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any judy blume fans?

65 replies

madhousewife · 01/09/2011 21:10

I just found 'forever' in a used bookstore, my husband gave me the 'raised eyebrow' when he saw the front cover.

BUT SHE IS AMAZING!
the way she wrote for me as a preteen - 'blubber'
the way she wrote for me as a teen - 'tiger eyes' (and forever would have been right up there had it not been banned!)
and she has written for adults - I read it in my early 20's and am not sure if it would have the same appeal now that I'm creeping up on 40 - but I will give it a try when I have a moment! (sorry, can't remember the name off the top of my head...)
anyone else out there who covets this woman?

OP posts:
Shogirl · 13/09/2011 22:37

My mum complained to the library about Forever and had a long chat with me about sex being for married people. I loved it though and thought losing your virginity on a rug must be the most romantic thing ever!

Cheria · 14/09/2011 07:41

Loved Judy Blume. She's got a great website by the way here she looks just like I imagined she would.

I was The Owner of my class's copy of Forever. Almost everyone else had been banned from buying it, so my copy was read by 20 + 13 year old girls. It is certainly well loved. When I next go home I will see if my mum has kept it and I'll bring it back and give it to my daughter when she is old enough. It's a rite of passage and am fairly sure it can't be bettered.

I wonder how much it has aged though.

babybrit · 14/09/2011 08:21

OMG! Yes! What a blast from the past. It was all the rage underground so to speak amongst us young girls. It was so exciting and different and stuff made of daydreams! Forever was perfect. All of Judy Blume's books were the stable of childhood. Are you there G-D it's me Margaret was required reading!

LunaticIsOnTheGrass · 14/09/2011 08:30

God I loved Judy Blume books Smile

We had forever, in the library in our convent school, I think that they must have not known what it was about.

May have to buy the collection for DD when she's big enough.

KatherineNorman · 14/09/2011 08:58

Funny - I found Judy Blume rather boring! I much preferred the books I had pinched from my Mum's shelves - the Clan of the Cave Bear books and Richard Adam's Maia. But then I've never been keen on chic lit type books - I much prefer sci-fi, fantasy and historical fiction.

Parapluies · 14/09/2011 09:16

I loved Judy Blume! No idea if my old copies are still anywhere in my parents attic..

Does anyone know where to get them as ebooks for the kindle?

lovemyboysandbeagles · 14/09/2011 10:13

I read all the Judy Blume books when I was younger. I too had to read Forever in secret as you had to be years 4/5 (in those days!) to be allowed to read it.

I read all her books one after the other...I couldn't get enough and might have to read them all again now as I can't remember what they were all about anymore as it was so long, except for Forever of course, how can anyone forget that.....aftershave you know where - ouch!!!!

jen127 · 14/09/2011 10:36

Oh My, My first Judy Blume was "are you there God?" I then followed by reading them all! They were a right of passage and an eye opener!
My next door neighbour, the same ages as me was horrified that I was reading about boys and their nocturnal emissions( wet dreams to me and you ! ) and wanted to know if my mother new what i was reading. He was also 13!

BelleEnd · 14/09/2011 10:38

Yes! I buy them when I see them in charity shops and still enjoy them now.

In the same vein, Paula Danziger is a similar writer. Brilliant women.

LadyInPink · 14/09/2011 11:20

On holiday in the summer there was a bookshelf full of books in our rented home and there I found 'Are you there God, it's me Margaret'. I so enjoyed reading it again and remembering the subterfuge as a child as that was a forbidden book in my world (very strict religious parents). My DH packed it in our stuff unbeknowns to me thinking it was mine and so i now have it to pass on to DD when she is a teen. Wil keep a beady eye open for others in charity shops for me.

LadyInPink · 14/09/2011 11:21

pressed too soon

*for me to keep in stock for DD.

Tuppenyrice · 14/09/2011 14:00

Loved her books, read them all around age 9. Forever must've read that later but I don't recall it being banned? Also read her adult books and enjoyed them but not with the same relish.
She's on twitter don't you know?! V nice lady...

AurraSing · 14/09/2011 14:09

I loved her. Definitely my favourite childhood author. Can't wait for DD to get into them, I just hope they haven't dated too much.

I didn't know she wrote for adults, shall I give them a try or do you think that they may spoil the memoires?

DontNickMyMilk · 14/09/2011 16:01

I remember Judy Blume!! What a blast from the past. I remember Are you there God? Deenie, Fudge. And I have a copy of Forever. Only I was so square at school, I don't think anyone wanted to borrow it from a swot.

My next door neighbour borrowed/nicked it from me - I think she was about 11 or 12 at the time. Her mum was most displeased with it. I thought it was a bit rich coming from the woman who had a copy of the Karma Sutra (or some other sex book) on her bedside table. At least Forever doesn't have pictures!

Just looked up on Amazon - more titles I'd forgotten - Then again maybe I won't, Just as long as we're together, Otherwise known as Sheila the Great, Starring Sally J Friedman as herself. I think I owned some, borrowed some from the library. I can't remember much of it in detail. Apart from Forever, of course. I seemed to think that I would be able to write in my secret diary about losing my virginity in as eloquent a way, but no chance. Not literary genius here.

ImpyCelyn · 14/09/2011 19:31

Oh can anyone remember one where there's a blind older boy/young man and the teenager fancies him?

That's all ì can remember about it but I loved it.

minipen · 14/09/2011 19:39

Was it her books which had the I must increase my bust exercises? Possibly in are you there..

AmazingBouncingFerret · 14/09/2011 19:40

Ohhh I loved them! I had Just As Long As we're Together, Here's to you, Rachel Robinson, Are you there God..., Tiger Eyes, I read my cousins copy of Forever when I was about 13. Suprisingly I have never read Deenie, the one about scoliosis, think I might have to try and find that so I can have a read!

Cheria · 14/09/2011 19:41

Yes it was Are You There where there were the I must, I must, I must increase my bust exercises.... did anyone try those?

GiantUnderCrackers · 14/09/2011 19:44

Oh how I loved those books! Thank you for reminding me of them :)! GwenCooper you also reminded me that I used to see if I could read a book in a night but then decided to read them carefully and slowly so the stories lasted longer! My fave was 'Are you there..' and 'Forever' was passed around my group at school and then confiscated. Oh how I LOVED those books! yay!

minipen · 14/09/2011 19:45

Thanks Cheria, no I didn't try them but I look like I did!
I may look into books for my dd, not Forever though until she is at least 26!

CountBapula · 14/09/2011 19:47

yy Belle, Paula Danziger is excellent too. I loved The Cat Ate My Gymsuit and The Divorce Express.

GiantUnderCrackers · 14/09/2011 19:48

I tried those I must I must I must improve my bust excercises on an non existent bust. Must have worked as have mahoosive boobies! No need for breast enhancement ladies just that works a treat ;)

Bunsouttheoven · 14/09/2011 20:12

I loved her too, funny haven't thought about the books in years until I saw some in a charity shop this week & now this thread. Grin

Grumpla · 14/09/2011 20:21

I have MET Judy Blume!!!

And she was so so so nice and lovely and cool and kind. I love her.

LawrieMarlow · 14/09/2011 20:45

Impy I think you might be thinking of a book by Jean Ure called See you Thursday, where a girl called Marianne (teenager) falls in love with a man called Abe, who is blind. There are another two books in the trilogy.

This may not be the books you are thinking of at all of course Grin

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