Reading Post #34

[desertvixen]

 So, um, I have been reading a lot of Nancy lately.  I blame Bookman's for putting me within an easy supply of crack.

 Some of the Nancy Drew Files ones I do remember, and some are new to me.  There seems to be a bit of effort in the middle of the series to enforce some sort of continuity.  I appreciate that.

 Also read two of the "blue spine" Hardy Boys books.  I kept one purely because of the laugh factor of the plot.  They're a little more hit and miss, having less plot and more action than their counterparts.

 I did read one of the modern day Hardy Boys books, but like the older ones, I find them to be hit and miss.  This one was pretty good - whoever came up with the supernatural angled books is in my debt.

 Three of the SuperMysteries also got read in this period.  One was really good, both in the 'ship aspect and plotwise - Exhibition of Evil.  One was eh on ship, okay on plot - Islands of Intrigue.  And one seems like it was written at that point in a series where the author (and yes, I know they're syndicate written/ghost written) decides to spend the whole book making fun of their series.  The mystery bit was pretty good, but some of the 'ship related aspects of the plot - the brothers are staying at Nancy's, and Carson Drew is out of town, Ned is busy being jealous, Brenda Carlton makes her poisonous appearance and kisses Frank Hardy, and dinner drama.  And Hardy Brothers in towels.  Unfortunately a) that's not on the cover art and b) I'm not sure WHO they were drawing on the cover art.  My scanner and that book have a date when I get home.

 Finally (to the relief of the non-Nancy fans), I read the Applewood reissue of THE original Nancy Drew book, The Secret of the Old Clock.  It's much better than the other 2.  Nancy is more likable, and the villains of the piece are just as poisonous as they were in my version.  The only real difference is editing out the caretaker, who is old, black, and in the scenes he is in, drunk.  Curious as to why they would have changed the age at which Nancy's mom dies (ten, originally, to three), because that definitely changes some of the dynamics.

 I read an interesting book on the formation of Texas politics called Made in Texas by Michael Lind. 

 There was a small Regency - A Worthy Opponent by Louise Bergin.  Not spectacular but worth keeping, especially for the end.  It starts out as an entrapment plot, and ends up as a true love plot. 

 I read the latest from Elizabeth Aston, The Second Mrs. Darcy.  It was as good as the first one, and better than the second or third one, IMO.  However, it could have used about a hundred more pages, because the end felt rushed, and one subplot got almost no attention despite being mentioned on the back cover.  Also, certain characters have not gotten what is coming to them.

 Lastly, I read Marriage, A History, and reviewed it in a separate post.

 I have the new Amanda Quick book, but either need a weekend night when I don't have to be up early, and have nothing else to do, or am saving it for my plane ride.  Haven't decided yet.

 DV

Comments

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

I read "Secret of the Old Clock" in (I think) 1977. Hardcover, yellow-spine copy, purchased at Safeway where I got all of my Nancy Drews. Not sure what edition that would have been. She still had the roadster, and I had no idea at the time what that was.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

It should have been the cleaned up one, if it was in the yellow spine.

The old black caretaker situation was the only real glaring problem in the book, IMO - I think in the update they tie him up and put him in the closet, or whack him over the head, but in the original they lure him away from the job with a ride in a fancy car and free liquour. It's also written in bad dialect. Nancy is "firm" with him because "she knows she has to".

Otherwise, it stays pretty much intact.

The originals had some serious class issues.

DV (who wants to make an animated Nancy icon when she gets home to her scanners, showing her differnt incarnations)

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Google just ran this link beside your comment alert:

http://www.literarture.net/

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Sweet!

DV