Our Boy Troy: What Happened to Chivalry? (and more)

Turning the Magnifying Glass on Nancy Drew

By Courtney Miller

“Nancy Drew, an attractive girl of eighteen, was driving home along a country road in her new, dark blue convertible.  She had just delivered some legal papers for her father.”

So opens The Secret of the Old Clock, the first classic book in the Nancy Drew Mystery Series.  Today, the bright yellow hardcover stories line the shelves of every major bookstore.  Women, from young girls to grown adults, are familiar with the eager, titian-haired amateur detective.

But wait…in the original first novel, published in April 1930, things were a little bit different.  Nancy was an attractive girl of sixteen driving her new, blue roadster.  And she was blonde.  Could something as simple as a change in hair color or type of car be the key to Nancy’s lingering fame?

Yes, it could.  Nancy Drew has seen new cars, dress style, cover artists, locations and even a new age in the 70 plus years since her first publication.  She has altered as decades alter; an idea born during the golden age of Hollywood first faced war in the 1940s and then saw youth culture change and take shape.

The Birth of an Independent
The character of Nancy Drew was born not out of a woman’s mind but from a man fast cornering the children’s book market in the late 1920s.  Edward Stratemeyer pitched the idea of a female detective series to Grosset & Dunlap, the publisher of Stratemeyer’s popular Hardy Boys mystery series.  Targeting the young girls who also read the Hardy Boys, Stratemeyer would give them a strong, female role model.  For him, it was just a business model.  Nancy would keep girls reading and keep them buying.

A slew of writers hosted the pen name Carolyn Keene to write Nancy Drew adventures, beginning with Mildred Writ Benson.  Benson created the fiercely independent sleuth who would solve over 350 mysteries.  And so we were given the blonde sixteen year-old daughter of a small town lawyer.

Off on an Adventure
Nancy Drew solves many of her cases in or around her hometown of River Heights, a fictional mid-western town with enough friendly neighbors and unfriendly strangers for Nancy to keep her amateur detective nose busy.  Today, readers aren’t used to reading about towns like River Heights.  Living with such social warmth and relative fearlessness is a relic of the past for many people.  As caution and paranoia left the clipped suburban bushes exposed, River Heights wouldn’t have been able to meet the realistic day-to-day standards.  So Nancy traveled more, to California, New York, France and even an adventure behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s.

Inside of a 1960 publication of the third book, The Bungalow Mystery, it reads, “This new story for today’s readers is based on the original of the same title.”  It is important to recognize that Nancy hasn’t simply changed through the course of the series; she’s been rewritten for the new demands.  That’s why, depending on your age, you remember a blonde, dress-suited Nancy.  Or a strawberry-blond Nancy with a casual blouse.  Or even one wearing jeans and driving a dark blue convertible.

There are three underlying reasons why the young sleuth has mesmerized generations–the three reasons the world has needed Nancy to keep up with it.

One: she is independent like no other.  She does often solve mysteries with the help of her cousins Bess and George, or her boyfriend Ned.  But Nancy is a leader with a natural instinct for catching the bad guy.  She goes out and does the dirty work.  It doesn’t matter if it is trailing cars to gypsy camps or making a last minute informative call from her cell phone.  Or pulling a bait and switch, tricking countless villains.

Two: she can escape any kidnapping situation.  No matter how many times she is bound with rope and tossed in the back of a car or down a secret passage, Nancy will find a way to free herself and still solve the mystery at the same time.  Smart and resourceful.

Three: she doesn’t have to do it.  Amateur detective, no pay.  Nancy always wants to help people.  Even if she’s just met them, she insists on discovering the secret stash of treasure an ancestor hid and deliver the current family from monetary troubles.  A lost inheritance.  A lost parent.  A ghost haunting.

Certain role models fade as they grow up and embody different, new ideas.  Nancy’s base character is consistent—her passion and her goodness always there.  A role model for any girl.

Today’s Nancy
Simon & Schuster is still publishing the original series, though many are revised editions from the 1950s or later.  They also publish the Nancy Drew: Girl Detective series where Nancy has become a completely modern young woman.  And Nancy has discovered the computer…or, rather, the computer has discovered her.

Her Interactive Inc. has been developing and publishing Nancy Drew adventure mystery games for the PC since 1998.  With titles like Treasure in the Royal Tower and Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake, Nancy is often traveling to solve a friend’s problem.  In these games, the player takes on the role of Nancy.  She does the legwork, talking to suspects and investigating clues.  She escapes life or death situations.  She solves the mystery.

She becomes Nancy Drew.

(PHOTOS: COURTNEY MILLER)

Angels of Fire and Glass: A Book Review on The Glassblower of Murano

By Courtney Miller

There are books that do more than suck you in.  The full sensory portrait envelops you.  You taste the description and every ounce of your body insists you’ve been transported to another place.  Then that place is powerful enough to become its own character.  It surges with life, with madness and excitement and mystery.  The artist has done her job, found a way to loose the desires from the bound pages.

Marina Fiorato welcomes you to Venice.

Venice is the eternal place of magic and mystery—a city floating on water.  Casanova, Carnivale, doges, lace and glass.  The latter Fiorato explores in her first novel, The Glassblower of Murano.  Like her author, the main character is half-Venetian.  Leonora Manin leaves her divorced English life for the Italian islands to search out the secrets of her famous glass-blowing ancestor, Corradino Manin.  Murano is the island in the Venetian lagoon where glass is blown; jealousy made it a virtual prison for the maestros and their secrets.  Corradino was the most talented maestro of the 15th century, at least according to Fiorato’s history of Venice.  Many characters are fictional creations but it’s hard to tell when the real history ends and hers begins.

Corradino escaped commissioned death as a boy and found a salvation, though terrible, on Murano.  His skill and his glass secrets kept him alive in the city that had betrayed his family.  Later, he began working with the French in secret, daring his life and preparing to sell his methods to save himself and keep an even greater secret he’d been hiding.  Leonora soon finds herself carried into his world of glass monkeys and maestros.  A glassblower on the island embraces her family name and her talent, causing disdain for this woman in a man’s learned profession.  Leonora longs to understand Corradino and she often senses his presence, but she begins to uncover centuries of familial mysteries and betrayals.  Shaken even more by the way her life begins to mirror her mother’s own dream-like Italian past and a father who never existed, she clings to Corradino and the glass she blows.

But it is the way Fiorato captures the enchanted city of linked canals that makes The Glassblower of Murano impossibly alluring.  Transitioning between Corradino’s Venice and Leonora’s time, Fiorato recreates Venice for the reader to experience.  You’ll yearn for the smoky-hot, silver-sweat-filled fireholes where the maestros touch their lips and breath life into the glass.  For the insider’s Venice, away from the tourists and the kitschy glass trinkets.  The past brings alive a story of loss, glass assassin knives and a haunted man.  The interwoven present line is a story of a lost woman, a glass heart and a need for happiness in unfathomable circumstances.

(PHOTO: ST. MARTIN’S GRIFFIN)

Winter Shimmer: A Stylish Headband How-to

By Janie Dumbleton

With the holiday season in full swing, gather some crafting supplies and put some sparkle in that wispy winter hair. Add some sparkle to your holiday accessories by creating this easy eye-catching headband. In no time, you will be a dazzling sight at this year’s New Year’s party!

Supplies:

Embroider floss in preferred color
About ¼ of a yard of colored tulle (a mesh-like fabric available at local craft store)
Scissors
Embroidery needle

Begin by cutting three thin pieces of the tulle, about 3 inches wide and 10 inches long. Then cut about a 35 inch piece of desired color of embroidery floss and thread the length through the embroidery needle. Next, knot the embroidery floss at the end opposite the threaded needle to leave a 10 inch tail. Now take one of the 10 inch strips of tulle and weave the needle in and out of the center of the tulle to create a ruching effect. Keep the weaving in and out close together. When done, scrunch the new rouched strip down to the knot and repeat the weaving in and out with the remaining tulle strips. Scrunch all of the pieces close together so they look cohesive. Play around with the spacing and when satisfied, knot the other end of the embroidery floss at the end of the frilly creation to make it snug against the tulle. Take off the embroidery needle and your new sparkling headband is ready to adorn those lovely winter locks.

Photos by Janie Dumbleton and Holly Piper

StoryCorps: Embrace Everyone’s Story

By Janie Dumbleton

This holiday season give a rare gift that is often overlooked: a listening ear. The power of listening and truly hearing someone’s story, whether it’s a quick anecdote or life journey, is an enlightening experience that propel personal and humanly understanding. The non-profit organization StoryCorps encourages everyone at any age to tell a story, and to listen to a story as well. The mission of StoryCorps is “to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening.” The organization urges people to record their stories, and storycorps.org reveals that “since 2003, over 50,000 people have shared life stories with family and friends through StoryCorps.” The website gives visitors a chance to listen to other stories online and claims to be “the conversation of a life time.” StoryCorps encourages people every where to record their stories in the StoryBooths, sound proof recording studios currently located in New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Atlanta, GA. Mobile Tour Locations are also listed on the StoryCorps website. Communities can also sponsor on-site story recording if the StoryBooth locations are inconvenient.

StoryCorps provides every human with the inspiring idea that each person holds a unique experience worth sharing. This seemingly simplistic idea of “listening” allows people the often times lost dignity of personal story. So, this gift-giving season, challenge yourself to a rewarding experience and tell or listen to another human’s story. Instead of giving Grandpa another tie, listen to his journeys or visit an assisted-living community and spend and afternoon with open ears. We can learn so much from others by lending an understanding listen.

Information from www.storycorps.org

Letters to the Fashion Fairy: Is it UGGly?

By Christine Stoddard

Dear Madame Fashion Fairy,

Be honest: can I wear Uggs with leggings? I have a big bet going on with a friend, so your answer’s really important in determining how much I can spend on Christmas presents this year!

Thanks,

U.G.G.L.Y.

Dear Miss U.G.G.L.Y.,

You can wear whatever you want, and I mean that sincerely. Even if it involves squashing a tarantula and plopping it on top of your head. As much as I sometimes wish I could, I cannot dictate what anyone else puts on in the morning. You have the freedom to choose, just as you have the freedom to choose what you eat, what you read, and what you like in general. That being said, however, I can make pointed suggestions. I’ll exercise my right to do just that right now.

Yes, wearing Uggs with leggings look good…under certain circumstances. Please, please, please do not wear leggings as plain pants, throw on Uggs and your college T-shirt, and call it an outfit. I disapprove of leggings worn like jeans, khakis, corduroys, or other regular pants, unless your top falls long enough to sufficiently cover your bum. (For further elaboration, read my response to the letter titled, “What are leggings anyway?”). Here’s an example of where the Uggs/leggings-as-pants combo works: leggings, Uggs, tunic, jacket, knitted scarf, subtle jewelry–all in the same color family. Another example: Uggs, leggings, super-long sweater, long pendant necklace, knitted hat. Here’s an extreme example of where the Uggs/leggings-as-pants combo makes me want to bury my face in my pillow and cry tears of misery: Uggs, torn leggings, cut-off/belly-bearing tank top, infected belly piercing–all in totally conflicting colors. Wow, just imagining that required me to wipe tears from the corners of my eyes. I beg of you ladies, never abandon the concept of ‘taste.’

On the note of taste, there are a couple other pretty ways to mix your Uggs with your leggings. Sadly for teeny-boppers, they still do not involve cut-off tank tops. Pull a mini-skirt over your leggings, preferably one that complements your Uggs. Solid-colored or tame patterns in tame colors generally work best. I don’t recommend pairing a “tropical splash” type skirt with Uggs; you might as well top it off with a Viking helmet and Madonna-esque jelly bracelets at that point. Here’s an example of an outfit I would support: fitted pale gray sweater, cameo necklace, lavender mini-skirt, cream leggings, light Uggs. If the idea of a mini-skirt makes you shudder, try a full-on dress instead–just keep it above the knee. A long dress competing with tall boots will crop your legs. Not literally, of course, unless you forgot to check what jawed creature started nesting inside of your Uggs. Another option is wearing a long coat over your leggings with your Uggs–just don’t remove the coat unless you have something to, ahem, cover your rump. A long, tweed pea coat with a black tee, gold necklace, black leggings, and camel Uggs would look lovely, for example.

Now run out and try out these creations! You might be pleasantly surprised by the new outfits you assemble, Miss U.G.G.L.Y.

Yours ’til the wand stops sparkling,
The Fashion Fairy

New Moon Mania: a review looking at its popularity

by Lucie Rutter

It seems everyone is completely crazy for Vampires right now, and I am no exception. Once upon a time Vampires were viewed as the villains of the story, which is a far cry from how we see them now. Fangs are officially in fashion and girls all over the world want a Vampire boyfriend to brighten up their love lives.

With popular television series True Blood and The Vampire Diaries the craze is bigger than ever. It is, however, New Moon that everyone is fanatical about at the moment, after a year long wait since the first instalment it is finally here, and it does not disappoint.

New Moon is the second instalment from the Twilight saga, based on the series by Stephanie Meyer. The films tell the story of Bella (Kristen Stewart) a normal, teenage girl who moves to the overcast town of Forks, Washington, expecting a dreary life in the rain but instead she falls in love with the extraordinary Edward Cullen and her life becomes far from dreary.

Twilight, the first movie in the series, shows the budding romance between Bella and Edward (Robert Pattinson) as Bella discovers Edward is no normal student, he is a vampire and part of him thirsts for Bella’s blood.

Bella is a clumsy damsel in distress who appears to be a magnet for trouble and Edward is her ice cold white Knight. It is a romance that every girl dreams of and Stewart and Pattinson portray the forbidden love in a way that grips the audience, keeping us wanting more.

The romance continues in New Moon but the passion heightens as the pair fall more deeply in love (who wouldn’t fall in love with Edward?!) But on Bella’s birthday she gets a cut at the Cullen house and finds herself facing a family of very thirsty Vampires. Edward suddenly realises the risk he has taken by inviting Bella into his life and the family leave in order to save Bella from any other danger.

With Edward gone Bella is lifeless and morose until she finds friendship in the form of Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), whom she describes as her own personal Sun and he begins to bring Bella back to life. Bella is finally waking up from her comatose state and is happy to have some stability in her life, then she realises that Jacob has a secret of his own and nothing in Forks is as it seems.

New Moon captures the audience from the start, with excellent performances from all the cast, picturesque scenery and a love that one can only dream of, you are swept into the story effortlessly and left wanting more.

New Moon brings not only the beautiful Edward Cullen but new heartthrob Jacob and his pack of muscled friends who remain topless throughout the film, much to the delight of the audience. The second instalment has everything you expect and more, it is five stars worth of action and romance and has left every teenage girl hoping to get a Werewolf or a Vampire in their stocking this Christmas.

O’Henry Bars

by Lauren Miller

The Make At Home Candy. Gotta Love that in a recession!

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup White Corn syrup

1 large package chocolate chips

1 ¼ cup crunchy peanut butter

6 cups rice crisspies

Mix sugar and syrup in saucepan. Let it come to a boil with large bubbles.

Remove from heat and stir in peanutbutter.

Pour over cereal and mix thoroughly. Press into a lightly greased pan. Smooth out evenly. Melt 1 large package of chips. Spread over the top of cereal.

Let it cool- cut into bars

Rocky Road Candy

by Lauren Miller

This is one of my dad’s favorite recipes and a classic candy that can fairly easily be made at home

Ingredients:

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
14 oz Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
2 T. margarine
2 c. dry roasted peanuts
10 ½ oz. miniature marshmellows

In a large saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with condensed milk and margarine. Remove from heat. In another large bowl, combine the nuts and marshmellows. Stir in chocolate mixture. Spread the mixture on a waxed paper lined 13×9 inch pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan and peel off waxed paper. Cut into squares and store loosely at room temperature.

Applesauce Cake aka Moistest Cake Ever

by Lauren Miller

I’m pretty sure my mother found this recipe around my 10^th birthday and proceeded to make it for me every year after that. This will be the moistest cake you have ever tasted. For icing I would suggest a Cream Cheese, vanilla, or butter cream icing.

1 package white cake mix
1 4 oz cup applesauce
3 egg whites
1 cup water

Preheat over 350 degrees

Blend cake mix, water, apple sauce, and egg whites in a bowl at low speed for 30 seconds. Then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes and pour batter into greased baking pan and bake.

Baking Time:

2- 8 inch round 32-35 minutes

2- 9 inch round 28-31 minutes

Cupcakes 18-21 minutes.

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