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The Piper's Son
by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author)
by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author)
Jami's review
bookshelves: total-faves, young-adult, aussie-lit
May 01, 12
bookshelves: total-faves, young-adult, aussie-lit
Read from January 20 to February 01, 2012
For some reason, I almost always start out a Melina Marchetta novel not entirely enthralled. I don't love the characters, and either their attitudes are pissing me off or their actions are. But then, magically, at some point during the novel, I start realizing that hey, I don't hate these characters. I actually kind of like them. Okay, wait, now I love them. A lot. And then the next thing you know, I'm crying, mocking myself for being a big baby, and then crying again.
I will say that the number of times I cried while reading this book may have more to do with my state of mind at the time than the book itself, but either way, it hit me just as hard as Marchetta's other novels have.
My only regret was not realizing that The Piper's Son is a companion novel to Saving Francesca. Here's the thing: I have a really horrible memory. So even though I'm pretty sure that Thomas Mackee (the protagonist of this book) was a minor character in Saving Francesca, I can't be sure. And I can barely remember his relationship to Francesca and Justine. And who in the world was Tara?? Do you see what I mean? So at first, I kept getting this sense that I should understand a bit more about what was going on than I actually was. I wish I had read it right after I read Saving Francesca and saved myself the slight annoyance.
But in the end, it didn't really matter. Tom's story was tragic and beautiful and redemptive all on its own. But that being said . . . I'll be off to re-read Saving Francesca now.
Update: Just readSaving Francesca again (which I highly recommend reading before this one), and it was so interesting getting such a different perspective on these characters. It was especially interesting to see Francesca through Tom's eyes after reading her story told in first-person narrative. And Tom wasn't such a minor character in Saving Francesca, actually. He played a vital role in the "saving" of Francesca, so it was a nice turnabout to see her part in saving Tom in The Piper's Son.
I will say that the number of times I cried while reading this book may have more to do with my state of mind at the time than the book itself, but either way, it hit me just as hard as Marchetta's other novels have.
My only regret was not realizing that The Piper's Son is a companion novel to Saving Francesca. Here's the thing: I have a really horrible memory. So even though I'm pretty sure that Thomas Mackee (the protagonist of this book) was a minor character in Saving Francesca, I can't be sure. And I can barely remember his relationship to Francesca and Justine. And who in the world was Tara?? Do you see what I mean? So at first, I kept getting this sense that I should understand a bit more about what was going on than I actually was. I wish I had read it right after I read Saving Francesca and saved myself the slight annoyance.
But in the end, it didn't really matter. Tom's story was tragic and beautiful and redemptive all on its own. But that being said . . . I'll be off to re-read Saving Francesca now.
Update: Just readSaving Francesca again (which I highly recommend reading before this one), and it was so interesting getting such a different perspective on these characters. It was especially interesting to see Francesca through Tom's eyes after reading her story told in first-person narrative. And Tom wasn't such a minor character in Saving Francesca, actually. He played a vital role in the "saving" of Francesca, so it was a nice turnabout to see her part in saving Tom in The Piper's Son.
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Yes, go read it now! You will love it, especially since you just read Saving Francesca. And seriously, I am SO bad at remembering things about books I've read. Even ones I totally loved. If I haven't read them several times, then I forget so much. Thanks for the re-cap, though. That actually helped jog my memory a bit. I really am going to get Saving Francesca right away to re-read, though. It's been bugging me now, and it was really probably my favorite of Marchetta's. That and Finnikin of the Rock. Have you read that one yet?
I loved Finnikin of the Rock. I can't wait for Froi of the Exiles, either. I think my favorite of hers is still On the Jellicoe Road, though. It's one I will definitely will be rereading.
Jellicoe Road was the first book of hers that I read. I'd actually like to read that one again, too, because it was so amazing, and I seriously hated it at first! I want to see what it's like on a second reading (you know, to see how I feel about the first of it this time). Did you read Looking for Alibrandi? It's my least favorite. I think it's interesting, though, that it was written when she was quite a bit younger. I read an interview with her, and she talked about feeling that it was her weakest work, and it took her 11 years to write another book!
I didn't love it at first, either. It really is funny that when I start her books, I'm never convinced. I'll have to check out Looking for Alibrandi, but I've heard more than one person say that they didn't love it the way they loved her other books, so I hadn't made it a priority. Still, it would be interesting to see how her style and skill have developed. Especially if it took her so long to write her next novel.
And I couldn't agree more. When I start her novels, all I can think is that I'm not sure I am going to love it, and then I end up loving what she has to say. She is awesome!
By the by, Thomas was that obnoxious boy that Francesca cannot stand at first but he becomes a core member of the group, along with Tara. He likes music and acts like he doesn't care. Tara was the girl who was always wanting to make some sort of political statement/get involved in a cause. If I remember right, Tara and Thomas seem ready to hook up at the end of Saving Francesca.