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‘Harriet Spies Again’

[SEPT. 11, 2002]  "Harriet Spies Again," by Helen Ericson. Delecorte Press, 2002, 230 pages.

Harriet the spy is back! In 1964 Louise Fitzhugh introduced the world to Harriet M. Welsch, girl spy, when author Helen Ericson was only 9 years old. Ericson was thrilled when, as an adult, she received permission from the estate of Louise Fitzhugh to write a companion to the "Harriet the Spy" books. In "Harriet Spies Again," Harriet is reunited with her old cohorts, Ole Golly and Sport, as well as a new character.

 

The story begins in the summer before Harriet’s seventh-grade year. Her parents announce that they will be spending three months in Paris for her father’s work. Harriet is a little upset until her mother tells her the good news that her beloved former nanny, Catherine Golly Waldenstein, affectionately known as Ole Golly by Harriet, will be returning from Montreal to take care of her while her parents are away. There is one stipulation to Ole Golly’s return, and that is that there be no mention of her husband, George Waldenstein.

 

Harriet notices a difference in her former nanny almost immediately. Ole Golly seems distant, there is a sadness about her, and she uncharacteristically takes a lot of naps. Harriet assumes that the change in her old friend must be due to her unfortunate marriage problems. She is sure that Ole Golly will feel better now that she is back with taking care of her.

Harriet has other things to think about now, like helping her friend Sport adjust to a new school and finding out what goes on across the street at the home and offices of the Drs. Feigenbaum. Dr. Morris Feigenbaum is a psychiatrist, and Dr. Barbara Feigenbaum is in obstetrics and gynecology. It is Dr. Morris Feigenbaum’s patients that most intrigue Harriet.

 

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One day as Harriet is eavesdropping — which everyone knows is common behavior for spies — on a phone conversation that Ole Golly is having with Harriet’s mother, she is sure that she hears Ole Golly refer to herself as innocent. That is all it takes for Harriet; she decides that she will do whatever it takes to prove that Ole Golly is innocent. Harriet decides that she must have accidentally killed her husband, George Waldenstein, and Harriet must prove that it was an accident.

Harriet starts a spy notebook on Ole Golly. She records everything she says that may help her case and everywhere she goes. The most unusual activity she observes is that Ole Golly has started going to the house across the street and carrying a small sack with her, but she doesn’t return with it. Harriet and Sport decide that it must be some kind of a drop that Ole Golly is being blackmailed into carrying out.

It makes sense to Harriet that Ole Golly may need the help of Dr. Morris Feigenbaum because of the unfortunate events of her husband’s death, but it never occurs to her that she may be seeing Dr. Barbara Feigenbaum.

The story reaches a climax during a memorable Thanksgiving meal with startling revelations, new friendships and blissful reunions. This is a wonderfully humorous book, and fans of the old Harriet will not be disappointed. This book is recommended for age 10 and up.

For more information about this book and others, please visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-5732. Readers can also check out Louise Fitzhugh’s "Harriet the Spy" and "Sport" at the library.

[Linda Harmon, Lincoln Public Library District]




Movie classics

Logan County Arts Association upcoming films

All upcoming monthly features in the Logan County Arts Association series of classic films will start at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Cinemas, 215 S. Kickapoo.

Thursday, Sept. 12

"Breakfast at Tiffany’s" (1961)

Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Buddy Ebsen, Patricia Neal

Based on Truman Capote’s novel, this is the story of a young jet-setting woman in New York City who meets a young man when he moves into her apartment building.

Thursday, Oct. 10

Horror/sci-fi double feature

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931)

Frederic March, Miriam Hopkins

Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men: a good and an evil side. He faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that changes him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.

 

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"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951)

Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe

An alien (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) lands their spacecraft on cold-war Earth just after the end of World War II. He tells the people of Earth that we must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.

Tickets will be available at Serendipity Stitches, 129 S. Kickapoo; the Lincoln Public Library Annex; at the door; or by calling (217) 732-4298. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2.50 for children 13 and under. These features are one show only, with limited seating.

[Logan County Arts Association ]


Lincoln Community Theatre information

Lincoln Community Theatre’s box office, phone 735-2614,  is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday for the summer season. The office is located in the lobby of the Johnston Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lincoln College.

Performances of "Dearly Departed" are scheduled for July 12-20, and "The King and I" will be presented Aug. 2-10. Show times are 2 p.m. on Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656; e-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

Visit the LDC website at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.

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