I’m great at discovering bestsellers after they become bestsellers:) I’m especially great at discovering bestselling series two or three--or four or five--books in. And so it is with THE LIGHTNING THIEF, the first installment in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and a delightful romp through Greek mythology, fast-forwarded a few millennia.Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is a model straight-D student. He enjoys a good schoolyard brawl, struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, and never lasts more than a year at any of the six schools he’s attended. But when he turns his teacher into a burst of sand with a ballpoint-pen-turned-huge-bronze-sword, he realizes his problems may be a little bigger than he thought. Turns out Percy--or Perseus, for long--is a modern-day hero, a half-man, half-god who’s more equipped for swinging swords and reading ancient Greek than playing baseball or writing five-paragraph essays. And his immortal father needs his help, before Zeus unleashes all-out war.
A wave of ancient-Greece-inspired novels has flooded the market lately, but as THE LIGHTNING THIEF is five years old, Mr. Riordan appears to have been on the crest of this one. Trendsetters are always insightful reads, especially ones with the quick wit and engaging voice of THE LIGHTNING THIEF.
I will definitely be buying this and every Percy Jackson book, as I can’t wait to share them with my kids (once my kids can read, of course). And I look forward to checking out the movie once it makes it to the Redbox.
(Speaking of books-to-films (and borrowing them from the Redbox), have you seen the latest incarnation of SHERLOCK HOLMES? We checked it out over the weekend and absolutely adored it. The acting is impeccable (I’ve decided to cast Robert Downey, Jr., in one of Bob’s leading roles once I land my multi-trillion-dollar movie deal), the cinematography inventive, the art direction breathtaking, and the soundtrack both quirky and spot-on. Also, the plot is nothing short of genre-bending and the writing positively sparkles. Could you ask for anything more?)
8 comments:
My 9 yo has read Percy Jackson, etc. and loved them. I flipped through it, but haven't gotten to sit down with them yet.
And hubby and I loved the new Sherlock Holmes movie, esp those cool 'planning the fight' scenes.
I'm on the last Percy Jackson now, haha, I was a little late to the party as well. But they're great reads, aren't they? I'm glad you liked it. He has an Egyptian mythology series coming out next that I'm super excited about.
And yes, Sherlock Holmes was nothing short of amazingly beautiful in every way, form, and fashion. :D
I've been wondering about that book! Thanks for your review. I'll add it to my TBR list.
And I loved the old BBC Sherlock Holmes, and I love reading Sherlock Holmes, so I might just like this movie, too. :)
Amy
I read the first and liked it, but alas, I was not as enchanted as some and have not read the others. But I think I'll still give them a try. I can definitely see why they're so popular, even if they didn't really do it for me.
Kelly, those slow-mo before-the-fight scenes were great. That was something I thought the movie did very well: let you get inside his head.
Amanda, I'll definitely have to check that new series out. Is it children's or adult lit?
Amy, I'm happy to add to your TBR pile:) And I must warn you, this newest SHERLOCK HOLMES took some, uh, liberties with the character, but I still really liked the interpretation.
Liesl, thanks for your comment. It just goes to show that we all fall in love with different books - and agents do exactly the same thing. So just because one passes doesn't mean another won't adore it.
You know I loved them. They made some fairly major changes in the movie version though, just so ya know. Have fun reading the rest of them. The Sea of Monsters was my favorite.
I haven't seen Sherlock Holmes! Why haven't I seen Sherlock Holmes? Hmmm.
Myrna, see SHERLOCK HOLMES:) And I'll see THE LIGHTNING THIEF when it makes it to DVD.
I would like to say again thanks.
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