Litsy

The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

so-so

Nancy and friends are on a sea voyage and discover smuggled jewels in a trunk. There were some interesting aspects to the plot but also a few crazily implausible events, like a meteor crashing nearby.

#NancyDrewBR @Librarybelle
#gottacatchemall (Dhelmise: Read a book set at sea)

Librarybelle This one was not a favorite of mine either 2d

Ruthiella It wasn‘t so much that the meteor ☄️ was implausible but that it happens and they NEVER MENTION IT AGAIN! 🤣 2d

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TheAromaofBooks

Slowness: A Novel | Milan Kundera

Is anyone else having issues with Litsy's website? I have tried multiple browsers and posts don't want to load; I get "Bad Gateway" messages while waiting for the comment area to load. If I do get the comment area to come up, it takes forever to post my comment or doesn't post it at all. The app seems to be okay. Any thoughts/is anyone else having these problems?

Bookwormjillk I‘ve been having issues with both versions off and on. It just seems sluggish. 5d

Librarybelle I had some slow issues posting #NancyDrewBR posts a couple of days ago—I use the website to post the buddy read questions. Not the Bad Gateway issue, but things were very slow. 5d

Jari-chan Same here. But the app works fine. 5d

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PuddleJumper Yeah, I've had a lot of problems when loading comments or tagging people. It usually sorts itself out but it's frustrating 5d

lil1inblue I had to send in my phone for repairs, so I've been attempting to use the website. I can like posts, and it's hit or miss if I can comment. I cannot create my own posts - I get the bad gateway message. It's a little frustrating because this is really my only social media right now. 5d

dabbe YES! Are you using the website instead of the app? I am, and it‘s driving me crazy! I‘ve emailed litsy@librarything.com with the issue and took a snapshot of the “bad gateway” message. I got a reply this morning saying they were working on it. Maybe if you sent an email, too, they‘d know it was a bigger issue. 4d

dabbe @Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle @Jari-chan @PuddleJumper @lil1inblue Please send an email with the issues to litsy@librarything.com so they know that the website is having some serious problems. They did email me this morning and said someone was working on it, but maybe if they see it‘s quite a few of us, they‘ll work even faster. 🤩 4d

Bookwormjillk @dabbe will do thanks 4d

lil1inblue @dabbe Thanks for the email address! I'll send one, as well. 👍 4d

Jari-chan @dabbe Thank you. On it. 4d

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle @PuddleJumper @lil1inblue @dabbe - I think we're back!! I almost exclusively use the website vs the app because it's so much easier to track notifications, so I've been quite aggravated 😂 Denise, thank you for sharing the email address!! 2d

Librarybelle Yay!! 2d

Bookwormjillk Came online to test. Yay!! 2d

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks YW! 🤗 I basically use just the web site, too, and I've been FLIPPED OUT this whole week! I think it's back, too. 🤞🏻 2d

AnnCrystal Glad Litsy has returned 👏🥳📚💝. 5h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

The April #NancyDrewBR book takes us to a moss-covered mansion (who knew?!?). The versions vary—the 1971 version starts with explosive oranges!

Discussion takes place on April 15th. All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to added or removed from the tag list!

rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair

BarkingMadRead 🍊 💥 6d

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead 😂 6d

Ruthiella No doubt, Carson has in the meantime taught Nancy how to defuse explosive oranges. 🍊 😜 6d

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Librarybelle He‘d be an expert! Who would have thought…a very niche skill set…defusing explosive oranges! 😂 @Ruthiella 6d

Sace Oh this should be fun! I‘ll be reading the explosive oranges version. 6d

Librarybelle Let‘s hope this lives up to our expectations, @Sace ! 😂 6d

47 likes6 comments

Sace

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

pick

this installment of the Nancy Drew series was a hit for me because of the wonderful eye rolling laughs it gave me. A meteor? Getting tossed over board? Nancy actually loses a ping pong game 😱? Ad nauseam references to cabin 128? Yes, please! Can‘t wait for the next installment!

#NancyDrewBR @Librarybelle

Ruthiella Haha ! I also noticed that Nancy was allowed to lose the ping pong game. 🏓 7d

Librarybelle I love how we are enjoying these for their eye rolling story lines that are entertaining and keep us coming back for more! 7d

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dabbe

Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk #17 | Carolyn Keene

so-so

#NancyDrewBR @Librarybelle
If you want to completely suspend your disbelief beyond say--a meteor causing a tidal wave similar to one that upturned the SS POSEIDON, then this book is for you! Jewels hidden in a trunk, international espionage, the captain and purser being beaten up, Nancy and Nelda being thrown overboard, sign language, bratty Bobby, carrying a magnifying glass because you just never know ... for frothy fun? Yes. Maybe. Sorta.

Librarybelle OMG…Bobby! I wanted to scream, “Where are your parents?!?” Total bratty kid! 1w

dabbe @Librarybelle IKR? He needed a good kick in the arse! 🤣 1w

AnneCecilie I‘ve just past the meteor incident. I‘m willing to put my disbelieves to the side for a lot of things in the Nancy Drew books, but a meteor was maybe to push it too far? 1w

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dabbe @AnneCecilie IKR? 🤣🤩🤗 1w

Andrew65 Well done 🎊🎉🎊 1w

sarahbarnes Great review! 😆 1w

dabbe @Andrew65 🤩🤣🤗 1w

dabbe @sarahbarnes 🤩🤣🤗 1w

MemoirsForMe 😂😂😂 1w

dabbe @MemoirsForMe 🤩🤣🤗 7d

bookandbedandtea I've loved rereading every one of these because they transport me back to my childhood and they feel so fun. I'll take all the bright spots I can get right now. That said, adult-me had a LOT of trouble with the meteor! 🤣 7d

dabbe @bookandbedandtea Agree 💯! 6d

65 likes12 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

Good morning #LittenDetectives ! I have 6 questions/comments posted as spoilers for today‘s #NancyDrewBR discussion; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Different plot lines between the story versions! It‘ll be interesting to see how they compare!

Our next books, also with different plot lines, is The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion. Official post tomorrow!

Ruthiella Can‘t wait to see what Nancy and co get up to in the next one! 😃 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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6. I almost forgot to ask about the mystery! We thought about the setting and the characters, but let's now think about the mystery or the mysteries.

I thought it was pretty ingenious how the crooks hid all of the stones and gems throughout the brass-bound trunk, including behind the lettering on the trunk (1976).

It did seem implausible that the FBI would completely believe Nancy in the 1976 version. #NancyDrewBR

DGRachel I did like the hidden gems but I wonder how it wasn‘t more obvious. False bottoms? Easy hiding place. Under lining? Didn‘t it look bumpy? 1w

Ruthiella @DGRachel I agree. The hiding places in the trunk were odd. 1w

Ruthiella The mystery was a little tired for me. Jewel thieves again? 🥱 1w

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DebinHawaii The 1940‘s trunk had the jewels in the brass bindings & the scheme was blackmailing luggage firms in financial difficulty to make trunks for smuggling which seems pretty niche. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Like the FBI in 1976, I was surprised the Argentinian authorities in 1940 believed Nancy. (edited) 1w

CogsOfEncouragement @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii
Yes, that trunk lining was definitely bumpy. I mean, this is Nancy Drew we are talking about. You expect me to believe she had to search this trunk more than once? Puh-lease.

I did think that leaving the bracelet which Nelda was accused of stealing to be found in the clasp at the very end WAS a nice twist though. 1w

dabbe I got all “wrapped“ up in the paper lining. WTH? I had to research antique trunks just to see what they were talking about. And then drying the sheets under the bed but then, who cares? Let the villains see we've ransacked their trunk. 😳 And no call from dad ever? Only Ned?
And Carson's comment at the end: “We'll dub it the finger-language gang heist.“ I can think of a certain kind of finger for sure. 🤣 1w

DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement I agree about that last find/twist. That was good. 1w

DGRachel @dabbe 🤣🤣🤣 1w

MariaW First the jewels and then stolen govermental papers all in go seemed a bit too much for me, especially ending up on boat cruise starting in Europe. Why not take a cruise ship from South Africa right away? 7d

kwmg40 I actually liked the mystery aspect of this installment. The twists kept me reading to the end. 6d

Librarybelle I missed having Carson and Hannah in this one, @dabbe ! And interesting that the Argentinian authorities also believed Nancy in the 1940 edition, @DebinHawaii . @DGRachel @Ruthiella @CogsOfEncouragement @MariaW @kwmg40 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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5. Each version introduces its own slate of secondary characters. Personally, the two guys who throw Nancy and Nelda overboard in the 1976 version were awful!

Think about the secondary characters you meet in this book. Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR

bookandbedandtea In the 76 version, Rod is as useful, admiring, & accommodating as anyone could possibly be! Young Bobby stands out as quite the obnoxious brat. I also took note of the young men our girls spent time with, especially "Tubby." I was interested that Bess wasn't chided for her weight this time but a point was made about this chubby youth. ? 1w

DGRachel That little boy was so rotten. I did like the way most of the ship‘s crew was suspicious and ended up just being inept or infatuated with Nancy. 😂 1w

DGRachel @bookandbedandtea Fat-shaming must be a plot checklist item handed out to all the ghostwriters. I did think that if it had to be someone, at least it wasn‘t Bess. 1w

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bookandbedandtea In the 1940 version there are a million characters so few of them stand out. Mrs Joslin was unnecessarily nasty and Doris chose an unusual disguise but, overall, there was no depth to any of the secondary characters. Nancy and Carson seemed off in this one too. Nancy came off as more of a busy body than a sleuth and Carson was more indifferent than I'm used to. 1w

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel I had that impression too! That a point about weight had to be made so, if we give Bess a break, someone else has to take the heat. So annoying! 1w

Ruthiella For me, Rod Havelock is the stand out character in the 70s version. He‘s the Ned Nickerson here - ready to help Nancy at a moment‘s notice. All the other pursers were probably pissed at having to pick up his slack. 😆 1w

DebinHawaii That little boy Bobby in 1976–so annoying! Also skateboarding on the ship as many times as it rocked about seems a bit crazy! There were too many characters in 1940, why I liked 1976 slightly better but standout for why bother was the blind woman Nancy kept “rescuing”—it added nothing to the plot. And Nancy‘s chaperone in Buenos Aries, Mrs. Purdy seemed to know or be related to every random character. 🙄 1w

CogsOfEncouragement I thought the Bobby character could have been used better, I kinda liked that he was the reason the stickers were off the trunk. I thought this could have been charmingly cheeky if they hadn't made us hate him already. There could have been harmless childishness he was involved in as an unattended, bored kid on a ship that was just funny rather than how the character was written. 1w

dabbe I wanted to give Bobby a major kick in the arse! I missed our regular players in this one. Couldn't there have been a way for Ned, Burt, and Dave to be on the cruise, too? No, wait. They're hard-working college students. It's the girls who get to live in luxury and cruise all over the world--even dating cute men on board. What a life! 1w

Bookwormjillk @bookandbedandtea I agree, too many characters and none of them had depth. I also agree there was something off about the usuals. And what happened to the cat? 1w

bookandbedandtea @Bookwormjillk The whole thing about the cat was weird. First, it's not ok to anonymously give someone a cat! And then there was no reason, plot- wise, for the cat to exist. It went on the cruise, was reunited with Mrs Purdy, and then was never mentioned again. 🤷‍♀️ Speaking of the usuals- Bess and George both felt a little out of character to me too. 1w

MariaW Did anyone realize that in the 1976 version the ND group was silently wangling the boys‘ group out of the other teenage girls, even though they had their boyfriends at home? And why was Nelda, as tge captain‘s niece, put into a cabin with three strangers when there was an empty cabin available right next to it? (edited) 7d

Librarybelle I picked up on both of those, @MariaW . Bobby was terrible! And, interesting that there were a lot of characters in the 1940 edition…I would think that would make the book harder for kids to read, to remember the characters??? @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe @Bookwormjillk 2d

DGRachel @MariaW I totally didn‘t catch that about the empty room! But yes. Now that‘s going to bother me, too! 😂 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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4. Nancy faints in this one (I think in both 1940 and 1976)! We also find George in the infirmary (at least in 1976) and a meteor (also 1976) rocks the ship. I read the 1976, and it just seemed more convoluted than other story lines (but I am still secretly miffed we don't know why Nancy visited the Netherlands).

What did you think of the adventures in this book? Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR

bookandbedandtea The 1976 version has the meteor (🤣), the attempted mugging of the ship's captain, a young boy in desperate need of supervision, the girl's stateroom being searched, and Nancy and Nelda being thrown overboard. It was wildly action packed! 1w

DGRachel I think we all know how I feel about the meteor. 🤣🤣 I did rather enjoy the girls getting locked in the hold. Nancy and Nelda getting thrown overboard was wild. A lot happened and I think maybe too much. 1w

DGRachel Also, I remember thinking “Nancy Drew doesn‘t faint!” Little me was offended. 🤣🤣 1w

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Ruthiella @DGRachel I loved the meteor if only because it still LITERALLY makes me laugh until my eyes water. 😂 It was so bizarre! I feel like, so far this is the title most likely to have been written by an actual 10 year old. 😆 1w

DebinHawaii As crazy as the meteor was in 76 & how convoluted the plot was, I found 40 even more so (which could be because I read it last) but there was no meteor at least. @DGRachel in 1940 Nancy got a serious knock on the head #NNK while locked in a store then while trying to escape after, passed out for several hours until 3AM, before she makes her way back to where she is staying & then pretty much just gets on with her day. The noggin is tough! 😂🤕😂 1w

CogsOfEncouragement This is another one that felt convoluted to me. Bits of peril sprinkled haphazardly through the story like in a couple other mysteries we've already read. When Chapter One had Nancy almost fall in the ocean for no good reason before the ship set sail I was afraid that was going to be the case.

The meteor? What? Just...what?

Being thrown overboard? Swimming in freezing open water, but then not needing much rest? Huh? 1w

dabbe @Ruthiella Maybe it was Bobby. 🤔🤣🤩 1w

dabbe WTH was the meteor even there for? Just to shake things up? And afterwards they pretty much dust themselves off and go about their business.

And, you can't even tell us why they're on this cruise but you devote time to a meteor? 😳 1w

bookandbedandtea @dabbe Right!? A couple lines about what they were doing in Europe (we know they had been in Switzerland where Nancy did some swimsuit shopping but I don't think anything else was mentioned) would have been appreciated! 1w

Bookwormjillk In the 1940 version Nancy got struck by lightning pretty early on too. Or maybe a tree branch hit her when it got struck by lightning? I wasn‘t really sure. 1w

Sace @Ruthiella ME TOO! It‘s probably the number one reason that this was a pick for me. 🤣 7d

Sace Have we all forgotten the dead rat between the trunks (1976)?What was that all about? There‘s was definitely a lot of random “peril”, but it made me laugh. 7d

MariaW I wanted to check the unlikely event of meteor hitting a ship and it actually happened, once in 1648 and another time in 1908. 🙈 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19080429.2.37 What are the odds? A likely event to happen to Nancy Drew! 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 7d

kwmg40 The meteor was definitely bewildering. What really made me laugh were the cartoonish illustrations of the girls in peril in my 1976 edition. 7d

Librarybelle OMG the dead rat, @Sace ! I think I said “eww” out loud. The meteor is the most bizarre episode I think we saw, though it‘s odd that Nancy is struck by lightning or a tree branch struck by lightning in the 1940 edition, @Bookwormjillk ! @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe @MariaW @kwmg40 2d

Ruthiella @MariaW Thanks for doing the research. 😃 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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3. In the 1940 edition, Nancy travels to South America. She has to travel somewhere, and with World War II happening, I suppose South America it is!

1940s South America not only became a refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe, it later became a refuge for former Nazis fleeing captivity.

And, nations like the US saw an opportunity to capitalize on partnerships. Link in comments to a documentary from the 1940s! #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Link to the documentary: https://youtu.be/d8Lo1mkqdi8?si=kwvLI4xspMbxwfog 1w

bookandbedandtea I thought the reason behind Nancy's journey to Argentina was bizarre- her dad had to go "west" (later revealed to be Salt Lake City) for a period of time and, rather than leave Nancy at home with Hannah, he arranged for Nancy, Bess, and George to go on a months long trip to South America?? I mean, fun! But also, weird! 1w

DGRachel @bookandbedandtea That is bizarre! It‘s not like he hasn‘t traveled before and left Nancy with Hannah. He usually lets her go gallivanting all over the US with just Bess and George. 1w

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Ruthiella @bookandbedandtea So funny. It‘s like the authors don‘t even attempt at continuity of character! It would have been so easy to think up some other pretext for the trip. Like maybe the house needed to be fumigated…😂 1w

DebinHawaii It was wacky the reasons for the trip in 1940 & I found Carson especially annoying in this book as he seemed flippant with Nancy & not especially worried about her more about the case. Also Nancy & team are accused in NYC of stealing a bracelet & Nancy plays the “I‘m Carson Drew‘s daughter” card with the plainclothes detectives & they know him & back off. Nepotism at its finest! 😆 1w

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella Good idea! 🐜 I had thought it would be easier for Nancy & Co to be invited by Mrs Purdy or for them to already be friends with some of the girls from the school. The explanation this author chose seemed clunky and overly complicated. @DGRachel Yes, he travels all the time and has never felt the need to send Nancy away while he does so which made this choice feel strange. 1w

bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii I agree. Carson was not the affectionate and concerned father we're used to. Ned was pretty annoying too. How many times did he discourage Nancy from thinking of mysteries and try to focus her on other things? He wasn't in it much but he definitely wasn't the supportive boyfriend we usually see. 1w

DebinHawaii @Ruthiella @DGRachel @bookandbedandtea Maybe he was worried he wouldn‘t make it back from the “wilds” of the west! 🙄😂 1w

Bookwormjillk It seemed like it took FOREVER for the girls to get on the boat. And Nancy was all sorts of annoying losing her passport and almost missing the boat following someone. I usually like Nancy but thought she was pretty unlikable in this one. 1w

Sace @bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @DGRachel even more annoying the end of the last book had an audience member tell Nancy that he needed her help in solving the mystery of the Brass-bound trunk. Why couldn‘t they have continued that for this book? Though I‘m not sure if that was the ending for the original ending on the Tapping heels. 7d

Ruthiella @Sace You‘re right! I‘d totally forgotten. Yes! Why not use that segue way? 🤨 7d

Sace @Ruthiella I‘d be interested to know if Mildred Wirt Benson was still involved at this point and how much power the editor had. If she wrote the segue, why not let her use it? 7d

MariaW In the 1976 version there was no explanation whatsoever why they might have travelled Europe, that annoyed me pretty much. 7d

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @sace Yes! I had totally forgotten that the last book had someone offering Nancy this mystey! I wonder what story that writer intended and how that would have played out. 🤔 7d

Sace @bookandbedandtea while the next mystery is always hinted at in the final lines, I don‘t recall it being as concrete as an actual client making the request. That‘s usually at the beginning of each book. I was very disappointed that the segue didn‘t pan out. 7d

Librarybelle @Sace Mildred Benson is still writing the books at this point. I saw that in the edition I read in an acknowledgement section. What an odd reason to go to South America! @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MariaW 2d

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