Showing posts with label detective fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label detective fiction. Show all posts

20 May 2009

Trixie Belden v Nancy Drew (and a tangent)

Who doesn't love a girl sleuth or two?













Lili Wilkinson reckons that Trixie would belt Nancy in a fight.
At least one Onion disagrees.

Here are the stats:
  • 13-year-old freckled tomboy who lives on a farm, has many chores and is teased by brothers or;
  • 18-year old wealthy, attractive 'strawberry blonde' sophisticate who effortlessly knows how to do stuff (and has a boyfriend called Ned Nickerson!)?
It's apples and oranges, really. I find it hard to accept that it's an either/or option. I loved them both. Though Nancy probably edged out Trixie in the end, because reading is often about losing yourself in the fantasy of another world, another life, and, when it came down to it, I was a 13-year-old freckled tomboy who lived on a farm, had many chores and was teased by my brother... all that was missing was the opportunity for sleuthing. Sigh. Nancy's life was far more removed and glamorous - and therefore held lasting allure.

Browsing the internet for Nancy/Trixie* info we got totally distracted had an epiphany: redheads are popular:
Trixie Belden
Nancy Drew
Anne Shirley
Pippi Longstocking
The Weasleys
Tintin
Ginger Megs
Cameron Ling**
Who do you think would win the battle of the redheaded super sleuths?


*Gee whilikers that would be some interesting fanfic.
** OK - not fictional, but beloved by many.