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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved reading the Harper Hall trilogy. It has been a pure moment of wonder and pleasure and I am definitely an addict by now (had just finished reading Dragonsong in a sitting that I started Dragonsinger!).
Dragonsong starts with a very descriptive foreword explaining the creation of Pern, the dragons and the existence of Threads (deadly things falling from the Red Star) but as soon as the book starts, Anne McCaffrey's brilliant story-telling gets you hooked to the page.
We follow Menolly living in a remote Sea Hold ruled by her father. Menolly has a very strong passion for music and she has been helping the Hold's Harper Petiron during the last years of his life to teach the children the ballads and instruments. Harpers are very important on Pern, not only do they teach children about the story of the planet, but they also spread news and entertain people in the various places of Pern. Menolly has such a strong passion for music that she regularly invents new tunes and songs. Unfortunately for her, being a Harper is reserved to men only and Menolly's strict father forbids her to play and especially to invent new tunes.
She soon finds life in the Hold unbearable as she gets beaten by her father if he hears her play a tune of her own invention. One day where she finds herself outside of the Hold during Threads, she finds refuge in a cave on the beach where she befriends some fire lizards (very small animals looking like dragons) who don't seem to mind her music as much as people in the Hold.
Menolly is an amazing character to follow, and I thought her fight to live her music was fascinating to read. One of the biggest themes in the book is the fact that women can't be harpers and how they are only allowed to do a few things. The Hold being very small and remote, the mentalities are very set and Menolly's love for music clashes with the very strict way of living. She is prepared to do all it takes to live her passion. The trilogy is an amazing example of woman empowerement.
The music, in this book and in the others of the Harper Hall trilogy, is the second main character of this book. I found that Menolly's talent and her need to play music is brilliantly portrayed and all along the novel I found myself wanting to hum those tunes alongside her. We'll see more in the second book of the trilogy, Dragonsinger, the importance of harpers in Pern.
The fantasy world is so brilliantly built and vividly described that I could picture each scenes in my head. I really love dragons and most particularly the small fire lizards (I want one!). The relation Menolly has with them is simply adorable!
Menolly lives in a Sea Hold where the community survives on fishing and the description of the every day life in the Hold is very detailed and you can nearly feel the salty wind on your face while reading Anne McCaffrey's words. The hardship of living in such a remote setting explains the personalities and organisation of the people living there and how they contrast with Menolly's.
Anne McCaffrey is one of the best fantasy writers of all time and the Harper Hall trilogy, starting with Dragonsong, is a beautiful story of the fight of a musically-gifted girl to play and sing even if it means leaving her family and home. If you are a fan of fantasy, dragons and/or music, this book is definitely for you. Even though the book has been published for the first time in the 1970s, the story hasn't aged one year and readers from all ages will love to discover Menolly and her fire lizards' story.
Dragonsong starts with a very descriptive foreword explaining the creation of Pern, the dragons and the existence of Threads (deadly things falling from the Red Star) but as soon as the book starts, Anne McCaffrey's brilliant story-telling gets you hooked to the page.
We follow Menolly living in a remote Sea Hold ruled by her father. Menolly has a very strong passion for music and she has been helping the Hold's Harper Petiron during the last years of his life to teach the children the ballads and instruments. Harpers are very important on Pern, not only do they teach children about the story of the planet, but they also spread news and entertain people in the various places of Pern. Menolly has such a strong passion for music that she regularly invents new tunes and songs. Unfortunately for her, being a Harper is reserved to men only and Menolly's strict father forbids her to play and especially to invent new tunes.
She soon finds life in the Hold unbearable as she gets beaten by her father if he hears her play a tune of her own invention. One day where she finds herself outside of the Hold during Threads, she finds refuge in a cave on the beach where she befriends some fire lizards (very small animals looking like dragons) who don't seem to mind her music as much as people in the Hold.
Menolly is an amazing character to follow, and I thought her fight to live her music was fascinating to read. One of the biggest themes in the book is the fact that women can't be harpers and how they are only allowed to do a few things. The Hold being very small and remote, the mentalities are very set and Menolly's love for music clashes with the very strict way of living. She is prepared to do all it takes to live her passion. The trilogy is an amazing example of woman empowerement.
The music, in this book and in the others of the Harper Hall trilogy, is the second main character of this book. I found that Menolly's talent and her need to play music is brilliantly portrayed and all along the novel I found myself wanting to hum those tunes alongside her. We'll see more in the second book of the trilogy, Dragonsinger, the importance of harpers in Pern.
The fantasy world is so brilliantly built and vividly described that I could picture each scenes in my head. I really love dragons and most particularly the small fire lizards (I want one!). The relation Menolly has with them is simply adorable!
Menolly lives in a Sea Hold where the community survives on fishing and the description of the every day life in the Hold is very detailed and you can nearly feel the salty wind on your face while reading Anne McCaffrey's words. The hardship of living in such a remote setting explains the personalities and organisation of the people living there and how they contrast with Menolly's.
Anne McCaffrey is one of the best fantasy writers of all time and the Harper Hall trilogy, starting with Dragonsong, is a beautiful story of the fight of a musically-gifted girl to play and sing even if it means leaving her family and home. If you are a fan of fantasy, dragons and/or music, this book is definitely for you. Even though the book has been published for the first time in the 1970s, the story hasn't aged one year and readers from all ages will love to discover Menolly and her fire lizards' story.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical trauma
This book is set against the backdrop of the earlier Pern books, and is the first in a second trilogy. In this book Menolly, a musically talented young girl from a sea hold is not allowed by her parents to train to be a Harper. Menolly runs away and inadvertently discovers an helps a brood of fire lizards hatch, impressing several as a result. This book is interesting as a part of the larger storyline and the world of Pern is a unique and fun setting but as a stand alone novel this is just ok.
Menolly is in an incredibly gifted musician but when the old Harper (a music teacher) dies she is unable to exceed him because of that fact that she is a girl. But she longs to sing and play and make up her own tunes, despite the stern words and warnings that she is given – she is even beaten at one point. Feeling like she doesn't belong, Menolly runs away. She comes across a nest of fire lizards (smaller versions of dragons) and manages to save the gold queen dragon's eggs. These dragons grow to trust her and they become hers – she even teaches them to sing along with her! She is soon rescued by a dragon rider who takes her to a new town where is is appreciated and admired for her musical talent.
That's basically all that happens in this book. The writing was quite peaceful to read but I found myself confused by the story and its world in the beginning and losing interest toward the end. I did love the description of the fire lizards and loved their attachment to Menolly.
Menolly herself was an interesting character who is unsure of her place in the world. And I loved the musical aspect. I really like books where the main character is so consumed by music. I felt so sorry for Menolly! If she was a boy people would have applauded her for her talents, yet because she was a girl they disliked her for it. I loved, however, how even with this stern warnings (and after she injuries her hand) she still continues to play and write her own music, because it is a part of her that she simply could not escape, something that makes her incredibly happy.
I did begin to lose interest toward the end, however. It was a nice tale but could have been better.
That's basically all that happens in this book. The writing was quite peaceful to read but I found myself confused by the story and its world in the beginning and losing interest toward the end. I did love the description of the fire lizards and loved their attachment to Menolly.
Menolly herself was an interesting character who is unsure of her place in the world. And I loved the musical aspect. I really like books where the main character is so consumed by music. I felt so sorry for Menolly! If she was a boy people would have applauded her for her talents, yet because she was a girl they disliked her for it. I loved, however, how even with this stern warnings (and after she injuries her hand) she still continues to play and write her own music, because it is a part of her that she simply could not escape, something that makes her incredibly happy.
I did begin to lose interest toward the end, however. It was a nice tale but could have been better.
Delightful re-read reminding me of those middle school days when I was first wrapped up in Pern.
This book was my introduction to the Pern Saga, on the recommendation of a friend.
I nearly gave up after the first six chapters, because the poor protaganist had so many awful things happening to her, and it wasn't a fun escape for me.
I'm so glad I didn't! The world created by Anne McCaffrey is absolutely fantastic and exciting to explore. The sadness experienced by the protaganist in the first half of the book creates such a feeling of joy and relief when things finally start going right for her - almost the feeling of her life developing into full colour when before her life was grey and wet.
After finishing the book (reading the second half of the book in one day) I immediately asked my friend for the following book Dragonsinger, because I needed to see what happened next to the characters. I would recommend reading both of the books together, as they are sometimes published, because Dragonsinger follows on almost exactly where Dragonsong left off, and is a more satisfying tying up of the story than Dragonsong alone.
I gave 4 stars rather than 5 because of the unremitting sad tone of the frst 6 chapters. I understand the device being used there, but just felt it went on a bit too long. Many of the horrible things done to the main character by those around her seem illogical and contrived at times. The author also occasionally uses the technique of limiting the information given to the reader through miscommunications between characters, and this can get a bit old at times in this book.
I nearly gave up after the first six chapters, because the poor protaganist had so many awful things happening to her, and it wasn't a fun escape for me.
I'm so glad I didn't! The world created by Anne McCaffrey is absolutely fantastic and exciting to explore. The sadness experienced by the protaganist in the first half of the book creates such a feeling of joy and relief when things finally start going right for her - almost the feeling of her life developing into full colour when before her life was grey and wet.
After finishing the book (reading the second half of the book in one day) I immediately asked my friend for the following book Dragonsinger, because I needed to see what happened next to the characters. I would recommend reading both of the books together, as they are sometimes published, because Dragonsinger follows on almost exactly where Dragonsong left off, and is a more satisfying tying up of the story than Dragonsong alone.
I gave 4 stars rather than 5 because of the unremitting sad tone of the frst 6 chapters. I understand the device being used there, but just felt it went on a bit too long. Many of the horrible things done to the main character by those around her seem illogical and contrived at times. The author also occasionally uses the technique of limiting the information given to the reader through miscommunications between characters, and this can get a bit old at times in this book.
It took a bit of time to get accustomed to the writing style, and to really get into this world and these characters. But I definitely wound up getting really interested in Menolly and the outcome of her story.
I love female protagonists, and Anne McCaffrey always does them so well. Thankfully, her male characters are never lacking, either. They all just feel like people. The beginning of Menolly's story, told here in Dragonsong, is well-rendered and believable. For someone who started reading McCaffrey with Dragonflight et al, it was so nice to be able to get closer to Menolly's character, to see where she had come from and what her particular passions were. The struggle between progress and tradition is a constant one on Pern, and I appreciate that McCaffrey involves such consistency in her work. Excellent read, would definitely recommend for fans of Anne McCaffrey or anyone who enjoys a good fantasy/science fiction with strong character-focus.