Be Specific About Of Books Dragonsong (Harper Hall of Pern #1)
| Title | : | Dragonsong (Harper Hall of Pern #1) |
| Author | : | Anne McCaffrey |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 192 pages |
| Published | : | June 1st 2006 by Aladdin Paperbacks (first published March 1976) |
| Categories | : | Fantasy. Science Fiction. Dragons. Fiction |
Anne McCaffrey
Paperback | Pages: 192 pages Rating: 4.24 | 46053 Users | 1397 Reviews
Description In Favor Of Books Dragonsong (Harper Hall of Pern #1)
A book doesn't have to be Great Literature or even particularly good to appear on my "formative fiction" shelf, it just has to be a book with a meaning that changed me or helped me to understand myself and the world in a new way. Fortunately, Dragonsong is also a very good book of its type.The best friend of my childhood was different from me in many ways: middle-class to my trailer-trash, older, weak where I was strong (he suffered from a heart condition that would kill him while still a teenager), and part of a large and functioning family.
We both lived in religious households that discouraged "worldly" reading but, while my folks were strict, his were lax. During a winter holiday sleep-over, he smuggled Dragonsong and some of its many sequels to me. We sprawled in front of the wood-stove and read all day and long into the night. I'd scrimped to save for treats and, feeling very elegant, served us Ritz crackers with Cheeze-Whiz (the big jar!) and vienna sausages. I was so anxious to impress, I put my finger on the side of the stove to show him how long I could stand to sizzle.
There were other sleep-overs and other books, but this is was the important one, the one I remember whenever I open a new book and read merely for the pleasure of escape into another kind of life.
Menolly, the protagonist of Dragonsinger, escapes in a more literal way. Denied the expression of her natural abilities, she runs away to live independently. She fed my tomboy fantasies by living rough, making her own shelter, killing and skinning a large bird, and taming wild animals. Just when she is settling into her new rustic life, disaster strikes. Finally, her talents are recognized by kindly people who whisk her away on dragon-back to a new community of people who can value her for the reasons she values herself.
It is not a complicated story, but it is well-told and the theme is universal. It has resonated in my life as I have tried, with only some measure of success, to find a safe place where my own talents are recognized and friends who care for me not in spite of, but because of who I am. The irony for me, of course, is how that place is located in the past, with that dead boy who loved me enough to smuggle books.
Mention Books Supposing Dragonsong (Harper Hall of Pern #1)
| Original Title: | Dragonsong |
| ISBN: | 141692499X (ISBN13: 9781416924999) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Harper Hall of Pern #1, Pern (Chronological Order) #18, Pern #3 , more |
| Characters: | Menolly |
| Setting: | Pern |
| Literary Awards: | California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Middle School/Junior High (1980) |
Rating Of Books Dragonsong (Harper Hall of Pern #1)
Ratings: 4.24 From 46053 Users | 1397 ReviewsJudge Of Books Dragonsong (Harper Hall of Pern #1)
I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but I don't think it was really the book's fault. I had previously read one short story in the Pern series, and it was intriguing enough for me to buy this book for 50 cents. But I didn't realize that not only was this the third book in the overall Pern series, it was the first book in the Harper Hall trilogy. Reading it, I was like, "Menolly who? Constrictive gender roles, whatever. She's unhappy, whatever. WHERE ARE THE DAMN DRAGONS? Fire lizards? WhatThis book focuses on Menolly who lives in a fishing hold. She is talented musically with a fine voice and is able to play many instruments. However, her father does not support her in her talent and in fact tries to hamper her since she is a girl. Menolly is such a lovely character that I loved the first time I read these and that warm and fuzzy just came back again on the reread. She runs away from the hold and is caught out in threadfall. She takes refuge in a cave during threadfall and there
The Dragon books were part of the network of books that introduced me in my teen years to fantasy and sci-fi and on re-reading them years later it is encouraging to find them still as well written as I remember them. The plots still as riveting, the world-building still as thrilling and the characters still as good - well, maybe just a tiny bit more teen angst than I look for these days, but otherwise just as good!In Dragonsong we follow the adventures of Menolly the youngest daughter in a sea
I am a little confused about the order in which I have to read the books of this series because there are different approaches. I chose the order in which they were released. So I have to break the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy to begin this.In the Harper Hall trilogy we are at the same time as the previous book of the series but we follow a different story. The protagonist of this story is the sweet and sensitive Menolly who goes against the strict conservative beliefs of the region that was
A brief forward to the review: Dragonsong is the first book in Anne McCaffreys Harper Hall trilogy. The series is generally catalogued as childrens (at least in the nypl catalog) but is really for any readers. Like many of McCaffreys novels, its set in the world of Pern. I havent read anything but this trilogy yet, but am pretty sure these novels (from the 1970s) operate as prequels to the other more adult oriented novels. Oh, and I absolutely loved the entire trilogy.On to the review:Menolly
The first Anne McCaffrey I ever read, and still a favorite. Menolly is a great character, and her adventures are timeless and instantly engaging.
I'm not usually a fan of dragon stories, but when my aunt bought me this book, within the first few pages I was hooked on it. Menolly is a memorable character and the book has themes of friendship, bravery and kindness without getting too preachy about it. The author's writing style is amazing and all in all, this is a great book for all ages, I highly recommend it.
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