I stayed up way too late last night finishing this, despite having already read it countless times. It doesn't seem to have lost any of its impact since the last time I read it. It's not a perfect book, but I'm disinclined to pick at its faults. And in rereading it now, I'm suspecting it to be one of the influential books of my life. I have had thoughts like this more than once, and acted accordingly:She told herself, all the old tales of heroism and quests always begin with the hero having to overcome many trials. Now I am the hero - why is the hero always a man? - of my own quest, and I have passed the first trial.I also find myself thinking a lot about [b:The Harper Hall of Pern|177938|The Harper Hall of Pern (Pern Harper Hall, #1-3)|Anne McCaffrey|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336498847s/177938.jpg|2629708], for the first time thinking how similar they are. Romilly and Menolly have a lot in common, from running away, figuring out how to survive, stumbling into company with people for whom she can help make a difference in the fate of the world. And, of course, the connection with animals. And the under-stated background romance that is a future probability more than a present reality. And the matter-of-fact reality of homosexuality, though that had a bigger personal impact on Romilly than Menolly.I noticed that latter bit more this time than in previous rereads. Because homosexuality has always been a normal part of my daily life, it wasn't particularly note-worthy to see it in books when I was a kid. Especially when you consider how early I read [b:Rubyfruit Jungle|165395|Rubyfruit Jungle|Rita Mae Brown|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1172341177s/165395.jpg|3017660] (I think I was eight or so). But now I'm struck by the awareness of the world in which it was published, and that makes it more impressive.As always, I finished this with a wish for more. Not that it's incomplete, but I'd love to see them all a few years down the line. If nothing else, I'd love to read Caryl's story. But I'll have to wait until I find out if there really is an after-life. If so, I'm sure I will spend many years of it reading the never-written sequels to many favorite books!
