Past Present Future

[Robert]

I finished re-reading The Secret of the Old Clock, by “Carolyn Keene” on May 2, 2008. When I was a child, my parents ordered a complete set of Hardy Boys books, but Nancy Drew came instead. I read all the Nancy Drew books. I was probably the only boy who did that. Looking at it now, I see that the formula is simple and the plotting based largely on fortunate coincidences which get the young girl “sleuth” out of jams. “Clues” turn up in each chapter, and they lead her lock-step to success, though most chapters end with a cliff-hanger. Nancy does dangerous things and lucks out or in many cases gets help from her “chums” rather than figuring out the answer. Yet she is the protagonist. From fifty years later I can’t be sure, but I suspect these books had something to do with my lifelong feminism. I find it curious that the publisher has not updated the anachronistic language -- they make “photostats” instead of photocopies. The stories remain in the 1930s setting, which will certainly seem musty to kids today. Since every volume was a committee job, with a draft revised substantially by editors, there’s nothing sacred about the original text. Yet I loved reading this book, then and now, in part because it was a relief from the hyper-sophistication of modern media, entertainment, and worse, advertising. We were less complicated people when these books were written, and that seems both good and bad.

[Jessaka]

I prefer the older books and tried to read the newer ones and couldn't. Plus when the company began updating the books in 1959, i bought all of the books that were written before that update. the company basically ruined them, and some of the writers are better than others.

I think feminism in a male is inborn, just as I think my being a tomboy is. I played with cars, not dolls as much. And I think sexual preferences are inborn as well.

I began reading some of the Hardy Boys, and yet it is hard to know which ones are the good ones, and so don't wish to waste my money. But a little research shows who wrote which books, whether Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys. I also like the Dana Sisters. Have you ever read them? I do get tired of Lettie who is their enemy, and the revenge that they take out on her and visa versa. As to Hardy Boys, I really liked Cabin Island. Also found some of the Bobbsey Twins to be cute as they came before the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please!]

I wouldn't say it's all luck or that Nancy is always saved by chums but I catch your drift. She does do a great deal of legwork and if a bone is thrown our way, it takes quick wits to use it to the max. However this volume has several glitches. I agree with both Josey & Robert about a company editing the heck out of ideas.

On one hand, it's a fun experience for a book to launch into action after a few opening sentences. Canadian author Lyn Hamilton was great at sticking to the core progression; while building her cast very well and sketching settings of tremendous cultural flavour.

Indeed 'the Stratemeyer Syndicate' went too far and stamped the life out of Nancy Drew tales. I'd love to read Mildred A. Wirt's own mysteries (the chief Nancy manuscript author). I tip my hat to both of you folks for tomboy & feminism openness.

[Margaret]

I, too, love the original Nancy Drew books, with Nancy and her chums riding in her roadster chasing the swarthy villains and coming to the aid of helpless, hapless widows and spinsters. Oh my!

That could be why I wrote THE BIG BIRTHDAY MYSTERY, (An exciting Chancy Clew Adventure!)This pithy parody is NOT written for children. Although it contains no dirty words, if you have a dirty mind...whoa!

I recently had the pleasure of reading several pages to the public in an even called Author! Author! and still can hear the laughter of the ringing in my ears.
One reviewer said it had her 'giggling like an idiot every few pages'. Check it out: here at Goodreads and also at amazon.com & B&N.

My new parody, STARVE CURSE HATE (Cynthia St Clair's Search for What-ever!)is also available!

Would love to hear your comments!