May 2024 Recommended Reading and Viewing

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

May is here, and with it comes the early graduation of high school seniors, Mother's Day, and (hopefully) fully blooming flowers. I'd like to take a break once again before we complete Tolkien's Ring cycle to continue a series I recommended some time ago, as well as a movie sequel long overdue.

Reading: The Black Cauldron (1965) by Lloyd Alexander

Picking up a year after the last book (The Book of Three), young Taran finds himself roped into a new quest: to seize and destroy the mystic cauldron which Arawn of Annuvin uses to create his undead soldiers. Things become complicated quickly when it is discovered that the cauldron has already been taken, and in pursuit of a young, arrogant prince seeking to claim the glory, Taran and his companions find themselves on their way to the Marshes of Morva, home of the three odd witches who are the real caretakers of the cauldron. They learn that victory can be achieved only at a high price, and it may come sooner than later, because the cauldron is valuable for other parties as well.

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-Chronicles-Prydain/dp/080508049X/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-Chronicles-Prydain-Book-ebook/dp/B005EYXACW/



Viewing: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (George Miller, 1981)

Considered one of the greatest sequels ever made, this film seared the popular imagery of the post-apocalyptic wasteland where only the strong survive into the public consciousness. Max Rockatansky is left scavenging the Australian wilderness for both food and fuel when a chance encounter with the pilot of a makeshift helicopter leads him to a band of settlers under siege from savage marauders; initially only out for himself, bargaining for his necessities, Max is eventually coerced by circumstances into helping the settlers escape to safer areas by driving a semi-truck full of gas, leading to a long, memorable car chase down the highway when their enemies come out in full force. The movie was a tremendous success both commercially and critically, spawning a fan following that continues to this day.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-2-Road-Warrior/dp/B00UHAJ2LQ/
4K HD + Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-Warrior-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B09NRTPW7M/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-2-Road-Warrior/dp/B003DGZCLK/


I hope you enjoy my choices. Have a great May!