Comments on Return to Sweet Valley

Like, ohmygod! That is, like, so totally crazy!

Nooo! I still remember that "perfect size six" quote.

Looking back, it's kind of unnecessary to mention their size at all.

To be fair, Paul, in the past 10 years companies have gradually changed sizing so that what was a size 6 10 years ago is now a size 2. So, actually the Wakefields stayed the same height and weight, but Gap just changed their sizing.

@3 - Are you telling me that I'm not really a size 4? Dammit, now I'll have to go purge myself into a size 2. Damn you, Gap, Damn you to hell!!

@3 That is so true! Sizes have really changed.
I'm a size six and twenty years ago a size six was only for super petite skinny girls!

And I came in here to complain about vanity siziing. Looks like just about everyone already beat me to that punch.

Did you know that there are more than 550 books already in existance in the Sweet Valley ouevre? And something like 40 hour long television episodes?

Sweet Valley aint nuttin' to fuck wit.

You ARE a super-petite skinny chick, mj.

good, keep em skinny. How else will they find a man?

I loved those books as a kid, and I'm pretty sure that they helped me hate the way I looked. Knowing I would never be "perfect" and all.

But, culture is a product of what people actually think just as much as the other way around, so. Can't blame the books.

Sorry, I meant to say that what was a size 6 is now a size 4. Not size 2. Though with some lines of clothes, a 6 IS now a 2.

Pffft, I never read Sweet Valley when I was a kid. Babysitters Club is the shit.

@10 - Although women's sizes may have changed, I don't think juniors (teen girl sizes) have. Strangely, I can wear a 4 (or "6" if you will) in women's but I have to wear a 7/9 in juniors. I'd feel much better if it was a "5". :)

And this is why I love you Fnarf!

And this is why you hate me, mj:

These size-four twins -- twins! -- give me the shakes. Sweet Valleys, indeed!

damn, paul. you've finally completely won me over. as a kids & YA bookseller, i've been cautiously hoping you don't hate on our section too much (as many book reviewers do). if you read bookshelves of doom you win my undying devotion to your posts & columns. keep kicking ass.
and @ 3 & 5, the blogger does mention (in her footnotes) that she realizes that sizes have changed but it bugs her anyway that they had to change it in the books.

"my girlfriend loves sweet valley and she thinks elizabeth wakefield is worthless"

@16: Elizabeth Wakefield is a spineless pushover goody-two-shoes piece of shit. Lila Fowler and Jessica Wakefield are where it's at.

@16: You are such a dork. I'll be using my "chocolate parfait/my arm hurts" voice for the rest of the weekend as punishment.

@17: Exactly! Oh, and Ms. Purest of the Pure Elizabeth is the one who always cheats on her boyfriends. Always. Dubs.

Remember in Sweet Valley University when Elizabeth gained 15 pounds and got fat?

Mmk must just be me.

slam book fever!

@14,

I hope this doesn't burst your bubble, but they're not identical twins.

@19,

I TOTALLY remember that. And then she got stalked AGAIN because Elizabeth Wakefield is California's #1 most stalkable girl. Also also, in the "Sweet Valley Sagas" telling the history of the Wakefield women, THEY were all a "perfect size six" too.

Sweet Valley Sagas were horrible because of the obvious manufactured coincidences like the names starting with the same letters and shit. Totally Bogus.

@20: I just finished reading that, no joke. It really bothered me that Amy Sutton's eyes were gray in Slam Book Fever when they were sky-blue just 12 books earlier in Last Chance (and they were brown on the cover!)

Bellevue Ave, the names were sometimes even the same in the sagas, but with a different spelling. Also, you can tell the twins apart on any SVH book cover even better than I can.

Fnarf, I will never hate you! I may punch you or strangle you every once in a while but that is just fun.

Punching Fnarf is always fun, mj. Strangling him is a bit of work, tho.

@26 Will, unless you hit like a girl and strangle as if you are giving a hug you wont be doing either thing like me.

Let it go Will... Punch a pillow and get over it.