Litsy

Reading Challenges Journal: Let's Do Some Reading Challenges! | J&c Publishing

Cannot BELIEVE I am working on a reading journal for ***2025*** That's not a real date!!!! @PuddleJumper is responsible for most of my challenges this year, although @lauredhel is also doing some work 😂 This year: #ISpyBingo #100YearsofBooks (and finishing @Librarybelle 's #192025 ), #Pantone2025 #Roll100 #GottaCatchEmAll and #BookChain

Not pictured - #ReadtheUSA #WickedWords @AsYouWish #FourFoursin25 @lauredhel #FictionalTraveler @julieclair ⬇

BookishMadHatter I've started on my 2025 book journal too, but I'm scaling it back a little this year. I find I have to use a bunder because if I run out of space and need to split a section in a bound journal my poor brain has a meltdown and I end up having to start all over. 3d

TheAromaofBooks Plus numerous ongoing buddy reads -
#BobWhiteBuddies
#OokBookClub @julesG
#ChristieCapers and #NancyDrewBR @librarybelle
#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead @BarbaraJean
#IDLR @StayCurious @LiseWorks
#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
and the much-beloved #HashtagBrigade @BarkingMadRead despite dragging me through books I loved to hate to read 😂 3d

TheAromaofBooks @BookishMadHatter - I feel that!! For the last couple of years I've used a quad-lined composition book. Because it's sewn, I can add lots of washi tape and other pieces of paper taped in and it just gets fatter without falling apart 😂 All my ongoing, year-long challenges are in the front. Then I skip to the second half of the notebook and create my monthly #BookSpinBingo lists as I go along, plus any short-term readathons or challenges. 3d

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PuddleJumper I like organizing things! Looks amazing 3d

BarkingMadRead So honored to be on the list 🤣🤣🤣 3d

Librarybelle This looks so amazing! Good luck on all of your challenges and buddy reads! 3d

julieclair This looks great! 👍😃 2d

61 likes7 comments

LitsyEvents

Nancy Drew 15: The Haunted Bridge | Carolyn Keene

Repost for @Librarybelle

January‘s #NancyDrewBR involves the theft of jewels and a footbridge that is guarded by a ghost. How will Nancy solve these mysteries? What other amazing skills will we learn she has?

Discussion takes place on January 15th!

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2817917

Librarybelle Thanks for reposting! 5d

27 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 15: The Haunted Bridge | Carolyn Keene

January‘s #NancyDrewBR involves the theft of jewels and a footbridge that is guarded by a ghost. How will Nancy solve these mysteries? What other amazing skills will we learn she has?

Discussion takes place on January 15th!

If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know!

rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, mrp27, Deblovestoread, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, jlhammar, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 5d

BarkingMadRead I read this one a couple months ago, definitely keep me on the list for this! 5d

Librarybelle Sounds good, @BarkingMadRead ! 5d

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Ruthiella Looking forward to this! 😃 5d

Librarybelle I hope it‘s a fun one, @Ruthiella ! 5d

Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures That sounds amazing! I would love to be included!! 5d

Librarybelle Of course, @Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures ! Welcome! 5d

mrp27 I‘ve enjoyed reading Nancy but I think I‘m Nancy‘ed out! You can remove me from the tag list. 🤗 5d

Sace Can‘t wait to read this one! 5d

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5d

Librarybelle Thanks for participating, @mrp27 ! 5d

Librarybelle Yay, @Sace and @TheAromaofBooks ! 5d

julieclair Sounds like a fun one! 5d

Deblovestoread I‘ve not kept up and need to refine my commitments. You can remove me from this list. Thank you 🩵 5d

Librarybelle I think it does too, @julieclair ! 4d

Librarybelle Thanks for joining in, @Deblovestoread ! 4d

38 likes16 comments

Sace

The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

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3/4 ⭐️

Faster paced than the last couple I read for the #NancyDrewBR. This one was a fun one. Thanks for hosting @Librarybelle

Librarybelle This was fun! 5d

Sace @Librarybelle Yup! 5d

42 likes2 comments

dabbe

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

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Finally, a Nancy Drew I remember from childhood! All the drama and mystery you'd expect, and Nancy even gets kidnapped and stuffed into a statue! I can truly do without the derogatory remarks about Bess's weight; in fact, this is a much better quote that characterizes her: “Will it be a nice straight mystery, or one that's going to scare the wits out of me?“ This one's a mixture of both, Bess. A fun read with the #NancyDrewBR and @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Yay! I‘m glad this one was better than the last couple in the series! 6d

Suet624 Great review. 😊 5d

dabbe @Librarybelle 💚❣️💚 5d

dabbe @Suet624 TY! 💚❣️💚 5d

62 likes4 comments

kwmg40

The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

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I enjoyed the story and discussion with the #NancyDrewBR group. I'd read the 1937 edition and I love the cover. It did feel very dated, however. Another car runs into Nancy's, and it costs her only $5 to get the bumper repaired!
@Librarybelle

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 #MidDecemberReadathon @LiseWorks

kwmg40 #gottacatchemallwinteredition (naughty) @PuddleJumper
I feel I have to explain that there was a naughty dog in the story, and not that this was a “naughty“ book. 😄

#ChristmasCrimeChallenge (mansion) @RaeLovesToRead
#ChristmasAtoZ #letterW @TexReader
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks 6d

Librarybelle Wow! 5.00 to repair a bumper…how times have changed! 6d

TheAromaofBooks Oh I quite like this cover as well!! 6d

Sace I love these older covers so much. 5d

48 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

It‘s time for our #NancyDrewBR discussion, #LittenDetectives ! I have 5 questions posted as spoilers that can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Another book, another big difference between the editions! However, next month has only minor differences, so it should be easier for us to discuss! I‘ll post the official reminder for The Haunted Bridge tomorrow.

Thanks for reading with me!

CogsOfEncouragement Thanks for hosting! 7d

Ruthiella Wonderful! This was lots of fun as usual. 7d

PurpleyPumpkin My library hold for this one just materialized today!🙃 7d

AnneCecilie I haven‘t started the book, but will go back once I have 7d

DebinHawaii This one was better than the last one or two for me! 6d

38 likes5 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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5. This plays more into the 1970 edition, but the world of rare book collecting can be cutthroat and full of swindlers like Bassword.

Here is a 2016 article from LitHub that talks a bit about the rare book world and thievery: https://lithub.com/a-visit-to-the-shadowy-world-of-rare-book-theft/

#NancyDrewBR

kwmg40 The 1937 edition had swindlers but not rare books. Coincidentally, I just started a Vicki Delany mystery that centres around a rare manuscript. 7d

Ruthiella I liked that this book wasn‘t about jewels or lost wills but instead rare books (and art). Thanks for the link to the article! 7d

MariaW The article was very interesting. I like the thought that the guy, who stole the two volumes, had to send them back because he could not sell them. There is link to the database of stolen books in the article. I scrolled through the list and came across some very interesting incidents and books. 7d

dabbe I read an article in VANITY FAIR a few years ago about a big art heist and the underground art trade in Amsterdam. Fascinating. Thanks for the link to this article, too. I'll read it during #hyggehour tonight! 6d

10 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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4. Let's talk characters! We have the recurring characters appear in both editions. The 1970 edition Bess seemed really paranoid to me and always hungry and boy crazy (I'm getting a little tired of the constant comments about her eating).

Any thoughts on the characters this time, especially the good and bad characters introduced in the book?

How many who read the 1970 edition also wanted a fudge sundae after reading the book? 😂

#NancyDrewBR

kwmg40 I'm glad that the 1937 edition did not have any shaming of Bess (or not enough that it stayed in my memory). I did recall one scene where she said she was ravenously hungry and wanted to eat, but then George backed her up and said she too was hungry. Nancy, being the superheroine, of course has no need of sustenance like her friends do! 😂 7d

CogsOfEncouragement 1970 - Yes, I really wish they had written Bess to enjoy good food and not had the cousin telling her to watch her calories/describe her as overweight. When we are young, healthy, and active, we have good appetites. It just didn‘t need to have all this judgment and body shaming attached to her character. Setting her as the one to always make them stop for food could have been done so much better. 7d

Ruthiella 100% agree that body shaming Bess is obnoxious now and probably a message I unconsciously adopted as a child. But Dick didn‘t seem to mind her propensity for Sundaes. I liked George‘s use of Judo moves not once but twice in the book! Loved Ned‘s steadfastness here. He never has any issue with giving Nancy the center stage. As for the bad guys, they are pretty generic (and obvious) except Mr. Basswood at first. (edited) 7d

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Bookwormjillk I was annoyed with the Bess thing, but loved that it was George that knew judo. Go George! 7d

MariaW I thought in this volume the shaming of Bess started to cease now. And I agree that Dick didn‘t mind and showed it openly. I didn‘t ger if Bess was interested in him even though she jas got a boyfriend. Or are the boys not the boyfriends? Mr Brasswood and Mr Atkins seemed suspicious and weird right from the beginning and were portrayed as stereotypes again. Maybe you have to do it, so that the target group will definitely get it? (edited) 7d

DebinHawaii When I was checking my copy out from the library, the librarian was asking about it & when I told her we were rereading the books, she said she tried that a few years ago but got irritated with the fat shaming of Bess & the authors always describing her as “slightly plump.” In full agreement-it‘s so annoying! 🤬 6d

dabbe I find it interesting to note that Nancy never makes fun of Bess being “plump“ or always hungry. I don't think she disses her for being on the scaredy-cat side, either. But George? Ay caramba! I know their cousins, but still!

6d

TheAromaofBooks My favorite part was how everyone just magically knew how to sail! Is there any hobby these people don't participate in!? They know how to do everything! 😂 6d

Ruthiella @TheAromaofBooks The level of detail provided in sailing was suspicious! I think either the ghost writer was a sailor and stuck it in or the editor said “give Nancy this skill” and they did. 😅 Unlike with Judo, where it‘s just vague moves. 6d

11 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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3. There is a seaplane incident in the 1937 edition and a sailboat incident in the 1970 edition. Plus, Nancy finds herself in dangerous situations (Nancy stuck in the statue in the 1970 edition made me a little jittery!).

Let's think about the action events that took place in the book. What do you think? (My opinion, the prior two books were lackluster, but this was more plausible). #NancyDrewBR

kwmg40 I thought that the final scenes in the 1937 edition were very exciting. As for plausibility, I found there were an awful lot of coincidences but otherwise, the story seemed more plausible some of the previous stories. 7d

CogsOfEncouragement 1970 - I was impressed with the swiftness the boat was repaired! lol The peril while in the boat seemed perfect ND to me. Being sealed in a statue was also classic ND and made me squirm at the idea of it. 7d

BarkingMadRead 1937- definitely more plausible, although surviving a house that slides off a cliff into the ocean was a bit much🤣 7d

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Ruthiella All the boating details in the 1970 version! Did the ghost write know all this or just research it and cram it in. I have no idea what a spinnaker is and I don‘t want to. 😂 The book was full of implausible coincidences and police behavior-no one is aware of the Miranda warning- but it held together pretty well as these books go, I thought. The girls posing behind picture frames to hide was pretty weak, though! (edited) 7d

Bookwormjillk Being trapped in the statue was super creepy! 7d

MariaW @BarkingMadRead Wow, that sounds epic, unfortunately I read the 1970 version. The 1937 definitely sounds more interesting. 7d

MariaW In the 1970 version the different incidents that happened to ND were definitely more plausible, but what I didn‘t like at all was the aggressiveness with what the gang of Mr Basswood appeared right away. It doesn‘t make any sense at all, it was a scam okay, but not in mafai-like terms. This behaviour was too much over the top for me, completely unnecessary. 7d

DebinHawaii The two henchman that came to the Drew‘s house was excessive. The police saying “those two thugs were working together alright” when they hear what happened & find the masks cracked me up. Really?!? 🤨You don‘t think it was 2 random criminals who happened to show up in the same masks, one at the front door & one at the back?! 😂 6d

DebinHawaii Being trapped in the statue would be a nightmare for my claustrophobia! 😱 6d

dabbe Nancy being man-handled quite brutally before Ned could rescue her (luckily) was on a higher level of violence than we've seen lately. 6d

TheAromaofBooks @BarkingMadRead - An entire house falls into the ocean!? Now I feel like I need to find the earlier edition!! 6d

TheAromaofBooks @Ruthiella - I genuinely laughed out loud when they hid in the picture frames. So ridiculous 😂 6d

TheAromaofBooks @DebinHawaii - I felt like overall this book had the “dumb police“ vibe to it. I thought them acting super brilliant for deducing that these two criminals must be working together was pretty hilarious. 6d

BarkingMadRead @TheAromaofBooks just slides right off the cliff. And she didn‘t even bump her head! 6d

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