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1.43k reviews for:
THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK. Nancy Drew Mystery Stories No. 1.
Carolyn Keene, Carolyn Keene
3.75 AVERAGE
1.43k reviews for:
THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK. Nancy Drew Mystery Stories No. 1.
Carolyn Keene, Carolyn Keene
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
I am listening to the first Nancy Drew book to see if it holds up to my adult interest. These are my real time rambles as I was listening.
Maybe 20 minutes in but first impressions are "this is definitely an ideal series to start a kiddo on chapter books." It's very to the point, perfect to keep short attention spans engrossed.
Second impressions are "Not a single shade of gray at all." Bad guys are bad (and apparently ugly) and good guys are good (and good looking) and everything is so white washed that they could make a bleach commercial.
Third impressions - I think Nancy Drew is definitely the inspiration for the term "Mary Sue"
Fourth impression - you know that Luck potion that Harry drinks in one of the books? Clearly Nancy is a witch who has perfected this potion and adds a nip to whatever she is drinking every morning
Maybe an hour in and I have to keep reminding myself "This was written in the 1930s... This was written in the 1930s..." Because holy white privilege Batman! I cringe to think what it was like *before* it was revamped in the 1950s to REDUCE the abject racism.
With all his talk about his will to anyone who would listen, Mr. Crowley seemed incredibly cheerful about his eventual death.
Nancy's dad is remarkably forward thinking for something originally written in 1930. Or even the 1950s revamp. Sending his young 18 year old daughter off to seluth with his blessing after warning her how dangerous it could be? I am not sure if he's careless or just really confident in his kid.
-shock- Nancy knows how to change her own car tire! IN THE 1930s! Or maybe 1950s. Either way, so scandalous! AND SO AWESOME! I knew I remembered this series fondly for a reason.
She can drive a boat too! Geeze, no wonder I was such a stubborn and fearless (except for thunderstorms. Those were my kryptonite) tomboy when I was a kid.
... Though apparently she didn't know enough to bring a spare paddle. Maybe that is wasn't common boat protocol in the 30s.
Aaawww yeah! She references Archimedes! I am once again in awe that this was first published in 1930.
...Though I will also allow that Nancy doesn't always make the brightest choices as far as common sense goes. But to be fair, that is an affliction 80% of all mysteries seem to suffer, no matter when they were written.
Almost to the end and occurs to me that Carson Drew is definitely one of the reasons I am ridiculously picky about any romantic interests in my life. He and Radcliffe Emerson basically set my Ideal Male standards when I was young and impressionable, and so far none have lived up to their examples.
Final thoughts - as someone who grew up on these books, I am super impressed with how well they hold up... Mostly. The revamp in the 1950s apparently just white washed the entire series, making everyone white (at least I this the first book of the series), and I honestly am not sure how any young Black or Asian or Hispanic or Indigenous girl would really feel included while reading them.
I will say that Nancy Drew remains clever and brash and brave, and for the time period(s) they were published, she is definitely a beacon. But I will also admit, with regret, that I am not sure where her place would be in modern times. I would not hesitate to give Secret of the Old Clock to anyone looking for a fun read, no matter their age or skin tone - but I would add the addendum that they should use some extra imagination when they visualize the characters.
Maybe 20 minutes in but first impressions are "this is definitely an ideal series to start a kiddo on chapter books." It's very to the point, perfect to keep short attention spans engrossed.
Second impressions are "Not a single shade of gray at all." Bad guys are bad (and apparently ugly) and good guys are good (and good looking) and everything is so white washed that they could make a bleach commercial.
Third impressions - I think Nancy Drew is definitely the inspiration for the term "Mary Sue"
Fourth impression - you know that Luck potion that Harry drinks in one of the books? Clearly Nancy is a witch who has perfected this potion and adds a nip to whatever she is drinking every morning
Maybe an hour in and I have to keep reminding myself "This was written in the 1930s... This was written in the 1930s..." Because holy white privilege Batman! I cringe to think what it was like *before* it was revamped in the 1950s to REDUCE the abject racism.
With all his talk about his will to anyone who would listen, Mr. Crowley seemed incredibly cheerful about his eventual death.
Nancy's dad is remarkably forward thinking for something originally written in 1930. Or even the 1950s revamp. Sending his young 18 year old daughter off to seluth with his blessing after warning her how dangerous it could be? I am not sure if he's careless or just really confident in his kid.
-shock- Nancy knows how to change her own car tire! IN THE 1930s! Or maybe 1950s. Either way, so scandalous! AND SO AWESOME! I knew I remembered this series fondly for a reason.
She can drive a boat too! Geeze, no wonder I was such a stubborn and fearless (except for thunderstorms. Those were my kryptonite) tomboy when I was a kid.
... Though apparently she didn't know enough to bring a spare paddle. Maybe that is wasn't common boat protocol in the 30s.
Aaawww yeah! She references Archimedes! I am once again in awe that this was first published in 1930.
...Though I will also allow that Nancy doesn't always make the brightest choices as far as common sense goes. But to be fair, that is an affliction 80% of all mysteries seem to suffer, no matter when they were written.
Almost to the end and occurs to me that Carson Drew is definitely one of the reasons I am ridiculously picky about any romantic interests in my life. He and Radcliffe Emerson basically set my Ideal Male standards when I was young and impressionable, and so far none have lived up to their examples.
Final thoughts - as someone who grew up on these books, I am super impressed with how well they hold up... Mostly. The revamp in the 1950s apparently just white washed the entire series, making everyone white (at least I this the first book of the series), and I honestly am not sure how any young Black or Asian or Hispanic or Indigenous girl would really feel included while reading them.
I will say that Nancy Drew remains clever and brash and brave, and for the time period(s) they were published, she is definitely a beacon. But I will also admit, with regret, that I am not sure where her place would be in modern times. I would not hesitate to give Secret of the Old Clock to anyone looking for a fun read, no matter their age or skin tone - but I would add the addendum that they should use some extra imagination when they visualize the characters.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had this book as a youngster (It's still at my parents)
To me Nancy Drew was the height of sophistication and bravery.
Nancy Drew did scare me when I was young, and this is just the kind of book I would like to re read as an adult.
To me Nancy Drew was the height of sophistication and bravery.
Nancy Drew did scare me when I was young, and this is just the kind of book I would like to re read as an adult.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
God this was DATED. Makes me thankful I grew up with the games. Though it was fun to read, it’s stereotypes keep me from fully enjoying this.
adventurous
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
adventurous
funny
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