Drew, Nancy Drew

[lastandleast]

I'm obsessed with Nancy Drew right now. I never read her mystery books when I was a kid, but of course knew of her. Who doesn't? She's the grandmother of everything from Sweet Valley High to Scooby Doo, and as indelibly part of our society as Mickey Mouse and O.J. Simpson.

But I recently stumbled across the fabulous biography Girl Sleuth: Nancy

Comments

[mistressrenet]

I never read those. I did devour Alfred Hitchcock's Three Investigators, though. I really want to read The Boy Detective Fails.

[primavera7]

But it's a slippery slope: just how long will it take for George to be rewritten as a lesbian?

::ahem:: Ever read the Mabel Maney "Nancy Clue" spoofs? Not exactly subtle, but pretty hilarious.

I grew up on thrift store copies of the original books--I mean from 1930 on. I loved them, but remember being shocked by the casual racism. I tried to read some of the updated ones and thought they were awful, but that may be because the originals are embedded in my memory.

Taylor really was born 30 years too late. He manages to be both worn around the edges and luminous this time around (tm). The last time they surfaced, he was merely worn around the edges. Maybe third baby is a charm. He's sounding better than he has in about seven years, too. The last part of "Something Going Round" gives me that old holy crap! frisson.
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[ginger_root]

If you cut wonderful in half, you still end up with something pretty great.

Well said! Yesyes!

[azureina]

Oh, I grew up on the Nancy Drew books from the 1950s. The summer between 5th and 6th grade I was in a cast, and spent the time reading every book in the series our public library had.

In the third grade, I ordered a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys adventure mystery from my Weekly Reader (Remember those?), and was annoyed with the writer that Nancy and Frank did not hook up. Ned Nickerson did nothing for me; Nancy and Frank were where it was at. lol

And for all my Nancy Drew love and devotion, all I have to show for it is a book I picked up in a local antique shop for $5. There are two stories in it: The Haunted Bridge (© 1937, 1972) and The Clue of the Tapping Heels (© 1969). I think I'm going to have to crack it open and read it a little more closely. (And browse some more local antique shops and see what else I can dig up.)

[stormyscout]

I was just as obsessive about Nancy Drew when I was a girl as I can be about Hanson from time to time. I remember once even drawing courage and strength from her when I had to get blood drawn . . . I thought, "Be brave. Like Nancy Drew. She wouldn't cry if someone had to poke her with a needle." Thanks for the book recommendation--I put it on hold at the public library! How are things with you? I've been out of the loop since my teaching has consumed my life . . . but spring break is almost upon us. (c;