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[jade_sabre]

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6443846.html?rssid=190

I feel like I should say something about the Summer Country, but Taran didn't get to go there, and so it's almost like I shouldn't.

...

I'm crying.

This is the first time I've cried because someone who was a complete stranger to me died.  Except, I mean, it's one of those things where he's not a complete stranger.  'cause I've read so many of his books and read interviews with him and stuff and oh God I'm just so sad.  He's one of those bastions of my childhood, y'know?  With Prydain and those books about the war and that Iron Ring book and he's my example of good children's literature that's simple in writing maybe but not in ideas and Vesper Holly and aw man.

My mommy didn't pick up her phone.

...

I'm just really, really sad now.  The literary world has lost a wonderful man today.  Rest in peace, Mr. Alexander.  Enjoy the sunshine.

Comments

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Thank you for saying exactly what I've been trying to explain.

Amen.

[keestone.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about Taran's apprenticeship with the potter lately. That one bit spoke to me so deeply at a time when I really needed it. I still need it, I think.

There's more wisdom in Taran Wanderer than so many of the "literary" things I end up studying . . . with none of the pretension.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I think I need to reread that one--at the time I first read it I didn't fully appreciate it. But I know what you're saying.

Did you ever read The Iron Ring?

[keestone.livejournal.com]

A long long time ago. It wasn't easily available in my home library. I don't really remember it.

It's Prydain and the Westmark trilogy I kept coming back to.

I want to reread all of them now. And I'm 5000 miles away from 3/4 of my books and my home library, and the libraries here are kinda useless.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I read that one when I was a little older--just when I was shifting in my view of him (in terms of a first-time readthrough, and in terms of...I dunno. I still love him, but I have an older person's perspective, you know?), and it really really hit me how deep the topics he touches on are. The issues of the caste system in that one nearly had me in tears.

I really need to reread Westmark. I remember it was dark, and I remember being shocked at how dark it was.

alas! :-(