But then the EMP pulse knocked out all of their electronics, so Claudia dug out the landline ...

[apocalypsos]

Aaaaaand now I kind of want a BSC post-apocalyptic story.

But, yeah. I spotted on Jezebel that Scholastic wants to reissue the Baby-Sitter's Club books with updates for the current day, and I had basically the same reaction as a lot of the people in the comments.

What's wrong with them the way they are?

Are they dated? Yeah, sure. But I can recall watching reruns of Gilligan's Island and I Dream Of Jeannie and Bewitched when I was a kid, not to mention reading Stephen King books in my early teens that were written around the time I was born, and I actually managed to survive decades-old cultural references without suffering a massive embolism. And seriously, a large part of the fun of reading the books was laughing at what Claudia wore. I'm sorry, but even back then it was hilaaaaaarious. She goes out in public like that?! Bwahahahahahaha!

But there's one thing that makes an update of the BSC books patently ridiculous, and it's the cell phone.

I can understand that they would update perms and typewriters, but all of these girls would have cell phones at this point. Much like a lot of plots set in the past, a cell phone completely eliminates the need for a lot of plots where you simply can't communicate with someone and -- using an example from the Jezzie comments -- race a sick child to a hospital because you can't reach their parents at a game. It also completely eliminates the need for meetings three times the week at a house with an available phone. There comes a point where you've gone from updating the books for the modern day and completely altering the landscape of the stories.

And as is stated in the Jezzie write-up, if they're "classics," then no touching!

EDIT: Also, it's maybe a little bit criminal that there is not a BSC futurefic out there in which a grown Claudia goes on Project Runway.

Comments

[denorios.livejournal.com]

I hate it when they do this. They re-released all the old Enid Blyton books 'updated for the modern day', and it made me so mad. Yes, they're dated and old-fashioned and pretty racist and sexist, to boot. They're a product of their time - what's wrong with leaving them that way? Why do we have to rewrite the past to suit us now? These books were all dated when I read them, and I coped.

It's the same with movies - they're always trying to 'make them relevant' to modern audiences. Why? Half the movies they talk about, I wasn't born when they were made and I enjoy them just fine. Give modern audiences and readers a little credit!

[seedyapartment.livejournal.com]

EDIT: Also, it's maybe a little bit criminal that there is not a BSC futurefic out there in which a grown Claudia goes on Project Runway.

I WANT THIS MORE THAN LIFE.

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Never read the babysitter's club but I remember coming across some modernized Bobbsey Twins books which were wrong on so many levels.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

"You left your kids behind as a zombie distraction? That's rule 4! Never sacrifice the kids to a horrible AAAUGH MY BRAINS!"

[lots42.livejournal.com]

I remember the old Bobbsey Twin books where the dad was an anti-child-abuse vigilante. They also had a fat, cheerful black maid. So fucked up.

[lovetheboys.livejournal.com]

Oh good grief.

You know, for all I spent a good two years of my childhood obsessed with the books, they didn't stick with me. Tamora PIerce, Anne McCaffrey, Lillian Jackson Braun, and the like did though...

But did you know they made the Babysitter's club into graphic novels?

I cringed when I saw those at my library...

[conuly]

Actually, I think the graphic novels are kinda awesome.

[conuly]

I always thought they met up three times a week to gawk at each other's clothes and eat ding-dongs.

[sabra-n.livejournal.com]

They'd better not be updating Claudia's outfits. Reading about those bizarre things was a highlight of every book! (They were bizarre in the 90s, too, no?)

[conuly]

Yeah, they kinda were.

[sabra-n.livejournal.com]

Aaaw, damn. But it's not like there aren't silly fashions to choose from today, I guess. (Rompers, anyone?)

...Erm. Sorry if you like rompers.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

I kind of think the graphic novel is a little bit awesome.

I really like the art in it.

[ravenskye8.livejournal.com]

Aw, man... Don't mess with my BSC... *sigh*

And you're right - I mean - updating the stories makes most of the plotlines unintelligible...

I would love to see them do a "BSC girls grown up" book, and talk about what they're all doing as adults... That would be cool...

One of my favorite things about the series though is that I know the "secret" of Stoneybrook...