Song of the Pearl

by Ruth Nichols

Margaret Redmond, who dies at seventeen, finds that to gain understanding of self and to overcome a deep hatred that has marred her last years she must relive parts of her earlier lives on earth.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

For about two years, I've been trying to remember this wonderful book I read as a teenager. I loved this book. For some reason, I gave away my copy. How sad. In trying to remember the title, I was even looking at old pictures of my room, looking at the bookshelves, trying to figure out what books were on it. (No luck!)

Yesterday, a word came to me - Pearl. The title had Pearl in it.

And I found it!

I read this book several times. A teenage girl dies and revisits her past lives. It was a fascinating book for me to read. If I ever see a copy of this somewhere, I may have to buy it.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was prepared to love this book and, upon finishing it, run around extolling its virtues. However, I did neither of those things. This book wasn't bad. There were some very good things about it, the foremost being the beautiful descriptions. These descriptions were mainly of Margaret's surroundings, the weather, etc., and as a result I felt I knew the settings better than the characters. Also the grammar was flawless. Nichols really knows her way around a colon (that sounds so wrong). Despite the descriptions, to me the book felt bland, and for some reason it reminded me of The Celestine Prophecy. The two aren't really anything alike except that both entail a journey of sorts and are filled with spiritualist jabber that I guess is supposed to be enlightening but doesn't really make all that much sense.

Besides the descriptions, what I really loved about the book was its length. It's a perfect example of a story that can be well-realized in a relatively short number of pages. This was published in the '70s and a lot of YA books today seem to be long for the sake of being long, and nothing ever happens because it's going to happen in the sequel. (I wish more authors would write solid single books instead of mediocre trilogies.) One thing I really didn't like was the relationship between Margaret and her uncle. She was much too forgiving of his actions in my opinion. I hated how what he did was conveniently explained away by past life drama. What he did was NOT OKAY.

The library that houses the copy I read has it classified as SF. On the copyright page, there's a little note that says "YA, 9 and up." This book wasn't explicit by any means, but it did mention some "mature" events. If something like this were published today, I can only imagine it would be challenged by some idiot parent. Apparently in the '70s people had a better opinion of nine-year-olds and trusted them with whatever they chose to read.

[Melissa McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in junior high school, and it has stayed with me ever since. I think of it often and dig out my tattered paperback to re-read it and always pick up something new.

This is the story of Margaret Redmond, who dies of asthma at the age of seventeen in the year 1900. She finds herself in a strange "heaven" where she meets Paul, a member of a large Chinese family who lives in a great compound. Paul's grandmother, the matriarch of the clan, has predicted that Margaret will destroy the compound. Margaret does not understand this, or anything else at first. She begins to remember other lives, one as an Indian slave, Zawumatec; another as a sailor's wife named Elizabeth; and finally the life in ancient Sumer, where she was a doomed prince named Tirigan. Margaret must confront the lessons learned in these lives and the curse and hatred that have clung to her throughout the centuries before she can find peace and learn who "Paul" really is. A moving tale of reincarnation and the power love and hate have in shaping our destinies.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure, an absolute treasure. I've rewritten this review a couple of times, trying to capture and explain what about this book makes it magical, moving, unforgettable. I keep failing miserably. If you can find this book, hidden away on the back shelf of some second hand shop, as I once did, the dollar or two they will ask you for is a small price to pay for the experience that this book will provide you. All I can really say is: Read It.

[Jean Triceratops · Rating 1 out of 5]

It doesn’t matter that the writing is languid and beautiful, nor does it matter that the story is structured to appear sophisticated and nuanced, and as if it’s revealing some secret truth.

The overarching plot of Song of the Pearl perpetrates the bullshit notion that girls are to blame for the sexual attention of men. Damaging and rage-inducing at the best of times, the fact that this topic is the crux of a YA novel is unconscionable. The only pleasure I can find in this book, aside from the cover, is the knowledge that it’s out of print.

[I read old fantasy and sci-fi novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See a full length review at forfemfan.com]

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Canadian YA author Ruth Nichols has a disheartening sense of Karmic justice. In her twisted "Song of the Pearl," her protagonist Margaret Redmond -- a taciturn, plain-faced girl with chronic asthma -- journeys to Heaven in order to make peace with a rapist Uncle whom she's been persecuting through a series of reincarnations. Sigh. And does any sane person really believe in an afterlife in which slaves choose to continue serving their masters?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a lot of other people I found this book when I was in Jr. High. It spoke to me then and I have gone back to it more than once to remind myself.

Ms. Nichols uses simple words, eloquent descriptions, reincarnation and and a wise old woman, but ultimately it's about forgiveness, and about how the inability to forgive can destroy a persons entire spirit.

[Diana Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical

I read this book almost thirty years ago. The cover of the paperback, by Elizabeth Malczynski (who did a number of the Dragonsinger books - by Anne McCaffrey) caught my attention. I love that artist's work. And then I read the book.

Young Adult? I don't think so, though I think anyone could read and enjoy it.

Margaret Redmond dies of asthma at the turn of the 20th century (1900). She comes to herself in a quiet world of peace, sunshine, trees and rain. A place of calm peace, but something is lacking... She meets Paul, and her journey begins.

This book is a story of hatred, revenge and reincarnation, and the disasters that come of holding wrath and rage to your heart.

I found the style to be lyrical (in a world of writing like telegrams) and the message of forgiveness and freedom to be wonderful. I have remembered this book over the years - I was thinking of it recently - and I am glad to have the author's name again, and know that I can order a copy - which I will do.

This is a lovely book.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this for the first time in my late forties, it felt to me like a novel about grief. I had trouble imagining what young adult readers with no relevant life experience would be likely to get out of it. However, other reviewers who did read it during these years seem to have connected deeply; which indicates something rich enough to give differently to different readers, despite an appearance of simplicity. (Of course, I don’t mean to exempt all YA readers from having experienced grief; as, clearly, many of them have.)

Ruth Nichols is an intriguing figure, and appears to have tapped into a variety of religious traditions as she constructed this bardo, or intermediate afterlife, journey. Tapping so many disparate traditions leads to troubled resolution at the end of the book, and some of her conclusions are problematic.

In my opinion, and as others have mentioned, Nichols seems to be at her strongest when engaged in the act of description. Readers who (like me) swoon over landscape are likely to enjoy this book.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was probably about 13 when I read this, and it made a huge impact on me. I've lost any perspective on whether or not it is a "good" book, but it's certainly a sentimental favorite for me.

[Mary Mostad · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books. I found it in my mid 20’s, started rereading it every few years, then in my 40’s lent it to a friend and lost it forever. Every time I would reread it I would gain new insights into what the story was about. It would give me a new perspective on my life. Really sad it is out of print.

[David Cervantes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has stuck with me since I read it over 30 years ago. I hope I can find it one day in a dusty bookstore.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was wonderful. It was rich with eclectic spiritual teachings and earth-based spirituality. The story surrounded the fate of one woman who learned forgiveness over a succession of lives. I was intrigued by the author's depiction of Heaven and of reincarnation. The novel, at 119 pages, was much shorter than it seemed. It took time to absorb each scene, since the story did not follow the format of any story I have read. It was truly unique.

It felt somewhat abbreviated, and as though I had dipped only shallowly into Margaret's life and dreams. I would have liked for the story to be longer, and for her relationships, especially with Phoenix, to play out a little more so that the complicated ending would be easier to accept.

[Summer · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book takes us through four (hints of a fifth) of the main character's incarnations, four countries, and the gods only know how many religions and quasi-religious practices, all in a mere 120 pages. It's utterly flat and feels random most of the time. A teaser in the front gave away one of the few semi-interesting revelations of the story. Challenging subject matter and an interesting premise; it could have been a very poignant story. But it turns out to be just a hodgepodge of factoids from someone with a lofty degree, and there's little depth even in that respect.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was supposed to be my last book of 2015, though I didn't quite make it with that.
This book was fascinating. It is one of those that leaves you thinking, trying to sort out thoughts and feelings. I haven't decided exactly what I think of it yet honestly. It was very interesting and deep. This one is going to take some processing.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction. This isn't a great book in terms of writing, but when I first read it in my early teens I felt comforted--growing up in the rural South believing in reincarnation makes you feel a bit isolated.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extreemly thought provoking on the aspects of of growth and self-inflected stagnation...

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time.