Percy Jackson (the book, not the movie)

i read The Lightning Thief in about two and a half hours yesterday. took the kiddos to their grandparents, parked myself on the couch during nap time, and read.

it's that addictive.

which is a bit strange...because, when you think about the details of the text, you think maybe you shouldn't have liked it nearly as much.

there is nothing new under the sun; percy jackson's life story is no exception. rick riordan is clearly well-versed in the dynamics of the greek hero's quest/mythology, and that knowledge serves as the blueprint for his story nicely. yes, there is some harry potter-esque paralleling (percy's hogwarts is the questionably named "Camp Half-Bloods", his ron weasely is a satyr named grover, his hermione, the daughter of athena.

athena's virginal vows need not apply here, apparently.

as for percy's paternal parentage, well, that no's mystery either. when percy wields his power over the plumbing in the previously mentioned camp's powder room, there will be no doubt as to his paternity.

hint: it's this guy.

and his dad is, as is typical in these stories, kind of a dick. he only claims percy as his son when he needs him to do him an epic favor that could probably get him killed. then, when they finally meet, it's all "gentle amusement" and "detachment" between the two - which, you know, i guess is understandable. but if someone saved my butt, particularly if that someone was in my bloodline, i might get off my deity a little and, you know, thank him profusely.

but i was raised right.

the tridents:
1. quickly paced, addictive reading allows reader to forgive and forget authorial mistakes quickly
2. fun way to reinvent mythology for a new generation
3. gives me a whole new fantasy series steeped heavily in mythology to sink my teeth into

the lightning thief
1. WAY too predictable. so predictable, it hurts a little. and it's hard to forgive percy and annabeth for not figuring any of it out earlier. the oracle is about as enigmatic as a twinkie wrapped in the defiled corpse of a mummy.
2. the portrayal of women - gah. they're either 1. bitches 2. old, fat hags sent to kill 3. beautiful angels sent by stronger men to help 4. monsters or 5. dead. that's it. i get that olympus was predominantly a boys' club, but this isn't ancient greece. diversify a bit, riordan. please.

3.5 stars - rounding up for sheer enjoyment.