Hi everybody!
I have decided to have a little book review corner now at my blog. Mostly because I don't go out and do a lot nowadays, but rather snuggle up in my bed with a good book. There will be reviews on everything from new YA book series to old classics as Shakespeare and Jane Austen. But I will also selflessly promote my own Wattpad story The Invisibles and everything around it.
I will start this book journey with a book I finished last week; Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief
Book synopsis/The Blurb:
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
Now Percy has ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
Thoughts on the Blurb:
Frankly the blurb don't do the book justice. The book itself is an emotional roller-coaster with a lot of humor and sass. But the blurb is inviting enough and there is a reason (beside the big crowds of fans who told me to read them, not pointing any fingers or anything, you all know who you are) that made me want to buy and get sucked in by them.
Okay, so now let's move on to breaking the whole book down into tiny bits and pieces... or not. We'll start with the *drumroll*:
Narration:
Percy Jackson is the main of this story and Rick made a wise choice when he chose to go with first person POV for this series. I think Rick Riordan opened up many doors to a better humor in the book that way, and made it easier to understand what's Percy's thoughts and what's not. Also it made more sense for it to be in first person POV then third person POV. Since 3rd person POV often give of a know it all feeling.
Setting:
They move around a lot in the book. Going on a not so successful field trip, meeting old ladies and being sent out on a quest. My favourite setting that will keep reappearing in the books (I hope), is of course Camp Half-Blood. Being kind of a boarding school in a summer camp format just gave me the right amount of nostalgia, being a summer camp kid myself since I was seven. What summer camp kid wouldn't want a pegasi stable, a lethal game of capture the flag and a greek god as the camp director?
Maybe I should also mention that it plays out in and around New York with some travelling here and there, so let's just say inside US boarders. Oh, and some Olympian places as well.
Theme:
It is a YA book series (I think), which means what for a fantasy book? That there is some shit going down and it may or may not escalate quickly. Some themes are greek mythology (yay!), action, friendship and a tiny little sprinkle of love.
My thoughts on the themes:
I would say that Rick Riordan made a great job with those themes, also portraying the feelings and priorities of a twelve year old. He has also turned the greek myths to something quirky and fun.
My overall thoughts and feelings on the book:
In the beginning I was a bit of a skeptic at how Rick chose to write. It wasn't my personal favourite of a writing style, but I got used to it and now there is a charm to it. It is so, so... so Percy! I don't think any other style would convey Percy's humor and feelings any better and it really is a fit.
I couldn't put the book down and I loved the way most characters stood up to bullies and showed everybody that This is me and I'm PROUD of it. You will find friends in the main line-up and they will become your little babies. I am really hyped to continue to read the other four books in this series and then if I'm up for it The Heroes of Olympus series, too.
And to all of you out there who have watched the movie. If you thought the movie was good read the BOOK! If you thought the movie was bad... read the BOOK!
