"Taran Wanderer" was far and away my favorite. When I was 12, I couldn’t get through it quickly enough. I wanted to get back to Gwydion and Eilonwy and the battle for Prydain. But I think this is the true coming of age book in the series. It's the episode in which Taran begins as a boy, still aspiring to royalty and glory in combat, but comes to realize that manhood entails hard work, sacrifice, and disappointment. I love the metaphor of the pretty sword--that Dalben gave him in the second book--shattering against the ugly, tarnished blade that Taran forged with his own hands. It's a story about self discovery--he travels the length of Prydain only to find a puddle of water that shows his own reflection.
Glad to hear it is one you enjoy!! I just shared my opinions on the series as a whole, and it just always felt to me like it wasn't a necessary read in the series. I am glad it was there to help you through stuff! Thanks for watching! :)
@@Man-With-a-Hat-Who-ReadsI completely disagree it is the bridge to tarans transition from his boyhood to becoming a man while it may not be as plot pushing as the other books I think it's a necessary book that showed Taran much and made him greatly understand the simple things and the world others live almost as a reality check to the fantastical driven ideas of manhood he had as a child
Totally agree that "Taran Wanderer" is the weakest of the books. Also, "The High King" is my favorite, a terrific summing up of everything that has happened to this point.
When I first read these books back when I was like 11, I HATED Taran Wanderer. The 5 books are not difficult reads by any means, but I do think Taran Wanderer requires a bit more age to read and enjoy. Maybe like high school. If I reread the series now (in my 30s LOL) I actually think I'd probably enjoy that book the most
That was kind of my thinking as well! It had been years since I had read them, and was really hoping for a change of feeling towards Taran Wanderer specifically. It just...even now the book doesn't feel necessary to enjoy the rest of the series. Thanks for watching! :)
I'm with you. I read these books at age 12, enjoyed them all, but found Taran Wanderer to be the most tedious. Yet, that is the book that stuck with me all those decades later. That is the book that kept pulling me back to the series, and led to me reading it to my own kids.
Castle of Llyr was my least favorite as well. I was bothered by the contrived setup in which Taran and Gwydion refused to tell Eilonwy she was being hunted by Achren.
"Taran Wanderer" was far and away my favorite. When I was 12, I couldn’t get through it quickly enough. I wanted to get back to Gwydion and Eilonwy and the battle for Prydain. But I think this is the true coming of age book in the series. It's the episode in which Taran begins as a boy, still aspiring to royalty and glory in combat, but comes to realize that manhood entails hard work, sacrifice, and disappointment. I love the metaphor of the pretty sword--that Dalben gave him in the second book--shattering against the ugly, tarnished blade that Taran forged with his own hands. It's a story about self discovery--he travels the length of Prydain only to find a puddle of water that shows his own reflection.
I think The High King is also a "middle chapter" book because it starts with Taran and Gurgi going back to Caer Dallben from the Commots.
My list keep growing. I have not enough years left to read so much!
Yeah, I understand that. It is a problem that a lot of us unfortunately face. Thanks for watching! :)
Taran Wanderer is number 2 for me. It is the most important book in my childhood. Helped me through some hard times in high school as well.
Glad to hear it is one you enjoy!! I just shared my opinions on the series as a whole, and it just always felt to me like it wasn't a necessary read in the series. I am glad it was there to help you through stuff! Thanks for watching! :)
@@Man-With-a-Hat-Who-ReadsI completely disagree it is the bridge to tarans transition from his boyhood to becoming a man while it may not be as plot pushing as the other books I think it's a necessary book that showed Taran much and made him greatly understand the simple things and the world others live almost as a reality check to the fantastical driven ideas of manhood he had as a child
1. The High King
2. The Black Cauldron
3. The Book of Three
4. The Castle of Llyr
5. Taran Wanderer
Totally agree that "Taran Wanderer" is the weakest of the books. Also, "The High King" is my favorite, a terrific summing up of everything that has happened to this point.
'Taran Wanderer' just feels unnecessary in the scope of the series. Thanks for watching! :)
Oh no! To me, it was the most important book in the series. Taran starts a boy and ends a man.
When I first read these books back when I was like 11, I HATED Taran Wanderer. The 5 books are not difficult reads by any means, but I do think Taran Wanderer requires a bit more age to read and enjoy. Maybe like high school. If I reread the series now (in my 30s LOL) I actually think I'd probably enjoy that book the most
That was kind of my thinking as well! It had been years since I had read them, and was really hoping for a change of feeling towards Taran Wanderer specifically. It just...even now the book doesn't feel necessary to enjoy the rest of the series. Thanks for watching! :)
I'm with you. I read these books at age 12, enjoyed them all, but found Taran Wanderer to be the most tedious. Yet, that is the book that stuck with me all those decades later. That is the book that kept pulling me back to the series, and led to me reading it to my own kids.
1. The high king
2. The black cauldron
3. Taran wanderer
4. The book of three
5. The castle of llyr
Great ranking. Thanks for watching! :)
Castle of Llyr was my least favorite as well. I was bothered by the contrived setup in which Taran and Gwydion refused to tell Eilonwy she was being hunted by Achren.
You pronounced Llyr right. It's pronounced (leer.)