Author: Carolyn Keene
Genre: Juvenile / Nostalgia / Mystery
Status: Read
Cats?: None, but there is an angry bull.
KitKat Says:
Inspired by Zorro's review of a Hardy Boys Mystery, I decided to give Nancy Drew a go. I've obviously heard references to this series, and I'm aware it's been popular for generations, but I've never read a Nancy Drew book for myself. Better late than never?
With a copyright date of 1955, I was more than a little afraid of what I was getting into with The Witch Tree Symbol--particularly because the action takes place in Amish country. I figured a book written in the 50s would resort to broad stereotypes in representing Amish people.
Not just that, but Nancy Drew is an intrepid investigator. She's pretty fearless. I can see why the series has been so popular throughout the years.
Having said all that, would I rush out to read another Nancy Drew mystery novel? Probably not, and here's why: I found the writing style outdated and impersonal. I don't mean that as a dig. These books were written, what, more than sixty years ago? Times change, trends change, tastes change. I really like to get inside a character's head and feel what they're feeling. That's pretty much impossible to do when the narrative bobs at the surface of the action.
I still think that, if you've never read a Nancy Drew mystery, The Witch Tree Symbol is worth your while. Aren't you curious what you've been missing out on all these years?
Whether you read Nancy Drew as a youngster and you're looking for a spot of nostalgia or you've never read this series and you don't mind starting with #33, you might want to spend a day with The Witch Tree Symbol.
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