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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This is the book that introduced me to the Dragonriders of Pern series. I wanted to a fire lizard sooooo badly when I was a kid, still do. Menolly is a sympathetic and plucky heroine. A really wonderful series.
The Harper Hall trilogy is not my fave, really, but I do like seeing the world from a different (non Dragonrider) perspective. Also Menolly is an awesome character.
I was first introduced to the world of Pern through The Dragonriders of Pern. It was a little heavy to start with, but I ate it up. I loved the world that Anne McCaffrey created and I loved the way the stories weaved together to create a beautiful tapestry of images. Dragonsong was no different. I loved it.
McCaffrey is back here with the story of Menolly, a musician forbidden from creating her music solely because she is a girl and girls just don't do that. Menolly lives in a very old-fashioned Hold, where tradition is deeply ingrained and new ideas just don't see the light of day.
I felt the injustice of Menolly's life right along with her. I wept with her when she was forbidden to sing or write her music. I mourned the loss she suffered, and I rejoiced when she discovered that things weren't as she thought. I jumped for joy when her fire lizards came into the picture. Above all, I related to her almost overwhelming desire to create. For her, it's music. For me, it's writing.
Menolly is a believable character with flaws and strengths. She has to work at things and the only thing that really comes easy for her is music...which she's forbidden from making. She was just real to me. A real girl with hopes and dreams, who has those crushed. I could relate to that. And I loved that things did end up working out for her, but not without a huge struggle. She really suffered along the way and nothing was just handed to her. I think she's a great female character.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to get started with Anne McCaffrey. It isn't as long or as heavy as the first Dragonriders book, so it might be easier. Be warned though, there are things in Dragonsong that do reference the Dragonriders. So if you read this first, be prepared to read all the rest of the books so that you're not lost!
I'm giving this a 'Pick Me' rating.
McCaffrey is back here with the story of Menolly, a musician forbidden from creating her music solely because she is a girl and girls just don't do that. Menolly lives in a very old-fashioned Hold, where tradition is deeply ingrained and new ideas just don't see the light of day.
I felt the injustice of Menolly's life right along with her. I wept with her when she was forbidden to sing or write her music. I mourned the loss she suffered, and I rejoiced when she discovered that things weren't as she thought. I jumped for joy when her fire lizards came into the picture. Above all, I related to her almost overwhelming desire to create. For her, it's music. For me, it's writing.
Menolly is a believable character with flaws and strengths. She has to work at things and the only thing that really comes easy for her is music...which she's forbidden from making. She was just real to me. A real girl with hopes and dreams, who has those crushed. I could relate to that. And I loved that things did end up working out for her, but not without a huge struggle. She really suffered along the way and nothing was just handed to her. I think she's a great female character.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to get started with Anne McCaffrey. It isn't as long or as heavy as the first Dragonriders book, so it might be easier. Be warned though, there are things in Dragonsong that do reference the Dragonriders. So if you read this first, be prepared to read all the rest of the books so that you're not lost!
I'm giving this a 'Pick Me' rating.
Review for the entire The Harper Hall Trilogy (Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums)
This trilogy isn't as good as the first one, where the main story and action takes place. Still, it's a good side story
Menolley and Piemur are good main characters. I only wish we got to seem more of Menolley's growing up in the three years between singer and drums.
This trilogy isn't as good as the first one, where the main story and action takes place. Still, it's a good side story
Menolley and Piemur are good main characters. I only wish we got to seem more of Menolley's growing up in the three years between singer and drums.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book (and the entire Pern series) as a child. It resonated since I was a child that was looked down upon for being different. And nerdy in the sense of really loving certain subjects and wanting to study them. But I think it's dated. My much-younger sister read it recently and was a) bored by the slow pacing and b) shocked and horrified at the gender roles described. Luckily, gender norms are in many places different enough now that it's hard to relate to this book. I'm taking out my frustration with the genre of "books that show women overcoming restrictive gender norms" in the rating here. What I would really love to see now are more books where it is NORMAL for women and men to be considered equals, and where gender inequality isn't even considered a problem. I love fantasy because it can show me ways to reconceptualize the world. Let's do that!
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No