[The Lightning Thief] (with spoilers)

This month's read is The Lightning Thief.

Discuss away!

Okay, since this is the one with spoilers....

I'm only about 1/3 of the way in at the moment but I have to keep reminding myself that it's written for kids half my age, so just because I thought it was obvious who his father is by about page 7, the audience it's actually aimed for might not make that connection so quickly!

That having been said, I'm really enjoying it and I'm finding some interesting possible discussion points. I'm only a bit ticked that I don't have a copy of the 2nd book ready nor the funds at the moment to buy it!

I want to post but I will wait for people to finish. This was one of my favorite reads of 2008. Infact, I put everythign else aside. and read the whole series back to back.

It helps to have some knowledge of Greek mythology. We do a lot of myths around here, so my kids were loving how they were incorporated into modern life. They were better than I was at figuring out who some of the monsters were. I had to ask them to remind me who a couple of the creatures were. My mind is a sieve.

I like how the chapters are titled. Very clever!

You know JP. I kind of enjoy not knowking who the monster and characters are. Its lovely to be surprised about what is going to happen next. I think I wouldn't be as in the dark if I was actually more familiar with these mythological characters.

I have to agree with bib. I took two mythology classes in college.

That is all I will say until others have read more. :)

I don't think it's really supposed to be a mystery about who Percy's father is. Only to Percy, who couldn't pay attention in class. Which brings me to one of my technical problems with the first book. Why is a Latin teacher teaching Greek Mythology? If it even came up in class, wouldn't he be teaching it from the Roman perspective (i.e.-Only the Roman names of gods?)

suge-You should read more myths. They are highly entertaining and have a certain soap opera feel to them.

#7 -- (Note: spoilers!) I can buy it, since the Latin teacher position is just a cover story for keeping an eye on Percy . . . and Greek mythology was what Percy needed to know. Since most prep schools teach Latin (and few teach ancient Greek or classical mythology, especially at the sixth grade level), that was probably the most likely position for Chiron to get hired for -- unless he went as a history teacher, but then he'd have a hard time explaining why he was teaching only Greek and Roman history for the whole school year!

2- I think it was supposed to be easy to figure that one out, after all, in the book's summary, they mention that he's the son of Poseidon in the first sentence. ;)

I loved how the mythological people and monsters were updated in this series. I also liked that Rick Riordan added in characters from more obscure myths, such as (SPOILERS FROM CHAPTER 17!) Procrustes.

I love this series and can't wait for #5.

Okay, so I'm home reading and I just had to share. I'm on pg 173, they just walked into the Garden Gnome Emporium and he's describing the place. I finished the paragraph and said, out loud "Oh my God, what an idiot." Then I moved on to the next paragraph which starts with "Go ahead, call me an idiot..."

Yes, poor Percy is a little slow about these things... ;)

#9: What summary? It didn't say anything like that on the back of my book, which is what I generally use for such things.

I finished the book one minute before I needed to stop to watch Lost, hows that for great timing. I really enjoyed it and wish I could get a hold of the next one, but I just can't right now. Oh well.

Preliminary thoughts, (SPOILERS) I realize Luke is a bad guy, but he brings up an intriguing point for discussion when he says that Western Civilization is ruining the world. A case certainly could be made for that idea, although, going back to the "Golden Age" doesn't sound so good either!

Also, while I did really enjoy this book and will read the rest of the series, it was definitely more the characterizations and personifications of the Gods and Monsters Riordan used that the actual story...which I found incredibly predictable and a bit frustrating (because of how mind-numbingly stupid the trio were through most of the book).

#13: She was talking about the publisher's page. This is a girl who reads every bit of her books. :o)

wow I dont even read the back cover sometimes. I'm a true judger of booker by its cover.

I chocked up the obviousness to the age of the intended reader. You have to let them in on some stuff, so they'll feel smart and love you as an author.

I loved these books for their tone and humour. It's great to bring the old legends alive. I imagine this is how they were told originally as stories, in a humourous and engaging way. "Classics" get such a stuffy treatment.

I agree on some level, of course I was able to piece together what was going on, I'm much older than the intended audience, and I've read similar stories. Still, Jo managed to surprise me more often than not, and she was writing to the same age group...

I can't read a book without reading the backcover first.

I didn't read the back cover because I bought it out of one of my school book orders. I'm enjoying so far!

Finished this afternoon! I will post my thoughts later. Need to get to bed right now.

Yay! I'm finished! I think I found it a bit frustrating also, how amazingly stupid the trio were being...for example (SPOILERS) going into Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium, and not trusting Grover on his sense of "predicting monsters arrival." But I have to agree on the chapter names though...those were really awesome! I really wanna read the next book, and I was very glad Percy decided to go to his mom after all!

I really like the book, but the movie was so off! It didn't follow the story very well and the casting was horrible. I'm still a Percy J fan though!

11- That happened to me all the time! I guess Rick Riordan is just a mind reader...

I think it's a fun read- I've read and own all five- and sometimes I go back and read them when I need a relaxing read that will make me laugh. And by the Table of Contents, I'm already laughing. Not knowing much about Greek Mythology, I really enjoyed learning more about the gods and the Titans.

Off topic slightly- has anyone read "The Red Pyramid"? Because I thought that it wasn't nearly as good as his other books, and I was wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

I'm probably alone here, but I like the Kane Chronicles, as well as the newer Heroes of Olympus series. I like reading various mythologies, and while there gobs of stories based on the Greek myths, you rarely--if ever--come across a story based on Egyptian mythology. I'm hoping Riordan takes on Norse mythology next.

I like the Kane Chronicles, but don't think they flowed as well as the PJ series. I am enjoying the 2nd part of the PJ series. I think he is going to do the Norse mythology soon.
When is the next movie coming out?

Norse mythology would be interesting, but I hope he doesn't stretch it for too long. Better to end on a good note than a "I want this to end" note.

I'm really enjoying the second part, as well, and I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of The Demigod Diaries and The Mark of Athena.

I don't think that their making a second movie, seeing that the first one was such a disaster.

Edited: I was mistaken- there is going to be a second movie, according to my trusty Google Search Engine:

"Production for the project begins April 16th in Vancouver.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters comes to theaters March 27th, 2013 and stars Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Missi Pyle, Yvette Nicole Brown, Mary Birdsong, Nathan Fillion, Jake Abel. The film is directed by Thor Freudenthal. »
- MovieWeb"

The book is awesome! Ditto Mark of Athena

OMG cliff hangar.
end of Mark of Athena: They go into dark tunnel with high chance of dying

already read

Not much of a cliffhanger if you've read all of the other books. There are lots of near-death experiences in those series.

So I had to read it for my summer assignment going into 6th grade and I loved it do much that I eventually found out there was a series and read them all. I fell in love with the Percy Jackson books and are one of my favorites to this day. I have followed Uncle Rick ever since and have read all this greek/roman mythology books. I might even read his Egyptian mythology books soon.