Page 2 | Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 2024-09-06T19:57:52+00:00

I know she gets very mixed reviews on mumsnet but I was wondering if there are any other 36 year olds (or similar!) out there who are just so excited to read this? I’ll be first in the queue! I’m going to an author event on Wednesday and I have even re-ordered the other four ‘girls…’ books in the series to refresh my memory and get stuck in. The extent of my excitement is really surprising to me. I am very much a ‘proper’ grown up these days. I roll my eyes at Disney adults, can’t bear Harry Potter and rarely have the time or inclination to feel nostalgic about anything at all. But FUCK ME, next weekend will be spent on my sofa, wrapped in a blanket of 1999 feelings, reading about Ellie, Nadine and Magda. I can’t wait!

ketzeleh · 12/09/2024 17:31

Has anyone read it yet? I really loved the character of Alice - I thought she was so well drawn. Wendy also felt very convincing. I wish they'd had a much bigger share of the plot, because the rest of it did feel contrived in places. It was enjoyable as a nostalgia fix but it started to feel as if Wilson was just recycling old characters for the sake of it. I don't want to say any more in case of accidental spoilers!

Original poster

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 10/09/2024 13:40

binglemyoats · 10/09/2024 13:14

I'm 35 and I'm really excited about it too! I think I'll re-read the Girls books too but I've long since lost my copies, maybe can get some from the library.

Intrigued that Ellie is a single mother, I hope it isn't Russell's baby - realistically she would have binned him off and then had a number of other relationships since school.

I see a lot of these jokes on social media among younger people that JW's books are traumatising. While I agree they deal with heavy themes and different books of hers are appropriate for different ages, as someone who had a reasonably ok childhood, it was good for me to read about children who had lives that weren't like mine and experienced difficulties. I was also bullied as a child and young teen so a lot of her books were an absolute lifeline for me in that sense.

I hope Ellie binned off Russell! I re-read the books this weekend and he’s a right arse.

The other four ‘girls…’ books are so of their time! The CONSTANT fat shaming, low level gas lighting from men and boys, pressures to not be frigid but also not be a slag, the older boys, semi-sleazy flirtatious dads, and the constant fretting about having a boyfriend from 13 onwards. I know this has led to some criticism from readers more recently but it’s genuinely how I remember being a teen in the early 2000s (and I was quite a confident and secure teen).

I don’t think they would be written today, but I do suspect a lot of those pressures are still there for teen girls but they present slightly differently now due to how the world has changed since then. I hope girls are a lot more secure in their feminism and awareness about some of the issues in the books.

I am so interested to see how JW writes an adult book in the year 2024. I haven’t read her more recent children’s/YA books so I have no idea if the way she tackles subjects is the same as it was in the late 90s.

OP posts:

binglemyoats · 10/09/2024 13:14

I'm 35 and I'm really excited about it too! I think I'll re-read the Girls books too but I've long since lost my copies, maybe can get some from the library.

Intrigued that Ellie is a single mother, I hope it isn't Russell's baby - realistically she would have binned him off and then had a number of other relationships since school.

I see a lot of these jokes on social media among younger people that JW's books are traumatising. While I agree they deal with heavy themes and different books of hers are appropriate for different ages, as someone who had a reasonably ok childhood, it was good for me to read about children who had lives that weren't like mine and experienced difficulties. I was also bullied as a child and young teen so a lot of her books were an absolute lifeline for me in that sense.

Original poster

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 07/09/2024 13:56

My books have arrived today! That’s my weekend plans sorted. I wonder how they stand up to a re-read as an adult.

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LouH5 · 07/09/2024 11:01

I am 35 and can’t WAIT!
I loved her books so much when I was in primary school, and can’t wait for all the nostalgia 😊

Original poster

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 06/09/2024 21:30

BookishZen · 06/09/2024 21:11

I cannot wait for this book, already reread the original 4 ready (although we may not get along as I am a Disney adult to the extreme and regularly reread my Harry Potters) 🤭😜
Just loved Jacqueline Wilson as a kid and so excited I still get to enjoy her as an adult xx

I can’t believe how excited I am. I am glad there are others out there who feel the same way.

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Original poster

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 06/09/2024 21:22

frozenkimchi · 06/09/2024 21:05

I had no idea about this OP! Thank you for sharing this as I absolutely loved JW as a child. Something very nostalgic about them, I think I had every single one - hardbacks were for birthdays or Christmas. Happy times! (The only one in my view that doesn't hold out well these days is Love Lessons...ick)

You’re welcome! Enjoy!

OP posts:

BookishZen · 06/09/2024 21:11

I cannot wait for this book, already reread the original 4 ready (although we may not get along as I am a Disney adult to the extreme and regularly reread my Harry Potters) 🤭😜
Just loved Jacqueline Wilson as a kid and so excited I still get to enjoy her as an adult xx

Needmorelego · 06/09/2024 21:09

I am indeed very excited.
I also got the 4 originals to re read. I haven't quite finished yet so I better hurry up.

frozenkimchi · 06/09/2024 21:05

I had no idea about this OP! Thank you for sharing this as I absolutely loved JW as a child. Something very nostalgic about them, I think I had every single one - hardbacks were for birthdays or Christmas. Happy times! (The only one in my view that doesn't hold out well these days is Love Lessons...ick)