nos·tal·gia 1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for the books we read as children.
Blogging sister, Tammy has been churning out a little nostalgia over at her site for some of our childhood reads. There has been some reminiscing over the much loved and ever enduring Nancy Drew Mysteries . Around the age of ten, like many girls l couldn't get enough of Nancy Drew. Deep routed inside was that endless longing to be just like her- clever, investigative and ever ready- the enduring heroine. l used to peer at my neighbours with great suspicion, watching for them to slip up, hoping desperately that there would be a mystery to solve - a deception somewhere! Perhaps somewhere inside all of us is the drive to take on challenges and solve problems – to be the heroine who saves the world.
In the end we mostly settle for saving the peace around us but the dream doesn’t go away and we search for it in many of the books we read. My husband, G. returns often to a book read to him as a child by an old Headteacher and which started off his love of literature and reading. It is ‘Moonfleet’ - a tale of smuggling with heroic stuff abounding. You can read it for free online- link HERE
At present l am reading Edward Rutherford again- wonderful writer- more about him and his books HERE.
Anyway after having talked with Tammy about favourite past books she suggested that l might enjoy the ‘Outlander’ series by Diana Gabaldon. So l went to Amazon.co.uk looking for this book and found it! In Britain it is known as ‘Cross Stitch’ ; why they would call it under a different name l do not know.Suddenly the realisation that G. had said just a few weeks back, "you must read this book called Cross Stitch" – occurred to me. l went upstairs and looked through the bedroom bookshelf and there it was!!! Wonderful! A little detective work and result! :)
Being constant readers G. and l often frequent the ‘charity shop book quarter’. This book, 'Cross Stitch' still had the price label on ~ only 49p!
What a bargain.
“What's a girl sleuth to do without her trademark sleuthing tools? Never leave home without a trusty flashlight or a handy magnifying glass. A bag of clothes and a bathing suit kept close at hand in the trunk for those sudden overnight sleuthing adventures is essential. Always on the trail of clues through musty old attics, castle dungeons, secret passageways with hidden staircases, spooky moss-covered mansions and dark alleys, Nancy leaves no stone unturned.”
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11 comments:
Love you blast from the past. Old bookstores often yield some wonderful treasures don't they?
Does your daughter enjoy reading some of the same books you enjoyed??
xoxox
Melissa reads more than anyone l know Susie :)
l remember her going through the 'Goosebumps' series when younger, don't think she read many of the Nancy Drew though. She likes Jane Austen's Writings and time travel books and often lets me know what is good or not to read. Mel has quite the library to take away to university- hope it will all fit or l'll have to make more room in the attic :O
Daniel liked the Artemis Fowl series. Both enjoyed Harry Potter books too.
Check out this link to Artemis Fowl books Susie- bet your grandkids would love them. http://www.artemisfowl.com/
Oh Horizon, how exciting. I will certainly check out all your links. Odd that the book is named something else where in your parts!
You sound like you are becoming quite nostalgic with the girl sleuth thing! lol I love nostalgia! Love a good mystery, so fun!
I still love to read 'my naughty little sister' books. I can clearly remember sitting on the carpet with my infant school teacher reading these books to the class.
I also loved The Nancy Drew books and read them all many times over but my favourite has to be 'The Secret Garden', first read when I was about eight. I just bought a copy at our local charity shop and spent a blissful afternoon, back in time. I'm going to have a lot of fun following your links! Thanks so much
For years, all I ever did in my spare time was read...people were starting to think that a book grew out of my fingers because I always had one in my hand! lol My oldest son Shawn takes after me...he loves books and is forever reading. I did read Outlander quite a few years ago when it first came out and I just loved it...in fact, I read it 3 times! lol As a child I loved Nancy Drew Mysteries and every week I was allowed to go to the library to get a different one to read:-) Hugs xoxo
Dear Horizon....
Your post got me thinking about my daughter Julia and what an avid reader she was from a very young age (still is). We’ve always loved books in our family, but it never ceased to amaze me how quickly she devoured books. Quite unlike her brother when he was young, but he too, has a good appetite for them now. Marion
I saw your comment on CJ's blog...I LOVE Emily Dickinson -- my favorite poet of all time!! Please come check this out when you get a moment. I started something new:
http://pub26.bravenet.com/forum/2231871824
Fancy that Horizon, I live only a few miles away from Moonfleet! He ought to go and see it (if he is driving to/from Cornwall again)
And I too enjoy Edward Rutherford, such a broad canvas he paints. Sarum and London are favourites of mine. I always meant to read Diana Gabaldon but never made it. Maybe this year!
Diana Gabaldon`s books are great! Outlander is the first in the series and I stumbled across it at the library years ago and so bought the whole set. haven`t got the very last one yet though. Hope those terrible winds have calmed down. Saw the mess on the news!
tea
xo
That was a fun post of Tammy's...especially reading all the comments.
We've always been a family of readers too. I loved Enid Blyton as a child. Animal stories too, like Black Beauty. And the Anne of Green Gables series. So many books!
I still love a good mystery, and all kinds of books.
Nothing like losing yourself in a good read! Heaven! I'll have to look up Diana Gabaldon and Moonfleet sounds wonderful (I followed your links).
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