Thursday, February 18, 2010

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief

That's what I read over the weekend.  Now I'm about to read Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters.  You're jealous.  I know you are.  Admit it.  You're sorry that you have not read the latest 11-year old boy hit book and you can't converse expertly with said boys about whether the movie or the book was better. 

I can.

I think the book was better by the way but Uma Thurman is a fabulous Medusa and Pierce Brosnan--- well, you never would have guessed what he really was all that time you thought he was James Bond.   It's a good story -- no Harry Potter -- and there's quite a bit of variation from book to movie although I was told by Will that it didn't matter and we had a serious discussion about why they left a fairly significant character out of the movie and whether you cold film a movie scene in the St. Louis Arch and if the whole idea of Hades was as depressing as I thought it was.  I had the last part of that discussion by myself...guess it was more like a monologue.  "Mom, you may not realize this, but I've stopped listening.."

I've been told I have to read the rest of the series by the end of next week. I'll let you know how that goes because the Elegance of the Hedgehog I had on reserve just came in at the library plus I finally started reading a Tree Grows in Brooklyn. 

I want somebody else to read this book so that we can talk about Hades. I promise it won't take very long.  Maybe you could read it in German to spice things up. 

27 comments:

Gwen Williamson Mathews said...

Oops...I just realized my picture is the movie poster, not the book cover. Silly me!

mere said...

No matter. I finished Shanghai Girls. Would give it a 75% overall. Our next club book is MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD but I may just download TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE on kindle over the weekend as we are going to the Sanctuary on Kiawah.

Gwen Williamson Mathews said...

I read about 75 percent of Shanghai Girls and then I gave it back to the library. It was overdue and I didn't like it enough to keep paying a ten cent a day fine to finish. I was disappointed because I had really liked Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

I'm almost finished with Sarah's Key which I got as an audio book. Not my favorite book but I like it fine...maybe a 78%. The story's great but I have some reservations about the quality of the telling. Like maybe if a better writer had had the same story.

Peddie said...

Hehe... ok, but keeping to PErcy Jackson... isn't that the way Twilight started out for us? Cause one of your kids read it???

I also love your discussion with Will... another plus humor point for Lexington...

Gwennie said...

Yes, Grandpa actually gave Twilight to MR because he heard she should read it and I read it too. I love reading what they're reading. Now I'm thinking that you all reading Harry Potter is how we got hooked on those.

Peddie said...

That's a good question... did Grandpa read Harry Potter first? I feel like I Was in the last group of people when I finally got around to reading the first and second, and then maybe had to wait to share the third book (back when we were civil, MOM). I know my friend read them too and we all went to see get the 4th book at the midnight thing at Town Centre... good times ö)

mere said...

I agree with your evaluation of both Shanghai Girls (it wasn't worth finishing) and agree with Sarah's Key (Thought the characters were pretty self-centered overall but wouldn't have ever heard about Vel d'hiver otherwise). I always liked reading the kids' books too! Claire, what do you mean 'back when we were civil'?

Peddie said...

Back before we would sneakily prepare to go to primetime fitness and then yell in one breath "byegoingtoprimetimebebackinanhourbythewayihavetwilight!" and then run away!

iselby said...

Hahahahahaha... I haven't checked this blog in a while and .boy. I've been missing out.

Thanks for the humor this morning :)

mere said...

Ha Ha. Didn't we do that with Harry Potter too? Gwennie, do you think this movie is appropriate for a 5 year old boy and 7 year old girl?

Gwen Williamson Mathews said...

Percy Jackson movie thumbs up on it for kids of all ages!

I read Harry Potter first in Barbados while playing Scrabble like mad, eating fried plaintain and drinking rum..I'll give Grandpa all credit for the upgraded version of hooking us on Jim Dale's version of HP. Can we go back to Barbados????? What a magical week.

MR and I definitely fought over Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. She eve took it to ballet with her like she was going to read it during Nutcracker rehearsals!

iselby said...

I have nobody to fight over books with... I am going to go cry in the corner now.

Should we have an Annual Meeting of the What To Read Next Association? Perhaps IN Barbados?

Mom might be able to find Tiger Woods there...

mere said...

Tiger can come if Keeneland doesn't need him. Yes, let us go to Barbados though I think we might have to concede to Germany which is the polar opposite literally and figuratively.

Peddie said...

Oh, I definitely think we should go to Barbados! And that was a magical week indeed... I did buy some plantains a couple weeks ago (which was weird that I even found them) but really not the same ;(

I feel like that week was all gain and no pain ;) All fun and no pun. Heehee... remember all those fat drunk white people in the rum parade, or whatever it was? And getting a flat tire? I remember jumping off a big rock into the water!

Btw, ISabelle... you just have too many cool books. I remember mom and I fighting over who got to fill up the tank while the other sat in the car and read. And mom almost buying Eclipse in spanish...

iselby said...

By the way, I really really want to read the Elegance of the Hedgehog. Do a review of it!

mere said...

Is it a Simon and Schuster book? I don't remember Tiggy and Winkle being too elegant, especially after eating their offspring.

Gwen Williamson Mathews said...

oooo...that's nasty. I still remember how much money you were going to make off of breeding your little vermin.

The Elegance of the the Hedgehog is not Simon & Schuster and appears to be about residents of a French Hotel. I haven't started it yet or gotten past chapter three of Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. Busy busy week.

Gwen Williamson Mathews said...

Oh, I finished Sarah's Key. I thought the end was really stupid so I'm lowering my grade to a 74%

Mere said...

Agreed. Ending pretty stupid and unfulfilling. Haven't read any good fiction for a while and still want you all to read Pied Piper by Nevil Shute.

Peddie said...

I was also wondering about that book title... what's it about anyway?

iselby said...

Pied Piper is still on my list of books to read. Sorry, Mere. I'm getting there.. slowly.

Mere said...

Iz, I left a copy of the book in your apartment.

iselby said...

Yes, I know.... I am just slow....

Gwennie said...

I finished Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters this morning while riding my bike on the trainer in the basement. I hate that bike. I miss running. I miss walking. I miss my audio books. But, Will is proud of me...if anybody's interested.

Peddie said...

What happened to the treadmill????

Gwen Williamson Mathews said...

Oh, the treadmill is fine. I'm just unable to run or even walk at the moment. I've had an onset of old-lady-itis and did something to my hip while running. I went to see Dr. Bolton (a.k.a. Kathy) professionally after gobbling ibuprofen for a couple of weeks. She's been helping immensely and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I won't be using Grandma Beach's walker for the Bridge Run -- just kidding. I don't think I'm going to be back to running by then though which I'm disappointed about but at this point I'll be satisfied to walk it.

Fortunately I can still Hot Yoga and ride my @a#$*&% old bike on the trainer -- remember that bike? The one with the world's most uncomfortable seat?

Peddie said...

Hahahha... before the word verification realizes that it knows me, my word is "eldog"... no joke!

Also, I do not remember that bike, but I feel like we tend to have extremely old bike machines in our family as a rule. You probably don't know it, but the grandselbies had one in the attic room where we used to sleep. THAT was exercise to ride that thing!

Say hi to Aunt Kathy for me ;)