WOMS: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I should have read this series as a tweener. I would have been in love with Percy and Annabeth and Grover. I would have wanted to escape to Camp Half-Blood every summer. I was only a few years older than Percy when Rick Riordan introduced us to this feisty whippersnapper of a kid with a quick-witted tongue and even sharper reflexes. I could have grown up with him, but alas.

This series has always been on my TBR. I’m not sure why I didn’t make more of an effort to read it once I learned more about it. I think part of my problem is my mother is who advocated me to read as a young child, so when she was abruptly taken from me, this stopped any constant, or consistent, encouragement to read, to learn about any series that I could be interested, etc.

Though I tried reading the series a few years ago—even checked out the first book from my library—I never got around to actually picking it up. Then the TV show with baby Ryan Reynolds, I mean Walker Scobell, was announced. From what I had heard of Percy and his sarcasm, I knew this was perfect casting, especially after seeing him in The Adam Project and videos of him doing the Deadpool monologue. After giving the two premier episodes a watch, I knew I needed to read these books.

I was hooked.

Not only did I need to know how accurate this new adaptation was (because of course I did), especially compared to the film I heard sucked by comparison (yes, I watched it the one time)—I also needed to read all the juicy details I’m sure they didn’t have enough time to include in the show.

Watching the show simultaneously to reading The Lightning Thief gave me more incentive as by the time my hold at the library was ready—a lot of people seemed to have the same idea as me—we only had two episodes left in the season. I read through that book as fast as I could (I don’t speed read) and enjoyed every bit of it. It also helped me appreciate the TV show more, despite the slight differences. Of course, I immediately read the next book (I simply NEEDED to know what happened!) and the next and the next until the events of each installation blurred together and I still can’t quite keep them straight in my mind.

I think what I appreciated the most what the [mostly] accurate portrayal of the Greek myths. The use of the Odyssey, Perseus, and more. The homage to the pantheon of gods. The other adaptation I love most is Lore Olympus, but that also takes a lot of liberties. Percy does, too, but he seems to fall more within the boundaries of the traditional myths.

As someone who would have become a mythologist if there was such a degree to major in, I take my adaptations of any mythology seriously. Though there are some interpretations who exercise a liberal amount of discretion, to which I can turn a blind eye, there are too many that cross over into a realm of misinterpretation and I usually cannot tolerate them. I didn’t want that with Percy, and thankfully, Riordan was rather spot on with his use of the source material. A lot of his interpretations intrigued me, and I felt my own connection to these myths and lore, which have influenced and inspired us for centuries, rekindled.

Of course, Percy himself is a wonderful boy, and I thoroughly enjoyed his hubris.

I think, though, my opinion is biased because—and here’s a big secret I’ve not yet revealed here—I have a stepson who reminds me of Percy a little bit, which is definitely part of the reason why I loved reading this series. Though, yes, there is my inner teenager who was thrilled to finally go on this adventure a lot of her peers experienced without her, there is also the fresh perspective that my stepson is Percy layered into my personal reflections.

I cannot wait to watch season two of the series! I think they have definitely nailed it. Of course, now I’m off to read the Kane Chronicles and see more of what Riordan has to offer! (Did I ever mention I wanted to be an Egyptologist as a kid?)