Comments on: The Karen Conundrum http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/ the best friends you'll never have Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:27:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: m0drnmoonlight http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-8429 m0drnmoonlight Sun, 31 May 2009 21:33:12 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-8429 I began my venture into the BSC fandom with the Little Sister books in 1st/2nd grade. I didn't mind her, despite my mom randomly reading my books and complaining that Karen was a spoiled brat. Years later, re-reading the series, I can't stand Karen, she's probably my least favorite character in the entire series. It's interesting how your perspective changes on things as an adult. I find Karen very spoiled, obnoxious, bratty, and bossy. She's kind of like a less-mean Angelica Pickles from the Rugrats. It's a combination of her being that way, and everyone around her indulging and enabling her. You have Watson buying her love with ponies and vacations and toys, and the entire BSC (especially Kristy) building her a shrine and worshipping her as funny, cute, and imaginative. Things Karen does would be considered bratty and horrible if Jenny Prezzioso did them (I agree with you all - the BSC was horrible screaming"EW EW EW EW EWWWWWW!" when the Prezziosos called for a sitter. Jenny's FOUR - four-year-olds are high-maintenance and picky, they're not all childbots like Jamie Newton). And when Karen does get disciplined, it's just a very weak talking-to and she's up to her tricks again. And she knows she can get away with murder heh. Basically, I think she's really annoying, and it's obvious that the authors want us to love her. I began my venture into the BSC fandom with the Little Sister books in 1st/2nd grade. I didn’t mind her, despite my mom randomly reading my books and complaining that Karen was a spoiled brat.

Years later, re-reading the series, I can’t stand Karen, she’s probably my least favorite character in the entire series. It’s interesting how your perspective changes on things as an adult. I find Karen very spoiled, obnoxious, bratty, and bossy. She’s kind of like a less-mean Angelica Pickles from the Rugrats.

It’s a combination of her being that way, and everyone around her indulging and enabling her. You have Watson buying her love with ponies and vacations and toys, and the entire BSC (especially Kristy) building her a shrine and worshipping her as funny, cute, and imaginative. Things Karen does would be considered bratty and horrible if Jenny Prezzioso did them (I agree with you all - the BSC was horrible screaming”EW EW EW EW EWWWWWW!” when the Prezziosos called for a sitter. Jenny’s FOUR - four-year-olds are high-maintenance and picky, they’re not all childbots like Jamie Newton).

And when Karen does get disciplined, it’s just a very weak talking-to and she’s up to her tricks again. And she knows she can get away with murder heh. Basically, I think she’s really annoying, and it’s obvious that the authors want us to love her.

]]> By: Jess http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7764 Jess Wed, 13 May 2009 23:26:08 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7764 My theory is that people who were basically quiet and well-behaved as kids (the Mary Annes of the world, if you will) don't like Karen, and the people who were loud, bossy, and way too into themselves as kids (the Kristys) like her. I like Karen, but in a really uncomfortable way, because I see all of my childhood faults in her: I was pushy, I was impatient, I was determined to make sure everyone knew how smart I was. I like her because I understand where she's coming from, because I wanted everything NOW NOW NOW, and because I wanted everyone to play the games MY way because I was sure I had the best ideas, and because I had absolutely no concept of moderation. (I think the bossiness - mine and Karen's - might also come from an attempt to control a world where grownups are divorcing and remarrying and moving and getting sick and who knows what else on you, but you probably don't want me psychoanalyzing myself in your blog, Greer.) And the great thing about Karen, if you were a Karen yourself as a kid, is that she gets away with the stuff you never did. Of course, Ann M. herself is the exception to my theory, but I think the indulgent mother theory works there, or just the idea that she enjoys aggressive, Kristy/Karen-esque characters. It's worth noting, though, that she gets away with a lot less in the Little Sister series than she does in the main series, with some notable Kristy's-brooch-losing exceptions, and spends a lot more time with impatient adults who don't understand her and, quite frankly, completely dreadful friends. Hannie and Nancy can be pretty awful. All that said, I do agree with Mizzmarvel in that those girls need to lay off poor Jenny Prezzioso. My theory is that people who were basically quiet and well-behaved as kids (the Mary Annes of the world, if you will) don’t like Karen, and the people who were loud, bossy, and way too into themselves as kids (the Kristys) like her. I like Karen, but in a really uncomfortable way, because I see all of my childhood faults in her: I was pushy, I was impatient, I was determined to make sure everyone knew how smart I was. I like her because I understand where she’s coming from, because I wanted everything NOW NOW NOW, and because I wanted everyone to play the games MY way because I was sure I had the best ideas, and because I had absolutely no concept of moderation. (I think the bossiness - mine and Karen’s - might also come from an attempt to control a world where grownups are divorcing and remarrying and moving and getting sick and who knows what else on you, but you probably don’t want me psychoanalyzing myself in your blog, Greer.) And the great thing about Karen, if you were a Karen yourself as a kid, is that she gets away with the stuff you never did. Of course, Ann M. herself is the exception to my theory, but I think the indulgent mother theory works there, or just the idea that she enjoys aggressive, Kristy/Karen-esque characters.

It’s worth noting, though, that she gets away with a lot less in the Little Sister series than she does in the main series, with some notable Kristy’s-brooch-losing exceptions, and spends a lot more time with impatient adults who don’t understand her and, quite frankly, completely dreadful friends. Hannie and Nancy can be pretty awful.

All that said, I do agree with Mizzmarvel in that those girls need to lay off poor Jenny Prezzioso.

]]> By: Eowyn http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7649 Eowyn Mon, 11 May 2009 04:58:55 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7649 LOL Miss Marvel! Shouldn't the real question by "why did Ann hate Mallory so much?" LOL Miss Marvel! Shouldn’t the real question by “why did Ann hate Mallory so much?”

]]> By: bbb http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7454 bbb Wed, 06 May 2009 01:29:10 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7454 lol mizzmarvel. And I agree with your whole comment. Karen has even deliberately dropped her baby sister on the floor because she was pissed about something. If Jenny did that to Andrea? The BSC would hate her even more than they already do. lol mizzmarvel. And I agree with your whole comment. Karen has even deliberately dropped her baby sister on the floor because she was pissed about something. If Jenny did that to Andrea? The BSC would hate her even more than they already do.

]]> By: mizzmarvel http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7392 mizzmarvel Mon, 04 May 2009 04:58:40 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7392 I just can't get over the fact that Karen is loud, obnoxious, and spoiled, and everyone fawns over her amazing imagination, whereas Jenny Prezzioso doesn't want to get dirty and is treated as if she just knocked over a liquor store. I just can’t get over the fact that Karen is loud, obnoxious, and spoiled, and everyone fawns over her amazing imagination, whereas Jenny Prezzioso doesn’t want to get dirty and is treated as if she just knocked over a liquor store.

]]> By: bobo http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7317 bobo Sat, 02 May 2009 02:32:20 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7317 Karen is frikkin manipulative and sociopathic, but Ann/the BSC still fawns over her which makes me hater her. Sure she has to deal with some issues, but it is hard to see their effect on her because she is just not written in a way that makes her believable as a child character. And worst of all, the whole contraction thing. It made everything she said sound really.. shrill..really annoying. Karen is frikkin manipulative and sociopathic, but Ann/the BSC still fawns over her which makes me hater her. Sure she has to deal with some issues, but it is hard to see their effect on her because she is just not written in a way that makes her believable as a child character. And worst of all, the whole contraction thing. It made everything she said sound really.. shrill..really annoying.

]]> By: greer http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7299 greer Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:32:44 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7299 @Eowyn: my dad is pushing sixty and still has kids in elementary school. @Eowyn: my dad is pushing sixty and still has kids in elementary school.

]]> By: Eowyn http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7298 Eowyn Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:17:39 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7298 Great comments everyone. I know this is a little off-topic but I've always been under the impression tht many of the readers imagined Watson as being old. Did they ever specifically state that in the books though? Take in mind he did have young children. Oh, and Karen treated her neighbor Mrs.Porter terribly! Great comments everyone. I know this is a little off-topic but I’ve always been under the impression tht many of the readers imagined Watson as being old. Did they ever specifically state that in the books though? Take in mind he did have young children. Oh, and Karen treated her neighbor Mrs.Porter terribly!

]]> By: Sadako http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7295 Sadako Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:19:24 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7295 Laura, I know exactly how you feel. Myriah and Gabbie, who are based off of real kids that Ann M. knows (I think? yes?) are so damned unrealistic. And irritating. Plus, I hated the whole kids putting on shows and performing liked trained seals thing. The kids I actually liked were Charlotte, Becca, Andrew, and Jamie. They seemed like more or less normal, sweet kids. Also I had the cloth Karen doll. Not anymore but way way long ago. Laura, I know exactly how you feel. Myriah and Gabbie, who are based off of real kids that Ann M. knows (I think? yes?) are so damned unrealistic. And irritating. Plus, I hated the whole kids putting on shows and performing liked trained seals thing.

The kids I actually liked were Charlotte, Becca, Andrew, and Jamie. They seemed like more or less normal, sweet kids.

Also I had the cloth Karen doll. Not anymore but way way long ago.

]]> By: Laura @ Hungry and Frozen http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7293 Laura @ Hungry and Frozen Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:30:24 +0000 http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/2009/04/27/the-karen-conundrum/#comment-7293 I am not a fan of Karen. Partly because of her overindulged, annoying nature... I wonder if she's annoying because we're so blatantly supposed to love her? A bit like how Myriah Perkins is clearly a character that Anne loves but annoys the heck out of me because she's able to speak Latin at the age of three or whatever...Whereas characters like Charlotte and Andrew, who seem more 'unintentionally' cute through the writing, appeal more to me. Does that all make sense? :) Interesting question anyhow. I am not a fan of Karen. Partly because of her overindulged, annoying nature…

I wonder if she’s annoying because we’re so blatantly supposed to love her? A bit like how Myriah Perkins is clearly a character that Anne loves but annoys the heck out of me because she’s able to speak Latin at the age of three or whatever…Whereas characters like Charlotte and Andrew, who seem more ‘unintentionally’ cute through the writing, appeal more to me. Does that all make sense? :) Interesting question anyhow.

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