jumped out at me, too! No wonder her parents push her so hard. I mean, I don't believe in IQ as a true measurement of intelligence, but it was pretty clear to the Kishis that Claudia was smart.
OR, did Elizabeth take a bunch of old toys from Patrick's mother's house? I think probably the former but can you imagine the latter? "He doesn't pay child support so I'm taking a bunch of antiques, okay? Okay."
This is my new headcanon.
It's not your copy, though! I'm reading a US copy and that line is still there.
CLAUDIA HAS A BOW TIE WITH LITTLE SCOTTIE DOGS ON IT
I thought that sounded really cute, too!
Stacey's also the one who does an amazing Porky Pig impression, though I don't think this has been revealed yet, so her imitating the teachers just gives me all sorts of glee.
Stacey's always the "mature" one, so I love it when she does silly stuff and acts her age. (Well, she does silly stuff a lot, but openly silly stuff.)
Kristy's descriptions are the best, but also the least flattering. She gives Harry Potter descriptions, where she mentions everything weird about people.
SERIOUSLY MRS. PORTER. WHO GIVES THEIR NEIGHBOR A BAG OF MOUSE PARTS. If my neighbor did that, I might suspect them of witchcraft, too.
OH ♥ God I would kill for fic of this. All the Bradford Court parents having playgroup sessions and catching up on neighbourhood news and gossip, pleeeease.
I knoooow! It's got such potential to be amazing. Like, the Kishis, and Richard, and Elizabeth. And this would have been before Patrick left, so there's some dramatic irony there.
OH ♥ God I would kill for fic of this. All the Bradford Court parents having playgroup sessions and catching up on neighbourhood news and gossip, pleeeease.
Is this another weird change made to my book because the Aussie Scholastic team thought it best, or is Kristy potentially referring to "Nannie" as Grandma here? OR, did Elizabeth take a bunch of old toys from Patrick's mother's house? I think probably the former but can you imagine the latter? "He doesn't pay child support so I'm taking a bunch of antiques, okay? Okay."
I was just thinking that the only downside of this book is that we don't have any reason to talk about what a jerk Patrick Thomas is, but you found one! Also, lmao, YES! That little aside fascinated me too. Come on, Stacey and Claudia, antique toys aren't juvenile at all. Go look through the box!
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stoneybrook2016-05-07 09:10 pm
CLAUDIA'S NOT SURE SHE WANTS TO FIND OUT
no subject
- Claudia's IQ is also "above average"
This really jumped out at me. Like it made me feel really sorry for Claudia and highlights that yes, she can be clever, she's just not interested. I relate to this a lot - school just wasn't structured in a way I could find easy or interesting. I wasn't as terrible at it as Claudia, but I had to work really hard just to kind of hit "the middle" and it sucks to hear the old "if you just put more effort in, you'd be a great student!!"
- "Books are eyes into the hearts and lives of other people"
OH MIMI ♥ Any scene with Mimi in it just hit me right in the feels. I loved all the portrait sitting, and the lines about Claud trying to get Mimi's eyes right but it being impossible because there's just SO MUCH she sees there.
- Trevor has jet black hair and dark, brooding eyes
All of these years I have totally pictured Trevor as blond, whoops. Also I had forgotten he writes poetry! Is this ever mentioned again? Is it a totally huge Trevor plot point through every single book he's mentioned in, which I have just somehow forgotten?
- Kristy mentions her mom took a bunch of antique toys from "Grandma's"
Is this another weird change made to my book because the Aussie Scholastic team thought it best, or is Kristy potentially referring to "Nannie" as Grandma here? OR, did Elizabeth take a bunch of old toys from Patrick's mother's house? I think probably the former but can you imagine the latter? "He doesn't pay child support so I'm taking a bunch of antiques, okay? Okay."
- Mary Anne reading the Stoneybrook News and screaming aloud at the article about the Phantom Caller.
LOL ♥
- Alan Gray tells the math class Kristy was late because she had to go to the doctor for a flea bath
^ This actually made me laugh out loud. Alan ♥ Also I got annoyed that "mom" has been changed to "mum" all through this book but "math" hasn't been changed to "maths" -- be consistent, Scholastic!
- Claudia hates spiders
And now I want adorable fic of everyone having to rescue Claud from creepy crawlies all the time. With all the food around her (messy) room, I don't find it unreasonable for there to be spiders and/or ants or whatever around.
- Stoneybrook is the nearest town to Mercer
Is Mercer ever mentioned again? Or does it just get replaced by Stamford?
- Stacey comes up with the code
THE CODE. And the ridiculous argument they have while trying to work it out, hahaha. It's a clever idea but they're SUCH a bunch of preteen girls as they're trying to get it all finalised.
- CLAUDIA HAS A BOW TIE WITH LITTLE SCOTTIE DOGS ON IT
THIS IS ADORABLE
- Stacey imitates Mr Taylor on the phone with Claud
I love the dorky little moments like this, they're such a realistic take on things IMO. Stacey's also the one who does an amazing Porky Pig impression, though I don't think this has been revealed yet, so her imitating the teachers just gives me all sorts of glee.
- Watson calls Andrew 'Andy'
ADORABLE. Does this happen much in the later books? It's totally my headcanon and I've written it into fic, but I can't actually remember any other instances of it happening in canon.
- Watson buys Karen a book called 'The Witch Next Door'
SERIOUSLY DUDE, WHY
- Kristy decides to read it to her bit by bit on each baby-sitting visit
ADORABLE
- "frowsy gray hair"
This is used in Kristy's description of Morbidda Destiny and it's such a great description. Also what the actual fuck at Mrs Porter handing Kristy A BAG OF MOUSE PARTS.
- Stacey and Charlotte watch spook theatre
STACEY WHY
- Mary Anne says David Michael is like her brother ♥
Omg so many Spier and Thomas feelings ♥
- Mary Anne goes into Sam and Charlie's room and goes through their tape collection
SO MANY FEELINGS
This has the potential to be "wtf such an invasion of privacy" but I love the idea of her being so comfortable in that house she's totally okay with digging through Charlie and Sam's stuff to find what she needs.
Also her burglar alarms are amazing but her job was the LEAST scary job out of everyone's. MARY ANNE, YOUR DAD IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. (I can't be too mad, I am most like Mary Anne and would be freaking out if my mind was on home invaders and I was home alone, but I kind of wish the burglar alarms had been used on one of the scarier jobs.)
- "Everything" makes Kristy think of Alan Gray
God just get MARRIED already, you two.
- Stacey cries when she finds out Sam has a date with Tamara the punk
Oh my god I laughed so hard at Kristy's description of Tamara and then I felt bad for Stacey when she started crying.
- The parents on Bradford court formed a playgroup
OH ♥ God I would kill for fic of this. All the Bradford Court parents having playgroup sessions and catching up on neighbourhood news and gossip, pleeeease.
- Kristy imitating Sam's phone call
Lollll I loved this. When Claud (?) asked if the phantom caller could be Sam, and Kristy was like "No, Sam would want credit for it" and then she made up an example. So perfect.
- JAMIE WEARS OFFICER DREW'S HAT
ADORABLE. ♥
- Kristy demanding that Alan answers her questions before the policeman's questions
LOL FOREVER
Yup, I still love this book. It's been years and years and years since I read it, and I'd forgotten a lot of it, but it's adorable and I love it. I also thought the actual mystery of it was quite clever.
no subject
OR, did Elizabeth take a bunch of old toys from Patrick's mother's house? I think probably the former but can you imagine the latter? "He doesn't pay child support so I'm taking a bunch of antiques, okay? Okay."
This is my new headcanon.
It's not your copy, though! I'm reading a US copy and that line is still there.
CLAUDIA HAS A BOW TIE WITH LITTLE SCOTTIE DOGS ON IT
I thought that sounded really cute, too!
Stacey's also the one who does an amazing Porky Pig impression, though I don't think this has been revealed yet, so her imitating the teachers just gives me all sorts of glee.
Stacey's always the "mature" one, so I love it when she does silly stuff and acts her age. (Well, she does silly stuff a lot, but openly silly stuff.)
Kristy's descriptions are the best, but also the least flattering. She gives Harry Potter descriptions, where she mentions everything weird about people.
SERIOUSLY MRS. PORTER. WHO GIVES THEIR NEIGHBOR A BAG OF MOUSE PARTS.
If my neighbor did that, I might suspect them of witchcraft, too.
OH ♥ God I would kill for fic of this. All the Bradford Court parents having playgroup sessions and catching up on neighbourhood news and gossip, pleeeease.
I knoooow! It's got such potential to be amazing. Like, the Kishis, and Richard, and Elizabeth. And this would have been before Patrick left, so there's some dramatic irony there.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2016-05-09 11:40 am (UTC)(link)YES PLEASE
no subject
I was just thinking that the only downside of this book is that we don't have any reason to talk about what a jerk Patrick Thomas is, but you found one! Also, lmao, YES! That little aside fascinated me too. Come on, Stacey and Claudia, antique toys aren't juvenile at all. Go look through the box!