Series Read: The Lightning Thief

[Erin Lynn]

July's book for our Series Read is The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan!

In order for this Series Read to work, we're going to create a discussion board for each book in the series, where you'll be able to comment and discuss the book with our members. This will be the only place where we will be discussing the books as a group.

All the mods ask is that you hide your spoilers while discussing the books. I know the books have been out for a while and it might be hard, but it's all about being considerate to other group members who may have never read the books.

Again, feel free to discuss the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, here.

[Simone]

I read the first book a couple of days ago and then right after that I read the graphic novel which wasn't bad. I really enjoyed it there are little things I would fix but really not bad for a middle grade novel. Thank you for starting this read along!

[Erin Lynn]

Simone wrote: "I read the first book a couple of days ago and then right after that I read the graphic novel which wasn't bad. I really enjoyed it there are little things I would fix but really not bad for a midd..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Simone! :)

[Kim]

I enjoyed The Lightning Thief, but I got burned out with the series later on. I do feel like I know a lot more about Greek Mythology after reading it though. For me, I think I'm just too old to enjoy it. Most young adult reads like any other book. The Percy Jackson series (and any Rick Riordan, really) reads like a book for younger kids and that's hard for me to get through. But this first one is good. The movie was terrible.

[Andrea]

Just finished the first book. Really liked it, though I have to say I'm shocked. I saw the movie first and it's NOTHING like the book. I know most of the times books are better than the movie, but with this one they changed so many thing.

But anyway, I really enjoyed the book, it was funny, interesting and now I can't wait to buy the next book :)

[Cas ♛]

Andrea wrote: "Just finished the first book. Really liked it, though I have to say I'm shocked. I saw the movie first and it's NOTHING like the book. I know most of the times books are better than the movie, but ..."

That's true. The movies were "rip-offs" as many people say.

[Daisy]

Kim wrote: "I enjoyed The Lightning Thief, but I got burned out with the series later on. I do feel like I know a lot more about Greek Mythology after reading it though. For me, I think I'm just too old to e..."

I can relate about the series going downhill somewhat as it went on. Although I thought the last one was pure perfection, the third and fourth felt a lot weaker than the others, especially the fourth.

I agree with Angie about the movies - I don't like many book to movie adaptations as it is and I've heard so much hate about these that I know not to bother with them. :)

[Emily]

I thought this book was fantastic. I really wish I would have discovered this series when I was younger. I love books that educate you as you read. I can't wait to read Sea of Monsters.

[Lindsay]

Kim wrote: "I enjoyed The Lightning Thief, but I got burned out with the series later on. I do feel like I know a lot more about Greek Mythology after reading it though. For me, I think I'm just too old to e..."

I feel like the Heroes of Olympus series is kind of for older people

[Kim]

I liked Heroes of Olympus even less. Maybe because it was longer? Ha ha. I finally gave up halfway through House of Hades. They weren't bad or anything - they just annoyed me I guess. I think I'm just too old. I was reading them because my daughter really enjoyed them and I like to discuss books with my kids. Maybe there were just too many other things I wanted to read instead at the time. Maybe I need to give it another go at another time.

[Daisy]

This is weird Kim because I gave up on Heroes of Olympus too! Didn't get as far as House of Hades though - I think it was about 70 pages through Mark of Athena when I quit. I agree that it wasn't that it was particularly 'bad', just the characters started to annoy me and I just didn't want to read about them anymore. I can definitely see why Percy Jackson is so well-loved, but Heroes of Olympus is overhyped in my opinion.

[Kim]

Yeah. And I want to like it, too! I've even tried the audio twice in addition to the print book, but no go. It's so long and just not worth it to me. Each time I try I get a few more chapters done before I want to poke myself in the eye and I quit. Maybe by the time my grandchildren are reading it, I'll have the series done - a couple chapters at a time. Ha ha.

[Cas ♛]

Kim wrote: "I liked Heroes of Olympus even less. Maybe because it was longer? Ha ha. I finally gave up halfway through House of Hades. They weren't bad or anything - they just annoyed me I guess. I think ..."

I actually liked HoO a lot more than PJ! I just felt that it was better because it was told from multiple POVs, not just Percy.

I agree that the books were quite long and could drag on at certain points, but overall I enjoyed them a lot more than PJ.

[Erin Lynn]

How's everyone liking The Lightning Thief?

[Meme]

I really enjoyed The Lightning Thief! I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. The Greek Mythology was really interesting and I liked all the action.

The book and the movie are REALLY DIFFERENT. The book is WAY BETTER.

I can't wait to read Sea of Monsters!