Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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Don't like any of this series.
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Turkan
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Feb 22, 2013 09:41AM

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They're really good books! And definitely appropriate for upper elementary/middle schoolers. The books are funny, and kids will be able to connect with the characters. Greg, the main character, isn't always nice to his friends and doesn't always do the "right" thing, but often talks it out with his mom or in his diary. Quick reads, so it'd be easy to blow through one after dinner one night.

I agree completely, adults may not like them but they weren't written for adults, they were written for children!!


I think that's mean, Diary of a wimpy kid is one of the nicest series out there

I believe this is an entirely different book depending on whether you're an adult or child reading it. A child sees the story at face value, with the juvenile activities that the child thinks are terribly amusing because they are children.
The fun as an adult is seeing how perfectly Kinney catches the nearly complete self-absorption of a typical middle school kid. When I read it, I laughed, not at the situations, but at the way, time and again, Greg just doesn't get it, and can't get it, because he's a kid. Adults try to influence his behavior constantly, but they never succeed because none of them really understand where he's coming from, and just how self-absorbed he is. I really love how this is captured in his character. Greg is not a bad kid, really. He's just at an age where doesn't really think about other people, and how situations affect them. He doesn't think about the consequences of his actions, and doesn't really learn the expected lessons when faced with those consequences, because he's a kid. Sure, the problems he goes through are minimal - but at that time in a person's development, minimal problems seem like major obstacles. It's very real, in a way few children's books are.
As to appropriateness: Certainly no sex or drugs. Minimal low-key violence. Quite a bit of bullying or at least less than socially correct behavior that is presented as acceptable by the narrator, because he doesn't know any better. At times this behavior is corrected by adults in the story. Though the narrator never really gets it, the reader should. Particularly if you read it with your child, you should be able to get the point across. ("Greg thinks that's OK. How do you think so-and-so feels about it?")
My kid isn't fond of reading. The format of the book made it very approachable to her.
Chris wrote: "I'll speak up in defense of the books (at least the first one - the only one I've read), and why (as an adult reader) I liked it.
I believe this is an entirely different book depending on whether ..."
You make a very good point that the book is different to the different ages that read it. This is one of those books where it all depends on how you see it, I completely agree with you on that point.
Personally, I did not like the book for the very same reason that you did. I was in middle school when I read the book and I found the main character rude, obnoxious, and an insult to people who (at the time) were my age. In this day and age, a lot fewer middle school-high school students are worried about "being popular" and all of that, and are more worried about finding friends that actually care about them and, quite frankly, having fun. Yes, there are still people who are obsessed with that concept, but that number goes down each passing year, making this series and this book just that little bit harder to relate to as a pre-teen to teenager.
Also as a kid, whereas (like you said) adults might find Greg's obliviousness funny, I found it extremely irritating that someone could be that self-absorbed and that oblivious to what they're doing to other people time and time again. It just makes me think How could this guy not get it yet? Now, teenagers are never wrong, and that's just a fact of life ;) but there's a point where after a hundred failed attempts, even the most stubborn of teenagers are able to admit that they're wrong. Or at the very least try to make it right again. Greg's disposition is that of a littler kid, not a middle schooler, who refuses to believe he is ever wrong, or ever mean, or that the world revolves around anything but him.
Not only that, Greg's antics were extremely childish, selfish, egotistical, lazy, and plain stupid. What I really wanted to do the entire time I read the book was grab Greg by the shoulders, shake him and yell, "What's wrong with you, you nutcase?!" It's hard to like a book, if you don't like the characters.
Now on the other hand, my younger sister (who was in third grade at the time) loved these books because they were funny to her. She understood the jokes because they were more her speed.
I do agree with you, Chris, that the humor of these books all depends on your age, and your outlook on the events of the series.
I believe this is an entirely different book depending on whether ..."
You make a very good point that the book is different to the different ages that read it. This is one of those books where it all depends on how you see it, I completely agree with you on that point.
Personally, I did not like the book for the very same reason that you did. I was in middle school when I read the book and I found the main character rude, obnoxious, and an insult to people who (at the time) were my age. In this day and age, a lot fewer middle school-high school students are worried about "being popular" and all of that, and are more worried about finding friends that actually care about them and, quite frankly, having fun. Yes, there are still people who are obsessed with that concept, but that number goes down each passing year, making this series and this book just that little bit harder to relate to as a pre-teen to teenager.
Also as a kid, whereas (like you said) adults might find Greg's obliviousness funny, I found it extremely irritating that someone could be that self-absorbed and that oblivious to what they're doing to other people time and time again. It just makes me think How could this guy not get it yet? Now, teenagers are never wrong, and that's just a fact of life ;) but there's a point where after a hundred failed attempts, even the most stubborn of teenagers are able to admit that they're wrong. Or at the very least try to make it right again. Greg's disposition is that of a littler kid, not a middle schooler, who refuses to believe he is ever wrong, or ever mean, or that the world revolves around anything but him.
Not only that, Greg's antics were extremely childish, selfish, egotistical, lazy, and plain stupid. What I really wanted to do the entire time I read the book was grab Greg by the shoulders, shake him and yell, "What's wrong with you, you nutcase?!" It's hard to like a book, if you don't like the characters.
Now on the other hand, my younger sister (who was in third grade at the time) loved these books because they were funny to her. She understood the jokes because they were more her speed.
I do agree with you, Chris, that the humor of these books all depends on your age, and your outlook on the events of the series.

It's like a uick funny book it's meant to just make you laugh not be totally engrossed in it geesh people pipe down.
Jerry wrote: Tyler wrote: "don't agree :("
wut r u like 7 of course u think its funny
Okay. First of all I don't like it, I don't hate it.It's okay and great for kids. But if you hate it, and if Tyler likes it, what's your problem? You keep your opinions to yourself, mister. If you don't like it say it, don't go and insulting other people.
wut r u like 7 of course u think its funny
Okay. First of all I don't like it, I don't hate it.It's okay and great for kids. But if you hate it, and if Tyler likes it, what's your problem? You keep your opinions to yourself, mister. If you don't like it say it, don't go and insulting other people.


You all have good points, and to each his own! For me, I really really did not like this book, or this series, or the movies. They're irritating, disgusting, and mind-numbingly stupid. The characters are... just wow. There is NO plot whatsoever, and everything is so over-exagggerated that it makes me want to throw this book into a lake or something!
But hey, different age groups like different things, and different people like different things. This is my opinion, and I completely respect other people's opinions!
But hey, different age groups like different things, and different people like different things. This is my opinion, and I completely respect other people's opinions!



deleted user wrote: "The books are pretty stupid, but the movies are surprisingly amusing, and I like the movie way better than the books... wow that is something I don't often say"
That's what she said.
That's what she said.

Teresa wrote: "Is the movie good? Have u seen all of them? Is it at all like the book or is it totally different? I haven't seen any of them! I really want to see them!"
the movies are some what like the book
the movies are some what like the book


I agree. A lot of the things Greg wrote about reminded me of my brothers, who are right around Greg's age.

the movies are some what l..."
Yeah I have seen them now they are close to the book




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