The Book of Three discussion

The Book Of Three as originally published on March 12, 1964. This book is the first of five books in the Chronicles of Prydain series. Lloyd Alexander based the world of Prydain around the legends, and myths of Wales. The names of the characters within the story are distinctly Welsh. Although this is a work of fiction some of the characters are pulled from Welsh legends. According to the Author's notes at the end of this book "Gwydion is a 'real' legendary figure. Arawn, the dread lord of Anuvin, comes from the Mabinogion, the classic collection of Welsh legends..."
The story is about a young man named Taran, who is given the title of "Assistant Pig-Keeper" and placed in charge of caring for Hen Wen an oracular pig. When Hen Wen disappears, Taran sets out in search of the lost pig who is in possession of important information that even the enemy is trying to claim hold of.
In the process of his adventures, Taran is joined by a furry half beast named Gurgi who uses terms like "crunchings and munchings," or "whackings and smackings." Then he runs into an ex-king become bard named Fflewddur Fflam, and a girl named Eilonwy who has tendency to use similes. Later in the book a dwarf named Doli joins the group as guide. Any time someone talks to him, Doli holds his breath in attempt to turn invisible.
I had not heard of this series until recently. Like the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, which also I did not discover until adulthood, I wish to have had an opportunity to read as a young adult.