Jayson’s Reviews > The Chalice of the Gods > Status Update
Jayson
is on page 49 of 288
Notes:
(1) "[My mom] hummed as she worked—some Nirvana song, I think. 'Come as You Are'?"
- Well, in terms of pop culture references, it seems like Rick Riordan's graduated from the '80s to the '90s.
(2) This plot feels a lot lower stakes than usual.
- It's been so long since these books have been anything other than an "end of the world" situation.
(Continued in comments)
— Aug 30, 2024 06:45AM
Notes:
(1) "[My mom] hummed as she worked—some Nirvana song, I think. 'Come as You Are'?"
- Well, in terms of pop culture references, it seems like Rick Riordan's graduated from the '80s to the '90s.
(2) This plot feels a lot lower stakes than usual.
- It's been so long since these books have been anything other than an "end of the world" situation.
(Continued in comments)
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is on page 268 of 288
Notes:
(1) As a distraction, Grover hula-hoops while playing "Get Lucky" on his panpipes.
- I know the song's a decade old but, as a reference, it feels brand new and shiny compared to all the oldies mentioned in this book.
- Possibly, it's Grover's way of wishing Percy good luck on his mission, or an attempt to will success into existence via song.
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 03, 2024 06:15AM
Notes:
(1) As a distraction, Grover hula-hoops while playing "Get Lucky" on his panpipes.
- I know the song's a decade old but, as a reference, it feels brand new and shiny compared to all the oldies mentioned in this book.
- Possibly, it's Grover's way of wishing Percy good luck on his mission, or an attempt to will success into existence via song.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 220 of 288
Notes:
(1) "Paul says [Bob] Dylan was one of the best twentieth-century poets. I mean, the guy can rhyme leaders with parking meters. I guess that’s something?"
- First of all, assonance, while no doubt lyrical, is not rhyming.
- Secondly, as someone who rhymes nearly all my reviews, I'm no poet. While no piece of cake, rhyming does not a poet make.
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 02, 2024 06:50AM
Notes:
(1) "Paul says [Bob] Dylan was one of the best twentieth-century poets. I mean, the guy can rhyme leaders with parking meters. I guess that’s something?"
- First of all, assonance, while no doubt lyrical, is not rhyming.
- Secondly, as someone who rhymes nearly all my reviews, I'm no poet. While no piece of cake, rhyming does not a poet make.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 152 of 288
Notes:
(1) Grover plays Duran Duran's "Union of the Snake" on his pan pipes to lure away snakes. Kind of like St. Patrick crossed with the Pied Piper, except he gets chased.
- Hmm, you'd think snakes would find snake songs charming, you know, snake charming.
- He also plays YMCA and The Beatles' "Help," so it probably didn't need to be snake-themed.
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 01, 2024 05:35AM
Notes:
(1) Grover plays Duran Duran's "Union of the Snake" on his pan pipes to lure away snakes. Kind of like St. Patrick crossed with the Pied Piper, except he gets chased.
- Hmm, you'd think snakes would find snake songs charming, you know, snake charming.
- He also plays YMCA and The Beatles' "Help," so it probably didn't need to be snake-themed.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 102 of 288
Notes:
(1) Percy and Annabeth summon the goddess Hebe by singing a karaoke duet of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy."
- Man, these pop culture references are all over the place! I doubt any single person would get them all, you know, outside of Rick Riordan.
- "Jealous Guy" is a pretty deep cut. I doubt you'd actually be able to find it on a karaoke menu.
(Continued in comments)
— Aug 31, 2024 06:45AM
Notes:
(1) Percy and Annabeth summon the goddess Hebe by singing a karaoke duet of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy."
- Man, these pop culture references are all over the place! I doubt any single person would get them all, you know, outside of Rick Riordan.
- "Jealous Guy" is a pretty deep cut. I doubt you'd actually be able to find it on a karaoke menu.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is starting
Notes:
(1) Okay, I've put off reading this book for way too long. This is one of those pre-order purchases I just forgot about because I was never in the mood or was otherwise preoccupied.
- But with the sequel coming out imminently I finally have my motivation.
(2) I've not been following the hype so I don't know what I'm in for.
- Well, except that Riordan's going pack it with '80s references, as has been his wont.
— Aug 29, 2024 04:00AM
(1) Okay, I've put off reading this book for way too long. This is one of those pre-order purchases I just forgot about because I was never in the mood or was otherwise preoccupied.
- But with the sequel coming out imminently I finally have my motivation.
(2) I've not been following the hype so I don't know what I'm in for.
- Well, except that Riordan's going pack it with '80s references, as has been his wont.
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Yess, can't wait for your review and to read this book ( I'm currently at the fifth ) !
Aleksandra ♡ wrote: "Yess, can't wait for your review and to read this book ( I'm currently at the fifth ) !"Thanks, Aleksandra! I appreciate it. Hope you had a great time with the series, looking forward to seeing what you think of the fifth book. Happy reading 😁👍
- This being set in and around New York, I can only assume "FU" is more than just a dirty pun, and stands for Fordham University. My cousin went there.
- I can't say that I know any "ASU" in the Northeast.
(4) "Eudora flinched. 'Or we could look at some backup schools. Ho-Ho-Kus Community College is very nice!'"
- I had to look it up, and it turns out Ho-Ho-Kus is a real place, and not just a funny name.
- Though, as a reference, it's super regional. You'd pretty much have to know the area to get it.
(5) I've always maintained that part of Riordan's success with these books is that they run on video game logic.
- Specifically, point-and-click adventure games and its chain of favors.
- This doesn't disappoint. Percy needs three favors from three different gods, and each book in this apparent trilogy is a quid pro quo quest.
(6) Himbo Juice seems to be a gender-swapped version of Hooters. Objectified waiters dressed in tank tops.
- "Himbo," of course, meaning male bimbo.
- I know the characters are close to college-age here, but it's an oddly risqué addition to the series. As an after school hangout, The Max from Saved By the Bell this is not.
(7) The way this whole sequel series is set up, is seems as if Percy, Annabeth and Grover are running a detective agency.
- The scene where they meet with Ganymede and discuss the problem he wants solved is a scene right out of Sherlock Holmes.
(8) There are a lot of implicit callbacks at the start of this book.
- Percy musing about blueberries on pizza is a reference to his enjoyment of blue-colored food.
- Percy complains about gods always losing personal items and asking demigods to find them, which is a reference to the very first book and several of the companion stories.
(9) Annabeth suggests her and Percy do a karaoke duet of "Shallow."
- No idea what this was, I had to look it up. The 2010s are my cultural blind spot.
- Sometimes this series makes me feel so out of touch!