2010 books in 2010! (sike, just 100!) discussion
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (New York, NY: Disney/Hyperion Books, 2008) - January 13, 2009Review: A good read. Fast paced and action packed. Combat seemed a little rushed, almost too simple. This would have been fine if the author hadn't represented the sitation as serious and life-threatening to the heroes and then written the battle as it is were merely sweeping left-overs from the kitchen table into the waste basket after supper.
The book was suggested to me by others who compared it favorably to Rowling's Harry Potter. Although I admit Riordan is a good writer and is exploring a very original thesis on Greek mythology and the continued existence of the gods and their offspring (of which Percy Jackson is the latter) at least the first of his books is hardly comparable to Rowling's Potter. Rowling was far better when it came to depictions of combat and she tended to build suspense without making the tale too transparent.
The latter is a serious problem I detected in Riordan's writing. Percy Jackson is an absolute moron not to have deduced the identify of the alleged friend who is to, and indeed does, betray him in the last chapter (which I had figured out long before). I prefer the incredibly brave and exremely lucky Harry (who has a lot of courage but very little real talent) to the fairly dim and impulsive Percy.
Nevertheless, this book is good; well worth the time to read.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters (New York, NY: Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009) - January 18, 2009 Review: Only a year and Riodan's writing improved by leaps and bounds. He obviously took whatever advice his editor/publisher offered to heart as this volume is definately better than the first. Although the characters and story are just as entertaining he properly perceived the weakness in his depictions of combat and has written a fabulous second volume.
I was a bit skeptical when it was suggested to me that Percy Jackson and the Olympians could be favorably compared to Harry Potter but if Riordan is not there yet he is fast approaching it.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titans Curse (New York, NY: Disney/Hyperion Books, 2009) - January 21, 2009Review: Riordan pretty much stays consistent in delivering a generally entertaining tale. He has a good story and good characters and keeps the tale interesting. Unfortunately any headway he had made in the second volume pretty much levels out in the third. His writing is obviously aimed at a specific demongraphic and although I enjoy reading the story I can tell I fall outside of the target group. Worth a read but hardly as good as Rowling's work which seems to cross demographic demarcations.
Review: Uh, don't bother with this one. If you are a Halo fan and interested in merely gleaning whatever knowledge this book might contain with respect to the universe it originates from you might want to give it a read for merely academic reasons but as entertainment it is sorely lacking. Although the jacket claims all manner of awards for the author I frankly was unable to comprehend why he would be worthy of note. It took me some time to get through this one as I had to force myself to continue reading. No suspense, little if any excitement (all on account of poor writing in my opinion).