Book Review
May. 15th, 2008 05:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Prydain:
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Llyr
Taran Wanderer
The High King
by Lloyd Alexander
These books were the "youngest" of the YA fiction I've read, which meant that the story, the characters, and their development were simpler than I'm used to. Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed reading these books. They were utterly charming. And of course, the Wales-inspired setting and the incorporation of elements from Celtic myths was right up my alley. I did think that Taran started off a bit whiny and irritating, but he matured nicely over the course of the books and came out well at the end. I really liked Eilonwy, too. She never let herself be restricted by being female, and got to be fully heroic in her own right.
I thought the books conveyed some good and important messages, without getting preachy or didactic. I especially liked the valuation of craftsmanship, art, and knowledge, often above feats of strength or arms.
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Llyr
Taran Wanderer
The High King
by Lloyd Alexander
These books were the "youngest" of the YA fiction I've read, which meant that the story, the characters, and their development were simpler than I'm used to. Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed reading these books. They were utterly charming. And of course, the Wales-inspired setting and the incorporation of elements from Celtic myths was right up my alley. I did think that Taran started off a bit whiny and irritating, but he matured nicely over the course of the books and came out well at the end. I really liked Eilonwy, too. She never let herself be restricted by being female, and got to be fully heroic in her own right.
I thought the books conveyed some good and important messages, without getting preachy or didactic. I especially liked the valuation of craftsmanship, art, and knowledge, often above feats of strength or arms.
