Hey Everyone,
This week's newsletter is a beast! Some of you might already have your Thanksgiving plans locked down, but for those of you still in the planning phase, this one is for you: I've rounded up restaurants taking reservations and caterers whipping up delicious feasts, complete with prices and order deadlines. This was a popular newsletter last year, so figured I'd give it another go. If you're already set, feel free to scroll past. There are still other cool things going on this week in the other categories.
As a side note, Stein Eriksen told me they were sold out for Thanksgiving. Also, there are a handful of restaurants/bars that are closed for the holiday. Closed: Tupelo, The Spur Bar & Grill, High West, Handle, Fletchers, Courchevel, Boneyard, Alpine Distilling Social Club, 350 Main, Yuki Yama, and Riverhorse are a few.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter if you are a local. You get a few extra goodies each week. www.keptcurrent.com
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NON-PROFIT OF THE WEEK
Avalanche Awareness with Utah Avalanche Center Wednesday, November 15 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Join the Utah Avalanche Center at Helly Hansen Park City for an engaging evening of avalanche education. Learn the essentials of avalanche formation and safety tips for backcountry excursions. Take advantage of this no-cost opportunity to ask experts your questions, enjoy snacks and refreshments, and immerse yourself in community spirit. Plus, sign up for the store newsletter for a shot at winning a new Helly Hansen ski jacket and score some cool freebies like lanyards and stickers. Mark your calendar—doors open at 6 PM for this informative and fun event! COST: FREE
GET TICKETS
THANKSGIVING
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Apex @ The Montage Thursday, November 23 from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Celebrate Thanksgiving in style at the Montage with two great options. Indulge in a luxury buffet meal for $75 per adult and $40 per child (5-12). Or enjoy an intimate gathering with a $65 per person Grab & Go Turkey Dinner (minimum 2 people). Advance reservations required; please call (435) 604-1402 to book your spot.
MENU
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Auntie Em's Pies
Pie lovers, rejoice! It's time to get your Thanksgiving pie orders in!
Here's what's on the menu for $33 each:

• Apple Crumble: Packed with fresh apples from Pyne Farm in Santaquin, UT.
• Tart Cherry: Bursting with Pyne Farm’s tart cherries, also from Santaquin, UT.
• Maple Bourbon Pecan: A sweet twist with organic Vermont maple syrup.
• Maple Chess: A classic, with a maple syrup kick from Vermont.
• Pumpkin: Real cream and fresh local pumpkin from Mountain Song Farms in Kamas, UT—no condensed milk here!
• Vanilla Bean Sugar Cream Pie: A creamy dreamy slice of heaven.

ORDER NOW
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Butcher’s Chop House Thursday, November 23, from 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Feast on a 2-Course Classic Thanksgiving Delight for $55 for adults and $38 for kids. Dive in to turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, yams, and cranberry sauce. Top it off with pecan or pumpkin pie! The full dinner menu is also available. Call 435-640-0040 for reservations in their cozy dining room or an alpenglobe.
Chop Shop Park City Deadline for ordering is Thursday, November 17
Enjoy oven-ready, à la carte Thanksgiving delights! Brined turkey ($8.5/lb), turkey gravy ($15/qt), whipped potatoes ($22 for 4), herb rolls ($16/6), sourdough loaf ($10), and pumpkin pie ($35). Pre-order at (435) 604-0244 or [info@chopshopparkcity.com](mailto:info@chopshopparkcity.com). Pick up starts Tuesday before Thanksgiving, with instructions included.
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Deer Valley Cafe Place orders by 3:30 PM on Monday, November 20 Pick up on Wednesday, November 22 Thanksgiving made effortless with Deer Valley Café's To-Go! Order turkey, scrumptious sides, cookies, pies, and more to enrich your holiday without the hassle. Create memories, skip the cooking!
ORDER NOW
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Deelicious Catering Order Deadline: Thursday, November 16 Pick-Up: Wednesday, November 22nd, 12 PM – 4 PM @ the café
Savor Thanksgiving without the prep work! Deelicious offers a bounty of sides and desserts to accompany your home-cooked turkey. Book now, focus on family, not food.
How to Order:

• Deposit: 50% upfront (non-refundable)
• Pay via Venmo (@deelicious-pc), Credit Card (call (435) 731-7911), or in-person (cash/check) Act fast - limited availability for our coveted Thanksgiving spread!

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Escala Provisions Company @ The Hyatt Centric Open 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Indulge in a festive Thanksgiving meal starting with sweet potato bisque or poached pear salad, followed by a traditional turkey feast or vegan special, and family-style desserts for $69PP. Reserve on OpenTable for a flavorful celebration! MENU
RESERVE
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Flanagan’s on Main 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Flanagan’s on Main offers a heartwarming Thanksgiving meal complete with sweet potato soup or a green salad starter. The main course includes turkey breast, creamy mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Dessert features homemade apple cake with vanilla ice cream. Prices are $50 for adults and $20 for children under 12. To experience a traditional Thanksgiving without the fuss, reservations can be made by calling 435-649-8600.
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Goldener Hirsch: A Traditional Thanksgiving Gathering Open from 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Goldener Hirsch invites diners to a three-course prix-fixe Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy traditional flavors with a gourmet twist, all while enjoying the intimate setting of the cozy, renowned inn. Priced at $98 per person, guests also have the option to select from the daily dinner a la carte menu for additional choices.VIEW MENURESERVE
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Grub Steak's Thanksgiving Open 2:00 PM - 7:30
Feast at Grub Steak this Thanksgiving! Start with our cozy wild rice soup or a crisp salad. Then, load up your plate with classic turkey, stuffing, gravy, green beans, mashers, cranberry relish, and a fresh-baked roll. Cap it off with pumpkin pie or bourbon-spiked apple bread pudding. Adults $45.75, kids $24.75. Come hungry! Call for reservations 435-649-8060.
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Hearth and Hill Open 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Hearth and Hill with a holiday special featuring butternut squash soup, roasted turkey breast, all the traditional sides, and homemade pie. Full a la carte menu available too for your festive cravings! RESERVE
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Hill’s Kitchen Café & Catering Pick-up Thursday, November 23, from 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Get your complete Thanksgiving dinner for 8, just $345! Enjoy a 16-20 lb. Mary’s Free-Range Turkey, sage cornbread stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes with smoked cheddar, candied yams, Brussels sprouts with bacon and cranberries, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Plus, order extras like cheddar biscuits, pear salad, charcuterie board, Caesar salad, and onion dip a la carte. Call 435-800-2870 to order!
Homestead Open 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Have a relaxed Thanksgiving at Homestead's annual buffet! A community favorite, and an annual tradition not to be missed. Reserve early at 435-654-1102—spots fill fast! Adults $110, kids under 12 $55.
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Chefsgiving @ Kita November 23, from 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Dive into Chefsgiving—a festive 4-course meal that gives back! Savor Thanksgiving favorites, from Butternut Squash Soup to Honey Glazed Turkey, with a portion of proceeds supporting Christian Center of Park City’s food programs. Treats for kids, too. Reservation recommended. $100/person with $10 going to charity. RESERVE
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Luna's Kitchen Deadline: Monday, November 20, by 9 PM Pick up: Wednesday, November 22, between 2 PM - 6 PM ONLY
Navigating food allergies during Thanksgiving? No sweat! Luna's Kitchen has got your back with gluten-free and vegan sides that everyone can enjoy. They'll have your order ready to go, cold, with super easy heating instructions.
Just a heads up: if you have to cancel after the deadline, there will be a 50% charge of your total bill. Questions or need more info? Just hit them up at [info@lunaskitchenparkcity.com](mailto:info@lunaskitchenparkcity.com).
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RESERVE
No Name Saloon's Free Bird Buffet – Their FREE Treat to You This Thanksgiving! Open 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM / Dinner starts @ 2:00 PM until it runs out.
No Name Saloon is at it again with their yearly Thanksgiving hook-up. Free 'Free Bird Buffet' – no catch, just good old Thanksgiving grub on the house starting 2 PM until they run out. Swing by, grab a plate, and enjoy the feast. First come, first served, so make sure to get in early!
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Powder @ Waldorf Astoria Open 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Check out Powder Restaurant for a Thanksgiving meal with a gourmet twist. Begin with an appetizer trio, then choose from four stellar mains: prime ribeye, herb-turkey, squash tortellini, or prime halibut. Dive into shared sides like potato purée and honey truffle Brussels sprouts. Top it off with a dessert—pumpkin mousse, chocolate volcano, or apple mille-feuille. All for $135 each. Book at 435-647-5566 or reserve below. Get your feast on!
RESERVE
RIME @ St. Regis Deer Valley 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Get ready for a Thanksgiving feast to remember at RIME! Kick things off with a choice of soups and salads. Mini plates include braised beef rigatoni, seared salmon with dill cream, and shrimp cocktail. Carve into turkey and prime rib at the carving station. Savor sides like stuffing and roasted cauliflower. Treat yourself to desserts like pumpkin salted caramel panna cotta, cranberry almond tarts, and pies. Pair it all with wines from their vast collection. Plus, enjoy a petting zoo, candle crafting, live music, and s’mores.
Prices are $130 for adults, $50 for kids under 12.
RESERVE
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Salt Box Eatery & Catering Order by November 16, @ 9:00 PM for pickup on 23rd
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Pick up a chef-crafted dinner for a stress-free holiday. Begin with appetizers like Gorgonzola stuffed dates, mushroom tartlets, and butternut squash soup. For the main event, choose from herb roasted turkey or honey baked ham. Sides are plentiful, serving four, with options like sage stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, crispy Brussels sprouts, fresh focaccia, gingered carrots with snap peas, rich mac & cheese, pomegranate cranberry jam, and homestyle gravy. Don’t forget to end on a sweet note with pecan or pumpkin pie. Ready to heat with simple instructions and serves 4. Reach out to [info@saltboxpc.com](mailto:info@saltboxpc.com) with any questions.
RESERVE
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Savoury Kitchen Open 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Looking for a stress-free Thanksgiving? Let Savoury Kitchen cater your feast! They specialize in fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and offer a variety of handcrafted holiday dishes. Enjoy a selection of sides at $30 per person, choose from crowd-pleasers like oven roasted Brussels Sprouts, Sweet Potato Casserole, and more. Main courses serve 10-15, featuring Sage Butter Roasted Turkey ($150) and a Maple Glazed Pork Roast. Top off with desserts like Pecan Pie, each at $35. They can make your holiday a breeze!
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Sterling Steak & Lounge 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Feast on a Thanksgiving buffet with Sterling Steak & Lounge. A traditional spread to make your holiday effortless. Cost: Adults $69. Book: Reserve online or call 435-800-2884. Secure your table today!
RESERVE
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Vessel Kitchen Place your orders by November 20, @ 10 PM
Get your 'Everything But the Bird' family bundle for a complete Thanksgiving feast (minus the turkey), with gluten-free options available. This bundle feeds four for $125 and includes:

• Two select fall market sides
• Creamy mashed potatoes & rich turkey gravy
• Cheesy bread herbed stuffing
• Brussel slaw
• Tangy cranberry sauce
• Soft, house-made dinner rolls
• Pecan-pie bread pudding

Phone: (435) 200-8864 Email: [parkcity@vesselkitchen.com](mailto:parkcity@vesselkitchen.com)
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Whole Foods Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance of pickup date & time
Whole Foods Market caters to all holiday preferences, offering a wide selection of festive meals. You can order a Thanksgiving Extravaganza meal that serves 12, a la carte entrees, your organic turkey, and your sides. And it caters to just about any food sensitivity or preference - vegan, keto-friendly, vegetarian, paleo-friendly and just about anything else.
RESERVE
Windy Ridge Order by November 15 @ 5:00 PM Pickups: November 22 from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Enjoy a hassle-free holiday with Windy Ridge Cafe's complete Thanksgiving dinner packages, perfect for serving a group of four ($85). Each package comes with an array of classic Thanksgiving dishes:

• Sliced house-roasted turkey for a traditional main course
• Homestyle stuffing, a must-have at every Thanksgiving table
• Creamy mashed potatoes to comfort and fill
• Rich pan gravy to drizzle over every savory bite
• Sweet potatoes topped with candied pecans for a sweet crunch
• Fresh salad dressed in a zesty herb vinaigrette to balance the feast
• Soft dinner rolls for sopping up all the extra flavors

Plus, check out additional a la carte sides and desserts from Windy Ridge Bakery to tailor your meal further.
RESERVE
Yuta @ Lodge at Blue Sky 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Yuta, where a feast awaits that's as spectacular as the surrounding vistas. They're crafting a holiday filled with seasonal tastes and classic dishes to make your experience one to remember.
Cost: $125/person. Booking in advance is necessary to secure your spot for this exclusive dining event.
RESERVE
Z's Restaurant @ Zermatt Resort in Midway Open 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Indulge in a cornucopia of Thanksgiving flavors at Z's Restaurant this year. Book a table to enjoy a festive meal that's all about gratitude and gourmet tastes. Call 435-709-9573 for reservations.
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SPORTS
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Soldier Hollow's Pre-Season Ski Sale Saturday, November 11, from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
If you thought you missed your chance at the ski swap last weekend, there's good news: Soldier Hollow’s pre-season ski sale is still your opportunity to score some fantastic deals. It's the perfect time to pick up last season's ski equipment at prices that are too good to pass up, or to be among the first to browse through our exciting new arrivals. Whether you’re a seasoned pro looking to upgrade your kit or a newcomer eager to take on the slopes, there’s something for everyone.
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Rewriting Your Story: Wild Women Tribe Saturday, November 11, from 8:45 AM - 2:00 PM Join a restorative outdoor adventure with a mindful hike or snowshoe trek through Park City, followed by a creative glass blowing session at Red Flower Studio. Recharge with brunch, then unwind with yoga and a reflective writing workshop. A fulfilling escape combining physical activity, artistic creation, and self-reflection. COST: $155REGISTER
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Register for Ski & Snowboard Waxing Workshops @ the PC MARC Tuesday, November 14, @ 5:30 - 6:30 PM or 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Hone your ski and snowboard waxing skills at PC MARC's Waxing Workshops. These classes are designed for individuals aged 14 and up. Participants are encouraged to bring their own gear to practice on. By the end, you'll have a professionally waxed base and the know-how to do it yourself at home. Secure your spot by registering at parkcityrecreation.org or by calling (435)615-5401.
FAMILY FUN
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Disney On Ice @ Delta Center November 9-12
Disney On Ice invites you to embark on an enchanting adventure with "Into the Magic!" Journey with Belle as she finds excitement beyond her village, help Moana navigate the high seas to safeguard her home, and echo the melodies with Miguel from "Coco." Witness Anna's unwavering commitment to Elsa and join Rapunzel and Flynn on an epic quest. "Into the Magic" celebrates the power of dreams and the magic found in courage, love, and adventure. Don't miss this inspiring Disney On Ice experience!
GET TICKETS
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Dirty Dancing in Concert Tuesday, November 14 @ 7:30 PM
"Dirty Dancing in Concert" is bringing the big screen romance right alongside a live band belting out all those hit songs. Picture this: the movie you love, that epic soundtrack, and the energy of a concert rolled into one awesome night. So grab your watermelons and let’s make those dance moves shine; it’s about to get real nostalgic, real quick and you can share it with the kiddos. Ages +8 and up.
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre Salt Lake City, UtahGET TICKETS
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Mindful Family Yoga w/ Randi Jo @ The Shop Saturday, November 11, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Need a family-friendly activity that everyone can get into? Randi Jo’s Family Yoga and Mindfulness is a hit with the kiddos and adults alike. No registration is necessary, just drop on in and check it out!
MUSICGo to KEPT CURRENT MUSIC for show times and tickets.
11/8 David Sedaris @ The Eccles Theater - Delta Hall SLC
11/8 Author Brooks @ Park City Institute
11/8 AJ Lee & Blue Summit @ The Stateroom
11/8 Sydnie Keddington @ The Spur
11/9 Mister Sister @ Riverhorse
11/9 Baroness: Sweet Oblivion Tour @ The Depot
11/9 Adri Vee & Dueling Pianos @ The Spur
11/9 Amigo the Devil @ The Complex
11/10 Biz Town @ The Egyptian
11/10 Robyn Cage @ Riverhorse
11/10 Siddhartha @ The Depot
11/10 Randin Graves & Los Hellcaminos @ The Spur
11/10 The Band of Heathens @ The Stateroom
11/10 Sun Room @ the Complex
11/10 DJ Bangarang @ Downstairs
11/11 Biz Town @ The Egyptian Theatre
11/11 Shannon Runyon @ Après Pendry
11/11 Dillon Finn @ Riverhorse
11/11 Sawyer Brown @ Dejoria Center - State Road Tavern
11/11 The Cat Empire @ The Depot
11/11 Grant Matheson & Channel Z @ The Spur
11/11 Voodoo Cactus @ The Notch
11/11 Madison Ryann Ward @ The Stateroom
11/11 The Kiffnesss @ The Complex
11/11 Brothers Comatose @ The Commonwealth Room
11/11 Ladies Night with DJ Stario
11/11 No Time to Lose Tour with True Justice @ The Cabin
11/12 The Cabin Queens @ The Cabin
11/12 Biz Town @ The Egyptian Theatre
11/12 Dillon Finn @ Riverhorse
11/12 Emily Hicks @ The Spur
11/13 Daniely Torriente @ The Spur
11/13 Allison Russell @ The Stateroom
11/14 Terrell Thomas @ The Spur
11/14 Story of the Year: 20 Years of Page Avenue @ The Complex
11/15 Dragonforce @ the Depot
11/15 Travis Scott @ Delta Center
11/15 Matt Frey @ The Spur
ARTS & CULTURE📷
Historic Pub Crawl from Park City Museum Thursday, November 9 @ 5:00 PM - 7:45 PM
Join the Park City Museum for its third annual Historic Pub Crawl, a perfect blend of libations and local lore. This adults-only event guides you through Main Street's storied pubs – this year featuring Top of Main, Star Bar, and 350 Main. Enjoy drinks, appetizers, and tales of each spot's past, shared by the Museum's knowledgeable team.
Grab your tickets at the Museum at 528 Main Street. It's $60 for members, $90 for non-members. To stick with your crew, pick up tickets together. Interested in a membership? It's just a click away on their website – hit the 'Museum Membership' button!
GET TICKETS
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Mountainfilm on Tour: Indomitable Spirit & The Medley November 10 & 11 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Mountainfilm harnesses the storytelling power of film, art, and discourse to inspire action toward a better world. This unique festival unites a vibrant community of filmmakers, activists, and visionaries, featuring documentaries that highlight adventure, activism, social justice, environmental issues, and the resilience of the human spirit.GET TICKETS
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Once Upon a Nightmare - A Grimm Brothers’ Cabaret Saturday, November 11 from 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Immerse yourself in a night where fairytales take a shadowy twist with "Grimm Evenings," an experience that delves beyond the happily ever afters. Join in as the narrator leads you through a sinister spin on the classic tales by the Brothers Grimm, vividly brought to life through an array of performances including aerial feats, burlesque, and dance.
The evening unfolds in two parts: a Student Showcase at 6:30pm and a Professional Showcase at 8pm. Choose one, or indulge in the full narrative arc with a combo ticket granting access to 18 original acts. Please leave the kiddos at home for this one, it has mature content that is probably inappropriate. COST: $20 - $45
The Salt Mine SLC 1077 South Main Street SLC
GET TICKETS📷
Kundalini Manifestation Meditaion Soundbath @ Enlighten Wellness Saturday, November 11, @ 11:11AM
Ready to tap into some good vibes? Join Dylan Michael on the special day of 11.11 for a meditation session combined with Kundalini Breathwork. It's said that 11.11 is perfect for bringing your wishes to life, so bring your goals and breathe our way to self-healing and personal breakthroughs. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro at this, you're going to leave feeling aligned and energized. Don’t forget to think about what you want to manifest! COST: $33SIGN UP
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Get Good with Money and Reach Your Financial Goals w/ Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche @ Summit County Library Thursday, November 9, @ 12:00 PM VIA ZOOM
Tiffany Aliche, "The Budgetnista," rebounded from financial turmoil to develop a ten-step formula for financial wholeness, aiding over a million women. Her bestseller and workbook, 'Made Whole,' offers tools like worksheets and checklists, demystifying budgeting, investing, credit, and more. Aliche's pragmatic advice empowers readers towards financial savvy and security.
REGISTER
Hanukah Market Sunday, November 12, from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
For a quarter-century, the JCC Hanukkah Market has united the community with festivities for all, regardless of faith. This season, expect a larger craft fair, a food court with Jewish delicacies, a book fair, and diverse children's entertainment—from Israeli dance to book readings and a bird show, along with an RDT movement class, face-painting, and a bounce house. Join them in this annual celebration of togetherness and support.
IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center 2 North Medical Dr. Salt Lake City
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New Moon Meditation @ Energy4Life Centers Community Thursday, November 16, @ 7:00 PM
Gather at Energy4Life every New Moon Thursday for a casual evening of meditation, movement, and good conversation. It's a chill space to set goals and enjoy some self-care with treats like chocolate and essential oils. Leave feeling refreshed and ready for the month ahead.
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(The following review is a transcription from audio. Thanks for reading! And special thanks for talking with me about this book I enjoyed so much! This review was transcribed from an episode of Atoz: A Speculative Fiction Book Club Podcast. If you're interested, you can check it (and other episodes) out here: Apple Spotify Amazon Website )
(Also, if you clicked on this it probably means you've read the book before -- so unless you'd like a refresher, go ahead and scroll right past the recap to get to the real discussion of the themes and motifs that captured my imagination.)

Recap

Okay, so, the first thing we should say is that this is a high-fantasy book – it takes place entirely in a secondary world that is not our own. This world is called Prydain, which is to say Britain – Prydain is the Welsh for Britain – or, really, Britain is the Latinization of the Celtic Prydain. And that’s going to matter because the fantasy world of Prydain is based on medieval Welsh mythology – and we’ll have more on that in the next segment.
Being medieval in nature, we’re dealing with kings and castles, but because it’s mythological, we’ve also got magic and monsters. Because it’s Wales, it’s mountains and forests, valleys and rivers. And Alexander pays a great deal of attention to the natural landscape and the flora and fauna – this is something that really stands out in this book and makes the world come alive.
But it isn’t really Wales, it is a fantasy world, and it has its own lore and history. Like Wales, Prydain is a small place – it might really only be about the same size as The Shire. In days long ago, it was ruled by a wicked sorceress named Achren, but the Sons of Don came from over the sea and established a new kingdom centered around their castle Caer Dathyl. The High King rules as suzerain over a number of subject kings, some of whom we’ll meet along the way, and has a powerful lieutenant known as a war-leader – and we’re going to meet him, too.
The Sons of Don and the High Kings are great, but there is an antagonist who rules the far west and has designs over the rest of Prydain. This is Arawn who rules Annuvin. He is an Evil Overlord similar to Sauron – he wants to conquer and enslave and rule (XXX text XXX), but at the start of the book he lacks the power to do it – and keeping it this way is what the High King is for.
But of course that’s going to be the inciting incident that gets this book and this whole series going. Arawn’s power has grown and he has recruited a new war-leader of his own, a mysterious figure known as The Horned King because he wears a skull helmet with huge antlers sticking out of it – and this is an image that terrified me as a kid. And he never speaks – he’s just this scary silent killer who rides through the forests with his army – an army of zombies, by the way – and it’s great.
Okay, so that’s the set-up. Let’s meet our protagonist and get the plot going. This is a bildungs-roman – we’re going to follow the adventures of a young person – in this case a young man – as he grows up and has adventures and finds a place in the world. That young man is Taran, an Assistant Pig-Keeper. By the way, I want to apologize for my pronunciation of his name – Americans tend to pronounce T-A-R as Tare, even though that’s horribly wrong – but it feels extremely unnatural to me to pronounces this the correct way – I have to actively stop and make myself do it, so I’m probably going to mess it up a few times as I get into a flow. And if you’ve seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you’ve seen this go the opposite way when Giles simply cannot say Tara – it has to be Tara, even though that’s not her name.
Alright, so Taran is an Assistant Pig-Keeper at Caer Dallben, which is the castle – manor might be a better word for it – the manor of the wizard and scholar Dallben. This is where The Book of Three exists, and it’s a magical book that shocks people who shouldn’t be using it – though it’s not really going to come into the plot at all, despite supplying the title of the book. What is going to come into the plot is the pig whom Taran keeps – assisstantly, at least. This is Hen Wen, and she’s a very special pig because she is able to tell the future – she’s an oracular pig.
And this matters right now because of the growing power of Arawn and the Horned King, which makes the future uncertain. Moreover – as we’ll eventually learn – Hen Wen knows something that will allow the good guys to defeat the Horned King, and so the story gets going – and really just within a few pages – when the Horned King shows up at Caer Dallben and Hen Wen runs away.
It’s Taran’s job, of course, to watch over her, and so he gives chase, and this takes him far into the forest where he encounters the Horned King, who is also looking for the pig. Taran escapes, but he is wounded in this encounter, and he passes out in the forest. But he awakes to discover that his wound has been treated by Gwydion, who is the war-leader of the High King – he’s one of the Sons of Don. Gwydion is also looking for Hen Wen because he needs to know how to deal with the growing evil, and together they set off on the trail. But they aren’t alone – they’re aided by a wilderness creature named Gurgi. Gurgi has some animal qualities, but is sentient and can speak – he’s really something of a reverse-Gollum, we might say. Gurgi is a great character and he speaks almost exclusively in rhymed pairs of active participles – he says “crunchings and munchings” to mean “food,” for example.
They don’t find the pig, but they do learn that the Horned King has a massive army of undead warriors – they’re called Cauldron-Born because that’s how they’re made – and that he intends to attack the castle of the High King and take control of Prydain. Some of these Cauldron-Born capture Taran and Gwydion – Gurgi gets away – and bring them to the Spiral Castle of the evil sorceress Achren, who used to rule Prydain. They’re separated, and now we follow Taran into the dungeon, where his life is going to change as we meet another member of our ensemble cast.
This is Eilonwy, a young woman about Taran’s age who happens to be distantly related to Achren and is her pupil. But even though she is the student of an evil sorceress, she doesn’t really like that evil sorceress very much and so she wants to help Taran escape because it will annoy Achren. And this doesn’t really pose a problem for Eilonwy who loves to explore and is insatiably curious and so has mastered the labyrinth of tunnels beneath Spiral Castle. In fact, when we meet her, she’s supposed to be locked up someplace as a punishment, but she has no trouble slipping in and out of the locked room. And so she helps Taran get out of the dungeon and also agrees to help get Gwydion out, too – though that’s going to be a separate adventure.
Along the way they find the barrow of the king who ruled Prydain long long ago, long before the Sons of Don and even before Achren were here, and they get his sword. The sword can’t be drawn from its scabbard except by the rightful king – it’s basically Excalibur – and while this doesn’t fully come back in The Book of Three, you can bet that it will before the series is over. When they take the sword, Spiral Castle collapses around them and they have to hurry to get out. Outside, where they are supposed to meet Gwydion, Taran discovers that the person Eilonwy rescued isn’t Gwydion at all and that Gwydion has therefore died in the collapse of the castle.
He’s upset and takes it out on Eilonwy, who gives it right back – she’s a phenomenal character and we’ll talk more about her in the next segment. But the person who has been rescued is named Fflewddur Fflam, and he’s a terrible bard who used to be a terrible king – and he’s ready to help with the mission, which, now that Gwydion is dead, is no longer to find Hen Wen, but is to get to the High King and warn him about the evil that has returned.
Along the way they have a series of adventures and they visit some more of this fantastical world and are also reunited with Gurgi, who is heroically injured in a battle with some of the Cauldron-Born. They end up in the peaceful valley of Medwyn, who is essentially Beorn – and we’ll talk about that a bit in the next segment, too. He heals Gurgi and sends them back on their way, and next up is an accidental entrance into the land of Fairy. And this is something that, while actually my least-favorite part of the book, is interesting for diverging from some of the customs of modern fantasy by showing us Celtic Little People who are more like fantasy Dwarves than fantasy Elves.
This encounter turns out to be serendipitous because Hen Wen the Oracular Pig is here, and so our heroes are able to take her with them. But soon they are set upon by Cauldron Born and lose the pig again, and in the end they come face-to-face with the Horned One again. And this time, he’s going to kill Taran and Eilonwy and Gurgi and Fflewddur Fflam. There’s a great moment here where Taran goes to draw the magic sword they got in the barrow, and we expect that he’s going to be able to because he’s an orphan and maybe it’s going to turn out that he’s the rightful High King after all. But that’s not at all what happens – in fact, trying to draw the sword wounds him – and this is a great defiance of our expectations.
And Taran’s last image before he passes out is of the Horned King’s face melting and his army falling apart, but he doesn’t understand what has happened. When he wakes up, it is days later and he is safe. It turns out that Gwydion didn’t die in the collapse of Spiral Castle at all … because he wasn’t there. Instead, he’d been taken to another place to be tortured, and since he survived his torment he has come to understand the hearts of all creatures, which includes Hen Wen, who, it turns out, had run to him and told him how to defeat the Horned King. All Gwydion needed was the Horned King’s true name, and this gave him power over him.
And that’s the end of the plot, though we do get a coda with Taran back home in Caer Dallben, back at his old job of Assistant Pig-Keeper. And Eilonwy is there and, even though it turns out that she’s a princess, she’s going to stay with them for a while, which makes Taran very happy. And that’s it, that’s the end of the book.

Themes and Motifs

But that’s really just the beginning for us, because there is a lot going on here – a lot to talk about in our themes and motifs segment.
At its core, this is a book about heroism, and that’s where I want to start. Alexander is, of course, riffing on heroic literature – he’s adapting the deeds of mythical Welsh kings and warriors into a children’s fantasy novel – and we’ll look at some specific examples of that later on. But Alexander is doing much more than simply retelling those deeds and by extension implicitly adopting the virtues of those long-ago anonymous poets. Instead, Alexander has crafted a delightful story that deconstructs the very nature of heroism, that forces us to ask what it means to be a hero, and whether we’d really like to do any of the things that heroes do in medieval poetry. The central thesis of the book is – if I can quote Yoda here – “wars not make one great.”
Let’s take a look at what he does. At the start of the book, Taran yearns to be something more than he is. He’s restless, he’s tired of being a farm-hand, he’s tired of doing the same thing day after day. He says “It will be vegetables and horseshoes all my life!” And I think we’ve all felt that way at some point during our adolescence – I mean, there’s a reason I wound up in the Army. But Dallben, who is older and wiser and, you know, a wizard – Dallben knows that being a hero isn’t all flashing swords and galloping about on horses. It’s not glorious.
Of course, Taran knows about heroes only through songs and poems – through fantasy novels, really. And Alexander is conscious of the fact that he is writing such a book even as he is deconstructing the very notion of heroism … and so he places a writer in his story in the form of the bard Fflewddur Fflam. He’s not a good bard – in fact, he’s quite terrible and technically isn’t actually a bard – he never passed his exams. But he does have a magic harp that does two things. One, it plays on its own – or maybe it’s better to say that it possesses Fflewddur Fflam and has him expertly play whatever song the audience needs to hear. And the same song can sound different to each member of the audience, as well. This, of course, is a nice commentary on what literature is for, the role that stories play in our lives. And it’s important that in this scene, the song that Taran hears is not about glorious heroes flashing swords, but about home, about being back at Caer Dallben taking care of a pig. And we realize – even as Taran himself does – that all the fighting is not for glory, but to put things right, to allow for a return to normalcy – that’s the goal.
The other magical property of the harp is that it will snap a string – or even several strings – whenever Fflewddur Fflam lies. And he lies a lot, mostly about his own heroism and martial virtues. This makes him a comical character, but it also underscores the idea that all those songs and poems and fantasy novels about awesome heroes being awesome in war are something of a lie. That’s not what it’s really like, and even the truest stories get it wrong.
We should note, too, that Fflewddur Fflam is not unaware of his role in this story. The snapping harp strings are funny, but he knows about battles and kings because he used to be a king. He wasn’t very good at it and he didn’t like it, so he quit and became a bard because if more of us valued song and stories above power and war, it would indeed be a merrier world. In the end, he has a sharp view of all this, and he tells Taran that it isn’t any good being sung about if you aren’t around to hear it.
I don’t want to spend too much time on it, but I think it is worth reminding ourselves that Lloyd Alexander was a soldier, that he served during the Second World War – in fact he met his wife in that capacity, but that in the end he went home again. Except for his time as a soldier, Alexander spent his entire life in Drexel Hill, a western suburb of Philadelphia – and not actually that far from where I live now, though for me this is the end point of decades of globe-trotting and is still a thousand miles from home, a thousand miles from the place I would think of if I heard Fflewddur Fflam’s song.
So Alexander has a sharp view of heroism shaped by his own experiences amid the global tragedies of the twentieth century. But it’s no good to tear something down without building something up in return, and so much of the book is really about teaching Taran – and, of course, young readers – teaching all of us, really, what it really means to be virtuous, what it really means to be a force for good in the world if it isn’t being skilled with a sword.
We’ve seen some of this already when Taran dreams of going home again. Home itself is something to be valued, but so is having a place in a family and a community. But more than that, Alexander advocates for kindness and mercy and charity. All through the book, other characters are working on Taran, or perhaps working as foils against his impulses toward martial virtues – towards poetic heroism. Dallben, as we’ve seen already, is perhaps the bluntest in simply telling Taran that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. But it’s really Eilonwy, Gwydion, and Medwyn who show Taran what Dallben is even talking about.
We didn’t really talk about Medwyn in the recap, and that’s because he’s most important here. Medwyn is the Beorn character in this story – he lives alone in a secret valley and cares for animals. He’s a vegetarian even as he himself is an impressive physical specimen who surely must require a lot of protein. Medwyn teaches Taran that “every living thing deserves our respect,” and this includes the evil birds that serve Arawn. The servants of Arawn weren’t born that way – they weren’t born evil, but were made that way through torture and other horrible treatment. And thus they deserve our pity – and of course the real lesson here is that the way to combat evil is to not make it in the first place, to make a world that is full of kindness rather than one that is full of torments.
Taran puts Medwyn’s lessons into practice immediately when they encounter one of Arawn’s evil birds – these are called Gwythaints, by the way – they encounter a wounded Gwythaint and Taran wants to heal and care for the bird even though his companions all advocate killing it. In the end, treating this bird with kindness and mercy breaks it of it’s evil conditioning, and the bird becomes a help to them.
Eilonwy is also constantly saying similar things to Taran, if a bit more brusquely. Taran is always saying and doing the wrong thing around her, and she lets him know about it. Here are just a few examples of how she alters his understanding of what it means to be a force for good in the world. She says “For an Assistant Pig-Keeper, I think you’re quite remarkable. I even think you’re the nicest person I’ve ever met in my life.” And later she tells him that being kind is more important than being clever. She does, also, though model for him that using one’s mind is a pretty good idea. Perhaps their central conflict – all of which has a Han Solo and Princess Leia vibe to it – is that Taran just wants to do stuff without thinking much about it, while Eilonwy wants to observe and question and plan. Here’s probably my favorite exchange between them. This comes when they are trapped in the Barrow, just before the discover the sword. They’re lost and trapped and Taran is impatient about it while Eilonwy is being in the moment and is wondering about the Barrow itself. Taran shouts at her: “I wish you’d stop wondering about things that can’t make any difference to us.” Of course, in the end, it’s Eilonwy’s curiosity that wins out – and you know that finding that sword is going to be the biggest event in the whole series.
Let’s talk about Gwydion, now. He combines a lot of the virtues of Medwyn and Eilonwy. He talks to Taran about pity – he teaches him to treat Gurgi well even though Gurgi is uncouth and different. And he tells Taran that the Cauldron-Born are victims to be pitied, that Arawn has taken their lives and their memories from them – he’s taken their souls. He also models patience and curiosity for Taran. But his chief role is in telling Taran that the thing he really has to do is decide. He has to choose for himself what it means to be a hero, he has to choose for himself what type of person he wants to be. And this is explicit in their very first meeting, and is something he says again several times. We’ll come back to this in a few moments.
In the end, Taran isn’t really sure that he’s accomplished anything, even though he was present for all the heroic deeds on this adventure. They’ve defeated the Horned King and rescued Hen Wen – everything is back as it should be. Still, Taran feels like he didn’t do anything. Here’s what he says to Dallben: “It was Gywdion who destroyed the Horned King, and Hen Wen helped him do it. Bur Gurgi, not I, found her. Doli and Fflewddur fought gloriously while I was wounded by a sword I had no right to draw. And Eilonwy was the one who took the sword from the barrow in the first place. As for me, what I mostly did was make mistakes.” And Dallben agrees, but of course he sees something that Taran can’t – that he was the heart of the group, that he was what kept them together through his sense of purpose and self-sacrifice, that, ultimately, being a hero is about serving others, and that’s what Taran has done. And this, of course, is what fantasy literature is for – it’s to teach us about being a force for good in the world. About what that means and how we can do it – even when it’s hard.
I know I’m running long, but before we move into our Strengths and Weaknesses segment, I want to spend a little time talking about Alexander’s source material. I mean, I hope you didn’t think I was going to let an opportunity to talk about medieval literature go by.
We possess a lot of medieval Welsh literature, but the main text that Alexander has drawn on to shape his fantasy version of Wales is the collection of stories known as the Mabinogion. This is a massive text. It’s a collection of eleven stories that runs to just about 300 pages in most editions. And these stories are by a number of different authors writing at different times over a period of about a hundred years, mostly during the thirteenth century – though the complete manuscripts that we have are from the fourteenth.
The Mabinogion proper tells stories about the mythological hero Pryderi. He’s not necessarily the protagonist of these stories, but he’s in all of them. And then attached to this are other stories from medieval Wales, including a number of King Arthur stories that are quite interesting to compare to the French and Anglo-Norman traditions.
You can get a copy of a translation quite easily – Oxford World Classics has a great one, and I definitely recommend it. When Alexander was writing, there were two translations available, but we know that he was working from the translation done by Lady Charlotte Guest because she included in that volume much more than just the Mabinogion – and a lot of that appears in the Chronicles of Prydain.
So what I really want to do here is look at how Alexander modifies his source material. There is a passage in one of the tales that Guest included in her Mabinogion volume that contains the entire kernel of The Book of Three. This comes from the Myvyrian Archeology, which is another collection of medieval Welsh literature – but it’s a collection that was only done around 1800 – it’s not itself a medieval collection like the Mabinogion is. Indeed, this collection is an important part of the Welsh nationalist movement, which I mention here only briefly because we’ve talked about nationalism a number of times on Atoz.
Alright, so, here’s the passage. “There are the Englyns that were sung at the Battle of the Trees, or, as others call it, the Battle of Achren, which was an account of a white stag and a whelp. And they came from Annuvin, and Amathon the Son of Don brought them. And therefore Amathon the Son of Don and Arawn, King of Annuvin, fought. And there was a man in that battle who could not be defeated unless his name were known; and there was on the other side a woman called Achren who likewise could not be defeated. And Gwydion the Son of Don guessed the name of the man.”
And that’s our plot in a nutshell. But you can see how Alexander has decided to invent his own protagonist and tell the story from an entirely different perspective. Too, he’s dialed up the villainy – which we get hardly any of in this medieval passage. Right, everything is matter of fact in the medieval text, but Alexander has made the bad guys proper bad guys and raised the stakes.
There is one more bit of this that I want to talk about, but before we do that I should say that if you’re fascinated by Welsh mythology, you should be – it’s awesome. And we’ve done some other work on the network with Welsh literature that you may want to check out. One of the giants of weird-fiction was Welsh – that’s Arthur Machen, and we’ve done a number of his stories on Elder Sign, and I’d encourage you to check out those episodes if you haven’t already.
But back to Prydain. I do also want to talk about Medwyn, who is a crucial figure in the plot and for the themes, but also for Alexander’s playful relationship with the history of literature. I’ve said already that he is basically Beorn, and I’ve made some comments about other places where Alexander’s story echoes or mirrors something from Tolkien. I think these moves are explicit – I think we are meant to understand that Alexander is thinking about how Tolkien has used English, Scandinavian, and also Celtic literature of the Middle Ages to construct a fantasy world, and that Alexander is riffing on Tolkien riffing on these works. Medwyn is the most obvious example and perhaps the central figure in it, and maybe on the forum we might have some fun doing some comparisons of language and images between the two scenes.
But Medwyn is also a storyteller, and this means that Alexander uses him in other ways to connect his story with the long tradition of fantastic literature. Specifically, he tells two stories that aren’t Welsh in origin, but come from the ancient Mediterranean. One is the story of Noah and the Ark, and there’s a strong hint here that Medwyn is in fact Noah – that his love of animals stretches far, far back, and that he is more than just some guy who cares for creatures. And I should say that Noah does appear in medieval Welsh literature as someone who sailed to Britain after the flood. But the other story that Alexander has Medwyn tell doesn’t have any Welsh analog, at least that I know of – though I’d love to have one pointed out to me, if you know one – and that’s a story about a hero who has to accomplish a series of impossible tasks in order to marry the person he loves. He does it, of course, but only with the help of some ants. Now, this is a common folktale and fairytale motif – you can think even of Cinderella here – but this specific story comes from the Cupid and Psyche episode of the Metamorphoses by the Roman writer Apuleius – and I know this story well because I spent an undergraduate Latin class reading this text.
And I love this move – I love literature that is cognizant of its place in the long history of storytelling, that self-consciously places itself in that continuum. Alexander has done this masterfully, and I just love it.

Strengths and Weaknesses

And I do really love this book, as I hope is clear, so I think this is a good note on which to move into talking about Strengths and Weaknesses.
Foremost, I think we have to keep in mind that this is a book aimed at kids, it’s aimed at third-graders and fourth-graders, and we should judge it by how well it works for them. And I think the verdict is: awesomely. First, this story offers a number of great models for children. The emphasis on kindness rather than martial prowess and winning is supremely important – it’s a lesson I wish more of our children received. But there are also great lessons here about responsibility. The whole plot of the book hinges on Taran taking his responsibility as Assistant Pig-Keeper so seriously that he comes up against agents from Hell. But there is also a great line near the end of the book when Taran owns up to his own mistakes. He says “I admit we are here through my fault. I should not have followed this path, but what’s done is done. I led us here, and I’ll find a way out.” And what I love about this is that Taran’s behavior models for kids how to fight an impulse that we all have – to deny our mistakes, to shift the blame onto others rather than own it and find a solution. This not just a model of morality, it’s a model of competence – and that’s hugely important to me, and really for all of us who want to live in a functioning society.
There is also here a model of gender equality. This matters perhaps more in the 1960s when this was written – or at least was provocative in ways that it simply isn’t now – but it really stands out that this is in some ways a book for boys about how girls can do stuff, too. I mean, that’s explicit in the text and it’s going to continue to be so as the series goes on. But it’s more than just that girls can do stuff, too. Eilonwy teaches Taran a number of valuable lessons and is also indispensable to the story, all of which surprises Taran who just assumed that this was a world for boys and men, not girls and women.
Indeed, Eilonwy is an awesome character – one of the best we’ve had on Atoz so far – and she is surely one of the strengths of the book. She’s clever and funny, but also direct and confident in ways that Taran simply isn’t. Taran spends a lot of time with his mouth metaphorically open while Eilonwy can always figure things out in the seconds between the lines.
But getting back to this book working for children, Alexander does a number of wonderful things with language. And this is something that has been on my mind a lot recently in my capacity as a university instructor. More and more my incoming freshmen and even some of my older students just suffer form a lack of basic reading comprehension that stems from growing up in households with a default mode of video games or TV rather than books. I’ve been finding myself having to take steps to encourage students to develop some basic literacy skills, and one of those has been to have them fill out worksheets about books we read for class. This includes identifying some vocabulary words that are new to them, and just a few weeks ago I had a student identify the word “encumbrance.”
Now, my jaw dropped. Because this obviously means that this student never played D&D, which, it turns out, is where a lot of my vocabulary developed. But also from fantasy stories in general, and this is something Alexander excels at. These are books that are aimed at third-graders, but there are a lot of words here that I think some of my students would find unfamiliar.
But it’s not just vocabulary. Alexander introduces the idea that language itself is fun and interesting. For one, the names are Welsh, which means they have spellings that strike Americans as absurd – and it’s a struggle to pronounce some of them, and that’s great training. But there is also the scene with the sword in the Barrow in which we learn about translating for sense rather than for literal meaning, which is an advanced concept. And then there is Gurgi, who plays with grammar as a matter of course. He uses these rhymed pairs of active participles as nouns. “Crunchings and munchings” means “food” in his language, and this gets kids to think about the flexibility of language, of different ways of expressing the same idea. It also gets them thinking about sounds and rhymes and so on – and it’s all packaged in a character who is fun and funny – it’s magnificent work.
Alexander also just has some great prose descriptions that also emphasize paying attention to the world around us – especially the natural world. He is always specific about the types of trees, for example – there are no generic trees in this world, and that’s awesome. But let me give some examples of some of his great prose and then we can close the covers on this book.
Here’s Eilonwy’s description of the images that Fflewddur’s song conjured for her. And I want you to pay attention to the sounds here. “The waves break against the cliffs and churn into foam, and farther out, as far as you can see, there are the white crests, the White Horses of Llyr they call them; but they’re really only waves waiting their turn to roll in.”
I hope you heard the alliteration. We start with Cs and then move to Fs and then to Ws and it’s awesome. But think too about what Eilonwy is saying about language – about metaphor. She explains to readers how metaphors work: we call it the White Horses of Llyr, but really they are waves. Finally, look at the verbs here: break, churn, and roll. These are excellent, and all of them describe different actions these waves take. This one sentence does so much with language at a crucial moment of language acquisition and reading comprehension. You can’t go wrong with this.
Alright, I think I’ll end there. I had another passage I really like, but we can save that for the forums, perhaps.
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Future Discussion

So, that’s going to bring my review to a close. I do hope you’ll talk with me about all the things I didn’t get to – and there’s a lot of it. And maybe we can even just have a broader conversation about children’s literature – what it’s for, how it works, and what we should have our kids read.
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Thanks for reading! And special thanks for talking with me about this book I enjoyed so much! This review was transcribed from an episode of Atoz: A Speculative Fiction Book Club Podcast. If you're interested, you can check it (and other episodes) out here: Apple Spotify Amazon Website

Dad died when I was thirteen years old. The memory I associate most strongly with him is the time he took us to his family cabin in New Hampshire. Autumn set all the leaves of the surrounding woods on fire and drove the midges and black flies away. We spent the entire weekend hiking on Mount Monadnock and swimming around the lake nearby the cabin. At night, Dad told us silly ghost stories. I remember the three of us laughing together as we sang along to Leo Sayer’s “More Than I Can Say.” And I remember seeing the stars one night--seeing them for the first time without any light pollution to obscure them--and being so stunned by their beauty that my heart nearly stopped.
A few months after he died, Mom took me up to Maine to meet my paternal grandmother for the first time. On our drive up, my mom told me that while Grandma had agreed to let me stay at her house, she had a bad temper and I needed to steer clear of her. She made me promise that I would do my best to avoid upsetting Grandma before she let me leave the car.
“I’ll come back to pick you up in a week or so. Be a good girl for your grandmother, honey.” And then, half to herself, “I can’t wait for us to sell the house.” I knew we needed to finish packing up the house before we sold it. I wanted to help out--would have--if not for the smiling men in black suits. According to my mom, they were just debt collectors who wanted to talk about Dad. I had been in complete agreement until three days ago, when I woke up in the middle of the night and thought I saw one of them standing outside my bedroom window. Smiling at me and drooling. Mom said I must have been dreaming, and even though she was probably right, I still begged her to let me stay somewhere else for a while.
Mom backed her car up, waved at me one last time, and drove away.
I turned to see Grandma waiting for me on the porch, tapping her foot and glaring at me with dark sunken eyes. She hadn’t deigned to speak to my mom. Now, she said sharply, “Come along, then. I haven’t got all day.”
We gave each other appraising looks. A disproportionately small head sat on Grandma’s large, plump body, and her face reminded me of a shrunken apple with a mouth full of too many teeth. Doughy flesh sagged from her arms. Dad used to read me Little Red Riding Hood every night, before I told him bedtime stories were for babies. Now, a line from that story occurred to me: grandmother, what big teeth you have!
Grandma lowered her face to mine. “During these next two weeks, you are not to bother me. You are not to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. And you are most certainly not allowed to enter the bedroom. Is that understood, Alisa?”
I nodded. She’d mispronounced my name as ALICE-AH instead of UH-LEE-SA, but I didn’t correct her. The truth was, Grandma frightened me. She loomed over me like a witch out of a twisted fairytale and she smelled like mothballs. The obvious dislike in her eyes told me that if I ever put a toe out of line, she would make me regret it.
As I followed Grandma into the house, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made a mistake by asking my mom to send me here.
****
The upside of staying with Grandma was that she lived in a beautiful house right by Winderhill Beach. The surf roared at me constantly, and at night, it was like listening to the heartbeat of some giant animal. Those first few days, I would run to the living room as soon as I woke up because it had huge windows that faced the sea. For such an idyllic place, it was oddly deserted. There were no families out there with their towels and beach umbrellas, no kids my age or younger building sandcastles or riding the waves on boogie boards, and no college students partying around bonfires or playing volleyball.
The downside of staying with Grandma was that she terrified me more and more as each day passed. She spent mornings and afternoons in her bedroom, the door firmly shut and locked. Late at night, usually around 3 am, she left the house to walk along the beach. Early on in my stay, I went to her bedroom one afternoon to ask her where she kept spare paper towels. Before my knuckles could do more than brush the door, Grandma leapt out with her hands stretched into claws and shrieked at me to leave, causing me to drop the empty paper towel roll. And as she slammed the door shut, I caught a brief glimpse of something moving behind her. Something that cast a grotesque and misshapen shadow. After that, I stayed out of her way as much as possible.
It was on the fifth day of our week together that I found Grandma’s book. I only noticed it because I’d knocked the remote control to the floor. She had hidden the book under one of the living room couches, the one opposite the windows looking out over the beach. The book’s cover was made out of a soft, stretchy material that felt strangely familiar under my hands, although I didn’t recognize it. I considered putting the book back under the sofa--I really did. But frankly, I was bored. And lonely. Since my mom had left, I hadn’t spoken to another living soul; Grandma yelling at me didn’t count. My only options for entertainment were a couple of National Geographic magazines dating back to the late 70s, a TV that went on the fritz more often than not, and collecting seashells on the beach for the thousandth time.
What harm could it do if I read a few pages?
Decision made, I opened the book. And immediately dropped it with a cry of disgust. The first page had depicted a naked woman and something embracing her. Something inhuman with half a dozen black eyes and needle sharp teeth. Together, they held a small, bleeding body between them. I couldn’t tell what it was supposed to be because it had been flayed open.
My heart pounding, I picked the book back up carefully, as if it could bite me. I flipped through the next few pages and discovered that the book had been written in a foreign language. I only knew English and Mandarin Chinese, the latter because my mom’s grandparents had immigrated to America from Chengde. This language was neither. I peered at the page more closely.
The longer I stared at the words, the more they seemed...alive. As I watched, the words began to writhe and wriggle across the page like small black worms. Various images flashed through my mind. I saw a crumbling white tower near the bottom of the sea, in the abyssal zone, where there was no light and I shouldn’t have been able to perceive it. I saw the ghostly figures of hundreds of children laboring to repair the tower and to build it even higher. The children wept as they worked. They all had terrible wounds, and one child cradled his decapitated head in both arms. I saw creatures in the shape of manta rays, with wingspans approximately forty feet, covered with multiple bulging black eyes and beaked mouths. They descended on any child who tried to run.
I saw an enormous ball of neon blue light that pulsed and flickered, beckoning me forward. And underneath everything else, in the unfathomable depths of the ocean where no human had ever gone, something leviathan in size stirred in the darkness and sent a lone fish with bony rays darting away.
The sound of the telephone ringing--and the fearful thought that Grandma might leave her bedroom to answer it--caused me to drop the book. Instantly, the images vanished and I became aware of a piercing pain in both eyes. As I clapped my hands over them, I touched something wet. Blood. My eyes had been bleeding while I read the book. And my legs shook as though I’d just gotten off of a roller coaster that had done several barrel rolls and inverted loops. Was I down there in the ocean, watching dead children slave away for the creatures under the sea? Or was I back in my own body, standing in the middle of the living room?
After the dizziness faded away, I slid the book back under the couch, trying to make sure that it was back in exactly the same spot. Then I retreated to my bedroom and dwelled on everything I’d seen. I told myself countless times to stop thinking about it. To forget it. I might as well have told myself to stop breathing or to learn how to fly. I had to find out more. I had to. Curiosity burned inside of me, threatening to engulf my body in its unbearably hot flames. I saw the ball of neon blue light every time I closed my eyes. If I could just see what lived underneath it…
Grandma must know what it is. It’s her book. How could I convince her to tell me? I slammed my right fist into the palm of my other hand. I couldn’t. She would never tell me. And if she found out that I’d been reading her book, she might kick me out. Or do something even worse.
A persuasive voice spoke to me then, sly and wheedling. Go inside her bedroom. You’ll be able to find out more if you do that. I hesitated for a moment, remembering how my mom had made me promise not to upset Grandma. But who said Grandma would ever find out? Tonight, after she left for one of her late night beach walks, I could slip into her room, search for more information on the book, and slip back out before she ever realized I’d been there.
What could go wrong?
****
I crept out of my bedroom after hearing the now familiar slam of the front door closing. The shoe rack confirmed what I’d suspected: Grandma had left. The fuzzy slippers she usually wore around the house, and which her sweat had long since stained yellow, sat on the shoe rack in place of the blue sneakers she wore outdoors.
Still, a small part of me couldn’t help wondering...what if she hadn’t left? What if she was sitting on the couch with the lights off, her enormous white body motionless, watching me with her dark sunken eyes? And what if she expected me to go down the hallway and open the door? Was, in fact, waiting for it. And as soon as I did, she would dig her long dirty fingernails into my shoulder, wrench me around to face her, and...and...
It took a thousand years to walk down the dark hallway leading to Grandma’s bedroom. I knew that I should turn around and go to sleep, and still I continued moving forward. I pictured a shadowy figure hovering above me and manipulating puppet strings attached to my feet, but that was just an excuse. My curiosity drove me forward, nothing else. As I reached out to open the bedroom door, I recalled in vivid detail one of the illustrations that had accompanied Bluebeard, another fairy tale my dad used to read to me before I slept. The illustration had shown Bluebeard’s newest wife opening the forbidden closet door, glancing around furtively as she did so...only to freeze in horror at the sight of his previous wives dangling from the ceiling, their blood staining the wooden floorboards red.
Maybe I’ve made a mistake. Right as this thought occurred to me, I heard the front door slam open. The taste of copper filled my mouth. I would never be able to make it back to my own bedroom in time. Without hesitation, I opened the bedroom door and stepped through. Grandma had left black candles burning around the room, and their dim light illuminated a king-sized bed as well as a table directly across from it. The room was bare of any other furniture. No dresser, no nightstands, no armchair.
Heavy footsteps thudded down the hallway.
There was only really one place to hide--underneath the bed. I threw myself down and managed to thrust my arms and my head through. And then the bed frame jabbed into my shoulders, trapping me in place. I laid there, three-quarters of my body visible, and dug my toes frantically into the floor to try and propel myself forward. Gritting my teeth against the pain in my shoulders, I managed to scrape them past the bed frame. The rest of my body slithered easily under the bed.
Just in time. The door flew open and Grandma’s slippers whispered against the floor as she shuffled in. I heard a click that signalled the door had been locked. Panic gnawed at my stomach. I was trapped here until she fell asleep. And if she didn’t fall asleep, I’d be stuck here an entire day until she left again tomorrow tonight. I tried to swallow but my mouth was too dry. Please, please, please let Grandma go to sleep soon.
THUD. I raised myself up enough to see that Grandma had fallen to her knees in front of the only other piece of furniture in the room, her back to me. I noticed now that an odd assortment of knick knacks had been scattered across the table. A huge seashell conch, a bell, several pairs of baby shoes, and other items I couldn’t make out. Grandma genuflected several times, lowering her head until it touched the floor. Neither of my parents had raised me to believe in any particular religion. Instead, they’d preferred feeding me a steady diet of fairy tales and episodes from The X-Files. I had, however, attended Catholic school for two years before we moved to Massachusettts. I could tell that the table was meant to be Grandma’s altar, and that she was praying.
Grandma shouted words in an unfamiliar language. They hurt my ears, not because of the volume with which she shouted them, but because they somehow had the auditory equivalent of sharp little spikes. They stung and I flinched away from them. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough space under the bed for me to back up any further. She turned to a small and wriggling bundle beside her. I’d been too absorbed in her strange behavior to notice it before. It made a fussing noise. Grandma brought her arm down in an abrupt motion and the noise stopped.
“Glory to You, my Lord. I bring this sacrifice so that I might join You under the sea.”
Sacrifice? Forgetting myself, I tried to push myself onto my elbows and immediately slammed the top of my head against the bed frame. The pain brought tears to my eyes. That didn’t matter though, because I could see what she held up to the air now.
A baby. One of indeterminate age and gender, with a chubby face and big dark blue eyes. It stared unseeingly at the altar. Uncertain light from the candles showed me the deep gash in its throat. It had one tiny hand outstretched as if to flag someone down for help. Mercifully, I only saw it for a few seconds before Grandma tossed it to the floor and the darkness hid it from view.
She raised both arms again, swaying in place to music only she could hear. As I watched, my entire body trembling as though in the grip of a deadly fever, a piece of the darkness detached from the shadows on the altar. It advanced to where she’d set down the baby. I knew that shape. I’d seen it when I’d asked Grandma where she kept her spare paper towels. And, although I hadn’t realized it until now, I’d seen it again while reading the book. It had been one of the creatures tormenting the dead children.
It’s just a shadow, my mind gibbered. It can’t hurt you! It can’t hurt anyone-- A slurping sound. Loud chewing and frenzied gulps. Something tearing meat apart and gnawing on tiny bones. I closed my eyes, desperately telling myself that this couldn’t be what I thought. Only fear of what Grandma would do to me if she discovered me here kept me from bolting.
Unexpectedly, images began to flash through my mind, the same ones I’d seen when I read the book earlier. No, this time, they were more than one-dimensional images. I was there, inside of them. I flew above the ocean, the salty spray of the waves splashing against my face. A freezing wind tore at my clothes and whipped my hair around my face as I swooped downwards, like a cormorant diving into the waves to hunt fish. Except I didn’t fly back up. No, I went deeper into the ocean. I struggled, wondering if this vision was real enough for me to drown or to be crushed by the pressure of the depths.
Neither happened. I could still breathe and move, though an inexorable force dragged me downwards. I sped past the white tower and the dead children who sought to build it higher. Past the beings that looked like monstrous manta rays. The beings that my grandmother worshipped as gods.
I kept descending. The mysterious blue light grew closer and closer, bobbing back and forth in the darkness. I felt compelled to touch it, to hold it in my hands. Yet that same inexorable force ripped me away from the inviting blue light. Down, down, down. That was when I realized that the light had been attached to something all along. Something at the very bottom of the ocean.
Finally, I saw it.
And it saw me.
One eye rolled open to regard me, round as the eye of a giant squid but infinitely larger. A band of shimmering colors surrounded its black pupil. I could put no names to those colors because they didn’t exist on earth. The eye disappeared momentarily from view, then reappeared. This movement sent shockwaves through the water, and I heard the screams of the children who labored at the foot of the white tower. High despairing screams, the screams of the lost and the damned.
Within that one eye, I saw an alien planet where up was down, right was left, day was night, and where insanity-inducing beings in the sky fed on the anguish of those below. An ecstasy of pure terror surged through me, turning me into a heaving, whimpering mass of nerve endings. Terror filled every corner of my mind and obliterated all rational thought. One scream after another tore itself free from my throat, deep guttural shrieks that I had never known existed within me. I couldn’t have stopped screaming if I’d tried.
Its eye remained fixed on me even as it sifted through my mind the way a gold prospector strains sand from gold. Suddenly, I wasn’t floating at the bottom of the ocean staring down at something that hurt my brain to look at. I wasn’t back in Grandma’s bedroom either. Instead, I--
--sat in the back of the car, too excited to stay still. We were on our way to Dad’s family cabin in New Hampshire, the one he’d inherited from his great-grandparents, and I couldn’t wait to swim in the lake and hike Mount Monadnock again. Mom had also finally agreed to go apple picking with us. The radio warbled out Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do,” and my dad sang along with it, purposefully off-key to make me laugh. He turned to smile at me and my mom shrieked, “Adam, look out!”
Our car’s tires squealed as Dad tried to swerve us out of the way of the semi-truck barreling towards us. I briefly saw the truck driver’s white, trembling face before he disappeared from view. I cried out in alarm as the side of his truck began to fill our windshield, first a little, then all at once. And still it kept racing towards us, filling not only our windshield now but our entire world, until all I could see was the black letters on its side screaming PENNVILLE MOTOR FREIGHT.
I woke up to the sound of Mom crying. My head was in her lap and her hands touched my face, my arms, checking me over for injuries. We were outside the car. I turned my head and saw that the front of the car had been crumpled into an accordion. The asphalt burned every exposed inch of my skin.
I pulled away from her. “Where’s Daddy?”
“Don’t, Alisa, don’t!”
But I did. I stumbled to my feet and brushed away my mom’s hands. I took two steps forward and saw the watch Dad always wore, the one with a brown leather strap and three small silver clocks inside its face. It was lying on the ground by itself. I picked it up and noticed that it was still warm. Blood began to run down it in a thick line.
Clutching the watch to myself, hugging it even though the blood smeared the front of my T-shirt, I took another two steps forward and saw my dad. Except I didn’t know it was him at first. The car crash had spilled his broken and torn body onto the burning asphalt. My dad’s dark blue eyes stared unseeingly at the cars whizzing past us. A huge swath of blood trailed from him to my feet.
Behind me, my mom started screaming.
And then that hellish day started again. And again. And again. How many times did it make me relive the day my dad died? How many times did I pick up my dad’s bloody watch? How long before it became bored of my agony and fell back into an uneasy sleep? I don’t know. What I do know is that the idea of this torment ever ending, the very concept of the future, became a cruel and pointless joke. There was only the present and the present was endless. My mind started to fray under the pressure of remembered grief like a well-worn rope close to snapping into two pieces.
When I came back to myself, I was in Grandma’s bedroom, my throat raw and aching from screaming. I had ripped off three of the fingernails on my left hand from clawing at the underside of her bed. I turned my neck on rusty hinges to see a line of wet footprints leading to the altar. The bedroom was empty. I knew then that Grandma had descended and now lived under the ocean by the white tower.
I don’t know what happened after that. I must have run out of the bedroom and away from Grandma’s house. Maybe I hitchhiked my way from Winderhill Beach back to Pennville, or took a Greyhound bus. The next thing I remember is standing in front of our house, knocking on the door and crying so hard that I could barely breathe. My mom ran out and hugged me, asking me where I’d been all this time. Two weeks had passed. I couldn’t answer her.
****
When I think too much about what sleeps under the sea, I want to start screaming and never stop. But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is that it took something from me that day. For the past few years, I’ve lived in a glass cocoon. The only emotions that can get through are terror, rage, grief, and exhaustion. I can’t feel happiness anymore, much less love. Most days, I can’t feel anything at all.
My mom took me to a therapist who told me that I’d hallucinated it all. He prescribed medication, taught me grounding exercises, and gave me cognitive behavioral therapy worksheets. It didn’t work. All it did was confirm what I already suspected: no one believed me and ever would. Therapy wasn’t a complete waste of time though. I often relive that moment in my nightmares--the moment when I stared into a colossal eye and saw an alien planet. When that happens, and I wake up not knowing where I am, the grounding exercises help anchor me to the present. They remind me that I am in my bed in Nebraska, somewhere that is surrounded by three other states on all sides from the nearest bay, gulf, or ocean.
I don’t ever want to see any ocean again, especially the Atlantic Ocean. On that day at Grandma’s house, I learned that there’s something sleeping down there at the very bottom, something incomprehensible in its vastness. Something that was old back when our ancestors still lived in caves and hunted food with sharpened sticks. Something worshipped by other gods. When it finally awakens and rises from the sea, it will bring untold suffering and insanity to every living thing on this planet.
And death won’t be the end for any of us.

Ok, obviously I’m exaggerating. But as I run from one resource to another I hit a wall or annoyance that stops me from continuing with that resource and I just don’t know what to do.
Here are some examples of resources I’ve gone through recently for Spanish and German and why I lost motivation.

• Grammar book: got boring and took too much time for me to complete a section and do corrections in one sitting, so I couldn’t do it regularly.
• Lupa (app by Radio Ambulante creators focusing on reading and listening comprehension): only two free stories
• The Fable Cottage (online resource to read fairytales in several languages) I actually liked this resource before they took away free features and implemented a paid membership, but it just isn’t enough for the learning and practice I need
• Pimsleur (from the library): too focused on speaking and not enough on grammar
• Podcasts: often too difficult (native) or too simple (learning-focused)
• Native books: I like this too, but it often takes me so long just to get through a page or two that I’m exhausted before I can get to a natural stopping point
• YouTube: great, but it would be so much better if I had a worksheet or some kind of tangible thing to help me retain the info I learn
• iTalki: wonderful for conversation practice, my only qualm here is I got so nervous every week that I just had to take a break... I’m still on that break

Argh. This is definitely a whiny rant, but I just want to know if anyone else feels like this and what you do about it.
I feel like the obvious answer is to combine all the resources but that makes me feel so disorganized and like I’m introducing too many gaps in my comprehension. Any thoughts/ideas?
Edit: added iTalki

Good morning everyone and happy Friday!
I've got some good stuff to help all those Halloween fanatics out there prepare for the most wonderful time of the year.
Every October is horror month in my RPG group, where all games I run for the month become horror-themed. To shake things up and keep things scary and fun, I like to put a theme on the horror. This year, it's Grimm Fairytales!
I also have a game during October where we have a monster making contest, where the scariest one becomes the big bad for the game. The player that came up with the monster gets some XP and bragging rights, the best reward of all. To help some of my new players out, I decided to make a Monster Maker worksheet to help guide their thoughts. It was a huge hit not only in my group but the RPG organization I run too, making me think that it would be worth sharing the worksheet with others.
Check it out on my RPG blog here: http://www.therustydm.com/blog/monster-make
There, you'll find my post with a link to the document and even a drive folder to post your submissions in if you feel like sharing your creations.
I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Happy haunting, y'all
-Rusty