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LitsyEvents

Nancy Drew 08: Nancy's Mysterious Letter | Carolyn Keene

The next book in the #nancydrewreadalong hosted by @librarybelle

Librarybelle Thanks for reposting! 14h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 08: Nancy's Mysterious Letter | Carolyn Keene

Great discussion for The Clue in the Diary! If you haven‘t had a chance to participate, feel free whenever you are able!

Can you believe, #LittenDetectives , that we are on book 8 in the Nancy Drew series?

Nancy receives a letter that leads her on another sleuthing adventure. #NancyDrewBR

Discussion will be June 15th. All are welcome! If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know!!

rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, PurpleyPumpkin, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, catiewithac, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, mrp27, Deblovestoread, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, jlhammar, CSeydel, Ruthiella, inthegreensandblues, dabbe, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 14h

Bookwormjillk Interesting. Nancy‘s actually in the title this time! 14h

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk Yes! I thought that was interesting too. 14h

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BarkingMadRead Woohoo can‘t wait!! 14h

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead Yay! 14h

bookandbedandtea Already looking forward to it! 12h

dabbe Thanks, our hostest-with-the-mostest! 🤩😀🤗
8h

Bookwormjillk I was updating my #192025 tracker today and noticed these were being released around the same time as the Little House books. Not sure what my point is, but I found that interesting. 7h

Ruthiella What skills will Nancy acquire this time!?!?😁 7h

Librarybelle Yay, @bookandbedandtea ! 6h

Librarybelle Thanks, @dabbe ! 😘 6h

Librarybelle That is interesting, @Bookwormjillk ! 6h

Librarybelle @Ruthiella I‘m excited to find out! (edited) 6h

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AmandaBlaze

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

pick

I enjoyed this #NancyDrewBR. While there wasn't as much action, Ned Nickerson was finally introduced. He seems to be able to keep up with Nancy easily. Once again, one of Carson Drew's cases tied in with Nancy's.
#SeriesLove2024 #ReadAway2024
@Andrew65 @TheSpineView @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Hooray for Ned finally appearing! 1d

TheSpineView Fantastic! 1d

DieAReader 🥳Great! 1d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

It‘s time for our #NancyDrewBR discussion, #LittenDetectives !

I posted 5 questions as spoilers. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching #NancyDrewBR .

This was a fun one to read! Jump into the conversation whenever. I will post the official graphic for next month‘s book, Nancy‘s Mysterious Letter, tomorrow! Thanks for reading with me!

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

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5. The diary in Swedish is the centerpiece of this book. I wanted to close the questions by sharing this collection of diaries and other manuscripts housed at the Library of Congress: https://blogs.loc.gov/manuscripts/category/diaries/

I also liked this from George Mason University about diaries and letters: https://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/letters/whydo.html

Did you keep a diary? Do you still keep a diary? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I don‘t keep a diary, I do have a planner which I rip pages out of as the days go by, and I have a reading journal and a workout journal. I also have a gratitude journal but I have to start it 🙈 2d

Bookwormjillk The closest I've come to a diary is my reading journals which I've kept since 2014.

I kept thinking why doesn't she just google it? Imagine having to wait for a certain baker to come to work in order to get an answer to a question. Modern day sleuths must feel so pampered compared to Nancy! 2d

DGRachel I‘ve started journals off and on over the year. Mostly I have notebook ps dedicated to specific classes or coaching programs and I‘ll have sections of thoughts about the course that may dig deeper in feelings, but I always wonder how I‘ll dispose of them before I die so no one gets to or has to go through my babbling. 😂 1d

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DGRachel And to tag onto what @Bookwormjillk said about Google - I am old enough to remember doing research via card catalogs, microfilm, microfisch, and encyclopedias. Sleuths these days are spoiled. 🤣🤣 1d

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel One of the reasons I don't keep journals/ diaries is because I wouldn't want anyone reading them when I'm gone! 😆 RE Google, etc, when my daughter read these she was struck by the lack of cell phones. Nancy would see something suspicious then have to drive miles away to find a gas station with a phone. Detectives in the past certainly had a harder time of it! 1d

dabbe @DGRachel Agree 💯! And how about writing your entire research paper out on index cards so that you could move them around and sort/resort? 😂😂😂 1d

dabbe I keep a book journal full of favorite quotes from each book I read. I've also started a daily journal thanks to wonderful prompts provided by @TheBookHippie. I haven't written every day, but I've written more than I have in the past. 😀 1d

DGRachel @bookandbedandtea The phone boxes got me, too. I think of how reliant I am on mine and wonder how I ever lived without one. 😂 1d

Ruthiella I kept a journal when younger. I need to toss them, because reading them is embarrassing now. 😬 Definitely though, these books underscore how far we‘ve come technologically. How many people now keep notes and appointments on their phones instead of on paper? 1d

CogsOfEncouragement My grand gave me a diary for xmas when I was young, I was never good at keeping it up. My bf (now husband) gave me a journal during our dating & I wrote in that for a time. I kept a journal as a new mom. I gave it to my daughter on her 18th. I've got one for my son that I will give him soon too. Now I keep a bullet journal. Kind of a record of what I did each day, no deep thoughts. It has already been a handy record for my family. 1d

AmandaBlaze I had a diary when I was younger. It was more like a Harriet the Spy notebook than anything else. I wanted to be a detective back then. I didn't really keep up with it past age 8.
I have a book journal now, which I try to keep up to date. (edited) 1d

mrp27 My aunt gave me a Precious Momenta diary when I was young, third or fourth grade, & the first thing I wrote in it was about watching the royal wedding Princess Diana & Prince Charles. I kept up writing regularly until I got married, age 27 and threw all of them away when I moved cross country but wish I kept my childhood ones. I don‘t journal regularly anymore but I find myself writing during trying times. It‘s‘ helpful when working through stuff. 23h

Sace @DGRachel I‘m planning a glorious (and controlled and safe) bonfire for mine. 14h

Sace I‘ve kept many diaries and journals throughout my life. I used to keep only one at a time but now I jota notes and thoughts everywhere. Sometimes in my (analog) planner, sometimes in my journal. I do have a dedicated reading journal, but I only just recently in the last year started that one. I think my younger self wrote a lot more but older me sometimes can‘t manage more than “Good day today, but I‘m tired.” 🤣 14h

Roary47 @CogsOfEncouragement Yes! I have a journal for each of my kids talking about their highlights. I‘ve found my memory isn‘t the greatest so when they turn 18 they will have a log of everything they did and how proud I am of them. I had a Lisa Frank journal when I was younger. I read it a while ago and was Impressed at how much I caught on to as a kid. 13h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

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4. We finally meet Ned in this book! Though referenced briefly in a prior book - and that seems to me a continuity issue, given what we learn in this book - Nancy meets Ned at the scene of the fire. There is instant attraction!

I saw some comments from #LittenDetectives that they really enjoyed Bess in this one.

Thoughts to share on Bess, George, or Ned? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I love Ned. I don‘t remember him being mentioned before, but they could just be perimenopause 🤣 Bess and George always crack me up, although they aren‘t always super nice to each other! 2d

Bookwormjillk Bess says what we all would be thinking. Can we solve this mystery? I have stuff to do.

Ned was kind of just there. I hope he shows some personality at some point. 2d

DGRachel I liked that we got a proper intro to Ned as opposed to that weird one-liner. Bess and George are always delightful, but I‘ll confess that I don‘t remember a lot of specifics of their behavior in this book. 1d

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bookandbedandtea I've always related most to Bess as I, too, am not thrilled about getting dirty, would be hesitant to jump into danger, and am usually wondering when lunch is! 😃 I remember really liking Ned because he doesn't outshine Nancy. He's always impressed by her deductions and doesn't try to coddle her or take over. He was my first #litcrush and I still have a soft spot for him. 1d

dabbe @Bookwormjillk So many dates, so little time. 😂 1d

dabbe Maybe we should now keep track of how many times they eat, and/or how many hot fudge sundaes Bess wants? I forgot how hungry these books make me! 🤩 1d

Ruthiella I love Nancy‘s support Scooby Gang! Also, I‘m realizing the fact that Ned has a car is super useful! 1d

CogsOfEncouragement Ahhhh, Ned. Fun to have him around, and he's so darn willing to help. Keep that up buddy. @bookandbedandtea

I felt a little bad for Bess, her dates have to be postponed while Nancy is having adventures with her love interest. Nothing is fair in this life. @Bookwormjillk @dabbe 1d

AmandaBlaze I really like Ned. He is a good mystery helper, and seems as intelligent as Nancy. As Carson Drew mentioned, she seems to like him a lot more than the other guys she dated.
I like that even though Bess scares easily, she faces up to her fears. I always enjoy George's sarcasm. 1d

kspenmoll It was nice to finally meet Ned & have him be such a help to Nancy & her friends- not condescending towards her enthusiasm for solving crime. 24h

mrp27 I enjoy Bess and George I just don‘t really care for the food shaming. Thankfully there wasn‘t much of that in this book. Looking forward to more Ned and I too like that he works with Nancy and not try to out do or outsmart her. 23h

lauraisntwilder @mrp27 I agree about the food shaming. 22h

lauraisntwilder I love Bess. She's the voice of reason, but no one listens to her. By all means, put on your dungarees and go dig a hole on private property in the middle of the night, Nancy. Bess and I will be safely at home asleep! 22h

Roary47 I really like this mystery team. I‘m so glad they are together and helping each other again. 13h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

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3. Nancy and her friends experience a few adventures in this one - the most intense for me was the road rage episode!

Are there any “danger“ aspects that stick out for you?

Note for those keeping track of the bumps on the head: While we did not have a #NancyNogginKnockout , Nancy was slapped in the face!

BarkingMadRead 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 definitely less danger, and that road rage incident was super scary! Yikes! 2d

Bookwormjillk This one was danger lite. I agree the scene with the truck on the bridge was most intense. I don't think she even got tied up in this one did she? (edited) 2d

DGRachel The road rage was terrifying, I think because it‘s the event that seems most “real” of her adventures. 1d

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dabbe @DGRachel Especially because it seems to happen a lot these days, too! 😱 1d

Ruthiella I was expecting the road rage incident to somehow tie into the rest of the story because it usually does, but it didn‘t. 😂 Honestly, the slap surprised me the most. That‘s assault! 😱 1d

CogsOfEncouragement @Bookwormjillk I literally had the thought “huh, Nancy didn't get tied up in this one“ LOL

Nancy sure kept her composure after being slapped too. Another one of her skills and talents to be sure. 1d

AmandaBlaze I agree with @Ruthuella. I expected more to come from the truck incident. It was scary, though, especially when they came to the bridge. 1d

kspenmoll The road rage incident gave a contemporary feel to the novel! It seemed like it was intended to demonstrate Nancy‘s patience, & her ability to keep a clear head in the face of danger. 24h

mrp27 Agree with many others in thinking the road rage incident would figure into the plot. Also agree that the slap was startling, it took me by surprise. (edited) 24h

lauraisntwilder @Ruthiella Yes, exactly! I was sure that truck driver was going to show up again with the "bad guy." 22h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

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2. In the 1962 edition, two chapters feature a mail theft subplot. Of course, Nancy to the rescue!

According to Wikipedia, some readers are less impressed with this addition to the story - they do not understand the reasoning for this addition, especially since it did not appear in the 1932 edition.

If you read the 1962 edition, what are your thoughts on this?

Link to recent case of mail theft in the US in the comments... #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle https://www.uspsoig.gov/investigative-work/investigative-news-releases/former-po... 2d

BarkingMadRead Ok, I so read the 1962 version. I think the subplot helped to make our Swedish friend look a little less like a deadbeat, and it‘s definitely something that was huge back then, so I‘m not bad about it 2d

Bookwormjillk I only read the version with the mail theft so I wasn't looking for differences. I liked it though. I thought it was kind of ahead of its time with all the identity theft issues we have going on now. 2d

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DGRachel The cynic in me can‘t believe the postal service, Western Union, or law enforcement would act with such speed or urgency. Other than that, it didn‘t bother me as a plot point. I agree with @BarkingMadRead that it actually helped make the man whose name I cannot remember (curse of library books) a more sympathetic character. 1d

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel I agree that it's surprising that any of those agencies would be willing to act so quickly or on her say so. I also agree with @BarkingMadRead that it helps to show Mr Swenson in a good light. I wish I had the earlier version to see how his character was treated/ confirmed in that book. 1d

dabbe Is all of this mainly a small-town sort of thing, where everybody knows your name or at least has heard of the infamous Carson Drew? Maybe that's why they listen to Nancy and are willing to quickly do her bidding. 🤷‍♀️ 1d

Ruthiella I agree with @BarkingMadRead ! It was added to show that Mr. Swenson was a good dad and husband. You‘d think “why didn‘t he pick up the phone “, but I guess the Swensons didn‘t have one, which might not be extraordinary in the 60s and for sure in the 30s, many people would not have a home phone. 1d

CogsOfEncouragement It did give Nancy one more way to be a hero, and added a bit more peril for the girls. 1d

AmandaBlaze I agree with @BarkingMadRead. Joe Swenson becomes a much more enjoyable character when you realize he isn't neglecting his wife and Honey. 1d

Sace Honestly it never occurred to me to think Mr Swenson was a deadbeat. This is Nancy Drew and I guess I just assumed he was ok because generally the “bad guy” is not associated with “good guys”. So for instance, Foxy Felix‘s wife had character flaws. There was no way Mrs Swenson and Honey would be saddled with a deadbeat 1d

Read4life I agree with @BarkingMadRead . I didn‘t mind the subplot at all and liked that it put Mr. Swenson in a better light. 1d

kspenmoll The subplot is in my edition- the mail theft seemed to fit in to me- especially in the light of the Swensons. 24h

mrp27 I agree that in my 62 edition this subplot made sense to the plot as a whole. It made Mr. Swensen a good guy and explained why Honey and her mother were struggling. 24h

lauraisntwilder I don't think it added much and I can't believe no one else would have thought to try her "scheme" already. 22h

Roary47 I agree with everyone it was a needed subplot to make Mr Swenson a good husband and father. 14h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene

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1. While there are some differences between the 1932 edition and the 1962 (and later) edition, they are limited in scope, according to Wikipedia.

Which edition did you read? What are your overall thoughts of this, the 7th book in the series? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I believe mine was the 1962 version, but I have to double check. I feel like Nancy put herself into less danger in this one, which was a nice change. I did see the guilty party in advance this time, but not the accomplice. 2d

Bookwormjillk I believe I had the 1962 version, but I forgot to check before I returned it to the library. I had the one with the amazing house on fire cover. 2d

DGRachel Pretty sure mine was the 1962 version. I think this one my best my favorite to date. Plenty to make me roll my eyes, but I didn‘t want to throw the book across the room. Progress! 🤣🤣 1d

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bookandbedandtea I read the 1962 version. I think this is my favorite so far: Nancy hasn't recently learned a random skill* that just happens to be needed in this book, the relationships between Nancy, Bess, and George feel really solid, and we meet Ned! (*I do get a kick out of the random skills though!) 1d

dabbe I had the later book, and I forgot how much Ned and Nancy flirted at the beginning! I just remembered him as more of a sidekick like Bess and George who happened to be male. They were adorable in this book! 1d

Ruthiella 1962 Version! @dabbe I also was struck by all the blushing Nancy did at Bess and George‘s gentle teasing about Ned. 😊 I only remember him as a fixture (and I likely read them out of order at the time), so this meet cute is fun. 1d

CogsOfEncouragement I've got 1962. I'm glad Ned is in the mix. He proves helpful. I laughed when Nancy sees a house on fire she of course decides she should try to get in there just in case someone needs rescuing. I was relieved when she was unable to. I also laughed when of course Nancy knew some Swedish. 1d

AmandaBlaze I started with the 1962 edition and ended with 1931. The print version was 1962, but the ebook said 1931.
I like this one, especially the proper introduction to Ned Nickerson. I enjoyed the pacing and the mystery. It was another cross-over case between Nancy and Mr. Drew. 1d

dabbe @Ruthiella I read them out of order, too. Basically I read whatever I could get my hands on from the library! 😂 1d

Sace I read the 1962 edition. This one felt faster than some I‘ve read recently. Not sure I can explain it but this one had me hooked pretty quickly. I‘m currently reading The Haunted Showboat and it‘s felt a little slower (then again, I haven‘t had a lot of time to read either). 1d

Read4life I read the later version and enjoyed the pacing of this one. Ned and Nancy were so cute. 1d

kspenmoll I have the 1990 edition. This investigation seems more fast paced, with alot happening. 24h

mrp27 I read the 1962 edition. I liked this one and this one felt a lot less dangerous than the other mysteries. I love how Nancy always has a friend or family that she helps. 24h

lauraisntwilder I have the 1962 edition. I liked this one, for not being quite so far-fetched, but I also kind of love how commonplace crazy things are for Nancy. 22h

Roary47 I have the later version. I pretty much like this book for the same reasons everyone mentioned. I like it because it is more probable than what we have seen. Plus, we have Ned! 14h

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AmandaBlaze

Nancy Drew 07: The Clue in the Diary | Carolyn Keene