Sweet Valley Diaries

Extra Drama #54: Twin Powers and Trigger Warnings

What a fun world

Do twins really have super communication powers? Does goofy drama make scary stuff easier to swallow? Have "mentally unstable" villains kept us from tackling our own mental health issues? TWO-BOY WEEKEND is the gift that keeps on giving...us more questions to ponder! Teya Patt returns, of course.

Book #42: CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE [Podcast]

A love triangle where the third party is Parental Prejudice

Sandra Bacon and Manuel Lopez may not be the stars of the Sweet Valleyverse, but if SVH is going to attempt to dip its toes in the murky waters of racial prejudice and interracial romance, you'd better believe that Diaries is ready to talk SO MUCH about it. No mere hour can contain Marissa and her guest, the brilliant Aisha Bhoori, on this week's extremely special and (weirdly/unfortunately) timely episode. Added bonus discussion of Jessica Wakefield, Shadow Gemini.

www.aishabhoori.com

Extra Drama #30: Shook [Podcast Bonus Ep]

Immerse yourself in a world with no cell service (because it's the mid '80s).

In this last Extra Drama of Season 3, longtime Sweet Valley High reader Cherelle Solomon is back to talk earthquakes, the appeal of Sweet Valley, and the very tantalizing possibility of reading two books at literally the same time (as long as one of them is Sweet Valley). 

Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so that new episodes appear automatically in your feed when the hiatus is over! In the meantime, check out SweetValleyDiaries.net or shoot me an email about your Sweet Valley memories (or, ya know, whatever) – [email protected]

Instagram: @sweetvalleydiaries

Twitter: @sweetvalley

Extra Drama #19: Brotherhood of Frenemies (w/Mark Sullivan)

🎶 Imagine all the people, looking like your crush 🎶

 

Mark Sullivan sits down at the microphone and before Marissa can even hit record, Pandora’s Podcasting Box cracks open. For a few minutes, this Sweet Valley High podcast becomes a movie podcast, a history podcast, a theater podcast, a politics-of-representation podcast. You guys, Sweet Valley is as deep as you wanna make it.

FYI, Allen Walters IS the under-appreciated Oracle photographer.

Further Reading:

Doris Kearns Goodwin on Storytelling 

ICYMI: JK Rowling on Cursed Child Casting and a related thinkpiece

Facial Fashions of Sweet Valley

I have referred to several of the men on the cover of Sweet Valley High novels as “Tom Cruise.” I didn’t do it because of an obsession with Cruise, or because of the characters’ tendencies to hate on antidepressants and jump around on chairs. I did it because I thought they looked like Tom Cruise. Let’s review, shall we?

       

Here’s a cover image from Book 12, When Love Dies. I’m not sure how accurate a statement this was. I mean, look how tall Steven Wakefield is! One thing I do know for sure: I am very, very funny. :D

It’s not just Steven that resembles Ol’ Top Gun.

 

 

 

OK. There is no doubt in my mind that Book 35‘s Aaron Dallas looks exactly like angry Tom Cruise. As for the Zack Morris/Jeffrey French corollary, I’ll let you be the judge:

 

 

Hee hee.

With Book 36’s entry a couple of week’s ago, I finally broke down and called out cover artist James Mathewuse. It’s not just Steven, Aaron, and Peter that look like Cocktails-era Cruise. About 75% of Sweet Valley boys resemble Tom Cruise in some way. I mean, even creepster Scott looks a little like Cruise with a mustache. 

 

Imagine that Tom’s wearing regular glasses. Or, imagine that Peter’s wearing sunglasses. Either way.

 

Flip through the old entries (or your own book collection) and you’ll see what I mean. There are plenty of occasions when Todd Wilkins, Roger Barrett, or even Bruce Patman look a little Cruise-y. Perhaps it’s because of his popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Or maybe, they don’t resemble Cruise at all. Maybe he looks like them!

OR---GAN---VAAAAAMP!

Dear Diablo Cody...

Did Have you guys heard the news from Variety? The news about Diablo Cody signing on to direct a new adaptation of Sweet Valley High? As you might be aware, in addition to being a reluctant Sweet Valley expert, I’m also a film scholar of sorts (at least that’s what my bachelor’s degree says), but I’m putting aside any thoughts whatsoever on the pros and cons of such a project. Because since I heard this news, all I can think is, “I WANT IN!”

So, if you know Diablo Cody, or you are Diablo Cody, or you, like, have a friend of a friend of Diablo Cody, what I’m asking is simple: read The Diaries. Read them all, from beginning to end, and tell me you don’t want me on team ridiculous-teen-series-remake. I’ll be, like, an advisor.

Whatever, guys. I can dream!

Love,

Marissa

 

P.S. Book 33 is coming this weekend. Promise.

P.P.S. We’re both from Chicago. Just sayin.