The Lightning Thief

Now, this book has a breathless pace and a pretty thin constitution as far as how it's held together, but it has very relatable, likeable even, characters and ridiculously high entertainment value. The updated portrayals of immortals from Greek myth are a hoot (though Dionysus is played more for laughs than Euripides would countenance), but it all does actually Go Somewhere and Say Something. Without really rising above YA chops, this is fun read. Recommended and now I need the second volume.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan is a reread for me. In this case, I listened to it rather than read it. I wanted to do so because I never finished the series. With the new Disney+ television show, and because it is among both of my kids' favorite stories they read when younger, I wanted to finally get around to see what happens after we discover who the Lightning Thief was.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF is just as much fun listening to it as a reread as it was the first time. The narrator, Jesse Bernstein, is a little TOO good at voicing preteen Percy. He does NOT sound like he is a grown adult. The fact that he sounds like an adolescent is a boon for his performance. I will be curious to see whether he changes his voice as Percy ages.

In my show more first review, I said that the myths Mr. Riordan mentions may be too obscure for the target audience. I noticed on the reread that Mr. Riordan gives just enough backstory to provide context for Percy's adventures. Knowing how popular the series continues to be among its target demographic, obviously not knowing the myths of Medusa, Kronos, Haephestus, the Fates, Persephone, etc., in detail does not detract from kids and adults enjoying the story.

Percy Jackson is an incredible character. For younger kids reading the story for the first time, he is a fantastic example of persevering despite the difficulties - whether with a learning disability, a difficult home situation, or fighting the Greek gods. That he favors friendship above all else is another great lesson to learn. For adult readers, Percy is young but not too young. He is self-aware enough to be sarcastic without being a brat. Best of all, he isn't afraid to share his weaknesses.

If my kids were much younger, THE LIGHTNING THIEF is the kind of book I would want to read with them. It is a fun story that educates without being obvious. The action is dangerous enough for kids to get a thrill from it. Plus, the author hasn't gone off the deep end and started spewing hate messages about one group or another. It's a win for everyone! show less

Originally posted on www.yearningtoread.blogspot.com

How would you like it if you were the nephew of Hades? What if Zeus, Hades’ brother, was your uncle?
What if Poseidon, the god of the sea, was your father?
Welcome to the world of Perseus Jackson, a troubled, dyslexic student from New York. He’s never met his real father and his mother is married to a jerk who doesn’t care one bit about them. After a failed attempt at a vacation with his mother because he was being chased by monsters, Percy lands on Half-blood Hill with his best friend Grover. There, he discovers his incredibly old heritage. After some training, Percy is picked to go on a very important quest: to find Zeus’ lightning bolt, which has been stolen. Zeus is blaming show more Poseidon, who is angry with Zeus for accusing him. If Percy doesn’t find the lightning bold before June 21st, the Summer Solstice, there will be a great war between the gods that could be impossible to stop.

While it may seem as though I enjoy most of the books I read, there have been a few thorns in the rosebush recently. A lot of people said they loved the Pendragon series, but I hardly got through half of the first book, and that was with skimming. So, even though everyone I’ve talked to says they love this book, I was skeptical…

I am skeptical no longer! I was surprised at how well-written and easy-flowing this story is. Percy is a real kid, one you would see at a school. He’s got human weaknesses and personality traits and strengths (excluding the powers he’s inherited from his father). Rick Riordan does a wonderful job at making Percy Jackson a kid you can relate to and at least like. The other characters, too, even with their powers or god/monster-like deformities, seem real.
And this story is funny. I’ve found myself enjoying the humor way more than expected. Grover is always hungry and talks about food in his sleep. There is a lot of sarcasm about Percy’s life, and Percy himself has a nice sense of humor.

I love Greek and Roman mythology, so this was a real treat. Riordan is very knowledgable in this subject and gives you the facts as Homer would have, except at a much easier level. I am reminded again while reading these books that while the gods make for great stories, I’m SO happy they don’t actually exist! They have affairs with mortal women or men all the time, they make promises to not have affairs and then break their promises, then punish their children for existing when they’re the ones making the mistakes. They fight all the time… In The Lightning Thief, Ares, the god of war, claims that he likes it when his family members fight – it means more bloodshed. So basically, they’re immoral immortals who like to kill and only care about their own well-being. And they turn against their millions of children. Or their children beat them. Either way.

In any case, Rick Riordan has created a wonderful series that I can’t wait to finish. The second book has yet to come in at the library, but I’m looking foward to it! For now I need to go look at my book list and the books from the library and decide what I’m going to read next!

Happy reading! show less

Percy Jackson is an average 12 year old delinquent. He soon discovers however that not only is he a delinquent he is a half god delinquent. He is also at the centre of a war brewing among the gods and he must complete a heroes quest to save the world and find a way to rescue his mother. No pressure. With the help of Grover and Annabeth the three embark on a perilous and hysterically funny quest to retrieve Zeus's stolen thunderbolt.

To be honest I was sucked in from word go and was laughing the whole way through. Rick Riordan is a fabulous writer who has created a rich and vibrant world with well fleshed out characters. Percy has to be one of the most interesting leading character in a book I have come across in some time.This is not show more just a children's novel, many of the jokes I am sure were aimed at adults. Anyone who can modernise Greek mythology is a hero themselves in my mind.

A lot of people have raved about this series and I confess to being hesitant even doubtful that it could live up to the hype it has generated. But call me converted as I already adore this series and i have only read one book! I will be scrambling to get my hands on to the next book in the series. show less

Riordan does an amazing job weaving the heroes and monsters of Greek mythology into the fabric of everyday life. He creates blends of the real and the imaginary that children will definitely be able to visualize. For example, you can get into the Underworld through an EZ pass line. Not only is this updating hilarious, but it reminds us all, and especially children, that the magic of stories doesn't die just because the culture around them changes. The magic is still there, if we look, and Riordan makes the rediscovery process easier. He helps us see. Two thumbs up for this one. Now, I need to watch the movie.

When I was about halfway through this book, I started making a list of its similarities to Harry Potter. Here is a sampling from that list:

1. There are three young heroes: a brainy girl (Annabeth/Hermione), a funny screw-up type (Grover/Ron), and a somewhat troubled but very brave lead (Harry/Percy).

2. People freak when the Harry/Percy character says the name of a powerful character.

3. The main bad guy (Kronos/Voldemort) is seeking to return to his former power, but most people are totally in denial of that happening.

4. The heroes train at a school that divides its students according to their character. (Chiron, the head trainer of the camp, equals Dumbledore.)

5. Chiron/Dumbledore knows a prophecy about Percy/Harry but won't tell show more Percy/Harry what it is exactly.

6. Percy/Harry has a gross stepfather named Smelly Gabe who protects him during his childhood, so Smelly Gabe obviously equals the Dursleys.

7. Harry/Percy can talk to a certain animal because of his special gifts (Harry could talk to snakes, Percy can talk to horses).

8. Riordan's three young heroes face down a three-headed dog at the end of their big quest, which if I'm not mistaken is exactly what happens in HP1 (granted, the three-headed dog is straight out of Greek mythology, so I should cut Riordan some slack on this one).

I could go on (and on and on) which would be fun for me, but I won't. Instead, I'll shock you by saying that I totally loved this completely derivative book. It's super fun and fast-moving and the fact that it's kind of a HP rip-off actually makes me like it more. God, I loved Harry Potter. The Lighting Thief is like methadone. That might be what I said about the [b:The Amulet of Samarkand|334123|The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Trilogy, #1)|Jonathan Stroud|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266527188s/334123.jpg|1121748] but it's more true here. I can't wait to read the second one! show less

The Lightning Thief is a fun, fast-moving, and imaginative start to the Percy Jackson series. The story follows Percy, a twelve-year-old who discovers he’s the son of Poseidon and is thrust into a world of gods, monsters, and ancient prophecies. After being accused of stealing Zeus’s master bolt, Percy embarks on a cross-country quest with Annabeth and Grover to recover the weapon and prevent a war among the gods.

Rick Riordan blends humor, adventure, and Greek mythology in a way that feels fresh and accessible for young readers. The book is full of exciting battles, clever twists, and memorable characters, but it also explores themes of identity, friendship, and feeling out of place. Percy’s sarcastic narration keeps the tone show more light even in tense moments, making the book highly engaging for both reluctant and enthusiastic readers.

A perfect mix of action, heart, and mythology, The Lightning Thief sets up an unforgettable series that continues to grow in depth and excitement. show less