The Book of Three and Revisiting Old Friends

After finishing The Chronicles of Narnia, the first three Harry Potter books and starting “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”, only to discover we couldn’t renew at the library due to the waiting list, my 8 year old daughter wanted new fantasy to read.  I handed her “The Book of Three”, first volume in the Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander and off she went to be completely absorbed in the story and declare she would use it for her oral book presentation.

The Prydain Chronicles have a special place in my heart as it was the next fantasy series I devoured after finishing The Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger.  The five volumes were a regular companion for me growing up as they were read over and over again.  It has easily been 10-15 years since I last read them so to be prepared to help my daughter with her presentation, I re-read “The Book of Three” once more.

At 224 pages it was a quick read for me as an adult, which was handy as we had a deadline.  I couldn’t help comparing my current reading with the memory of reading it in the past.  The first thing that struck me was how quickly things happen.  Characters are barely established before they are off adventuring, new companions join the party rapidly, obstacles are met and overcome within pages.  It is a hero’s journey lite, as intended for a young audience.  It no longer holds the wonder it once did but does feel like visiting comfortable old friends.  Once more I traveled with determined Taran, gentle Gurgi, vivacious Eilonwy, boisterous Fflewddur, and dour Doli, revisiting the wonders of magic that fill Prydain.

It was interesting to see which parts of the book spoke most to my daughter.  She was enchanted by the magic spells and the importance of animals to the story.  Her favorite parts were Medwyn’s valley which only animals can find and Taran rescuing a young gwythaint.  I remember Eilonwy being important to me.  After all, what’s not to like about a headstrong Princess who is more than capable to taking care of herself.  My daughter cared more for the horse Melyngar than about Eilonwy.  It just goes to show what wonderful writing Lloyd Alexander crafted when he created this story as there is much to draw you in, and something for everyone to identify with.

Unsurprisingly, new things spoke to me this time.  At the end of the story, when Taran returns home to Caer Dallben, he discusses with the ancient enchanter Dallben how he feels about his adventure.  Taran doesn’t feel as though he “did” anything.  It was his friends and companions who accomplished certain tasks, he was just there with them at the time.  Dallben reminds Taran that, “Though what you say may be true, you have cause for a certain pride nevertheless.  It was you who held the companions together and led them.  You did what you set out to do…..  If you made mistakes, you recognize them.  As I told you, there are times when the seeking counts more than the finding.”

How often do we feel on a day to day basis that we didn’t “do” anything.  Yet, more often than not, that isn’t true.  Showing up, sticking with unpleasant tasks and finishing what you set out to do is so very important, even if we don’t give ourselves enough credit for having done so.  Learning to recognize that you’ve made a mistake is always the first step in rectifying the mistake.  What we learn along the way often outweighs arriving at the destination.  These are truths I did not consciously absorb all those years ago but clearly they percolated through my subconscious as I understand them now.

Regarding his homecoming, Taran says, “I have dreamed often of Caer Dallben and I love it – and you and Coll – more than ever.  I asked for nothing better than to be at home, and my heart rejoices.  Yet it is a curious feeling.  I have returned to the chamber I slept in and found it smaller than I remember.  The fields are beautiful, yet not quite as I recalled them.  And I am troubled, for I wonder now if I am to be a stranger in my own home.”  Dallben shook his head.  “No, that you shall never be.  But it is not Caer Dallben which has grown smaller.  You have grown bigger.  That is the way of it.”

And that is an excellent summary of how I felt reading the book.  I had come home but it felt smaller to me.  Not because the story had changed in anyway but because I had grown bigger.

Edit: After posting my review I realized that this was more a review of my feelings reading the story than of the story itself.  Here is a link to excellent reviews of the entire Prydain Chronicles by Cannonballer narfna Yet another wonderful series I missed reading as a child.