LetHerEatCake

Nancy Drew 16: The Clue of the Tapping Heels | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

3. Controversies! In the 1939 edition, Nancy and George are drugged (this was removed from the 1969 edition due to protests). The 1939 edition also featured some discrimination in the text. As for 1969, which I noticed, Nancy mentions attending church as much as she can; criticisms addressed this in the story.

In addition, we've talked about Bess's portrayal throughout the books. Thoughts on her portrayal this time? #NancyDrewBR #LetHerEatCake

Bookwormjillk They need to let Bess eat. That‘s her business. The church thing stuck out to me too. 5d

bookandbedandtea Most (all?) of the books have had a mention of Nancy and others attending church so the idea has always been present. But the conversation in this book was so abrupt that it stood out to me as weird. And I totally agree with @Bookwormjillk (and lots of others) that Bess is wonderful and everyone needs to leave her alone about food! ☹️ 4d

BarkingMadRead Ok now I‘m second guessing the cruise, this is what I get for reading it in the beginning of the month 🤣 because Nancy and George get drugged in my version 4d

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Ruthiella I didn‘t really pay attention to the church bits maybe because as @bookandbedandtea points out, this is present in many of the previous books. But for sure the bit about Bess and chocolate cake stood out. I do think, at least, it‘s almost always George who is teasing Bess about her eating habits. At least in the versions I‘m reading. (edited) 4d

JenlovesJT47 I like Bess and hate the way they pick on her for eating. Even the little old lady made a snarky comment about her not being able to fit into her old costumes! Poor Bess. At least she always has a good attitude about it! 4d

JenlovesJT47 And knowing how rampant the fat shaming is, I bet she‘s not even “fat”. Just not skinny like Nancy. 4d

lauraisntwilder The church conversation felt weird. Nancy has consistently gone to church throughout the ones I've read, but like @booksandbedandtea said, this felt abrupt. Very forced 4d

lauraisntwilder They need to leave Bess alone. Miss Carter's comments especially bugged me. 4d

Librarybelle The church comments were very abrupt in this one, and I think that‘s what made them really stand out this time, other than the other mentions. @Bookwormjillk @bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @JenlovesJT47 @lauraisntwilder 4d

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead I looked at three separate sites for this one, @BarkingMadRead , and they were all over the place with what happened! Maybe they were completely wrong about the cruise ship, so you didn‘t miss anything. So bizarre! I thought it strange a cruise ship would appear for 1939… 4d

JenlovesJT47 I don‘t even remember the church comments, can someone refresh my memory? 4d

DGRachel After the last one being kinder to Bess, the fat-shaming stood out. I don‘t remember thinking anything of it as a kid, but it makes me mad now. Leave her alone. The church elements were a lot stronger in this one. They stood out, too, and I wondered what was going on in the world when this one was printed. 4d

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella makes a good point that it's typically George who teases Bess about food and her weight. Their relationship has always struck me as sibling-like so, while unnecessary, I kind of brush it off the way Bess seems to do. But Miss Carter's comments surprised and annoyed me this time. 4d

Librarybelle @JenlovesJT47 I cannot remember the exact conversation, but I seem to recall questions about going to church and being able to continue investigating after church. For me, it was the way it was introduced into the narrative that really stuck out to me. 4d

dabbe @JenlovesJT47 That part really bothered me, too. So patronizing! 🤯 4d

JenlovesJT47 Yeah I think George teasing Bess sometimes is not a huge deal because they‘re like siblings, but EVERYONE has to make snarky comments about it. It gets old. 4d

CogsOfEncouragement @DGRachel Yes! The last story was so much better in that Bess just liked food. That's cute, that's fun. This is the second book they didn't describe her as plump when introducing her in Chapter 1 at least. Progress?

I do always like that Bess doesn't run straight into danger like Nancy and George seem too willing to do. She usually comes around to their way of thinking but sometimes she is the voice of reason. 4d

AnneCecilie I noticed the church reference as well and thought it stood out. But I don‘t remember any references to religion in the previous books. 4d

DebinHawaii I don‘t think the church comments caught my attention but the shaming Bess over a piece of chocolate cake sure did. 🤬 Bad George! 4d

kwmg40 I did notice the comments about going to church and the ones about Bess's appetite. The former didn't bother me, though they seemed completely unnecessary, but I do get annoyed with the treatment of Bess, who's a character I really like. 2d

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