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bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
Once again, Nancy, Bess and George find a woman and child down on their luck with no money and a missing husband, who is supposed to be looking for work. While returning home from a carnival, Nancy and gang come upon a mansion engulfed in flames. Nancy tries to run toward the house to see if anyone needs help, and sees a man dart through the bushes and run off into the woods. But of course, he dropped something: a diary. It is written in Swedish, and even our almost-perfect Nancy does not know the language. As with most Nancy Drew mysteries, the destitute woman and daughter are tied to the man who dropped the diary.
Nancy withholds information from the police repeatedly because they are not that good at their job and rush to judgment. ?!!
I grew up on the Revised Texts, so Ned Nickerson was always around. In this, the Original Text, we meet Ned for the first time and see Nancy as a somewhat bashful young lady when around Ned. It was nice to read how their relationship started.
And kudos on the introduction to the Applewood edition. I agree wholeheartedly with Maron--George was who held my interest throughout the series. The short dark hair, the athletic build, the bluntness, the tomboyishness, that was me growing up. I'm glad to read someone else who shares my opinion.
Nancy withholds information from the police repeatedly because they are not that good at their job and rush to judgment. ?!!
I grew up on the Revised Texts, so Ned Nickerson was always around. In this, the Original Text, we meet Ned for the first time and see Nancy as a somewhat bashful young lady when around Ned. It was nice to read how their relationship started.
And kudos on the introduction to the Applewood edition. I agree wholeheartedly with Maron--George was who held my interest throughout the series. The short dark hair, the athletic build, the bluntness, the tomboyishness, that was me growing up. I'm glad to read someone else who shares my opinion.
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
One of the troubles of reading the Original Text Nancy Drews and then immediately reading the Revised Text is the threat of boredom because in many cases, it's the same story, just shortened and cleaned up of stereotyping language. That's how I felt when I started this RT version of The Clue in the Diary. It was almost identical to the OT, with a few minor revisions to the story. It was when the story diverged from the OT that things really picked up for me.
Every Nancy Drew fan that reads the OT and RT side-by-side says the OT is better, and in some ways yes, but in other ways no. RT Nancy has much more plausible story. She actually does more investigating instead of just stumbling onto things. Situations that didn't make sense in the original are changed so that they do make sense to the story. Racial stereotypes are pretty much gone in the RTs, as well. I prefer the RT most of the time, including this story.
Every Nancy Drew fan that reads the OT and RT side-by-side says the OT is better, and in some ways yes, but in other ways no. RT Nancy has much more plausible story. She actually does more investigating instead of just stumbling onto things. Situations that didn't make sense in the original are changed so that they do make sense to the story. Racial stereotypes are pretty much gone in the RTs, as well. I prefer the RT most of the time, including this story.
rballenger's review against another edition
3.0
Type of read: Weekend/Lunch time read.
What made me pick it up: Here's the deal, sometimes you just need an easy read for lunchtime or appointment waiting or those little moments where you can sneak in a few pages, Nancy Drew is just that. As a child of the 90s, I grew up on Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. These were the books that taught me how to read and adventure through pages. It's been fun revising the Nancy Drew series.
Overall rating: As I reread through the Nancy Drew series, I'm not going to rate them significantly or provide a detailed review. I'm simply reading these because it makes me happy and makes me think of simpler times. I will always recommend books like Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Box Car Children, Babysitters Club, Goosebumps, Animorphs, and so on as those are the books that drew me into reading and kept me excited to continue turning pages.
What made me pick it up: Here's the deal, sometimes you just need an easy read for lunchtime or appointment waiting or those little moments where you can sneak in a few pages, Nancy Drew is just that. As a child of the 90s, I grew up on Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. These were the books that taught me how to read and adventure through pages. It's been fun revising the Nancy Drew series.
Overall rating: As I reread through the Nancy Drew series, I'm not going to rate them significantly or provide a detailed review. I'm simply reading these because it makes me happy and makes me think of simpler times. I will always recommend books like Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Box Car Children, Babysitters Club, Goosebumps, Animorphs, and so on as those are the books that drew me into reading and kept me excited to continue turning pages.
blondierocket's review against another edition
3.0
The seventh book in the Nancy Drew series has Nancy and her friends coming across a house on fire and a man running from the scene. It doesn’t take long for Nancy to find a connection to this mysterious man and his family who have been searching for him, thinking he was dead.
Nancy and her cousins are searching and trying to solve multiple mysteries once again that all link together, they just have to figure out how. A mysterious diary left behind in a language they don’t understand helps direct them through the right channels to find the missing husband and solve the mystery of the fire.
Nancy and her cousins are searching and trying to solve multiple mysteries once again that all link together, they just have to figure out how. A mysterious diary left behind in a language they don’t understand helps direct them through the right channels to find the missing husband and solve the mystery of the fire.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
It's a cold wet rainy Valentine's Day, so a very nice day to sit beside the fire with a cup of tea and read Nancy Drew--especially as this book in the introduction to one of the best book boyfriends ever, Ned Nickerson!
Nancy: "Maybe you shouldn't beg too hard, Ned. You may find yourself being called upon to do all kinds of outlandish sleuthing jobs."
Ned: "I'm at your service!"
I couldn't help but laugh at that. Boy is a fool in love and has no idea what he has gotten himself into, but he'll gladly do anything and everything Nancy asks. Seriously, they have the sweetest relationship.
The mystery itself was also really good and has one of the most satisfying endings once the case is closed!
Nancy: "Maybe you shouldn't beg too hard, Ned. You may find yourself being called upon to do all kinds of outlandish sleuthing jobs."
Ned: "I'm at your service!"
I couldn't help but laugh at that. Boy is a fool in love and has no idea what he has gotten himself into, but he'll gladly do anything and everything Nancy asks. Seriously, they have the sweetest relationship.
The mystery itself was also really good and has one of the most satisfying endings once the case is closed!
barkingspiders_books's review against another edition
3.0
It was nice to see this is where Ned Nickerson came into play. I always like the ones where is involved better.
mountaindrew28's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thelaural0u's review against another edition
2.0
This book was odd, mostly just old fashioned. But it focused on things I don't care about and left out details I normally love.
lane_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0