From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 12:54:11 -0700 (PDT)

I wasn't particularly aware of books directly influencing me as a child, I just read them for fun. But looking back, I think "The Chronicles of Prydain" had as big an impact as anything. What really resonated with me was the choices Taran had to make. Keep the magical brooch or trade it for the evil cauldron? Raise a dangerous gwythaint chick or leave it to die? Choose the path of blacksmith, weaver, or sculptor? Voyage to the Summer Country or stay behind to fulfill difficult promises made to others. I believe these were the first books I read where a young person had to make such serious decisions, the kind that grown-ups make. And they rang true because Taran was so obviously muddled and mistake-prone in many ways...the answers were not easy for him and even after he made his choices, he still doubted himself (which I still relate to). I re-read these often as an adult and every time I find myself stepping into Taran's shoes and reliving those now familiar
 events with just as much enjoyment.
   
  -Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library
   12375 SW 5th Street
   Beaverton, OR 97005
   503-526-2599
   sengelfried at yahoo.com
   

                
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Received on Tue 23 May 2006 02:54:11 PM CDT