Thursday, January 7, 2010

Third Book of 2010


Just finished The Titan's Curse with my son last night. It is the third book in the Percy Jackson series that begins with The Lightning Thief.  Here is what Rick Riordan does so well as far as I am concerned: his flawed hero relates to every boy. Percy can't make it in school due to his dyslexia and ADHD, not to mention monsters that are always out to get him. When he discovers he is part human (mom's side),  part god (Poseiden's side), he finally understands why school and life is such a hardship. Why doesn't the rest of the world know that the gods are still around? Well, because of the capital m Mist. It covers everything, so we only see what we expect to see.  Riordan has his finger on the pulse of boy fantasy and it goes like this: My dad is a god, god of the sea no less, and he is all powerful and the reason I can't get along with any of you folk is because you're blind in one eye, can't see out the other. What does it matter anyway? I think I'll go ride on my pegasus and save this ancient sea creature, while I'm at. And yeah, I can breathe underwater. It only makes me stronger and it never makes me wet, unless of course I want it to.  What is there not to love? Boy and girl characters fight side by side and there is even a love interest. Cars that fly, giant walking statues and you learn mythology at the same time. The adventures always take you traveling, so a little geography is thrown in as well. High interest and educational, a boy's dream. At least mine.

As Always(we still have one more Percy Jackson book to go),
Tina
Posted by at 3:36 PM

14 comments:

  1. My kids read this series when it came out and loved it -- it's sitting on our bookshelf. I guess maybe I'll pick it up before the movie comes out. thanks for the reminder :D

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  2. Tess, you reminded me that there was a movie coming out! I think I knew that but I had forgotten. A movie of it all will be fantastic! The son and I better get busy on that fourth book.

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  3. Thanks, Tina, for sharing! I love the excerpt you chose, and the flaws in the character.

    I'm not asking you if you'll see the movie? :)

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  4. nathaliemvondo, thanks for visiting and I love how you spell your name (my daughter is Nathalie with an h too). The excerpt is actually me pretending to be Percy Jackson. I made that a little unclear, sorry about that.

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  5. I'm reading The Lightning Thief right now. My son whipped through that series, he loved it!! I'm looking forward to the movie too!
    The author does a good job captivating the reading!

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  6. Him Kelly! Anything my son is captivated by (he is one of those "reluctant readers") makes me want to take it apart and see how it ticks. I like how the rest of us can enjoy it as well!

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  7. T, you are busy. reading, reading, reading. I love that. I can picture you camped out with your nose in a book - your teenage version - ignoring your very annoying litter sister. enjoy those books. I hope no one i annoying you today. xoxo

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  8. Hi, visiting from your link on the Comments Challenge! I'm a librarian and know that the Percy Jackson books are popular, but haven't taken the time to read them yet. You've inspired me to give the first one a listen (after the holds list from the movie popularity boost goes down!). And I love the title/philosophy of your blog, we are all works in progress. Cheers!

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  9. Hey Becka! Does it count that I started the books in 2009? And Odd is really short(although the only one I read the whole way through in 2010). Miss ya, sis!

    Becker, welcome! The comment challenge has been fun! and it is only the second day.

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  10. I had no idea there's a movie coming out...I'm going to tell the Percy fans at my house right now!

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  11. I was positive I commented on your blog last night, but I must've dreamt it :) Thanks for the nice comment on my blog. I'm really enjoying the comment challenge so far! I haven't read the Percy Jackson series, but your post has definitely sparked my interest.

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  12. Charlie! Thanks for coming over. I thought I responded last night but I must of dreamed it. Percy Jackson has certainly worked for my young dyslexic reader(that is one of Percy's "flaws").

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  13. My sister turned me onto this series over the holidays. I grabbed the third book at Borders last week, and it's definitely on my to-read list (both in Goodreads and in my head :P).

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  14. Brandon: The books are great. And your sister turned you on to them just in time for the movie! I saw the preview last night. It may make the books even more fun.

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