Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City - Jezebel Comments

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

kat — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:15:23 EST

ACK! My evil grandmother came to visit once when I was 11 or 12 or so, and she stayed in my bedroom. She picked up Then Again, Maybe I Won't from my bookshelf, and read it. Then she told every single member of the extended family that I was reading smut, and they all made horrible fun of me for ages after.

Didn't make me hate the book -- just made me loathe my grandmother even more.

kat

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Sunshineyness — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:09:21 EST

I remember asking the library to put 'Forever' on hold for me and than my mom picked it up. I had no idea at the time that it had dirty parts in it, I just knew it was Judy and that it was a love story. So innocent than...

Of course my mom knew what it was about and gave me a weird look and said 'Do you know what this book is about?" And I was all 'Uh... yes?' and she let me have it but with a look. Ah... than I read it and my eyes bulged. Me and my mother never discussed it. Now I'm sure she was probably happy I got the sex talk from Judy and she never had to sit me down, lol.

I also showed the book to my best friend at the time at a sleepover we were having and read out loud all the dirty parts and maniacally giggled over it. Oh gosh... didn't she name his penis or something? I remember that had us in MAD giggles. I really must get a copy of it and re-read for the dirty bits. Hehe.

Sunshineyness

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Mithel — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:20:38 EST

@TheFormerJuneBronson: Do you remember that part where they're trying to 'improve' their bra size with chanting and exercise? Yeah, I had NO idea what was going on there, but the image has stuck with me.

I really can't remember what else, other than not knowing what the hell a period was, or why it was desirable to have one. I guess I was a pragmatic child, because I seem to remember thinking that she should just hurry up and wait already. The whole process seemed inevitable to me, so why stress?

Of course, that sort of high minded thinking quickly evaporated in the face of my own hormonal transformation.

Mithel

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

SugarMalone — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:07:21 EST

Does anyone remember a book - I think it was a trilogy - about a girl in the 1960's? I think it had her ages in the title, "13 and something", "14 etc.". All I remember was that in one of the books she became obsessed with the song Mr. Tambourine Man and had to save up to buy the record. Also, I think her best friend's name was Gretchen.
Anyone? It's driving me crazy!

SugarMalone

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheFormerJuneBronson — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:31:26 EST

@Mithel: I must know, what besides menstruation confused you?

TheFormerJuneBronson

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Mithel — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:21:10 EST

I was an voracious reader as a child, digesting six or seven YA books every three weeks, the lending period of my local library. Judy Blume I found early, moving through the Peter Hatcher saga, Blubber. Are You There God, It's Me Margret, though, proved totally incomprehensible to my male mind. Nothing in that book made sense.

It was only years later that I realized what I had read.

That probably explains why I'm posting here, too.

Mithel

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheFormerJuneBronson — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:08:34 EST

@jezebelbelg: I read all of the Elsie books, and all of her other books set in that universe, and I loved them. I still re-read them periodically. Her mother seemed less monstrous to me as I've grown older, and Jenny's mother less perfect, I remember thinking. I Never Asked You To Understand Me is so terribly sad. I wonder what became of those kids more than any others.

TheFormerJuneBronson

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

VanDessa — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:26:03 EST

OMG!! I love you guys! Judy Blume was my childhood obsession and where I first heard about topics ranging from periods to scoliosis to party lines to masturbation to wet dreams to what a penis felt like. Like many other commenters, I had no clue what Tony's wet dreams were leading my 9 year old mind to conclude that boys go thru a phase in adolesence where they wet the bed again (leading me to wonder for what would not be the last time in my life how boys can stand to walk around with those penis things.) I also lived in a small town in Kentucky so the class issues and the Jersey City versus Queens symbolism was lost on me.

As much as I loved the seamier stuff, my favorite Judy books were the more innocent ones: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing and Blubber.

VanDessa

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

curlysue — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:54:24 EST

And let's not forget Paula Danzinger, as long as we're on the topic of YA books. Oh, and Katherine Patterson too!

curlysue

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

clarita — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:45:49 EST

I will never forget reading Deenie in 3rd grade and sailing into my mom's room while she as folding laundry to ask what masturbation was. She nearly died; I think she thought I was being molested.

And roughage--I had no idea what that was. We were more of a canned green bean family.

Cynthia Voigt, please. Or Norma Mazer.

clarita

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

brendahamLincoln — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:31:58 EST

@jezebelbelg: Oh. My. God. Shut yo mouf. I JUST finished re-reading that book. Poor Elsie! Her mom was so mean to her.

Okay, does anyone remember Don't Hurt Laurie? Ponder that while I go get my drank on and play Guitar Hero with my friends.

brendahamLincoln

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

jezebelbelg — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:01:43 EST

Add me to the list of people who loves this feature. It was all about the sexy bits in these books. He bought Lisa a tight sweater b/c he knew she'd be trying it on in front of the mirror and he'd be, you know. HOT. Creepy and stalkerish in reality but read under the covers ohmyohmy.

Did you already do "Nothing's Fair in 5th Grade"?

jezebelbelg

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

RocktheDebit — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:22:20 EST

My mother got me a Judy Blume book set when I was six (I was an advanced reader and she thought the Baby-Sitters Club was too adult--heh). Just as Long as We're Together forced her to give me the period talk far before I think she was ready for it. And It's Not the End of the World made me think my parents should get divorced. Which really would not have been a bad idea at all.

And in late elementary school I was pretty much Linda in Blubber. And I was too dense to follow Jill's lead in what to do when you're target of the week. Ah, youth.

RocktheDebit

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheFormerJuneBronson — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:44:41 EST

@Constant Dater: I read The Trouble With Thirteen! In fact, a few years ago, I got another copy. I'd lost the one I had as a child. The part I remembered best was when she was embarrassed by that nightgown she bought.

Tiger Eyes makes me cry every time. I'm pretty sure I knew an older childless couple like her aunt and uncle, too. They reminded me of someone and I could never put my finger on it.

TheFormerJuneBronson

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Constant Dater — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:56:54 EST

@mepo: When they did reprints of those books a few years ago, they had to edit around the sanitary belt stuff, because the mothers of today's kids would have no clue about that. In the early 1980s, our moms were likely to be old enough to remember. Funny how that's totally died out, huh?

Judy Blume books were so sophisticated to me. I thought it must be so awesome to live on LI or in suburban Jersey. (Except for the part where Tiger Eye's dad gets shot in an Atlantic City convenience store and she finds him and her clothes get all soaked with his blood and she keeps the clothes in her closet.)

What about "The Trouble with Thirteen," by Betty Miles? The scene with the dog used to make me cry every damn time.

My most precious favorite was "Harriet the Spy." I'm sure I spent a few weeks taking tomato sandwiches for lunch like Ms. Harriet M. Welsch. She would never get away with that shit now--sneaking into buildings like that.

Constant Dater

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

ValerieM — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:02:20 EST

Nothing new to add except that this feature warms my heart. Knowing I'm not alone in my near-obsession with YA novels at the ancient age of 30 really makes my life that much easier. As far as this book went, I desperately wanted to look like Lisa. Maybe I still do...

ValerieM

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

weedie — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:33:34 EST

This book made me terrified to sit on my older bro's bed and talk to him.

weedie

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

mepo — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:07:38 EST

Because of Judy Blume I thought that sanitary pads still came with a belt! Fuck the 70s must have been hard. A belt!

mepo

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

littlegoodytwoshoes — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:01:44 EST

@ewabeachbum: Steffi Can't Come out to Play. Awwww... poor Steffi!

littlegoodytwoshoes

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

ewabeachbum — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:00:05 EST

@TheFormerJuneBronson: I can't remember the title, but that's definitely the book I"m thinking of! Like you, I'm scared to really go back and read it...that and the one where the girl falls in love with her pimp, you know, the guy that picked her up outside the bus station?

Good lord. I'd shit if my 10 year old daughter brought those books home now.

ewabeachbum

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheFormerJuneBronson — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:16:14 EST

@ewabeachbum: God help us, I think I know which book that was. Randy? I read it when I was twelve or so. Her dad owns a gym, and for a while she was...hmmm...working as a prostitute for a guy who threatened her with a stun gun? I haven't re-read it in some years because I have a vague thought that what was horribly fascinating to me then might royally freak me out now.

The other one I liked a lot was To Take A Dare, about the girl who runs away from home at 13 and ends up working as a cook in an inn in Arkansas. I bought Crescent Dragonwagon's bread-and-soup cookbook because I remembered her from that book. Who could forget a name like that?

TheFormerJuneBronson

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

oudemia — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:15:05 EST

@Emdashes: Ha! I learned that word from this book and busted it out all knowingly in the 5th grade. Of course I was pronouncing it completely wrong.

oudemia

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Emdashes — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:47:35 EST

One word: roughage.

Emdashes

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

sventurata — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:29:51 EST

@washionfore: Holy crap, and the Pistachio Prescription. Memories!

sventurata

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Mrs. DeLesseps To You, Dahling — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:02:43 EST

Is it possible that these books were banned from my public library, or were they written too late for me? (Probs. Graduated HS 1978.) I'm glad you guys had info, albeit confusing.

Mrs. DeLesseps To You, Dahling

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

littlegoodytwoshoes — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:47:16 EST

SPIDERPUG: Where Did I Come From?! My parents gave me that book! Recently my mom said, with this little smirk on her face, "I'll bet you didn't realize we knew you were showing all of your friends "Where Did I Come From.""
I said, "Did you know that was the warm-up? After that I showed them your copy of "The Joy of Sex."
End of discussion. Heh.

littlegoodytwoshoes

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

ewabeachbum — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:59:27 EST

Does anyone remember the novel where the main character's parents give her birth control for her 12th (13th??) birthday, and by the time her next birthday rolls around she's had a baby and ends up committing suicide?

Those YA novels of the late 70's/80's were seriously intense, but in a good way. When I taught Language Arts, I used to guide my more mature readers over in that direction because the YA novels of today just don't have the same...I don't know? gravitas?

ewabeachbum

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

elix — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:25:27 EST

tu me manques beaucoup is french for i miss you a lot (the french say you are missing from me- how sweet). also, this review is a little disjointed, and the "meaning one" thing was driving me crazy. now i need to go read this book.

elix

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Trillian — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:10:46 EST

@brendahamLincoln: Looks like you might get some offers for them right here!

Trillian

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

bratkeeper1729 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:59:21 EST

@silkyjumbo: Oh, Judith Krantz! The summer between my 6th and 7th grade years, my older sister moved to NYC, and my parents stored her stuff in their basement. Anyway, I read and re-read Scruples so many times. I do think that twelve years old is a little young to know what a "glory hole" is, though...

bratkeeper1729

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

brendahamLincoln — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:52:48 EST

This was most definitely my favorite Blume book. I loved the part where Tony and his friends get drunk and he describes how each different liquor tastes and feels.

@Trillian: I know exactly what you mean, except I was 19!

I recently tried selling all my old BSC/SVH/Misc. YA books on craigslist and no one wanted them. What the eff? I was expecting a million dollar offer for that awesome collection. I'll try craigslist again when snarky moms aren't trying to low ball me cuz it's Christmas time.

brendahamLincoln

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

flyaway — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:34:04 EST

When I read TAMIW I was a little unclear on the concept--I thought wet dreams were the equivalent of periods for boys, and I spread this knowledge around the four-square court at recess, as if the fact that I had boobs in fourth grade somehow made me an authority on the matter of periods and wet dreams.

flyaway

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Algren — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:30:07 EST

This book and FOREVER were the ones that taught me about sex (aside from the general talk my father gave me one night walking down E.49th Street to get the New York Times). Judy Blume taught me about erections, orgasms, wet-dreams, periods, condoms, the pill and every other subject that was vague to me. This was the 70s, pre-Hypersexuality in pop-culture. I kind of like that I had to actually read to learn these things. I hope you guys do SE Hinton novels next. Those books were life-changing as well, but for different reasons. I love Fine Lines!

Algren

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

silkyjumbo — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:27:32 EST

my cousin gave me iggie's house when i moved from NY to GA at 8 years old. i was then hooked to the judy blume crack (i have a picture of her on my fridge) and so was my mother. she would buy me a book and i would let her borrow it once i finished it.

this moved along nicely until we got to forever. she never returned it to me - i found it a year later in the linen closet. i don't know what she was worried about - by then i was sneaking away with her judith krantz books to read the dirty parts.

silkyjumbo

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

rocknrollunicorn — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:25:47 EST

@La_Panique: Norma Klein!! YES. Love her. Judy Blume + Norma Klein = me feeling ok about being a perverted teenager.

rocknrollunicorn

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheFormerJuneBronson — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:24:54 EST

@rose0red: Totally went to Martha's Vineyard for my honeymoon because of that book.

TheFormerJuneBronson

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

spiderpug — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:23:15 EST

@iamlesliegirl: Dude! I got the cartoon sex book (entitled "Where did I come from?") for CHRISTMAS. It was in my STOCKING - and, just to prove that my parents are super weird - they made me and my sister READ it OUT LOUD to them! Oh god, I need a cocktail.

spiderpug

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Trillian — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:21:09 EST

Nice, upon reading these comments...I WAS a little filthy whore. I have no idea how I didn't get any sex till 18, the stuff *I* knew. Jesus.

Trillian

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

oudemia — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:16:34 EST

@curlysue: I totally agree in re Norma Klein. Those girls -- with their hippie therapist parents who gave them diaphragms and let any old boy sleep over -- were utterly foreign and utterly riveting to my 12-year-old self.

oudemia

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Trillian — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:16:26 EST

I just liked the "sexy" parts. More priapic teenage boys for lil' Trillian, plz!

Trillian

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

BadenBaden — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:16:22 EST

@warmaiden: NICE. I would love to get my hands on some Whisper of Death or Remember Me!!! Ok, I'm off to ebay...

BadenBaden

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

BadenBaden — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:14:30 EST

@rose0red: LOVE Summer Sisters. Reread it every year.

BadenBaden

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

rocknrollunicorn — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:14:25 EST

I didn't realize that all Judy Blume books were quite so dirty (besides Forever and the adult ones, which are so wonderfully filthy, for reals. I will never forget the young lesbianic antics regarding "the power" in Summer Sisters). I also may have to re-visit the YA section, ignoring the strange looks.

I was at B&N the other day and kinda started drifting that way anyway, until I realized I was actually there for grown up fiction. yuck.

Also I loved this review.

rocknrollunicorn

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

oudemia — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:13:09 EST

This one was always my favorite, but I always loved SJF, because it took place in Bradley Beach, NJ -- about 15 minutes south of where I grew up.

The word that gave me trouble in Forever? Why, that would be "come." I can still remember the dawning realization that this word did not (just) mean what I thought it meant.

oudemia

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

truthandfactz — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:12:47 EST

@MickFNS: Oh man, Robert Cormier! The Chocolate War and omg remember how intense Tenderness was?

truthandfactz

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

violetbeauregarde — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:08:45 EST

@TruculentandUnreliable: Me neither. It's still a great one, but my fav bay far is "Are You There God? It's me Margaret."

violetbeauregarde

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

curlysue — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:07:37 EST

@La_Panique:Most def. Norma Klein characters fascinated me because they always seemed so worldly and mature. I could never really relate (I had a sheltered childhood) but man, did I aspire to some of their problems. I think I've read Just Friends a hundred times.

How about some Cynthia Voigt? Izzy Willy Nilly?

curlysue

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

rose0red — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:05:12 EST

I liked Then Again Maybe I Won't, too. I loved all of JB's books. I haven't read her nonfiction or the newest "Fudge" installments, and I missed Wifey & Smart Women(will get around to it), but I think I've read everything else she's done. LOVE. HER.

I rediscovered her after coming across a copy of Summer Sisters (if you haven't read it, DO SO IMMEDIATELY...its that good), and I've been picking up my old favorites for my daughter ever since.

rose0red

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

rose0red — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:58:57 EST

@mocena: SJF is my FAVORITE Judy Blume book. I read it, like 900 times when I was a kid!! I just read it again with my daughter!!!

I think I liked it so much because my mom was older and we would watch golden-age Hollywood musicals together all the time. I REALLY immersed myself in that book, lol. I WAS Sally J!!

rose0red

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheFormerJuneBronson — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:58:39 EST

God, I love this book. I first read it when I was about the right age to have a total Tony crush, even though this "wet dream" business baffled me (and rightly; it's so sublimated that unless you read it as an adult, the substance of that dream goes right over your tweenage little head). It was also one of the only books I read then that handled social class in any way that rang true to me. And one of the few of her books with a Catholic family in it. At one point, all I'd known about being Jewish, I'd learned from Judy Blume.

@theuptightmidwesterner: No, she really had her larynx removed because of cancer. But she never smoked. That was the part that was made up for Lisa's benefit.

Lisa seemed so old and sophisticated to me then, and for some unknown reason, she still does now, even though I'm twice the age she was in the book. If she were sixteen today, she'd probably be straight out of Gossip Girl.

TheFormerJuneBronson

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TriedandTrue — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:58:19 EST

I was a huge Blume fan and had forgotten about this. But what a great reminder this was - thanks!

TriedandTrue

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

SauteedMushrooms — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:56:52 EST

Two nights ago I sat down and started reading Just As Long As We're Together for the gabillionth time. At 28. Oh man. And THIS book! Ha! When my mom first gave me Judy Blume as a child I remember thinking 'Wtf??? My mother must not know what's in here'. It was a treasure trove of down-there-tinglies introspection. And then I read THIS book which was essentially pornography. And I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

SauteedMushrooms

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Rebecca, in China — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:55:19 EST

@mocena: I loved that book as well. All of these books. I had a gypsy childhood, changed schools literally every year and sometimes more than once in a year (military + sibling illness requiring cross-country treatments). The fact I could find these books in the school library was comforting. They were friends.

I do remember a school librarian asking if I were "old enough" to read Judy Blume. Makes me laugh now compared to what kids today know!

Rebecca, in China

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

mollsmolls — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:54:08 EST

I never recognize these books until I read the post and realize I once read and reread them.
Suppressed memories?

mollsmolls

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

marie123 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:53:20 EST

I can't believe this, I knew Judy was a beloved YA author, but I had no idea her stuff bordered on self-revelatory child therapy (for girls).

The stuff I picked up on was mostly about Peter Hatcher and company, with a detour into "Blubber."

marie123

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

mocena — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:52:14 EST

@tellmeagain: @theuptightmidwesterner: I learned about jellyfish from this book. I STILL worry about jellyfish at the beach.

mocena

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Lady Skittlehattington — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:48:50 EST

Judy Blume should be some kind of Jezebel mascot.

Lady Skittlehattington

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Heatherly — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:48:49 EST

@La_Panique: Oh, WORD. Norma Klein ROCKED. Didn't she write the book where the girl got it on with her science teacher and then married him after she graduated?

Heatherly

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheUptightMidwesterner — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:42:04 EST

@tellmeagain: Me too. I remember asking my folks about gas chambers and Nazis and my folks were like "Ohboy.."
My friend and I were just joking about "Latin Lovers" the other day, too!

TheUptightMidwesterner

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

tell Dolly Parton again — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:36:41 EST

Growing up in the most sheltered Southern town in the world, Starring Sally J. Friedman As Herself was seriously the first thing I ever learned about the Holocaust, or Jews in general. Or Esther Williams for that matters.

tell Dolly Parton again

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

warmaiden — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:32:55 EST

@badenbaden: Am doing the same thing with Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine's older YA stuff. Mmmmm.

warmaiden

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

warmaiden — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:32:23 EST

Hahaha. mom hid Deenie from me (I'm pretty sure I became a librarian because books are where the best dirty stuff is). Loved "Forever," though. Still do. Yay, Blume, who undoes all of the abstinence training kids get. AND gets them to read.

warmaiden

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

sumac — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:31:05 EST

If only they'd held onto their Jersey City property. They could have sold it for millions.

sumac

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

BadenBaden — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:30:41 EST

@AlisonAshleigh: Been there. Before the holidays I bought several batches of Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valleys and have been re-reading all of them. Like, about 100 of them.

It feels good to admit that.

BadenBaden

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

missjwalker — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:29:17 EST

My dream: a compilation of my favorites in one massive ready-to-inhale tome? Because really, that'd be tote awesome.

missjwalker

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

mocena — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:28:52 EST

You mentioned Sally J Freedman! I freaking loved that book and I didn't know anyone else had read it!

mocena

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

La_Panique — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:28:35 EST

Ok, after a Judy Blume post you have to have a Norma Klein in there somewhere. Anyone? Anyone?

La_Panique

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

AlisonAshleigh — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:26:49 EST

@LizClara: I had NO IDEA that what I had been doing at night was maturbating until I read Deenie.

AlisonAshleigh

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

iamlesliegirl — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:26:31 EST

I'm pretty sure my mom handed me Judy Blume books instead of giving me those talks. She also gave me a cartoon book outlining how babies were made. I'm still warped by dude's weird cartoon penis. I digress

I can remember reading this book and being so freaked out. I thought...YAY I don't have one of those uncontrollable things!

iamlesliegirl

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Cocotte — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:26:27 EST

The grandma isn't the only one to secrete in a bedroom. heh.

Cocotte

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

washionfore — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:25:09 EST

All I can remember of this story is not understanding it. This roundup makes me feel less bad about that.

Blubber however was, other than The Cat Ate my Gymsuit, the most moving book of my young-adulthood.

washionfore

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

argylesockmonkey — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:24:43 EST

This book freaked me the fuck aout with the wet dream revelations. To this day, I think of that book (and that very cover you posted) when the subject of wet dreams comes (cums?) up. You'd be surprised by how often it does.

argylesockmonkey

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Whitney's Black Best Friend — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:23:38 EST

Ahhhhhhhhh! I remember reading Deenie and being so paranoid about having scoliosis. Her description of an S curved spine just freaked my 11yr old brain out.

Whitney's Black Best Friend

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TheUptightMidwesterner — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:22:12 EST

I thought Grandma just quit talking one day after Vince was killed? He made up yhe story of throat cancer to scare Hot Girl when she was smoking, I thought. (Been 20 years- but I read it about a billion times)
I loved this book more than all of them. It made me feel better knowing boys were going through angst as well, and not just playing Atari games while I suffered through cramps and Midol.

TheUptightMidwesterner

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

AlisonAshleigh — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:22:02 EST

ALSO, I definitely bought a lot of FIFTY YA books on ebay a couple days ago for FIVE DOLLARS.

CANNOT. WAIT.

AlisonAshleigh

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Captain_Morgan — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:21:09 EST

I don't think I ever read this Judy Bloom book either. I think I am going to run off to the library to get it though!

Captain_Morgan

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

bananaballs — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:20:53 EST

aaaah. i remember judy blume as the first author that spoke to me in the true "young adult" sense. good times. glad it was so widespread.

bananaballs

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

MickFNS — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:20:26 EST

Yeah; it was this and "I Am The Cheese" ...

MickFNS

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

AlisonAshleigh — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:20:22 EST

Ok so, I have read this book about 900 times. I picked it up at a yard sale when I was about 12 and it convinced me all boys were creepy erection having, window peeping, shop lifting perverts who had weird ideas about what was attractive. (Kippy, or whatevs her name was? How she was in love with him and he didn't even care, until he had a wet dream about her?) I re-read this book not too long ago and it struck me as REALLY FUCKING DEPRESSING, how his parents didn't even care that the maid was pretty much KILLING his grandparents, and he didn't feel close enough to tell anyone about the shoplifting and shit..UGH. Good choice!!!

Also, last week the boy & I were discussing his friend Little Joe (who is, in fact, little, but also fucking his best friends mom which is HILARIOUS since said best friend has no clue) and I asked about Big Joe and everyone was all "Big Joe???" and I am just now realizing I got Big Joe from this book.

AlisonAshleigh

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Kataluna — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:19:52 EST

I wanted him to be my boyfriend.

Kataluna

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

DorothyZbornak — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:19:19 EST

@blackbirdfly: Me too! I feel so left out.

DorothyZbornak

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

GordonGartrell — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:18:55 EST

I've mentioned this book to my friends so many times, but I could never remember what it was called. Just looking at the the cover is giving me such a flashback! I remember being so confused, because I had no idea what was happening with the whole raincoat/holding your books in front sub-plot. I guess I was a sheltered child. I have got to re-read this.

GordonGartrell

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

thenwemadeout — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:18:09 EST

OH MY GOD. I didn't even read the whole post because you have me so excited. I have been trying to remember which Judy Blume book involved wet dreams and this is it!!! Must. Reread. Immediately.

thenwemadeout

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Kataluna — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:17:33 EST

I had NO idea that boys had erections or went through ANYTHING during adolescence, I thought they just got taller and voice changed. THANK you, Judy (I met her in Cape Cod at age 15), no one else was planning on sharing this with me...except you, Judy. Except you.

Kataluna

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

Brianne — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:17:14 EST

I have to reread this now. I also remember being thoroughly befuddled by all this "wet dream" business.

Brianne

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

mynameisrio — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:15:28 EST

Yay! Vive la Blume! This is the book that taught me how dirty dirty boys were (I only have sisters, so boys were foreign to me). Awesome. I never understood the thing about the olives, though.

mynameisrio

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

blackbirdfly — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:15:18 EST

Ok, this is like the ONLY Judy Blume book I didn't read. I can't believe it. I'm going to have to start re-reading all of my YA fiction.

blackbirdfly

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

TruculentandUnreliable — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:14:09 EST

LOVE you Judy Blume. Not my favorite Blume book, but damn good.

TruculentandUnreliable

Then Again, Maybe I Won't: Close Your Eyes, And Think Of Jersey City

AlisonAshleigh — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:11:54 EST

Haven't read the entire article yet but I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Will be back to comment more once I'm done!!!

AlisonAshleigh