Erin Darlyn

A delightful read. I love the way Wilkie Collins tells stories and I enjoyed reading the different narratives from the perspectives of various characters.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for one main reason. I recently read The Woman in White (another of his books) and it instantly became one of my top 5 favorite books; thus, my bar for this one was set high. I liked it very much but not quite as much as TWIW, therefore it has one less star.

That said, I had recently watched a television adaptation of The Moonstone and knew the ending already when I read this one, which also affected my reading experience a bit. I suspect that if I read it again in a year or two, I may rate it higher then.

The 2016 BBC adaptation is worth watching; just read the book first to avoid spoiling the ending. :)

Original Review

The Secret of the Old Clock is the first book in the hardcover Nancy Drew series (flashlight editions). I read the Nancy Drew books as a young girl and through them, fell in love with reading. That they are still in print and parents are still buying them for their children makes my heart so happy.

This year, I???m attempting to reread all of the original 56 books - about one per week, with some weeks doubled up. I???ve started with book one and it was such a delight to read it again. These mysteries carry so much nostalgia for me, and reading them again feels so comforting - like drinking a hot cup of tea, wrapped up in a cozy blanket on a cushioned window seat listening to the rhythm of the rain; a warm hug for my soul.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Secret of the Old Clock again. I love how the story is set in the 1930???s and carries with it that decade???s unique atmosphere, yet is still so timeless.

My sister once told me she didn???t like Nancy Drew much when she was younger because Nancy is too perfect in the books and I think that is a fair criticism (she is unrealistically perfect and very privileged; some of the circumstances are a bit too tidy as well), but I also think that is one of the things I liked about her stories. Reading them allowed for a bit of escapism and stoked my imagination, and that was still true for me as an adult reading this installment again.

There???s a scene in the story that made me want to find a 1930???s recipe similar to Hannah???s cinnamon cake to bake up and serve with hot applesauce. Why is this not a popular pairing anymore? It sounds delicious!

I???d recommend Nancy???s mysteries for anyone who is interested in a fast-paced, lighthearted middle grade book, for reluctant readers, or for anyone who read them when they were younger and is looking for a serving of nostalgia.

I really loved this book. It was my favorite read of 2022 (I read well over 100 books in ‘22 and rated several at 5 stars, so, for me, that's saying something) and has earned a spot in my top 10 favorite books list.

In it, Rena insightfully weaves what we know about Junia's story with the stories of other women (and men) throughout church history in fascinating and poignant ways. I love the way she sleuths out pieces of the story from all different directions and then brings everything together in a cohesive, understandable way. Though the work is well researched, her writing style is refreshingly readable. It was illuminating but not dense-feeling.

I highly recommend this book.

I picked this one up because it was on display in the bookstore and the cover art caught my eye. I flipped through it and loved the illustrations. Having now read it, I found the characters flat and the plot meandering and predictable. I probably won???t revisit the story, but it is a beautiful book.