Sunday Seconds -- there are books that I would really love to re-read -- if I could make the time. Sometimes books have profound impacts on one's reading experience. Sometimes you just know these books could be even greater if you could go back and read them with again better understanding and life experiences under your belt. Sometimes books don't hold up the memory the second time around -- that's the risk. Sunday Seconds will be a cataloging of that kind of wish list.

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THE CHRONICLES OF PRYDAIN by Lloyd Alexander

The Chronicles of Prydain (sometimes given as The Prydain Chronicles) is a five-volume series of children's fantasy novels by author Lloyd Alexander. First published from 1964–1968, the stories detail the adventures of a young man named Taran, who is awarded the honor of Assistant Pig-Keeper but dreams of being a grand hero, and his companions Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam the wandering bard and king, a feral yet gentle creature called Gurgi, and a dwarf named Doli. Thematically the novels draw upon Welsh mythology, particularly the Mabinogion. The novels are not, however, retellings of those myths — a point Alexander himself makes in an author's note for THE BOOK OF THREE.

1. THE BOOK OF THREE (1964)
An assistant pig-keeper, Taran, and his companions race to defeat the war lord of Arawn.

2. THE BLACK CAULDRON (1965) — a 1966 Newbery Honor book
Taran and the companions struggle to destroy an evil enchanted cauldron.

3. THE CASTLE OF LLYR (1966)
Eilonwy is kidnapped and Taran leads a band to rescue her.

4. TARAN THE WANDERER (1967)
Taran, with his companion Gurgi, begins a bittersweet search for his parentage.

5. THE HIGH KING (1968) - Winner of the 1969 Newbery Medal
Taran and the companions wage a final battle against Arawn.

You can see where my love of fantasy came from; my love of "the quest." The basic elements of a hero's journey are there: an untried/unknowing hero who has some growing up to do, a need to save the kingdom, a girl, some comic relief sidekicks, a mentor figure, and evilbadguy who must be defeated, etc. I read these in grade school. This would be a good introduction for kids into the genre and then, as they got older, lead them into JRR Tolkien. I would like to re-read these someday to see if the story holds up to my memory.

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And now it is snowing. It won't be fun walking Tug but it can't be helped other than maybe taking him to the field to run around. I'm low on gas though in Moby. And yesterday, in the adjacent field someone was shooting at geese and had a loose dog. I hope they're not there today.

I got up the letter "M" in authors for January's issue yesterday. I hope to make good progress again today. The Steelers' game is on tv at 11 and the Cowboys are on tonight. We watched The Expendables on DVD last night. I think Steve enjoyed it more than I did -- it is a gun freak's heaven kind of movie. :)

I caved in and started THE PLAY OF PIETY by Margaret Frazer yesterday -- as reward for good work on Premeditated. This is 6th of 6 in series featuring Joliffe, a player in a group of traveling players in 15th century England. Here is a description:

In harvest time of 1436, Joliffe's troupe leader falls, leaving his players to find what work they can while he recovers. Joliffe finds work in a hospital where he unfortunately has to deal with Mistress Cisily Thorncoffyn, a widow expecting to be endlessly waited on for her mostly imaginary ailments. When patients begin mysteriously dying, Mistress Thorncoffyn loudly insists that someone is trying to kill her. With so many suspects wishing her ill, if not outright dead, Joliffe has no choice but to find out whose anger has turned to murderous hatred and whether-having missed their target-they mean to try again...

It was published in December 2010 and has 304 pages.

Tug is whining at me to get going on the walk. Sigh. See ya later.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster