The Secret In The Old Lace (2005) - Plot & Excerpts
I miss reading Nancy Drew. I didn't realise how much until I read The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived, but I missed this series. And even after a long absence, I find Nancy Drew as gripping as ever.In this mystery, Nancy gets accused of plagarism and travels to Belgium to solve a hundreds of years old mystery. Or maybe just a hundred. But either way, I was having trouble putting down this book. And of course, in Nancy Drew fashion, she solves the mystery - within a time limit and under threat from the baddies.To enjoy the book so much despite the fact that Nancy has Mary-Sue like qualities is quite suprising for me. Especially since I've developed a slightly higher intolerance for Mary-Sues (too much exposure to them). For example, being good at whatever she does. I suppose she's just a really likable Mary-Sue. Or you know, I'm suffering from my childhood bias.Of course, you have to be familiar with the characters to enjoy the books. I didn't really realise it now, but a lot of the characterisation occurs after you've read several books. That's why the villians all seem very thinly drawn.You know, I really want to read the other Nancy Drew books* now. In fact, I wonder how The Famous Five, Trixie Belden and all my childhood detectives will be like if I re-read them.* When I say 'Nancy Drew Books', I mean the classics. Not the ones where she goes off to college or the more modern versions.This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
The book was interesting.It had romance,intrigue and a pair of lace cuffs.In this book nancy and her friends have to find a message in the lace cuffs belonging to Francois Lefevre.The cuffs were given to him by his soon to be wife,Antoinette Tissot,an actress.They fell in love.But Antoinette's family didn't like Francois.In order to keep Antoinette from being dishoned,Francois left Brussels and went to Belgium.He changed his name to Friedrich Vonderlicht.But Antoinette followed him..She changed her name to Elaine Warrington.They found each other and they lived happily ever after.How Nancy solved the mystery of the message in the lace cuffs and defeats the bad guys makes one exciting read!
What do You think about The Secret In The Old Lace (2005)?
It had been nearly 20 years since I had last laid my eyes on Nancy Drew mysteries making this a bittersweet return to the series. My goal with the reread was not literal but rather experience some parts of my own childhood with more vivid memories, which required me to remind myself not to read it with a mind of a 32 year old but with a imagination of a 10 year old child.This mood switch made it possible for me to ignore the many flaws The Secret in the Old Lace might have when comes to story building, plotting and realism and let my nostalgic side float me smoothly back to the shores of children's mysteries. And damn was it fun.Nancy Drew was like a pink cotton candy escape into a world where everything is easy, a world that is filled with positiveness and adventure that is not too heavy for the heart. And damn did I love it.Despite of having multiple issues with the translation work, I will most likely visit this series by borrowing a piece from my library's very small collection every now and then, whenever being a mood for taking a stroll down the memory lane. Note: I read this in Finnish.Also posted at: http://hfk.booklikes.com/
—Hunger For Knowledge
