Once Upon a Time... discussion

Hello Fellow Fairy Tale readers,


Welcome to our discussion about The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan, your discussion leader is Gem.
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about spoilers

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Summary

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

One little problem I had was with Athena having demigod children. Admittedly it did get explain eventually, but it rung a false note until then.

I can only imagine what a strange situation Percy finds himself in. His best friend being a satyr, his teacher being a centaur, and learning that the myths of the gods are real. That's a lot for a kid to absorb, although I think he's handling it better than an adult would.

I read this years ago, when my son, now an adult, read and enjoyed it. He warns me that if I read it with you I need to get past the first quarter, past the three Fates, before giving up on it.

I wonder how much I need to know going in. I was never a fan of Greek mythology (for example I have no idea why Mary makes the objection to Athena having demigod children). Will I be lost? I wouldn't think so, because it's a kid's book, and presumably they don't know much?

I do notice wait lists on all editions at all my libraries. Oy.

Cheryl wrote: "I read this years ago, when my son, now an adult, read and enjoyed it. He warns me that if I read it with you I need to get past the first quarter, past the three Fates, before giving up on it.

I ..."

The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite explains why: there are three goddesses who are immune to Aphrodite. (There are lots of versions online, if you're interested in detail.)

Unfortunately, I knew so many of the myths going in that I have no idea how someone without the knowledge would react.

Mary wrote: "Unfortunately, I knew so many of the myths going in that I have no idea how someone without the knowledge would react."

I have very little knowledge myself, so it something seems unimportant I just go with it. Otherwise, I look it up or ask my literature teacher husband, he's a wealth of knowledge.

I have always enjoyed the myths, especially the Greek versions, so I honestly didn't think about how not knowing them would change the interest of these books. I honestly don't think it matters much, as much is explained as you go through them. Otherwise, in my opinion, they are just fun fiction anyway.

Lisa wrote: "I have always enjoyed the myths, especially the Greek versions, so I honestly didn't think about how not knowing them would change the interest of these books. I honestly don't think it matters muc..."

Agreed! I read several books at a time and this one has kept my interest so much that the other books aren't getting read.

Turns out my local library was able to fill my request with the illustrated edition. It's almost as big as a coffee table book!

Yeah, Cheryl, it is! My library gave me that one too. My daughter picked it up for me and it's too big for me to handle, so I'm going into the library tomorrow to try to get another copy.

I finished. That was a fun book. I think I might read the next on soon. I'll reserve comments until a bit later.

This will be a re-read for me, but I love the series (I actually love all of his series that I have read so far) and intend to read them all again.

Ok, I got the regular hardcover and am almost halfway. What a fast pace; he's already on his quest after all that world-building and lots of plot already.

My adult son says that it's hard for most readers to get through the first part, because the author tries to collect readers by any means necessary. For example making Percy 'relatable' because he has dyslexia and ADHD.

I disagree... I had no problem with the first part. But then, I'm not the primary target audience. So, I dunno. What did you-all think? I mean, were you bored or frustrated waiting to get past the setup and to the excitement?

Ok I'm done. Here's most of my review:

... Still not overly impressed. I prefer the Animorphs, which this reminded me of on the first page: "If you believe this is a work of fiction, read on."

I do like how Chiron says, "If you were a god, how would you like being called a myth, an old story to explain lightning? What if I told you, Perseus Jackson, that someday people would call you a myth, just created to explain how little boys can get over losing their mothers?"

"I'd rather get into fights every day than be ignored," says Percy when he gets assigned a cabin by himself. I'm glad he means fights with bullies & bad guys at least.

I also looked at the pictures in the big illustrated version. Pretty good, if you like that sort of thing.

I finally got my paperback copy and have started. As stated before, this is a re-read for me, but I certainly don't think it is hard to get past the first part. For myself it seems interesting from the beginning with things happening immediately that are out of the ordinary for most people.

Cheryl, I can see where you would get the comparison with that particular quote, but I want to clarify for any that haven't read both series that the Animorphs is not anything like the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. They are completely different genres - the Animorphs is science fiction, not mythology.

Well, sure, in a way.

But as far as the reading experience, they're both about youth fighting mysterious beings with god-like powers, the weight of the world on their shoulders, emphasis on adventure but with a little philosophy, contemporary setting, series....

I can't clarify how similar they are with words because my words make them sound like a bunch of other children's fantasy. But I'm currently rereading the Animorphs series and trust me, child/teen readers of one would likely enjoy the other.

And, honestly, there's nothing scientifically plausible about Animorphs. ;)

True, the main conflict in both is kids fighting others with incredible powers, and most that like one of the series will enjoy the other. I just wanted our group members to know they are different genres.

So what makes this good enough for an adult to continue on and even to reread? (Maybe I should be asking What am I missing?)

It's a matter of personal taste, I guess. I personally enjoyed the story line as well as the growth of the characters as the series progressed. I have read all of the Animorphs as well, and I prefer the Percy Jackson series.

Sorry, I hadn't posted anything! My daughter and I are reading through this one at bedtime we are about three/fourth of the way. Sometimes these books are in teen and sometimes they are in 9-12 which I find interesting. It certainly doesn't pull the punches with how promiscuous the gods are. I found it interesting after watching Hercules with my daughter they said Hera and Zeus were his parents and I was like what!? How it is written in a modern day light from a child's viewpoint it feels very different then just reading the myths or even adult renderings. I find it interesting how negatively Hades is portrayed (at least so far) given nearly all of the newer adult fiction I have read with him in, he is a great guy who has been put in a horrible situation. Girl, Goddess Queen is a great book with that viewpoint. I am intrigued to see when Athena having children is explained as I agree, Mary, that is super weird. Also why does Artemis insist on having a house but Hestia doesn't (probably because she's just sensible)...but of blathering sorry. Anyway we are enjoying it, but might be a while until we finish.

Oops - even in rereading, I still missed where they explained the whole thing of Athena having kids. Oh, well. It didn't really bother me that much.
Keep reading, Adriel. They do eventually give Hades some credit, although none of "the big three" are great guys in any way really.
I think it being from the kid's viewpoint is probably what I enjoy the most about the series, especially this first book. The whole point is that these kids didn't ask for any of this and are just trying to survive, while because of their genetics and the whim of the gods and other mythical beings, they are put into very odd and dangerous situations.

The kids' viewpoints, and the fact that they were just born into this, are indeed interesting.

Has anyone watched the movie and/or the series on Disney (I think)? I've enjoyed these and am looking forward to the new season.

I haven't. I enjoyed the books so much that I have been hesitant to watch them. I usually find myself either totally disappointed in film adaptations of good books, if not completely angry at how distorted the film version turns out.