The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
This is my second time reading this book. I’m sure my review would be better if I had not managed to procrastinate this post for almost 2 months.
Percy is dyslexic and he gets kicked out of every school for making trouble. He always thought he was just unlucky, but the reality was his birthright as a demigod. With a brain hardwired for ancient Greek and a tendency to attract monsters, Percy’s life isn’t easy but now he is training to be a hero. Adventure is everywhere but danger accompanies it.
Even though I had read the book before and seen the movie this book still felt fresh. I had forgotten just the right amount. I remembered certain more monumental scenes but I had forgotten details like blue food, the appearance of the oracle. The details that really make this book. My best friend who teaches history would probably approve of me pointing out that while this book focuses on the Greek, some of the terminology is more Roman. I’m too lazy to provide instances. In a book like this there has to be creative license, otherwise it wouldn’t be interesting. I enjoy seeing the portrayal of the gods, how they have adapted to more modern times and how their personalities fit their archetypes. There are high stakes for Percy. In this book more than the others the stakes are more specific to him. Everyone cares about the outcome but he has a personal investment instead of just saving the world. There is definitely the sense that this is just the beginning.
Previously blogged: August 11, 2009
