Book Review time! Percy Jackson books

  “If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.”

“Don't feel bad, I'm usually about to die.” 


I really like Children's Literature.  It's not that I specifically dislike adult literature, but I really like Children's Literature.  But, I haven't been keeping up with Children's Literature as much as I'd like.  I decided that I wanted to change that.  And, at the end of the summer, the family that I nannied for gave me a gift certificate to Barnes and Nobles.  So, for part of the gift certificate, I went to the person in the Children's Books section and said, "I want the first book of the best, recently-written children's series that you know of."

She gave me some options.  She suggested Ranger's Apprentice.  I'd read the first of that series, and I wasn't impressed.  She suggested the Bartimaeus Trilogy.  I read the summary and I wasn't intrigued.  She suggested the Percy Jackson books.  I had heard that those were good, and I have a spot in my heart for Greek mythology, so I thought I'd give it a try.

This series centers around the life of a teenage Greek demigod named Percy Jackson.  He, and the other demigods, especially his "friend-who-becomes-more-than-a-friend" and fellow demigod, Annabeth Chase, have adventures together.  They fight most major Greek monsters, save the world, and still manage to have teenage problems. The ultimate goal is to stop the re-rising of Kronos.

I read the first one, and then the second, and then the third, and then the fourth, and then the fifth.  I loved them.  They were clever, fast-paced but still well-plotted, well-written, and the characters were relate-able and likeable. It was obvious that the author had an very in-depth knowledge of Greek mythology, and not just the stories.  He understood the significance and the themes and the purposes of the mythology as well, and managed to make those themes, stories and purposes applicable to the modern world.  And, it's just darn funny.  I mean, what would Ares choose to be in today's world but a biker-dude? And how else would Protruscus spend his time in the world today other than selling water-beds?

But past that, Riordan, the writer, manages to incorporate the meaning into the modern world.  What is the purpose of a demigod in Greek mythology?  Why is there this separation between humanity and the deities, and then the bridge between the two?  How come the gods are so imperfect in mythology? Why are there the stereotyped domains? Who are the good guys in mythology and who are the bad guys?

They're witty, somewhat sardonic, and wonderful stories.  You don't have to know a lot of mythology to like them, but it definitely adds a level.  Probably more young adult than young children, with some teen angst and teen love (the first book, Percy is 12, but turns 16 in the last book...and Riordan explains how it is not incest for demigods to love each other).

For the first time in a long time, I can honestly give five stars to a children's fantasy series.  And for the first time in a long, long time, I can honestly give five stars to a bildungsroman, as let's be honest, those are going down the tubes.

Note:  Don't judge the book by it's movie.  I saw the end of the movie when it was on Cartoon Network a few weeks back on a Saturday night.  It was absolutely terrible.

Comments

Beth said…
Yes, I liked to books well enough, but I have to disagree on the 5 stars. Perhaps I am just an editing snob, but you really need to have a better edited book to get 5 stars from me. I mean, sometimes it said the wrong word (like "I'm" when it meant "I'll") and on more than one occasion the words in the sentence were in the wrong order. Someone should have caught that.
November 3, 2012 at 10:22 AM
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