Another one of my literary goals is the read all of the Hardy Boys. Now that I’ve read all of my libraries collection, I’ve figured that I write a review. Also, since this is after my reading the collection of Nancy Drew, I can somewhat compare the two since they are so similar. Unlike the straight forward mysteries that encompass Nancy Drew novels, The Hardy Boys novels are more along the lines of thrillers as there are not the typically who-dun-it scenarios. Instead of the usual mysteries, we are diving into solving heists, dangerous espionage, and environmental dangers. The dangers to these two teenagers is much more real that those to Drew at times. While Drew’s boyfriend is often around to magically save her, the Hardy’s sometimes have their dad to save them, but it does feel really close when that does happen. It is a more heart-racing experience when having to follow these two boys around. They are quick and simply adventure reads with a couple of mystery components thrown in, including the best friend that magically happens to have some hobby that will magically solve the entire case. While the language is somewhat outdated, it is still a fun adventure from setup to wrap-up with all of the interesting locations they end up going to and interesting people met.
Tag: family
Childish Insight
It’s not too often that I enjoy that I enjoy a show where the central character is a child just living their everyday life. Usually, I get so bored without some given conflict or some other thing going on. Instead, I was sucked into the world of Kotoru Lives Alone. Kotoru’s monotone and bleak understanding of the world is somewhat wholesome, until I remember that I’m adult watching the show. Instead of lighthearted and cute, the world takes a much darker tone that I ever imagined. This darker tone was what kept me engaged. It wasn’t anything that was necessarily happening on screen but the implications that drew me in episode after episode. This isn’t a fell good story, but a very memorable one.
Travel to Now
In a world full of time travel books, it is not often that time travel happens in today’s day and age. Usually, it is a historical drama set in the past or a Sci-Fi epic taking place in a distant future. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley explores the premise of those from the past being transported to today. The premise was really good, and I enjoyed it, but the book was a bit of a drag in some areas. While everything wraps up clearly in the end and you get the idea of why things were included, there were moments that just moved too slowly. It was an interesting way to explore the changing times and societal expectations; however, the exploration wasn’t as in-depth as I was expecting. Can I also just be sad that my ship didn’t sail, because my ship didn’t sail. Personally, I thought it would have been a more compelling story, but the author probably felt differently, even though it was set up so beautifully. Slow but an interesting way to incorporate a modern exploration of time travel.
Worst Girl Next Door
In a probable English town in the supposed countryside, probably, lives probably the worst child I have ever had the displeasure of reading about. So bad, I would probably put her on par with Caillou. This girl is known as Pippi Longstocking from Astrid Lindgren’s books. While I know this is a beloved classic, Pippi is one of the most annoying children I’ve ever heard of. She is probably a child’s dream of never going to school, never learning to read, and never having to go to sleep at a reasonable time. In other words, a parent’s worst nightmare. I mean, what child wouldn’t enjoy living with a monkey and having more money than one could think of doing with? From an adult standpoint, I hated this and would probably never let a child hear or read this story until they were old enough to distinguish right from wrong and reason from unreasonable. It might give children the wrong idea, and I would have to pray for that poor adult’s soul.
New to Education
In my, albeit, short time in education and teaching, I’ve learned that the things I know and what I think others should not can be wildly varying. An example of this in action is Educated by Tara West, a memoir following the life of a girl from a fundamentalist Mormon sect. It was fascinating to me that what people know and don’t know is sometimes a matter of luck. Whether they are homeschooled or in the public school system. Even outside the context of this memoir, I have noticed a substantial difference in students’ knowledge. I will admit that when I was younger, I genuinely thought it was a lack of caring or a want of incompetence. Over my time, I’ve come to realize it isn’t that, just a lack of teaching that occurs, whether willingly or not. Either way, this was a fascinating read about an aspect that is not discussed outside of sensational reality shows.
Building a Family Pt 1
Not all families start the same way. Sometimes they are built to a much bigger game: the spy game. That is where we are in Spy x Family. It is a cute little anime about a fake family living out their completely fake lives where everything is definitely normal, except for the fact that a war is on the brink of starting. Absolutely nothing to worry about except school grades, hiding all kinds of secrets from everyone, going on missions around the country, and living as a happy family. It’s all in a day’s work with our cute little trio of miscreants, though how they are not getting caught is getting more and more ridiculous. I’ve heard whispers from my friends that the story is probably going to heat up soon, with more drama and intrigue, and I cannot wait.
What a Bizarre Adventure Pt 4
I’m back after a long while from reading a part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure with Diamond is Unbreakable. It continues with the concept of stands and introduces a lot more of them. Sometimes they evolve. Sometimes they test the limits of time. Either way, it was very interesting to continue along the adventure. One thing I did not like much about this arc was that there was no buildup to anything. It was very episodic. While it did leave some clues I suspect to be answered in the upcoming arc, it was a little disappointing that they were not resolved in the here and now. I really wanted the exploration to lead to something, but it seems there was just too much about the world we needed to learn first.
First in Class
What is even more horrifying than boarding school? A bunch of children with supernatural powers at said boarding school. That is the basis of the story of Gakuen Alice by Tachibana Higuchi. After her best friend Hotaru is basically kidnapped, Mikan runs away to follow her to a super-secret school, which turns out to be full of people with powers. At times, it is a really sweet story featuring self-discovery. At other times, it is a jaw-dropping story to learn more about the situation that is behind the scenes.
Overall, it is a very cute story. If you love shoujos, you will love this. There is a dash of slice-of-life, romance, and mystery. Although we are ignoring the thing that occurred in volume 2, if you know, you know. The mangaka says it was an accident, and I’m choosing to believe her. It was the only thing like that, so I’m staying in my obliviousness; no one try to take off my rose-colored glasses.
Over the Garden Wall
In a continuation of reading the books I probably should have as a child but didn’t get to, I recently read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Why did I not read this book before? I have no clue; I was probably busy reading something else, and I said I would get to it someday. Well, that day is now.
My thoughts are that it was really cute. I don’t know what I was expecting, but that wasn’t it. What I am able to tell you is that a spoiled, now-orphaned girl gets sent to her uncle’s house, an uncle who is never present, and has to learn to live in England. While a cute story with lots of plot lines I wasn’t expecting, I will admit that half the time I had no clue what some characters were saying, as they were apparently written in a deep Yorkshire accent. I got the gist of things, but it was hard. I even tried to read out loud, and I was still lost. Unfortunately, I will not be able to read this aloud to anyone, but I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an easy read; you don’t have to read too deeply into anything, and everything is as it seems. It was a good book to read after a really hard week of work.
So Bad, It’s Good: Miami Connection
I love terrible movies: The Room, Birdemic, Velocipastor. If there is a movie with a nonsensical plot, I want to know about it and watch it. It will join my collection of lovable movies that are objectively bad but are fun to watch anyway. The next movie to join that collection is Miami Connection. And my nonsensical plot, I truly mean that as I can barely describe what happens.
We start our journey watching a cocaine deal when ninjas attack. (Yes, ninjas. Stop asking questions.) Then we end up at a club where a new band is singing, but we don’t like them for reasons. (I’m pretty sure they stole jobs, maybe…) A gang associated with the ninjas tries to drive this band off, but they all have black belts in Taekwondo and the power of friendship on their side. On top of this “plot,” the actors tried their best, and that is honestly all that I could ask of them. It’s pure 80s cheese in the best ways and a must-watch in my opinion. It is already on the list of movies I’m forcing my friends to watch so I can watch the horror and joy on their faces.
Drabble Geeks 