1. Nina is controlling the situation wayyy more than Massie expected, so Massie is lashing out on people she has control over. Any disses she’s thrown Nina’s way seem to bounce right off her, but Massie knows she can hurt Claire, and she needs to feel some semblance of control.
2. In the wise words of Alison DiLaurentis, “if you ignore it, it will go away.” Justttt kidding, Nina is a stain that won’t rub out of the OCD/Briarwood social scene. No matter what a therapist could advise Massie to do, I don’t think she would be able to rest until Nina was sent packing. The girl just didn’t quit!
3. Ms. Obscena is the definition of fake it till you make it. She really deserves a round of applause for her performance, however extra it was. She came into a new country, reinvented herself and lived her dream until it all came crashing down. Meanwhile, she’s practically stolen her sister’s identity (and closet). It shows that just because someone seems like the coolest person in the world, they may have no idea what they’re really doing!
1. I wonder if Massie is also partially mad at herself for not being able to gain the upper hand. Even though Nina is new to OCD, a one grade difference at that age and school translates to a big gap in social status (as shown by Massie vs. Skye in INEBM and the drama around 9th grade boys in TBAMFS). So in the case of Massie vs. Nina, the playing field isn't even, but there's little that Massie can do about it.
3. I think the size of the boy experience/skill gap between Nina and the Pretty Committee is just as important as Nina's actual skill level. I'm ambivalent on how authentic Nina's persona is, but it was apparently excellent by Briarwood boy standards. Each girl was given five arrows at the Love Struck dash, but Nina ended up with seven boys at the end. In any case, since Massie's, Alicia's, and Claire's abilities in this area are far below Nina's, it was hard for them to counter her tactics. They only take down Nina at the end because they worked together and found her stash of stolen goods—if they hadn't, then she would have won outright.
1.Massie feels like Claire has completely upended everything she values? Massie is conflating the arrival of claire, with all of the negative events that are happening around her. The reason Massey is not lashing out at Nina is because she recognizes that Nina has the upper hand.
Or at least she believes she does.
3. I think Nina is really trying to keep up appearances with the pretty committee. She wants to seem like she's on the same level as them. I think she's full of it because she's trying so hard.
“a human hemorrhoid in Massie’s ass” I audibly laughed out loud.
1. Nina is controlling the situation wayyy more than Massie expected, so Massie is lashing out on people she has control over. Any disses she’s thrown Nina’s way seem to bounce right off her, but Massie knows she can hurt Claire, and she needs to feel some semblance of control.
2. In the wise words of Alison DiLaurentis, “if you ignore it, it will go away.” Justttt kidding, Nina is a stain that won’t rub out of the OCD/Briarwood social scene. No matter what a therapist could advise Massie to do, I don’t think she would be able to rest until Nina was sent packing. The girl just didn’t quit!
3. Ms. Obscena is the definition of fake it till you make it. She really deserves a round of applause for her performance, however extra it was. She came into a new country, reinvented herself and lived her dream until it all came crashing down. Meanwhile, she’s practically stolen her sister’s identity (and closet). It shows that just because someone seems like the coolest person in the world, they may have no idea what they’re really doing!
Really good points! #1 reminds me of the quote in Revenge of the Wannabes:
"Alicia ignored them [Kristen and Dylan]. ‘So Kuh-laire, where’s Layne Abeley? Don’t you usually eat at her table?’
Massie wasn’t surprised Alicia was attacking Claire. She was the weakest in the group and an obvious choice. It was what she would have done."
And indeed that's what Massie does in the next book.
That’s a great connection!
1. I wonder if Massie is also partially mad at herself for not being able to gain the upper hand. Even though Nina is new to OCD, a one grade difference at that age and school translates to a big gap in social status (as shown by Massie vs. Skye in INEBM and the drama around 9th grade boys in TBAMFS). So in the case of Massie vs. Nina, the playing field isn't even, but there's little that Massie can do about it.
3. I think the size of the boy experience/skill gap between Nina and the Pretty Committee is just as important as Nina's actual skill level. I'm ambivalent on how authentic Nina's persona is, but it was apparently excellent by Briarwood boy standards. Each girl was given five arrows at the Love Struck dash, but Nina ended up with seven boys at the end. In any case, since Massie's, Alicia's, and Claire's abilities in this area are far below Nina's, it was hard for them to counter her tactics. They only take down Nina at the end because they worked together and found her stash of stolen goods—if they hadn't, then she would have won outright.
1.Massie feels like Claire has completely upended everything she values? Massie is conflating the arrival of claire, with all of the negative events that are happening around her. The reason Massey is not lashing out at Nina is because she recognizes that Nina has the upper hand.
Or at least she believes she does.
3. I think Nina is really trying to keep up appearances with the pretty committee. She wants to seem like she's on the same level as them. I think she's full of it because she's trying so hard.