Me and my friend Nancy Drew

It seems that these "25 Random Facts" surveys are sweeping across Facebook like wildfire. Not one to overtly give into peer pressure I have not/will not put one on my profile. Being one to more subtly give into peer pressure I will do one here. Only it won't be random facts...

In the interest of sparking yet more controversy and reaching out to more of my target market (if you're reading this you're a target!) they shall all revolve around Nancy Drew! Probably because when my computer is on my dining room table I sit and see my Nancy Drew collection out of the corner of my eye. (and yes...this is meant to target a specific new demographic I am reaching out to...you know who you are!). So let the fun begin:

1. Nancy Drew is tied as my all time favorite sleuth (with none other than Miss Marple)!


2. After Nancy my favorite character is George Fayne ("Hypers!").


3. Despite wanting to be Nancy or George I have always identified more with Bess Marvin (except the whole "plump" thing...)


4. The Sign of the Twisted Candle is my favorite. I think its because it always makes me so happy to see Bess and George reconcile with Nancy near the end (it just kills me when they won't talk to her). Plus the twisted candles are pretty darn cool!


5. Despite having read all of the original 56, in order I couldn't tell you when Nancy gets her dog Togo...and it drives me nuts.


6. Because of Nancy Drew, when I am driving, if a car follows me for more than 3 turns I think they are following me (but I've always been able to shake them...thank you Nancy!)


7. Sometimes I get scared in parking lots because one time when Nancy parked her car two black sedans pulled up real close on both sides (so she couldn't open the doors) and then one pulled up behind (so she couldn't back out). I realize that would take at least three people, all with black sedans, to be mad at me...but just the same. The reason I get scared is because I can't remember how she got out of the situation...thankfully I now have a sunroof!


8. While at times the self-conscious attempts to be educational in the later books drive me a little nuts, I enjoy all the knowledge I have learned over the years because of Nancy (like the fact that glass is made of potash).


9. My favorite travel Nancy Drew is The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes. I love the cover!


10. I still get nervous just thinking about Nancy being trapped in Moonstone Castle. Some of her scrapes left an impact on me as you can tell...and that was one of them.


11. I always have a healthy suspicion that things which seem supernatural or suspicious cult activity, are covers for smuggling/money laundering rings or to get people to leave their homes which contain something valuable.


12. I have always wanted to live in a house with a secret passage...they make life so much more simple (unless you get gaged, tied up and left in one).


13. I always check drawers and such for false bottoms (I've rechecked my grandma's desk many times).


14. Sometimes I also knock on walls (specifically paneled ones or brick ones) to check for hollow spots.


15. Lilacs and Larkspur are possibly my two favorite flowers. I hope to grow some someday.


16. Sometimes I wonder if Helen Corning ever felt bad that she got edged out so early on by Bess and George and Nancy's go-to friend.


17. I used to think her hair color was pronounced "titan," (that is when her hair was not strawberry blond...for a girl who didn't dye her hair she sure had a lot of different hair colors) my mother had to correct me that it is "titian."


18. The villain that I dislike the most, or remember the most, is Mr. Nathan Gomber. I didn't like him from the moment he knocked on her door.


19. I have always felt compelled to learn Morse Code because it has come in handy more than once. I actually did make sure to learn SOS because of Nancy Drew...so at least I've got that if I'm even in a scrape.
20. I always thought The Mystery of the Tolling Bell had the most clever ending.
21. I always found The Clue in the Crumbling Wall to be the most interesting. There is a scene in it, where Nancy is examining the wall, that is so visually vivid.
22. I do enjoy reading the reprinted original editions of the first 10 or so...yet do find it disconcerting that Carson Drew lets his 18 year old daughter pursue situations which necessitate her carrying a gun. (Look at me being all controversial bringing up the gun issue!)
23. I've always wanted a blue roadster...with running board of course.
24. The cover art I dislike the most (which causes me to dislike the book the most) is The Invisible Intruder. I enjoy the fact that Ned is on the cover--but that thing behind his head always creeped me out.

So like I've said I want this blog to be edgy and controversial...which brings me to point #25 (if the first 24 haven't already sparked controversy this one surly will)


25. Nancy Drew could kick Trixie Belden to the curb any day in a sleuthing contest...yeah that's right...I've said it once and I'll say it again...Nancy Drew could kick Trixie Belden to the curb, across the street and to the other curb. (not that she actually would because she really is a well-mannered sweet young lady...but she could). I'd like to see Trixie get out of the situation outlined in #7


I realize that this was probably only interesting to those amongst my readers who are diehard Nancy Drew fans (shout out to my "attractive, titian-haired" mother) and controversial to diehard Trixie Belden fan (yes, I said "fan" in the singular...you know who you are...) but it was fun to take some time and think back to my carefree days of youth reading Nancy Drew. Feel free join in the controversy...or share a fond memory you may have of reading Nancy Drew, because in the immortal and out of context words of this great sleuth: "This beats plowin' corn!"