Let's discuss
The Borderline Case (#25)!
Some of my observations and review/recap:Frank let Prynne go back to his cabin on the ship unprotected. Maybe Frank thought they wouldn't try an attack a second time? I'm not sure if I missed something or if it wasn't specified.
To talk about the setting, they depended on other people a lot since they were in Greece. Chet and Phil definitely pulled their weight (like they always do), but they had to work with a lot of people because of the language barrier and not knowing the location.
One thing I was thinking about was whether anything really changed from the beginning to the end. I believe the whole culture barrier did. Clea was rude to Joe and people disliked Americans, but then they learned about each other's countries.
A funny highlight was when Chet has a Greek girl getting a little crush on him and gives him a sampling of dolma.
Quote?Chet. I like that name. Chet. It's a strong name, fit for a big man...One day I will marry a man with a great love of food.?
Chet squirmed, not sure how to reply to the girl.
Your thoughts? And what is your rating on this book overall.(ETA: Corrected some of the formatting.)
Yay! I am excited to discuss. I am on the way out though so I will come back later. :)
I have to think a little more to be able to accurately say what I think. One funny highlight was when Joe actually refused food! 8)
Quote?Chet. I like that name. Chet. It's a strong name, fit for a big man...One day I will marry a man with a great love of food.?
Chet squirmed, not sure how to reply to the girl.
Haha- I remember that line. Funny.
And I did appreciate that this book had Chet and Phil showing up alongside Frank and Joe, due to all of them being on a class trip to Greece. And in the midst of it all, the Network got involved too. It's definitely a pretty cool action-filled book from what I recall. I will have to pull out my copy of this book and peruse through it some before I can comment much further. (sorry- I've been behind on reading- just had a lot of things going on lately.)
It's been about 9 or 10 years since I last read The Borderline Case, so once I get finished with my current books (Sieze The Fire by Michael A. Martin).
I just started the book last night, and I noticed that just after the boys board the boat, the author mention's that Joe gets seasick. Now then I've never heard of Joe getting seasick before in either the Original or Casefile continuities (and I don't think the boys have been on any boats that have been moving in the Undercover Brothers continuity), so this is a little unusual for Joe. I guess on the Sleuth and the other boats, Joe usually has his Gravol with him, which I guess he left at home this trip.
Lots to respond to...so here it goes..
1. I thought it was a nice change that Chet was getting the attention from a girl but Joe was getting the cold shoulder. :)
2. Frank lets Prynne go because he doesn't want his head to get bitten off plus it looked like the guys were down for the count. Knowing later that the Gray Man helped Frank (Poor Frank btw), we can also assume that he may have helped keep them at bay. Although, they do come back later...so maybe not. :/
3. I'm glad Clea and Joe were able to break down the cultural barriers. :)
4. Did anyone else notice the reference to the 1996 Olympics? I smiled realizing how old this book was but loved it anyways.
5. I agree that being sick didn't seem to be something Joe had problems with in the past. A lot of the group had those problems so maybe it had to do with something he ate too? It also made Frank more vulnerable to be without Joe and get attacked. True, Chet was there but it's not the same as Joe. Chet DID kick some butt though!
6. Phil and Chet aren't always so vital IMO. Therefore this story gave them a whole new opportunity to be awesome. :) Phil was a badass at that tower defending it with Prynne. I was rooting for him because it's a different side than we usually see. Phil is usually the "geek" that knows how to do anything with electronics.
7. Guns, guns, and MORE guns! I know that the Casefiles have more violence and weapons but wow...did anyone else think there were a lot of guns in this one??? I guess I haven't read a Casefile (GASP) in awhile and didn't realize how the different series handle this issue. Casefiles are still my fave though.
8. I laughed out loud when Chet asked if Frank had any snacks. pg 143 "'Maybe we could just rush out there and grab the stovepipe,' Chet suggested. Frank shook his head. 'Try it and the crew will start sniping at you.' 'Yeah, I guess. Boy, I feel like I haven't eaten in a week. You have any snacks, Frank?'"
Gotta love Chet. Thinking about food in a life or death situation. Totally random and funny.
9. I felt like the ending was a little abrupt but they wrapped it up as best as they could.
10. Frank and Joe were separated for a good portion of the book. Frank is wandering the deck and gets attacked while Joe sleeps off his seasickness in the bunk. Then they go on separate missions causing the chapters to alternate between the brothers. This reminded me a little of the UBs since they do that but it wasn't in first person. They luckily came together towards the end. Of course, Frank showed some concern for his little brother. :)
11. The tile game was interesting and somewhat dramatic. Putting it all on Frank was dramatic too. Of course they didn't even get to try to use this against him really before all heck broke loose. lol
Overall, I really liked this book. I think it was really fast paced (as a lot of Casefiles are) and fun to read. I wish I knew more about Greece and where they were in order to picture it better...but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book.
Quote from: hardygirl847 on January 20, 2011, 12:28:28 AM
4. Did anyone else notice the reference to the 1996 Olympics? I smiled realizing how old this book was but loved it anyways.
Yeah, I noticed that as well (funny thing is, the Hardy's would be working at the 1996 Olympics in Casefiles #111
Competitive Edge, while they would be helping to build the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics in the SuperMystery
At All Costs), not to mention all the references to the Eastern and Western Bloc which fell in 1989 with the Berlin Wall.
The dating in the book is as bad as the dating in the 1929 version of
The Mystery of Cabin Island.
QuoteThe dating in the book is as bad as the dating in the 1929 version of The Mystery of Cabin Island.
Yep- Frank and Joe weren't taking any girls out in that one either- no time for that kind of stuff when you've got the world to save. ;D
The last time that I read The Borderline Case back at the turn of the Millenium, I hadn't yet seen any episodes of the 1977 Hardy Boys TV series, but re-reading the book now, I'm finding that a lot of the mannerisms, actions and maturity of the boys seem to be based on the portrayals of the Hardy's by Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy, so I'm wondering if the author remembered seeing the show when they were writing the book in 1988/89, or if they had maybe been rewatching the Universal/Goodtime VHS tapes, and just when they were writing the books, just like Star Trek writers tend to write the Star Trek books, even all these years after Star Trek: TOS have been off the air and Deforrest Kelley has passed away, by having the characters act and sound as if the actor were still portraying the character, if the author of The Borderline Case (either by doing it on purpose or not) really felt Parker and Shaun were "Frank and Joe Hardy". Unfortunately Phil Cohen never appeared in the series, and Chet Morton, while appearing in one episode, they both feel like the old characters, but the "Frank and Joe Hardy" in this book I'm finding are Parker and Shaun's "Frank and Joe Hardy", albeit in the Casefile world, but still it doesn't matter, because the character styles fit so perfectly.
Cool parallels. 8)
I liked this one a lot. Who else thought that there were a lot of guns being used in this one?
Quote from: hardygirl847 on January 20, 2011, 12:28:28 AM
2. Frank lets Prynne go because he doesn't want his head to get bitten off plus it looked like the guys were down for the count. Knowing later that the Gray Man helped Frank (Poor Frank btw), we can also assume that he may have helped keep them at bay. Although, they do come back later...so maybe not. :/
5. I agree that being sick didn't seem to be something Joe had problems with in the past. A lot of the group had those problems so maybe it had to do with something he ate too? It also made Frank more vulnerable to be without Joe and get attacked. True, Chet was there but it's not the same as Joe. Chet DID kick some butt though!
6. Phil and Chet aren't always so vital IMO. Therefore this story gave them a whole new opportunity to be awesome. :) Phil was a badass at that tower defending it with Prynne. I was rooting for him because it's a different side than we usually see. Phil is usually the "geek" that knows how to do anything with electronics.
7. Guns, guns, and MORE guns! I know that the Casefiles have more violence and weapons but wow...did anyone else think there were a lot of guns in this one??? I guess I haven't read a Casefile (GASP) in awhile and didn't realize how the different series handle this issue. Casefiles are still my fave though.
9. I felt like the ending was a little abrupt but they wrapped it up as best as they could.
Overall, I really liked this book. I think it was really fast paced (as a lot of Casefiles are) and fun to read. I wish I knew more about Greece and where they were in order to picture it better...but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book.
2. That helps explain it for me.
5. I think that's what it was -- the food. Especially based on his reaction when trying to eat.
6. For sure -- especially with the tower, like you said.
9. Yeah, for a lot (if not most) HBs books, once the action's over, there's just a couple pages left it seems.
I rate this book pretty high (from the 15-20 Casefiles I've read). It had so many layers that built on each other and didn't waste any encounter.
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on January 22, 2011, 01:15:28 PM
I liked this one a lot. Who else thought that there were a lot of guns being used in this one?
Yup, there was.
Quote from: tomswift2002 on January 20, 2011, 01:56:26 PM
Yeah, I noticed that as well (funny thing is, the Hardy's would be working at the 1996 Olympics in Casefiles #111 Competitive Edge, while they would be helping to build the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics in the SuperMystery At All Costs), not to mention all the references to the Eastern and Western Bloc which fell in 1989 with the Berlin Wall.
The dating in the book is as bad as the dating in the 1929 version of The Mystery of Cabin Island.
Dating a classic book is not the worst or the best thing either. It does give the reader a better sense of the time period but classics shouldn't matter what time period it is in. It will still have some relevance. However, it does remind the reader of how old the book is too...
The way things are written or what types of situations, lingo, etc are used definitely defines the most about the book. If you blindly picked up a HB not knowing what series it was from or the title...MOST of us MOST of the time would be able to pick out the series just based on the first few pages.
I'm not really sure where I was going with that...so I will continue. lol
Quote from: tomswift2002 on January 21, 2011, 06:38:02 PM
The last time that I read The Borderline Case back at the turn of the Millenium, I hadn't yet seen any episodes of the 1977 Hardy Boys TV series, but re-reading the book now, I'm finding that a lot of the mannerisms, actions and maturity of the boys seem to be based on the portrayals of the Hardy's by Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy, so I'm wondering if the author remembered seeing the show when they were writing the book in 1988/89, or if they had maybe been rewatching the Universal/Goodtime VHS tapes, and just when they were writing the books, just like Star Trek writers tend to write the Star Trek books, even all these years after Star Trek: TOS have been off the air and Deforrest Kelley has passed away, by having the characters act and sound as if the actor were still portraying the character, if the author of The Borderline Case (either by doing it on purpose or not) really felt Parker and Shaun were "Frank and Joe Hardy". Unfortunately Phil Cohen never appeared in the series, and Chet Morton, while appearing in one episode, they both feel like the old characters, but the "Frank and Joe Hardy" in this book I'm finding are Parker and Shaun's "Frank and Joe Hardy", albeit in the Casefile world, but still it doesn't matter, because the character styles fit so perfectly.
The first time I read any Casefiles I had no idea there was a show or even that they started in the 1920s. I know...how sad of me. But I was only a preteen reading for the summer. Now that I reread it with all the prior knowledge of the bluespines, the tv shows, etc....I'm still not sure if I totally see Frank and Joe of the 70s being the Frank and Joe in the book. I can kinda see a little of where you are thinking but not totally.
That's just my opinion though. Plus, are you referring to the Season 1 and 2 Frank and Joe or the Season 3 Frank and Joe? Because there are some definite differences there.
Quote from: Olivia on January 23, 2011, 04:16:37 PM
I rate this book pretty high (from the 15-20 Casefiles I've read). It had so many layers that built on each other and didn't waste any encounter.
I own all of the Casefiles and have read most of them at least once. I'm currently trying to reread them all again...in order. That doesn't always happen though. lol But this is still a good one. I liked it even more this time around actually. Good choice Olivia!!
Quote from: hardygirl847 on January 24, 2011, 04:40:43 PM
I own all of the Casefiles and have read most of them at least once. I'm currently trying to reread them all again...in order. That doesn't always happen though. lol But this is still a good one. I liked it even more this time around actually. Good choice Olivia!!
Thanks. After I haven't read one in a while, I'm always reminded how good they are. I feel like each is practically movie-quality (the best example I can come up with to describe it).
Olivia, your comment is going to spur a new thread....Casefiles are very movie quality stories...Hmm....
Quote from: hardygirl847 on January 20, 2011, 12:28:28 AM
7. Guns, guns, and MORE guns! I know that the Casefiles have more violence and weapons but wow...did anyone else think there were a lot of guns in this one??? I guess I haven't read a Casefile (GASP) in awhile and didn't realize how the different series handle this issue. Casefiles are still my fave though.
I had totally forgotten how much gun violence was in this book before I re-read it a few weeks ago. AK-47's, UZI's, automatic rifles. I know that there are other Casefiles have the Hardy's handling guns in them, but this one seemed to have the most gun-action in any of the books.
Apparently I don't own this book.
I don't own the book either, but I am able to read it any time I want. ;D
Why is that?
I wish my church library was as cool as that! LOL
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on January 31, 2011, 11:43:49 PM
It's in the church library. 8)
I've never heard of a church library having the Hardy Boys books--never mind the casefiles! How many do they have?
It's a fairly small library; it has a couple hundred books. It has about 35-40 HB books and about 15 of those are Casefiles.
That's awesome!!!
Yes, this book definitely had a large amount of guns. And it seemed that almost everyone was willing to use one! Even Phil and Joe!
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 01, 2011, 12:45:01 PM
It's a fairly small library; it has a couple hundred books. It has about 35-40 HB books and about 15 of those are Casefiles.
So like a quarter of your church library is made-up of
Hardy Boys books.
lol
LOL. But, I think I made an understatement when I said a couple hundred books. ::)
Very cool! My church library has some of The Hardy Boys books too (I've donated a few extras I've picked up here and there ;))- I'm not sure if there are any Casefiles. I do think we may have some of the Original Text books though. :)
Plus, it helps to live right next to the church. 8)
I remember when I was growing up how my mom used to tell me that back in the 60's and 70's the Christian bookstore in our city used to carry the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew G&D books due to them having Christian values in them, even though they were not written as religious fiction.
I'm not entirely sure if I would consider the HBs in a religious sense as much as I would having moral values. I know that can be one in the same sometimes but it's not really. Interesting though...They are 2 wholesome kids. :) I think the Christian stores would consider the Casefiles in the same light though. Lots of guns and much more violence in those.
Although there was some Christian literature written for kids in the '60s and '70s (The Sugar Creek Gang comes to mind- I have a number of those as well- grew up with that series and love reading them :)) - there's definitely much more Christian children's literature around today that keeps Christian book stores pretty well stocked. But I do agree that The Hardy Boys have always had great moral values which align very well with Christian values. Unfortunately, some of them seem to have been slipping in some of the modern books...
(but that's a discussion for another thread.)
But whether a book is written specifically for a certain audience or not, it is certainly possible to take away some truths from books and movies and TV shows and most any kind of media, even if it may not have been the original intention. This is especially true of poetry, which is written to be interpreted by the reader. Some poets may offer their own explanation and the message they intended, but ultimately it's all in the eye of the beholder as to how it will be viewed. And as a Christian, The Bible is the lens that I view everything through and The Holy Spirit shapes how I see it and take in its meaning and value.
Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but it seems like most of the people who read the Hardy Boys are pretty religious..? I'm not sure if theres a connection or anything, but all my friends that like them are religious, and so are most of you.... :-\
I haven't noticed that, really.
Not necessarily, but I can certainly see how a lot of people of a particular religion or faith might be drawn to The Hardy Boys. I enjoy the action and adventure and mystery as much as anything, but as a Christian, I certainly also appreciate their moral values, many of which are certainly Biblical.
I don't like to say I'm religious as such though- I think it carries some wrong connotations sometimes. I don't believe in religion- I just believe in Jesus. And I believe in following His Word as revealed in The Bible and in going to church and praying and showing His love to everyone. Jesus Himself said that's the most important of all the commands in The Bible- Love God with everything you've got and love your neighbor as yourself. (And by neighbor, He means everyone.) :)
I'm sure we had several topics abou stuff like that before, but I guess there isn't a "religion" board anymore....
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on February 09, 2011, 04:39:26 PM
I'm sure we had several topics abou stuff like that before, but I guess there isn't a "religion" board anymore....
Yeah. It was here when I joined, then it disappeared. Wonder what happened? Oh well, I think I only posted once there anyway.
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on February 09, 2011, 01:53:29 PM
Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but it seems like most of the people who read the Hardy Boys are pretty religious..? I'm not sure if theres a connection or anything, but all my friends that like them are religious, and so are most of you.... :-\
I've noticed that. About 75% of people that I know that has read HBs (including a lot of you on this forum) are Christian.
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 09, 2011, 08:19:23 PM
Yeah. It was here when I joined, then it disappeared. Wonder what happened? Oh well, I think I only posted once there anyway.
When did you join 'cause I thought that topic was from a long time ago.
Quote from: Olivia on February 09, 2011, 09:03:07 PM
I've noticed that. About 75% of people that I know that has read HBs (including a lot of you on this forum) are Christian.
When did you join 'cause I thought that topic was from a long time ago.
1/22/11.
Well, The Hardy Boys have long been a bastion of good Christian values and young men who serve as good role models for kids, so I can certainly see why Christian parents would want their kids to read those books- and why Christian kids (or slightly older Christian kids ;)) would want to read them. And as far as I can tell, Frank and Joe Hardy themselves are portrayed as being Protestant Christians (though very subtly and never terribly overt.)
Quote from: MacGyver on February 09, 2011, 09:09:54 PM
Well, The Hardy Boys have long been a bastion of good Christian values and young men who serve as good role models for kids, so I can certainly see why Christian parents would want their kids to read those books- and why Christian kids (or slightly older Christian kids ;) ) would want to read them. And as far as I can tell, Frank and Joe Hardy themselves are portrayed as being Protestant Christians (though very subtly and never terribly overt.)
Do you think
Nancy Drew's the same way? I'm not sure I do.
I think Nancy Drew is also similar in that regard- from what I've read of Nancy Drew books. I honestly haven't read enough to make a really good values judgment call though.
Quote from: MacGyver on February 09, 2011, 09:13:56 PM
I think Nancy Drew is also similar in that regard- from what I've read of Nancy Drew books. I honestly haven't read enough to make a really good values judgment call though.
I sort of gave up on Nancy Drew when I found the Hardy Boys. The PC Games are cool! ;D
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 09, 2011, 09:07:46 PM
1/22/11.
I guess I missed that topic (unless it wasn't in the topic, but in a thread somewhere).
If I may add to the discussion of ND being Christian, I remember some of the Originals mention church the same the HBs do. But yeah, I don't really know how far to take it besides the "good values" MacGyver mentioned.
If you mean Christian people reading ND as much as HBs...I don't know.
Quote from: Olivia on February 09, 2011, 09:17:33 PM
I guess I missed that topic (unless it wasn't in the topic, but in a thread somewhere).
If I may add to the discussion of ND being Christian, I remember some of the Originals mention church the same the HBs do. But yeah, I don't really know how far to take it besides the "good values" MacGyver mentioned.
If you mean Christian people reading ND as much as HBs...I don't know.
Who do you think is more popular?
ND outsells HBs (and I think it might have always been that way?). Probably because of the stereotype that girls read more and tend to get books as gifts.
But maybe HBs is discussed more. Who knows.
Quote from: Olivia on February 09, 2011, 09:37:33 PM
ND outsells HBs (and I think it might have always been that way?). Probably because of the stereotype that girls read more and tend to get books as gifts.
But maybe HBs is discussed more. Who knows.
That's what I thought. As soon I started reading the
Hardy Boys, it didn't take me very long to ditch
Nancy Drew, due to the lack of action.
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 09, 2011, 09:41:42 PM
That's what I thought. As soon I started reading the Hardy Boys, it didn't take me very long to ditch Nancy Drew, due to the lack of action.
Same here. 8)
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 09, 2011, 09:48:20 PM
Same here. 8)
How did you get interested in
Nancy Drew and the
Hardy Boys?
Nancy Drew books have action too- just perhaps not the same level as The Hardy Boys. It seems kind of funny for me as a boy to hear all these girls who are turning away from a book series that is supposed to be aimed at their gender in general to begin with. But that's why I don't always like those kinds of gender-based marketing things because every single person, male or female, is different and has different preferences. So read the books that you like and want to read.
By the way, I can confirm that I recall reading of Nancy Drew going to church in at least one of the ND books- I even recall that it mentioned the pastor preaching a good sermon about lying and telling the truth.
Quote from: MacGyver on February 10, 2011, 12:51:12 AM
Nancy Drew books have action too- just perhaps not the same level as The Hardy Boys. It seems kind of funny for me as a boy to hear all these girls who are turning away from a book series that is supposed to be aimed at their gender in general to begin with. But that's why I don't always like those kinds of gender-based marketing things because every single person, male or female, is different and has different preferences. So read the books that you like and want to read.
By the way, I can confirm that I recall reading of Nancy Drew going to church in at least one of the ND books- I even recall that it mentioned the pastor preaching a good sermon about lying and telling the truth.
Too bad the criminals missed that one! ;D
Quote from: MacGyver on February 10, 2011, 12:51:12 AM
Nancy Drew books have action too- just perhaps not the same level as The Hardy Boys. It seems kind of funny for me as a boy to hear all these girls who are turning away from a book series that is supposed to be aimed at their gender in general to begin with. But that's why I don't always like those kinds of gender-based marketing things because every single person, male or female, is different and has different preferences. So read the books that you like and want to read.
By the way, I can confirm that I recall reading of Nancy Drew going to church in at least one of the ND books- I even recall that it mentioned the pastor preaching a good sermon about lying and telling the truth.
I guess since the books are marketed toward girls, they think that girls like to read about a smart, talented sleuth that solves mysteries by just thinking about them..... I used to read Nancy Drew, then I read a crossover and I started reading Hardy Boys. I'd rather read about 2 handsome young guys that beat up criminals than about a girl who solves mysteries with her other 2 girl friends and sometimes her boyrfriend Nerd and she can't fight ;D
Quoteand sometimes her boyrfriend Nerd and she can't fight
Um, you meant Ned, right? ;) ;D
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on February 10, 2011, 01:42:01 PM
I guess since the books are marketed toward girls, they think that girls like to read about a smart, talented sleuth that solves mysteries by just thinking about them..... I used to read Nancy Drew, then I read a crossover and I started reading Hardy Boys. I'd rather read about 2 handsome young guys that beat up criminals than about a girl who solves mysteries with her other 2 girl friends and sometimes her boyrfriend Nerd and she can't fight ;D
No, she can't! ;) Don't even get me started on
Nancy Drew Girl Detective. Those are terrible! ::)
Quote from: MacGyver on February 10, 2011, 02:06:35 PM
Um, you meant Ned, right? ;) ;D
I like Nerd. :)
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 10, 2011, 02:26:13 PM
No, she can't! ;) Don't even get me started on Nancy Drew Girl Detective. Those are terrible! ::)
You got that right. ::)
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 09, 2011, 09:50:28 PM
How did you get interested in Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys?
I got ND books every once in a while at the library. After a while, the librarian asked me if I had tried
Hardy Boys books, so I tried them. I liked them way better than ND, so I kept reading them. After a while, I found that I like
Casefiles the best, so I focus on collecting and reading them. 8)
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 10, 2011, 03:19:58 PM
I like Nerd. :)
You got that right. ::)
I got ND books every once in a while at the library. After a while, the librarian asked me if I had tried Hardy Boys books, so I tried them. I liked them way better than ND, so I kept reading them. After a while, I found that I like Casefiles the best, so I focus on collecting and reading them. 8)
I'm a UB Fan.
*Looks around* "Don't shoot me!" *Runs off.*
Try reading the original Nancy Drew hardbacks. I think she holds her own pretty well in those. The Hidden Staircase and The Invisible Intruder are two of my favorites.
Quote from: MacGyver on February 10, 2011, 04:46:44 PM
Try reading the original Nancy Drew hardbacks. I think she holds her own pretty well in those. The Hidden Staircase and The Invisible Intruder are two of my favorites.
I did. Until I started reading the
Hardy Boys I thought she was cool! 8) Then Frank and Joe changed that. . . ;)
I don't know why I as a male am having to defend her- LOL ;D
but Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys are both cool. 8)
Check out www.nancydrewsleuth.com for more on why Nancy Drew is still relevant and a cool character.
(And I have read a few Nancy Drew books here and there, but I have read way more of The Hardy Boys since I'm primarily a fan of that book series of course.) But they are literary siblings, so I appreciate both of them.
Quote from: MacGyver on February 10, 2011, 04:57:02 PM
I don't know why I as a male am having to defend her- LOL ;D
but Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys are both cool. 8)
Check out www.nancydrewsleuth.com (http://www.nancydrewsleuth.com) for more on why Nancy Drew is still relevant and a cool character.
(And I have read a few Nancy Drew books here and there, but I have read way more of The Hardy Boys since I'm primarily a fan of that book series of course.) But they are literary siblings, so I appreciate both of them.
When you put it like that. . .I agree.
I've only read a few
Nancy Drew novels and a few more graphic novels. I thought they were pretty good.
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 10, 2011, 04:28:40 PM
I'm a UB Fan.
Really? I would have never guessed.
Okay...speaking from the voice of my inner tween....girls like boys. Girls are boy crazy. Frank and Joe are cute boys. Fictional...yes...but the same principal that makes Justin Bieber popular can make Frank and Joe popular....THEY ARE HOT BOYS. lol Well, we are assuming they are hot boys....but they kick butt, they're smart, funny, etc. Total package.
Why bother getting into Nancy Drew when you have hot boys you can read about??
Speaking from my 20-something voice....I also like hot boys. LOL
Some things never change. :)
Quote from: hardygirl847 on February 11, 2011, 01:22:41 PM
Okay...speaking from the voice of my inner tween....girls like boys. Girls are boy crazy. Frank and Joe are cute boys. Fictional...yes...but the same principal that makes Justin Bieber popular can make Frank and Joe popular....THEY ARE HOT BOYS. lol Well, we are assuming they are hot boys....but they kick butt, they're smart, funny, etc. Total package.
Why bother getting into Nancy Drew when you have hot boys you can read about??
Speaking from my 20-something voice....I also like hot boys. LOL
Some things never change. :)
LOL great summary!!! ;D
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on February 11, 2011, 01:31:52 PM
LOL great summary!!! ;D
I agree. That's great! Couldn't have said it better myself! ;)
But by that logic, shouldn't I and other boys want to be reading about Nancy Drew, a HOT girl detective rather than the Hardy Boys?
Quote from: MacGyver on February 11, 2011, 02:52:03 PM
But by that logic, shouldn't I and other boys want to be reading about Nancy Drew, a HOT girl detective rather than the Hardy Boys?
I guess. :-\
No offense to girls, but I do find it funny that so many girls seem to like movies and TV shows and bands and book series and such merely because a "HOT" actor is in it. I understand that it's a perfectly natural attraction and certainly there are actresses that I think are pretty HOT too. But I just hope that wouldn't be the sole reason for liking something, as it seems kinda shallow. (And I'm not saying that there aren't plenty of guys out there who like shows like The Dukes of Hazzard for one reason- and her name is Daisy Duke!)
(And for me, I also want to be careful that any attractions I might have don't turn to lust.)
Quote from: MacGyver on February 11, 2011, 02:59:11 PM
No offense to girls, but I do find it funny that so many girls seem to like movies and TV shows and bands and book series and such merely because a "HOT" actor is in it. I understand that it's a perfectly natural attraction and certainly there are actresses that I think are pretty HOT too. But I just hope that wouldn't be the sole reason for liking something, as it seems kinda shallow. (And I'm not saying that there aren't plenty of guys out there who like shows like The Dukes of Hazzard for one reason- and her name is Daisy Duke!)
(And for me, I also want to be careful that any attractions I might have don't turn to lust.)
Amen! I like seeing nice-looking people, but I prefer to judge entertainment on the quality of the story. Why watch something loaded with coarse language just to see a good-looking guy or girl? ::)
Quote from: MacGyver on February 11, 2011, 02:59:11 PM
No offense to girls, but I do find it funny that so many girls seem to like movies and TV shows and bands and book series and such merely because a "HOT" actor is in it.
I guess it just makes the show more entertaining for us.... :-\ LOL I can name a bunch of times when me and my girl friends watched an
(age appropriate!!) movie just because there was a cute guy in it. ;D.
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 11, 2011, 03:02:11 PM
Amen! I like seeing nice-looking people, but I prefer to judge entertainment on the quality of the story. Why watch something loaded with coarse language just to see a good-looking guy or girl? ::)
I don't. ;)
There are a lot of physically beautiful people out there who say and do ugly things and that turns me off.
Quote from: MacGyver on February 11, 2011, 03:11:27 PM
There are a lot of physically beautiful people out there who say and do ugly things and that turns me off.
Yeah, there are these people that I'm like, hey they're cute, maybe they're nice too! But then I hear them cussing so I say uhhh nevermind :P ::)
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on February 11, 2011, 03:13:32 PM
Yeah, there are these people that I'm like, hey they're cute, maybe they're nice too! But then I hear them cussing so I say uhhh nevermind :P ::)
That's what I think, too. ;)
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 10, 2011, 02:26:13 PM
No, she can't! ;) Don't even get me started on Nancy Drew Girl Detective. Those are terrible! ::)
Funny you should say that. Even though I'm thoroughly a HBs fan, I'm also a selective ND fan. Every HBs series beats ND (except the Casefiles and Files are about even writing-wise -- i.e. intelligence of writing, not necessarily action or whatever).
However, I have to say that the Girl Detective series is very well-written (later numbers) compared to just about any UB. I'm still surprised, because I hated what they did until it improved. Although the last ND:GD trilogy I was in the middle of reading a long time ago (the one about the model) wasn't too great.
I hope you don't mind my opinion because I know how much you like the UBs.
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 01:22:35 PM
Funny you should say that. Even though I'm thoroughly a HBs fan, I'm also a selective ND fan. Every HBs series beats ND (except the Casefiles and Files are about even writing-wise -- i.e. intelligence of writing, not necessarily action or whatever).
However, I have to say that the Girl Detective series is very well-written (later numbers) compared to just about any UB. I'm still surprised, because I hated what they did until it improved. Although the last ND:GD trilogy I was in the middle of reading a long time ago (the one about the model) wasn't too great.
I hope you don't mind my opinion because I know how much you like the UBs.
I don't. How have they improved? You can PM me if you want, so we don't take up space on here.
Originally, just the way they characterized the uh, characters (I don't know how else to say it) wasn't good: it was either unbelievable or annoying. The plots weren't always top-notch, and the flow of writing wasn't too good.
In later books, there is good balance and everything is not only believable, but works together very well. For instance, there are some consistent characters in River Heights that blend into the story very well. Or if Nancy's somewhere else in the the country, the new characters feel real. Also, how Nancy figures out the mystery, plus the actual criminal and their motives are just well-done. No detail is wasted and always useful. The writing flows and you can really see it in your head.
Not all of them, but a good amount of ND:GD, anyway.
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 01:29:10 PM
You can PM me if you want, so we don't take up space on here.
Oh. Well, too late.
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 01:37:02 PM
Oh. Well, too late.
Yeah. I noticed! ;D What number was it when they started to improve? ???
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 01:39:55 PM
Yeah. I noticed! ;D
This thread has been off-topic for a while, but I just wanted to quickly ask what some of your fav UBs are? (You may have answered this already, I don't know).
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 01:42:26 PM
This thread has been off-topic for a while, but I just wanted to quickly ask what some of your fav UBs are? (You may have answered this already, I don't know).
No, I haven't. :) I guess I like all of them. (Big surprise. I know. ::) ) The ones that I like the best are, 006, 014, 020, all of the
Double Danger, Killer Mission and the
Lost Mystery trilogy's (I still haven't gotten the final book, yet) but so far, I like it. ;D
I've heard the Lost trilogy is really good.
I've only read up to the Double Danger trilogy. The first book in that one, plus Wanted (first super mystery) are among my favs.
There's older topics and polls on this sort of thing too :)
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 02:02:23 PM
I've heard the Lost trilogy is really good.
I've only read up to the Double Danger trilogy. The first book in that one, plus Wanted (first super mystery) are among my favs.
There's older topics and polls on this sort of thing too :)
Yeah. But I can't post anything in them. What did you think of UB No. 020?
Because they're older topics that haven't been posted in a year?
No. 20 I didn't particularly like because a hot dog eating contest doesn't seem like a very good plot. I think the motive of the criminal wasn't that great either, but I can't remember entirely.
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 02:22:33 PM
Because they're older topics that haven't been posted in a year?
No. 20 I didn't particularly like because a hot dog eating contest doesn't seem like a very good plot. I think the motive of the criminal wasn't that great either, but I can't remember entirely.
Yeah. :) I thought the same thing. "A hot dog eating contest, is that the best that you can come up with?" :-\
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 01:39:55 PM
Yeah. I noticed! ;D What number was it when they started to improve? ???
You keep adding things to your post after I answer. Feels very deja vu.
If you really want to know, I would say it starts slowly in #17 approximately. But the better ones are listed in a general ND:GD topic somewhere in the Nancy Drew section (I think). I'm selective with that list.
What would be the best UB for me to read? I want to read a couple UB's just to see how I like them and I want opinions.
BTW, Hardy Boys UB Fan, I like your avatar. ;D ;D
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 02:47:07 PM
You keep adding things to your post after I answer. Feels very deja vu.
If you really want to know, I would say it starts slowly in #17 approximately. But the better ones are listed in a general ND:GD topic somewhere in the Nancy Drew section (I think). I'm selective with that list.
LOL! ;D I think that's when I gave up on her! :) ::)
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 13, 2011, 03:16:45 PM
What would be the best UB for me to read? I want to read a couple UB's just to see how I like them and I want opinions.
BTW, Hardy Boys UB Fan, I like your avatar. ;D ;D
Thanks. ;D Have you played the Nancy Drew PC Games? It's from one of those.
I'd say the
Lost Mystery trilogy. It's almost like reading a
Casefile. Or 006, 014, 020 or
Wanted.
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 03:22:16 PM
Thanks. ;D Have you played the Nancy Drew PC Games? It's from one of those.
I'd say the Lost Mystery trilogy. It's almost like reading a Casefile. Or 006, 014, 020 or Wanted.
I've played the first 21 ND games. Very cool. SHA is one of my second favorites.
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 13, 2011, 03:26:16 PM
I've played the first 21 ND games. Very cool. SHA is one of my second favorites.
What's your first? Are you able to solve all of them without needing a walkthrough? I know if I didn't use them, I wouldn't get anywhere. Some of them are
really hard, aren't they? ;D
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 03:30:38 PM
What's your first? Are you able to solve all of them without needing a walkthrough? I know if I didn't use them, I wouldn't get anywhere. Some of them are really hard, aren't they? ;D
I love Warnings at Waverly Academy. ;) I've solved most of them with UHS.
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 13, 2011, 03:36:29 PM
I love Warnings at Waverly Academy. ;) I've solved most of them with UHS.
UHS? What's that?
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 03:37:25 PM
UHS? What's that?
Universal Hint System. http://www.uhs-hints.com/ (http://www.uhs-hints.com/) It has all the ND games and I think it has one of the HB games.
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 13, 2011, 03:41:49 PM
Universal Hint System. http://www.uhs-hints.com/ (http://www.uhs-hints.com/) It has all the ND games and I think it has one of the HB games.
Okay. I use ones that give you everything, not just hints. :)
Quote from: Hardy Boys UB Fan on February 13, 2011, 03:43:38 PM
Okay. I use ones that give you everything, not just hints. :)
UHS gives you hints, but if you click further and further, they'll tell you just what to do. They give you a chance to figure it out on your own, with just a little help, which is what I like.
Quote from: AlwaysAJoefan on February 13, 2011, 03:55:02 PM
UHS gives you hints, but if you click further and further, they'll tell you just what to do. They give you a chance to figure it out on your own, with just a little help, which is what I like.
In those games, I don't mind being told what to do step-by-step. It's easier for me to figure out.
Quote from: Olivia on February 13, 2011, 01:22:35 PM
However, I have to say that the Girl Detective series is very well-written (later numbers) compared to just about any UB. I'm still surprised, because I hated what they did until it improved. Although the last ND:GD trilogy I was in the middle of reading a long time ago (the one about the model) wasn't too great.
Yeah, the one about the model wasn't good, but I think the Girl Detective series is pretty well written.... It actually almost makes me
*gasp!* LIKE Nerd Nickerson! :o
Quote from: JoeHardyRocks on February 13, 2011, 05:56:58 PM
Yeah, the one about the model wasn't good, but I think the Girl Detective series is pretty well written.... It actually almost makes me *gasp!* LIKE Nerd Nickerson! :o
I think it's well written, I'll give them that much credit. But I'm still a UB fan.
QuoteI remember when I was growing up how my mom used to tell me that back in the 60's and 70's the Christian bookstore in our city used to carry the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew G&D books due to them having Christian values in them, even though they were not written as religious fiction.
I just ran across this link at random- I was already familiar with Christianbook.com, but I didn't realize they sold The Hardy Boys books! That's pretty cool- I guess that tradition lives on. :)
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=461052&sp=102298&event=102298RNF%7C383943%7C102298
That's cool Mac. :)
Yeah- and they even have some of the Applewood prints available for order, which is pretty neat since some of them have gone out of print and are hard to find.
Quote from: MacGyver on March 13, 2011, 09:28:03 PM
Yeah- and they even have some of the Applewood prints available for order, which is pretty neat since some of them have gone out of print and are hard to find.
We order from CBD. ;D Have you ordered one from CBD? What's the book like? :-\
I don't think I've ordered from Christianbook.com before, but I'm sure a lot of the things I've bought at my local Christian bookstores may have come from there.
The Applewood books are reprints of the original text stories (The first 38 books in Grossett & Dunlap's original series)- and so these are hardback books with a red cover and dustjacket with the original artwork on it. There's a picture of it right there in the link I posted- they have a listing for the original text version of The Secret of the Old Mill :)
OTs are hard to come by for me. So cool!