Subject: Amazing
Author:
Posted on: 2024-10-20 05:40:51 UTC

I picked it up somewhere between ages nine and...eleven, maybe? Probably more like nine to ten, and then proceeded to reread it and reread it and reread it. I wrote a book report on one of the books (Taran Wanderer, I think). I own either all or almost all of the main five books by now (it's either all or I'm missing one). I can't remember now if I mentioned in the original post - I think I did - but I used to credit Lloyd Alexander as one of my writing influences, and picking up the Black Cauldron again, I can see why. He's just very good, and his books and author's notes did certainly shape a certain amount of my approach to writing, especially early on. I wanted to write, as he did, books that entertained and engrossed and taught the reader valuable life lessons and bits of practical skills together with the protagonist while not being preachy about it or taking you out of the story at all. I wanted to make my readers cry and laugh and walk away feeling like something in them or their lives had been enriched by the reading experience. I'd phrase it a bit differently, these days, but I wouldn't say that's no longer true.

Always glad to meet someone who's actually read those books as well (you would not believe how few I've come across irl!) and it's great that Gurgi left that kind of mark XD also, I feel like Llyan the giant housecat is a character I should bring up, because I know a whole lot of people here are cat lovers!

~Z

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