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64th out of 1,174 books
—
4,762 voters
Dragonsinger (Pern: Harper Hall #2)
In this second breathtaking fantasy in Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy, Menolly develops her studies to become a Harper as well as her relationship with the nine fire-lizards.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
April 1st 2003
by Aladdin
(first published February 1977)
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Dragonsinger is very much one of those books that, while on the surface about music--Menolly, the protagonist, is a young musician who's just gotten the chance to train professionally, essentially, after earlier being told she had no right to play at all--is really about pursuing any art.
Dragonsinger falls a bit more strongly toward believing that artists are somehow a little different than others, something I'm not convinced of. But mostly it gets things right, and there's one thing I noticed t...more
Dragonsinger falls a bit more strongly toward believing that artists are somehow a little different than others, something I'm not convinced of. But mostly it gets things right, and there's one thing I noticed t...more
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Loved this series! Read it as a teenager and was sad to see the author was gaining in years. Eagerly awaited each of her books and read them in one sitting as often as I could. I have read these books countless times and own all except one that I can't find anymore (will check on line). Anne McCaffrey is amazing and a gift to readers. What a drag she is done writing!!!!
2 likes · like · see review
(See review for Dragonsong). Again, I loved this series and this book as a child. But upon rereading, I find it slow and unclear in its moral message. The main character is an unrealistic mix of traits -- she was essentially emotionally abused as a child and thus is generally overly apologetic and scared of not being liked. Most of the adults constantly praise her humbleness and meek attitude while simultaneously telling her to stop apologizing and believe in herself. Despite her meekness, she o...more
This is by far my favorite of the Harper Hall trilogy (and the only one of the Harper Hall trilogy that takes place primarily AT Harper Hall). If the first book is about grief and sacrifice and self-sufficiency and salvation from dragonwing, then this book is about the joyous perils of getting the chance to spend all your time doing what you love most.
It's about repairing damage done to your soul in the painful tiny steps that will keep the wounds from rupturing further. It's about learning that...more
It's about repairing damage done to your soul in the painful tiny steps that will keep the wounds from rupturing further. It's about learning that...more
Originally published on my blog here in September 2000.
Although, one of the lightest novels in the Pern series, Dragonsinger is one of my favourites. I find it very evocative of what it feels like to take pleasure in making music. McCaffery is of course musical (she was an opera producer before taking up writing), and music plays an important part in a fair number of her novels (the Crystal Singer series and The Ship Who Sang as well as several of the Pern series).
Dragonsinger follows on immedia...more
Although, one of the lightest novels in the Pern series, Dragonsinger is one of my favourites. I find it very evocative of what it feels like to take pleasure in making music. McCaffery is of course musical (she was an opera producer before taking up writing), and music plays an important part in a fair number of her novels (the Crystal Singer series and The Ship Who Sang as well as several of the Pern series).
Dragonsinger follows on immedia...more
This YA book improves on "Dragonsong" by having a more entertaining setting, the Harper Hall, with its variety of personalities and scholastic conflicts.
While enjoyable, though, it still suffers from some of the first volume's problems. Menolly remains less of an agent than a victim, buffeted here and there and forever reacting, not acting. She succeeds because she is nice, and modest, and extraordinarily talented. Those circumstances and people who oppose her rise and success at the Hall are o...more
While enjoyable, though, it still suffers from some of the first volume's problems. Menolly remains less of an agent than a victim, buffeted here and there and forever reacting, not acting. She succeeds because she is nice, and modest, and extraordinarily talented. Those circumstances and people who oppose her rise and success at the Hall are o...more
Each Pern novel can be read as a stand alone, but Dragonsinger is the second book in the Harper Hall trilogy so if you want to read the books in the order, check out my review of the first book of the trilogy, Dragonsong.
Dragonsinger starts where Dragonsong ends with Menolly finally accepted in Harper Hall, the school for harpers, with her nine fire lizards. After spending a lifetime in the remote Sea Hold with her family, she has, in a couple of weeks, Impressed nine fire lizards, met the incre...more
Dragonsinger starts where Dragonsong ends with Menolly finally accepted in Harper Hall, the school for harpers, with her nine fire lizards. After spending a lifetime in the remote Sea Hold with her family, she has, in a couple of weeks, Impressed nine fire lizards, met the incre...more
Haha, this is so very much a feel good book. Menolly never really struggles with anything, and her troubles are rather shallow compared to all of her advantages, but I can't help but like the book anyway.
Menolly is finally in Harper Hall and she is training to be a Harper. It turns out (well, we knew this already to a degree) that she's a prodigy and can play instruments to a high degree, make them, and compose songs. Of course this gains her a lot of jealousy, though only really on behalf of a...more
Menolly is finally in Harper Hall and she is training to be a Harper. It turns out (well, we knew this already to a degree) that she's a prodigy and can play instruments to a high degree, make them, and compose songs. Of course this gains her a lot of jealousy, though only really on behalf of a...more
In Dragonsigner Book two of the Harper Hall trilogy, Menolly finally comes to the Harper Hall and here begins her new life, but not without serious growing pains. Her possession of nine fire lizards doesn't make her popular with some in the hall and like most novels of this type, Menolly finds herself dealing with the "mean girl" contingent of Pern. She makes friends with the irrepressible Piemur and begins a lifelong platonic love with Masterharper Robinton. As she slowly grows into her craft,...more
** "Dragonsinger" is quiet and leisurely, the second Pern fantasy by Ireland-based Anne McCaffrey, with sometimes Celtic terminology for the dragon rider world. A theme, that parents are cruel and wrong to force artistic children into more practical seeming occupations, is reinforced. The plot seems to be leisurely establishing relationships, separating friend from foe permanently. A paragraph condenses the first book, wherein kind Master minstrel finds musically talented fishing hold outcast te...more
I wish I'd liked this book as much as I did the first, but it unfortunately felt like a little bit of a letdown, possibly partly because of the weight of stories published after it but which I read before this, in the same way Lord of the Rings feels cliche at times.
In tone, it's just as delightful and fun as the first book, and we get another nice cross section of people, both in personality and in type. The stuff with the fire lizards could be a bit harrowing but was mostly enchanting.
But... w...more
In tone, it's just as delightful and fun as the first book, and we get another nice cross section of people, both in personality and in type. The stuff with the fire lizards could be a bit harrowing but was mostly enchanting.
But... w...more
It was lovely to get back to Menolly and finish off her first story, since Dragonsong is in a way only half a book. That's the story of how Menolly gets to the Harper Hall, while this is the story of how she finds her place there and sets herself up for the future we will see, if as a side character, in later books.
On this reread, I find myself thinking that Dragonsong is a stronger book. The emotion is more powerful and it's a much more personal, perhaps because I felt I was deeper inside Menol...more
On this reread, I find myself thinking that Dragonsong is a stronger book. The emotion is more powerful and it's a much more personal, perhaps because I felt I was deeper inside Menol...more
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I just finished this, the second in the Harper Hall trilogy, shortly after listening to the first book in the series. I still think the story is pretty good, but the second book is long on words and short on plot. I really think this one could have been highly condensed and included in the first book. I've become rather tired of Menolly's repeated amazement that others like her musical skills - her songwriting ability, her instrument-playing, manuscript-writing and singing talents. On the other...more
Nov 22, 2009
Doreen
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Misogynists.
Gross. I would strongly discourage my daughters from reading this because it encourages a certain kind of female I can't stand: the girl who doesn't get along with other girls (to whom I always want to say "The other girls don't hate you because you're 'special', they hate you because you're insufferable.") The tolerable, even interesting Menolly from the first book (which I gave 4 stars, by the way) disappears into a freaking Mary-Sue, oh so talented, yet so modest, championed by the "good" guy...more
2 likes · like · see review
Apr 05, 2011
Heather
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone, especially other musicians
Shelves:
music
I have read this book more often than I can count. It is my favorite of Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall trilogy, and it remains as fantastic today as it was when I first read it. "Dragonsinger" is the continuation of Menolly's story -- she is a gifted female musician in a world where it is frowned upon for girls to do such a thing. At the opening of "Dragonsinger," Menolly finds herself at the doorstep of the Harper Hall (Pern's equivalent of an elite music school) after having been tapped by the M...more
I wonder if JK Rowling read Dragonsinger before she wrote the Harry potter series. Dragonsinger reminds me of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. The protagonists are each regarded as inadequate by their families, in Harry’s case an Aunt and Uncle in Menolly’s by her biological parents. Harry however when he reaches Hogwarts finds that he has a special talent for Quidditch and is infamous as the child who survives an assassination attempt as a baby. Menolly not only has her song writing ski...more
Masterharper Robinton has now taken Menolly to the Harper Hold Craft Hall to be an apprentice, his apprentice. The dragonrider who transports them tells her not to worry, there's nothing to fear from Harpers. Little does he know. Menolly and her nine fire lizards create quite a stir at the Craft Hall, and while she quickly makes some friends, she just as quickly makes some enemies. She feels very lost and is still unsure if she really belongs there.
One thing I still have a little trouble with is...more
One thing I still have a little trouble with is...more
Book two in the Harper Hall trilogy (after the Dragonriders of Pern trilogy).
Menolly's adventures continue, as she begins her musical training at Harper Hall. Eager to finally find her place in the world, she is disheartened to find that she isn't all that welcome here either. She has no idea how talented she really is and the Masterharper doesn't take the time to explain his reasons for bringing her to Harper Hall. The boys all assume that a mere girl could not possibly join them as an apprenti...more
Menolly's adventures continue, as she begins her musical training at Harper Hall. Eager to finally find her place in the world, she is disheartened to find that she isn't all that welcome here either. She has no idea how talented she really is and the Masterharper doesn't take the time to explain his reasons for bringing her to Harper Hall. The boys all assume that a mere girl could not possibly join them as an apprenti...more
This book weathered intervening years far better than The White Dragon, perhaps because of the female protagonist, perhaps because I have always adored a good school novel. The timeframe of the story is too compressed, but despite that sufficient attention is given to all of Menolly's developing relationships. I remember being quite the Master Robinton shipper back in the day. Re-reading the book, while I still would be happy to snag Robinton myself, it's clear just how young Menolly is. (Perhap...more
Another comfortable and easy book in the series. In many ways, it's an improvement on Dragonsong (the first book in the Harper Hall trilogy). There is more of a plot and it's less simplistic. However, Menolly is more annoying in this book than she was in the first. In the first book, Menolly was unfairly judged and treated poorly by her parents, and she was angry and upset and takes action by running away and cutting that out of her life, even though she knows she will get in trouble for it. In...more
The more I read Anne McCaffrey, the more I love her work. Its lovely to read this book after the Dragonrider books, as it takes place at the same time.
Menolly remains a well-rounded character whose easily likeable. Her situation, whilst fantastical, retains elements of everyday life and her problems will be familiar to many.
The main thing I like about this book though is the descriptions of her fire lizards and what they get up to. Their relationships with humans and dragons are fascinating an...more
This is a book that literally saved my life. When I was 11, and my mother and I were homeless after the death of my stepfather, this book was made available to me, as was the previous novel. The tale of Menolly, a 14-year-old musical prodigy outcast, made me feel so much less alone. It prevented my suicide.
This book is short, sad, lovely, and adventurous. The writing is so accessible, so poignant, and so endearing that I have it memorized. I've passed on my copies, only to buy more, and then gi...more
This book is short, sad, lovely, and adventurous. The writing is so accessible, so poignant, and so endearing that I have it memorized. I've passed on my copies, only to buy more, and then gi...more
I love this book!! Also this review may contain spoilers. Dragonsinger is the type of book at first on the surface you think it's only about Music and that the whole world revolves around music. This book is actually a tale of how a younge girl named Menolly who loves music and wants to become a Harper is shunned by many of the people in her village along with her parents. She runs away and soon finds fire lizards and eggs. That is where Menolly takes the ride of her life. This book really is a...more
Dec 21, 2011
Jeremy Preacher
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s,
fantasy
Dragonsinger is essentially a boarding school novel, in contrast with Dragonsong which is an adolescent adventure. It's a good one at that - the trials are deftly woven in with the triumphs, and while McCaffrey has a heavy hand with the "bad" characters, they don't weigh too heavily on the story - the situation itself is conflict enough.
Some of the more distant events certainly has more resonance if you know the backstory - Jaxom's Impression, Canth's fall - but they make enough sense to go on w...more
Some of the more distant events certainly has more resonance if you know the backstory - Jaxom's Impression, Canth's fall - but they make enough sense to go on w...more
This was much better than the first book, but the ending was a little abrupt. I loved hearing about the harper hall and the happenings there. Piemur was one of the best characters in the book -wit, mischeif, and helpful. Menolly didn't like the other girls, which were mean to her, and had to put up with them until a solution was reached. She did however make friends with one near the end. I liked hearing about the gitar lessons and the groups that she played with to learn. You could really tell...more
SUMMARY:
When Menolly, daughter of Yanus Sea Holder, arrived at the Harper Craft Hall, she came in style, aboard a huge bronze dragon, and followed by her nine fire lizards. The Masterharper of Pern, aware of her unique skills, had chosen her as his only girl apprentice. But the holdless girl had first to overcome many heartaches in this strange new life. Two things sustained her - her devoted lizards, a subject on which she was fitted to instruct her Masters - and the music...music of compelling
I'm re-reading this book(probably the 4th time?) and it's actually one of my favorite series. Dragonsong (the first book in the series) was the the main reason why I got into the wonderful world of Pern.
On a side note, I noticed in the part where Menolly is directing the great hall to a performace of The Ballad of Moreta's Ride and the song infers that Moreta and Orlith die together after trying to help combat the plague.And for all of you all that have read Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, we know t...more
On a side note, I noticed in the part where Menolly is directing the great hall to a performace of The Ballad of Moreta's Ride and the song infers that Moreta and Orlith die together after trying to help combat the plague.And for all of you all that have read Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern, we know t...more
Love Pern, Love A.M., and this book series is mind-candy for me to the extreme. In this particular book, my faves were: Piemur - LOVE this character! What a scallywag, as AM would say! Love the shift in authority figures - Robinson and Silvina are the types of parents I would love to be - of course, I've read the entire series already, so I was reading knowing more of Camo's story, and it was interesting to try to figure out the seeds of that story in this one..
It's not 5 stars, but honestly, I...more
It's not 5 stars, but honestly, I...more
I just finished this series. I did like that they were interesting, without a lot of added drama; it was just a fun, light read. My only dissapointment with the series is that I felt like there were some unasnwered questions in the end. I wanted some closure to some of Menolly's issues, like with her family, but they never came. I also felt like the book alluded to a more important role of the fire lizards, which I never really saw. I know Anne McCaffrey has other books dealing with Pern, so I d...more
• I hadn’t realized just how much I missed Pern until I began reading this book. Much like the first book, this novel is really intended for pre-teens between ages 10 to 14. As it is still part of the timeline I wanted to know the story. It really gives a nice context to the main story of the original trilogy. It also gives more time to Master Robinton who is easily the best character in the Pern books thus far. Despite the fact that these were written for a younger audience the story is still e...more
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Anne McCaffrey was born on April 1st, 1926, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at 1:30 p.m., in the hour of the Sheep, year of the Fire Tiger, sun sign Aries with Taurus rising and Leo mid-heaven (which seems to suggest an early interest in the stars).
Her parents were George Herbert McCaffrey, BA, MA PhD (Harvard), Colonel USA Army (retired), and Anne Dorothy McElroy McCaffrey, estate agent. She had two...more
More about Anne McCaffrey...
Her parents were George Herbert McCaffrey, BA, MA PhD (Harvard), Colonel USA Army (retired), and Anne Dorothy McElroy McCaffrey, estate agent. She had two...more
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“The tears I feel today
I'll wait to shed tomorrow.
Though I'll not sleep this night
Nor find surcease from sorrow.
My eyes must keep their sight:
I dare not be tear-blinded.
I must be free to talk
Not choked with grief, clear-minded.
My mouth cannot betray
The anguish that I know.
Yes, I'll keep my tears til later:
But my grief will never go.”
—
412 people liked it
I'll wait to shed tomorrow.
Though I'll not sleep this night
Nor find surcease from sorrow.
My eyes must keep their sight:
I dare not be tear-blinded.
I must be free to talk
Not choked with grief, clear-minded.
My mouth cannot betray
The anguish that I know.
Yes, I'll keep my tears til later:
But my grief will never go.”
“Don't leave me alone!
A cry in the night,
OF anguish heart-stiking,
Of soul-killing fright.
Live for my living
Or else I must die
Don't leave me alone.
A world heard that cry.”
—
35 people liked it
More quotes…
A cry in the night,
OF anguish heart-stiking,
Of soul-killing fright.
Live for my living
Or else I must die
Don't leave me alone.
A world heard that cry.”
