For someone who claims to be an avid lover of books, I really don’t talk about them nearly enough. It is my goal to change that and overload you all with my rants and raves (though mostly raves) about the book world.
 |
| Image courtesy of Lin Pernille |
I had this wonderful plan last night which involved taking a short bath and then going to bed at an incredibly early hour. I ended up reading in said bathtub which naturally extended the duration, and I made the mistake of bringing my book with me to bed.
I blinked, and suddenly it was over two hours later.
I adore it when I can get so lost in a book that time completely loses its meaning, it is probably the best way I can express my appreciation of a story! Of course I continued to read until I found myself waking with a start because I had nearly dropped the rather large hardcover on my face. It was only then that I was willing to put the book down.
I had been under the impression, before I began the book, that I had read it before. Not so. It was a completely new experience for me, much to my delight.
The author I have been focusing on recently is Anne McCaffrey. I’ve been reading her books for years and fall in love with her over and over again. Her series about the planet Pern is particularly wonderful. I even have a few favorites which I read every year or two.
Her books, which are a delightful blend of science fiction and fantasy, are so well crafted that you have no choice but to lose yourself in the world she creates. The story of Pern spans millenia – you see not just one fragment of time but rather exactly how a world can change and evolve with the passing of years. In the beginning it is strictly science fiction – the colonization of a new world, the trials and tribulations that go along with it . But skip a few books and you find yourself in a story that boasts dragons, a lack of modern technology and humans with telepathic abilities.
You’ll cheer her heroes along their path, hold your breath because you can’t wait to find out what happens next and feel the loss of favourite characters with keen sorrow.
The first book in the series (chronologically) is
Dragonsdawn, though it is by no means where I started.
As a youth I discovered a young adult trilogy which sits smack dab in the middle of the time-line. A story about a talented young woman who dares to try the impossible. As I journeyed with her I knew that these stories would be ones I would always love. I still own those three little books and even though I’m all grown up now, I don’t love them any less!
Dragonsong,
Dragonsinger and
Dragondrums are must reads for anyone with a love for Fantasy and youthful soul.
One of the brilliant things about her books is that she doesn’t limit you to just one view of a timeline. You can read multiple stories, all of which are occurring at the same time but in different locations on the planet. It’s wonderful to catch a tiny glimpse of a favorite character from another POV when you thought that their story was over.
The stories are so detailed they could easily be the history of a planet, somewhere out there in our unending universe.
I recently discovered that she had begun writing books with her son Todd McCaffrey, I look forward to beginning them just as soon as I’m done my current selection. I plan to let you know just what I think of them and I hope I have only good things to say. It would be amazing to discover that her son is capable of continuing her legacy.
In the meantime, read a book or two of hers and let me know what you think!
As a final note, you can check my Facebook page for a link to a podcast about independent Canadian bookstores. It’s good to hear that there is still passion for books out there in our new, modern world.
Until next time!
______
Currently reading: Dragonquest (Dragon Riders of Pern #2)
