Lindsay and Juliet

[CajunBookLady]

We learn a great deal about Lindsay in these chapters. Do your feelings for her change? How would you describe her now?

 ---Well I don't feel sorry for her. Just ecause you have rought imes in your life doesn't mean you should take it out on anyone else.

Are you surprised to learn she'd been best friends with Juliet as a young kid?

 ---no, there is usually I reason you push someone away like that.

In this chapter, just when Sam thinks she's escaped her awful fate, we learn of Juliet's suicide. How does this tie into Sam's death? We can guess how much Juliet's probably been tormented by being so rejected, and we know about her young friendship with Lindsay. Is she any less mysterious of a character now?

---not at all

[Zeal]

I agree!  I thought this post was very insightful, as well.

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Vermontcozy wrote:

Vtcozy wrote;  You are not alone..You were able to see the different layers of Lindsay,as with all the characters,very insightful..Appreciate your thoughts...Vtc  Susan

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Sunny206 wrote:

Well, I think I'm on my own here when I say this, but I liked Lindsay. There's a vulnerability to her--one that you can't see at first, that becomes apparent when Sam tells the story about Lindsay throwing up at the restaurant or about how Lindsay and Juliet's friendship fell apart--that makes me feel for her. I don't think she's afraid of becoming unpopular. I think she's worried about losing control, or losing the strong, confident front she keeps up.

I was a little surprised that Juliet and LIndsay were friends, but it became more apparent as Lindsay's behavior became more toxic.

Something horrible--I almost thought less of Juliet for committing the suicide. Bullying is a horrible thing with lifelong effects, but as I read further into the story (past these chapters), Juliet's goals became apparent: to end it for herself, and to make everyone feels the effects of it. So I wonder: Does this make her selfish? If she's single-mindedly fixated on her own demise, without thought to the effect on others (maybe not her friends, but her family certainly, like her younger sister) doesn't this make her a little like Lindsay, who is focused on keeping up her wall and also single-mindedly focused on her friends?

Just some thoughts.

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[Tenrbe]

I wasn't too surprised to learn that Julet and Lindsay used to be childhood friends. It made a lot of sense -- Lindsay's behavior and attitude towards Juliet. She is less mysterious of a character, but it just shows how much more awful of a person Lindsay is.

[djaq]

We learn a great deal about Lindsay in these chapters. Do your feelings for her change? How would you describe her now?  I think in these chapters, you start to realize that Lindsay isn't nearly as perfect as she is made out to be. At the beginning you see her life as somewhat of a "dream", almost. Like she is the girl with the life that people only wish they could have. Feelings for Lindsay deffinatly change because I think for Sam as well as the reader, you start to see how cold this character really is. Now, we look at her differently because we can start to see how Lindsay treats others.. if that makes sense. lol. Sam is fortunate enough now, to be Lindsay's "friend", so she is almost blind to Lindsay's cruelty, and her treatment of others.. So when she learns that Juliet Skyes and Lindsay used to be best friends.. Well, it starts to open up a new view of Lindsay's character. 

Are you surprised to learn she'd been friends with Juliet as a young kid? Not all. She seems like the type of person who would be best friends with someone one minute, and turn on them the next. Lindsay hasn't exactly proven herself trustworthy or reliable.

In this chapter, just when Sam thinks she's escaped her awful fate, we learn of Juliet's suicide. How does this tie into Sam's death? We can guess how much Juliet's probably been tormented by being so rejected, and we know about her young friendship with Lindsay. Is she any less mysterious of a character now? Juliet's suicide ties into Sam's death, perhaps because even though Sam never really was mean to Juliet directly, she never helped her or stood up for her when Lindsay bullied her. Sam always just went along with Lindsay's actions, and never cared about Juliet. I think learning about the friendship between Lindsay and Juliet makes the character seem less mysterious, because now we start to understand really why she is this way. Lindsay's constant verbal abuse and bullying kind of started to change Juliet. And perhaps this is why Juliet started to keep to herself, and rarely interact with other kids. She probably felt alone and scared after her best friend turned on her, and Juliet had no one else to go to.

[tweezle]

It was no surprise to me to find that Lindsay and Juliet were connected as a dislike (ok - hate) like that would only run that deep out of betrayal or guilt. I'm still not liking Lindsay and my heart only goes out to Juliet more.

[luna12TK]

Learning about Lindsay and Juliet's past friendship has given me an eye opener into who Lindsay is.  While I don't approve of her actions and treatment of others the new information does help you understand why she acts like this.  She herself is just scared of others making fun of her so she lives by the creed to attack others before they can attack you.

I was not at all surprise to find out that Lindsay and Juliet were friends before.  There is always more to the story when someone is so vehemenent towards another.  The way Lindsay reacted to and treated Juliet you knew that there had to be something between them.  Also, it explains a little of why Juliet has never stood up to Lindsay.

I definately this Juliet is a lor less mysterious although I think there is still more to learn about her as the book continues.  I think Juliet's suicide was set up to be another eye opener for Sam.  She needed to see that you can not always change or erase the pain someone feels by ignoring it or preventing one event.  Also, I think it was to show that no matter what Sam did fate had decided that someone was going to die that night. 

[kherbrand]

I am not surprised to learn that Lindsay and Juliet had been friends.  I can think of girls that I was friends with in elementary school that by high school we didn't even really speak to each other - we just changed as we grew up and started to hang out with other people with our interests. 

In this case though, it definitely sounds like something happened.  We just don't know if it was something between Lindsay and Juliet - or I am thinking it might have even been something in Juliet's family (since she killed herself there might be some other family "mental" issues going on - just a thought).  I am so curious to read on and find out what it is that made Lindsay so mean towards her.

I would like to know if Juliet kills herself after the girls get into the car accident - or if her death only happens when the girls DON'T get in the car accident.  I wonder if we will ever know this!

[2britt13]

My feelings toward Lindsay had changed by the end from what she had done to Juliet and what had gone one between them.  In the beginning Lindsay didn't really bother me she was just like any other preppy teenager.  But, by the end she annoyed the day lights out of me.  It was mainly what she did to Juliet.  Juliet never really did anything to Lindsay except be her friend and say she did something when really Lindsay was the one who did it.  I don't think Juliet deserved to be treated the way she was.  Lindsay had no right treating her that way when she did nothing and that just annoys me!

[starie_nite]

We learn a great deal about Lindsay in these chapters. Do your feelings for her change? How would you describe her now? First of all, I can't say that my feelings about Lindsay change, but my understanding of her does.  Having been on the receiving end of a great deal of teasing when in high school, I don't think I ever contemplated that those doing the teasing might have had issues of their own.  When you're in the middle of that, you don't really think beyond your own issues.  I do understand how that feeling of fear might cause someone like Lindsay to become a bully.  It takes a strong person to overcome the family and personal issues and a lot of maturity to set that aside and rise above it.  I am actually glad that Oliver didn't write Lindsay to all of sudden become a better person.  It's understandable that after repeating the same day over and over you might change (as Sam does), but it would have been completely out of left field if the same thing happened with Lindsay.

Are you surprised to learn she'd been best friends with Juliet as a young kid? Not really.  I don't think there are many people who can say that they have been life-long friends.  Time, circumstances, personality changes, and life all serve to change who we are and that doesn't necessarily mean that we grow together.  Sometimes we grow apart.

In this chapter, just when Sam thinks she's escaped her awful fate, we learn of Juliet's suicide. How does this tie into Sam's death? We can guess how much Juliet's probably been tormented by being so rejected, and we know about her young friendship with Lindsay. Is she any less mysterious of a character now? She is certainly less mysterious.  You gain insight into Juliet's life and how it has been for her to be so tormented for the last few years 

[J.R._BookWorm]

I'm not really sure how I feel about Lindsay now.....

I wasn't really suprised that Lindsay and Juliet used to be friends.....

[Think-Im-Liste…]

We learn a great deal about Lindsay in these chapters. Do your feelings for her change? How would you describe her now?

I think she's pathetic. Before I sorta liked her except for the whole making fun of others and being shallow thing. Now i don't think I could be friends with someone who would hurt a person she called a best friend because they cared about her

Are you surprised to learn she'd been best friends with Juliet as a young kid?

actually, I sort of expected them to be close. It's not like she was fat or ugly or anything and that's why she was making fun of her. There had to be a better reason then that.

In this chapter, just when Sam thinks she's escaped her awful fate, we learn of Juliet's suicide. How does this tie into Sam's death? We can guess how much Juliet's probably been tormented by being so rejected, and we know about her young friendship with Lindsay. Is she any less mysterious of a character now? Sam was supposed to save Juliet. I dont think she's that mysterious. It was obvious from the beginning why she would do it. a lot of people kill themselves for being made fun of. And it was just worse because it was her best friend

[flarglepuf]

We learn a great deal about Lindsay in these chapters. Do your feelings for her change? How would you describe her now?

 Honestly, after learning all I did about Lindsay in these chapters, I start to really hate her.  She seems hypocritical, self-centered, and she thinks popularity is the most important thing in the world.

Are you surprised to learn she'd been best friends with Juliet as a young kid?

I am incredibly surprised.  Prior to these chapters, I had thought that Lindsay was always popular, always in the "in" crowds.  But when they tell of her actual friendship with Juliet, it adds a bit more depth to her character, and also reveals quite a lot about Juliet.

In this chapter, just when Sam thinks she's escaped her awful fate, we learn of Juliet's suicide. How does this tie into Sam's death? We can guess how much Juliet's probably been tormented by being so rejected, and we know about her young friendship with Lindsay. Is she any less mysterious of a character now?

When I read of Juliet's suicide, I immediately thought there was some sort of fate working on the story: someone must die that night, regarless of who it is.  However, once we learn of Juliet's reason for suicide, the story takes a turn.  Instead of focusing on saving Sam from dying, now we're focusing on keeping Juliet from killing herself.  It's a turn for the better, and honestly made me more interested in the book.  Juliet is no longer as mysterious, instead she's broken, and both the reader and San want to help her.

[sarah_in_ca]

I'm not surprised Juliet and Lindsay were close friends when they were younger.  That was before things began to change for Lindsay, so I believe their friendship was real.  Unfortunately, Lindsay's life fell apart and she began her pattern of focusing blame on others and ridiculing them to protect herself.

My feelings for Lindsay did not change from beginning to end because she had so many opportunities to be sincere and yet chose to be cold and arrogant--very insecure girl.

[SabH-CrystalRe…]

It was obvious they had indeed some sort of relationship before Lindsay's rise to highschool queen. But the way Sam finds out makes me doubt somehow the friendship between her and Lindsay. She always seemed hypocritical somehow, plus if they're best friends why was this hidden? It became obvious Lindsay has a big secret she was ashamed of.