Comments on: “Blubber” by Judy Blume http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Tue, 12 May 2026 22:06:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: shannon http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548&cpage=1#comment-27272 shannon Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:17:26 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548#comment-27272 you're right natalie - blume certainly puts her characters in conflict with their moms, and that's exactly why i enjoyed reading her as a preteen - those characters were just like me :) you’re right natalie - blume certainly puts her characters in conflict with their moms, and that’s exactly why i enjoyed reading her as a preteen - those characters were just like me :)

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548&cpage=1#comment-27268 girldetective Tue, 26 Jun 2012 02:22:39 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548#comment-27268 Natalia, I will keep an eye out for that, wonder if it was feminist backlash in the 70's, 80's? Glad you're along for the read/ride! Natalia, I will keep an eye out for that, wonder if it was feminist backlash in the 70’s, 80’s? Glad you’re along for the read/ride!

]]> By: Natalia http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548&cpage=1#comment-27267 Natalia Tue, 26 Jun 2012 02:15:28 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4548#comment-27267 I didn't grow up in the U.S so most of the books in the list you published at the beginning of your read along, were new to me. And the ones I have read, I read as an adult. So, there is no nostalgia involved in my reading and, of course, I am reading from the perspective of an adult. That said, I just finished reading Blubber. As part of this challenge, I have read Starring Sally, Tiger Eyes and now Blubber, all of them by Blume. I have never read anything by her (well, maybe Freckle Juice to my girl when she was little). I like the fresh perspective of her narrators. But, it bugs me (i guess is the parent in me) her shady moral grounds. Blubber was a good story with an unsatisfactory ending. I wanted Jill to learn her lesson. And, I wanted so bad to have Linda come out of her experience with new insights. Maybe, I would not have noticed this as a child. Probably not. One interesting thing I have noticed in all the books I have read (plus Danny, Champion of the World) is the present of strong father figures. And, in the case of Blume's books, the conflict of the character with their mothers. The mothers are presented, not in a bad light, but as character with failings. Fathers, on the other hand, seem to have strong bonds with their daughters and are the solid figure. It seems a big change from now, when frequently the fathers are absent or are jerks. Did you notice that? I have not read Shelf Discovery. My library doesn't carry it and I didn't want to buy it. So maybe some of this is dealt with in the book. Anyhow, I have written enough.Thanks for the introduction to some many American "classics". I didn’t grow up in the U.S so most of the books in the list you published at the beginning of your read along, were new to me. And the ones I have read, I read as an adult. So, there is no nostalgia involved in my reading and, of course, I am reading from the perspective of an adult.
That said, I just finished reading Blubber. As part of this challenge, I have read Starring Sally, Tiger Eyes and now Blubber, all of them by Blume. I have never read anything by her (well, maybe Freckle Juice to my girl when she was little). I like the fresh perspective of her narrators. But, it bugs me (i guess is the parent in me) her shady moral grounds. Blubber was a good story with an unsatisfactory ending. I wanted Jill to learn her lesson. And, I wanted so bad to have Linda come out of her experience with new insights. Maybe, I would not have noticed this as a child. Probably not.
One interesting thing I have noticed in all the books I have read (plus Danny, Champion of the World) is the present of strong father figures. And, in the case of Blume’s books, the conflict of the character with their mothers. The mothers are presented, not in a bad light, but as character with failings. Fathers, on the other hand, seem to have strong bonds with their daughters and are the solid figure. It seems a big change from now, when frequently the fathers are absent or are jerks. Did you notice that?
I have not read Shelf Discovery. My library doesn’t carry it and I didn’t want to buy it. So maybe some of this is dealt with in the book.
Anyhow, I have written enough.Thanks for the introduction to some many American “classics”.

]]>