A String in the Harp

Rating:
Summary: "String" satisfies
Review: "A String in the Harp" is one of the worthy fantasy books that is often overlooked, as it was published first in the 1970s and dips into complicated mythology that casual readers won't be able to absorb. However, it's an exceptional book for people who have read the Prydain Chronicles and The Dark is Rising sequence, and who are craving more.

Since the death of their mother, the three Morgan children have become increasingly divided from their father David. Peter and Becky live with him in an isolated town in Wales, while Jen lives in the United States with her aunt. When Jen arrives on a vacation, she finds David distant and uncommunicative, and Peter sullen and angry. Despite the isolation of the town, Jen tries her hardest to enjoy it, and to keep her family from fragmenting further.

Then Peter finds a harp tuning key, and begins getting glimpses of the past -- and of the legendary bard Taliesin. He becomes increasingly drawn to his visions of the past, and even vanishes in an attempt to uncover more about Taliesin. Jen tries to deny that the key is magical, but as Peter falls more and more under the key's spell, the three children must find out what they need to do for it.

Bond weaves Welsh mythology and modern-day dilemmas together in a way that very few authors can. On one hand, we have the Morgan kids with their present-day actions -- hanging out with some Welsh friends, seeking a sheep-killer (who turns out to be connected to the key), and Jen trying to learn how to cook. She also does a good job of giving the readers a view of a fast-dying way of life in Wales, though these sections stretch on a little too long. But Bond outdoes herself in the glimpses of the past, in which the language becomes dreamy and evocative. In some areas it becomes reminiscent of Susan Cooper at her finest moments.

People who want their fantasy generic, cute and mindless will not like "String." Nothing in the Welsh mythos is dumbed down for the audience, and younger kids will probably have difficulty keeping some of the legends straight. However, if readers handled other mythologically-oriented books, they will have no trouble with this one.

Peter's desperate attachment to the key is excellently-written, as is his resentment towards his father for stranding him in a tiny Welsh town. Jen and Becky are a little less prominent, as they are not seeing the past, but Jen's unswerving assertions that Peter is lying will annoy readers. David also will initially annoy readers, because of his unwillingness to consider his children's emotions, but becomes more sympathetic toward the end of the book. The Welsh characters, with the exception of the revolting Dr. Owen, don't elicit as much reaction as the American ones, but the character of Taliesin manages to fascinate without even appearing much. He's a pervasive presence throughout the book.

Fans of "The Dark is Rising" and Lloyd Alexander will thoroughly enjoy "String in the Harp," a dreamy tale of magic, myth and history.

Rating:
Summary: Th harp Sings
Review: A String in the Harp is a book that gives fantisy a good name. Conecting both mythology and real life experiences it makes it easy for the reader to get absorbed. Showing great detail truly giving you an idea about whales, and the glum atmosphere everyone in the story was first subjected to.

In the book Jen (The oldest daughter) is left behind as her father david and too younger sibilings are taken to whales after their mother dies. When Jen visits during winter vacation she finds her family falling apart. Her brother peter is always angry and sullum while her father is always at work ignoring both children. Becky (the youngest child) seems to be doing alright but you can tell no one really wants to be there. This sets a sad moment for Jen of coarse seeing her family this torn apart.

then Peter finds a harp key that lets him follow one man (from the past) throughis life but this sends everyone in his family in a worried state. Jen thinks hes making it up and Becky is not sure what to believe.

This sinerio really makes a fasinating problem to get a reader interested. This book was beautifuly written and every detail just makes it more intising. You really get the feel for whales and all the troubles the family faces. I hope to read more of Nacy Bonds Books.

Rating:
Summary: A String in the Harp
Review: I read this book and I loved it. I think there should be a sequel. I love Wales , and this book gave a really nice history of Wales.

Rating:
Summary: A really terrific book!
Review: I recently read the book, "A String In The Harp," By Nancy Bond. I thought that it was a great book all round. The book tells the story of a family whos life has been torn apart by their Mother's death. 15 year old Jen Morgan has been left in Amherst, to continue with her high school education while her family travles to a small Welsh villege for a year while her father teaches at a univercity. Jen visets her family over Christmas vacation, and ends up staying the rest of the year, because she finds out that their is a lot going on in her family, and that it is important for them all to be together. The story folcuses on her younger brother Peter, who has found a harp key which he claims belongs to a sixth century Welsh bard. At first Jen doesn't want to believe Peter's wild stories about the key, and the power that it exerts over him, but eventually she has no choice, but to accept it's existence. On top of all this, Jen decides to learn how to keep house, and try to act as a Mother to her two younger siblings. In this book Nancy Bond does a great job of weaving the life of a school boy from Amherst, and that of a Welsh bard together, to tell an extremely suspensful, gripping story. I would reccomend this book to any one who likes a good read!

Rating:
Summary: A really terrific book!
Review: I recently read the book, "A String In The Harp," By Nancy Bond. I thought that it was a great book all round. The book tells the story of a family whos life has been torn apart by their Mother's death. 15 year old Jen Morgan has been left in Amherst, to continue with her high school education while her family travles to a small Welsh villege for a year while her father teaches at a univercity. Jen visets her family over Christmas vacation, and ends up staying the rest of the year, because she finds out that their is a lot going on in her family, and that it is important for them all to be together. The story folcuses on her younger brother Peter, who has found a harp key which he claims belongs to a sixth century Welsh bard. At first Jen doesn't want to believe Peter's wild stories about the key, and the power that it exerts over him, but eventually she has no choice, but to accept it's existence. On top of all this, Jen decides to learn how to keep house, and try to act as a Mother to her two younger siblings. In this book Nancy Bond does a great job of weaving the life of a school boy from Amherst, and that of a Welsh bard together, to tell an extremely suspensful, gripping story. I would reccomend this book to any one who likes a good read!

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: I think the biggest thing about this book was it's captivating reality. You really felt like you knew the shores of Wales, when you'd finished. And you understood and could relate to the characters, and their relationships and situations. It's certainly one of those books that you don't easily put down--it kept me highly interested all the way to the end.
The way Bond intertwines near-modern-day Wales, with its ancient times and its legendary history, is wonderfully amazing. Very well-written.

Rating:
Summary: A family, an ancient bard, and a harp key
Review: String In The Harp is a Newbery Honor Book, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, International Reading Association Children's Book Award, and A Horn Book Fanfare. A family in mourning...An ancient bard...a harp key that brings them together. When 15 year old Jen Morgan flies to Wales to spend Christmas with her family, she's not expecting much from the holiday. A year after her mother's sudden death, her father seems preoccupied by the teaching job that has brought him and the younger children to Wales for the year. Her brother, Peter, is alternately hostile and sullen, and her sister, Becky, misses Jen terribly. Then peter tells Jen he's found a strange artifact, a harp key that shows him pictures from the life of Taliesin, the great bard whose life in sixthcentury Wales has been immortalized in legend. At first Jen doesn't believe him, but when the key's existence--and its strange properties--become known to the wider world, the Morgans must act together against a threat to the key, and to their family itself. In a most impressive first novel, bond deftly blends fantasy and realism. A substantial achievement.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but tough at times
Review: This is a very good book, although it can be a little confusing at times. I myself got more appreciation for it only after my mother told me how the names of the Welsh towns were pronounced (Welsh is a somewhat difficult language), and after I knew where the towns were from a map I could understand it better.

It is difficult to get through the first chapter or so, but once you do, it is a very interesting book. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you have Welsh heritage or you are going to Wales or have been there before.

Rating:
Summary: A String In The Harp
Review: This is one of those books you just don't want to put down until you find out what happens. I almost didn't want it to end! The descriptions make you feel like you're actually there in Wales, though sometimes they stretch on a bit too long. The charactors are strong and easy to relate to. In fact, after I was finished I found myself missing them almost! This is definatly a book you have to think about, though, and you should only read it if you really have time to sit down and concentrate. Casual skimming just doesn't work with this one. Because of this it might give younger readers a bit of trouble, but overal it's not a problem. I highly recommend this to anyone who's tired of the mainstream fantasy and wants something a bit different!

Rating:
Summary: The Harp Strikes a Chord....
Review: When Jennifer Morgan agrees to spend the winter holiday with her family in Wales, she could never have known what the visit would turn into...an extended stay, an ancient harp key, a bard from the 6th century, a museum curator, a bird watcher, a wolf and a family of sheep farmers all come together to create an exciting, albeit sometimes difficult, tale of family, strength and honor. Ms. Bond's book is well written; however, some of the Welsh names and mythologies can be difficult to follow.