November 12, 2007
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The High King is my favorite book, and here's why
Oh dear, I've finally surrendered to Xanga's coaxing and answered a featured question. But when it's about books...well, I become rather helpless and weak-willed in my resistance. My favorite book may be "The High King" by Lloyd Alexander (who sadly recently passed away), although I'm sure I'll think of 100 better choices as soon as I post this. Why?
1.) Fighting! As a 4-8 year-old, the only part of the Bible I read consistently was Joshua, Judges, I-II Samuel, and I-II Kings. That's because there was fighting and killing and other exciting story content. No, I'm not joking, that's what I liked and...put down that phone, before I slash your hand off, Philistine! No you can't call a counselor for me, and no, this explains nothing. NOTHING! ha.
2.) Assertive heroines. Eilonwy and Achren, the two women in the plot, are somehow wonderful, even though they are temperamental, illogical at times, and fiercely opinionated. You know it's good when by the end of the book as a 11-year-old, I liked them both. Pre-puberty affection, folks--that counts for something!
3.) Coming-of-age without being sappy. Take note, writers for a juvenile/adult market; it can be done! Taran, the male protagonist, is trying to find his future while working a dead-end job as an assistant pig-keeper and not knowing who his parents are. He makes you root for him without being a whiny "Dear Journal, today I cried because my black t-shirt was not dry enough for me to wear" teenage boy. And even today, Taran's struggle to become a man (while already being one) resonates with me.
4.) DEATH! Seriously. Lloyd (the author) merrily kills off half the supporting characters of the 5-book series in the last half of the book, and makes you like it, too. I don't like a book where I'm sure most of the characters are really in no danger at all. I didn't quite cry when Coll died, but my contacts may have been re-wettened more than usual.
5.) No Movie. Thus I can continue to enjoy the characters in my head and allow their details to be fuzzy or not depending on the whims of my imagination.
6.) All-age-accessible. I have a strong bias against books that I don't think can be appreciated by all ages, and as much as I hate to admit it, I feel the success of Harry Potter has vindicated my bias. Yes, books CAN be written for all ages. I liked The High King when I was young for the fighting and struggle against evil. I like The High King now because I can appreciate Taran's struggle to carve out a future for himself. And when I am old, I am sure I will like it for how the older characters continue to fight and persevere despite the changing conditions.
I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!
Comments (9)
That's it, I'm tired of having Lloyd Alexander recommended to me, especially when it sounds like he's so very up my alley. TO AMAZON!
Oh, and I love your reasons, but especially #1. Dude, watching the adventures of David or Ehud or Caleb on Superbook (this Bible cartoon series) when I was a kid... epic battles, bloodshed, swordfights, and it was all somehow spiritual! It made my little prepubescent heart sing.
Superbook! You're putting me in the way-back machine with that reference. NICE! I LOVED Superbook. It wasn't dumbed down that much, and the robot was funny.
Are you sure it wasn't dumbed down that much? Hmmm...
Perhaps I'm thinking of Flying House.
Your last post made me remember the email I wrote the last time you talked about your admiration of Bananna dicators like Castro.
Chavez: My little cigar, how have you been? How I long to run my fingers through your frizzy beard of unrelenting power. lolz! I think, my dearest friend and comrade, that the time has come for you to build a pyramid in Cuba. >;^] It gives such an air of nobility to have obscenely large triangles cropping about here and there. Love and concubines,
Chavez the Chatty
Hmmm... sounds a little Wheel-of-Timeish. I wonder if I should check it out?
ugh. hate those death books. In the Bible too...why am I doing Hebrew Bible again?
i love these books. we've already read them to the kids once. good stuff. although the welsh names make for interesting pronounciation, even given my background.
Featured question? Wow, new low.
But really, I wanna know what those skittles did to surprise you.
I love Lloyd Alexander! Some of his books are too formulaic but at least it's a good formula. Have you read the Westmark trilogy? Very different from most of his other books, a little more adult.
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