Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey

When I'm reading, I occasionally binge on an author and read as much as possible before I move onto someone else. I'm in one of those modes now with Anne McCaffrey. You see, I've never actually read the Pern books. As those are what she's most noted for, I'm rectifying the situation. I think I'm reading/listening to them in release order and not chronological order. I'm not 100% sure though.

In Dragonsong, we're introduced to Mennolly. She is from Half Circle Hold, which is very strict in its observance of the old ways. There, gender roles are traditionally defined and closely followed. No female has ever been a Harper (a role similar to the minstrels of medieval times) and they wouldn't let her pursue her passion. She was assigned to teach the children of the Hold the basic teaching ballads after the old harper passed on. But that was it. She was beaten if they discovered any clandestine activity with "tuning" as they called it. We might know it better as composing.

Her parents were so anxious about her abilities that, when she injured her hand, her mother let it heal wrong so that she would have limited usage of it. Mennolly eventually walked out of the Hold one day, never to return.

The books are so rich in detail that I can just picture the people milling around making salves, sharpening tools, and going about their days. If you enjoy books that are set in other worlds and other times, I believe you'll enjoy these.