07-17-2020, 01:49 PM | #16 |
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I gave the book 3/5 stars. I will put off reading every comment until the weekend. But I'm surprised that most readers have got negative views on a book that is different than most of the books of the months. I thought my view would be the most forbidding one. I found myself liking the book overall, and in my review I did mentioned that the book was like R.L. Stine's books in terms of limited appeal. I was too right, according to the reaction here.
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07-17-2020, 03:31 PM | #17 | |
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Does the writing get better in any of the other books or is it too middle grade at best? |
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07-17-2020, 03:37 PM | #18 | |
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07-20-2020, 08:34 AM | #19 |
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Unfortunately, I think I'm too old, in that I tend to value only reality for my remaining years--no time for silly nonsense. At least that's the only theory I have for why I can't fathom why any adult would find any part of this enjoyable.
Thank you, Catlady, abandoning now at 60% read. |
07-20-2020, 11:31 AM | #20 |
cacoethes scribendi
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Well, you know what they say about getting old? It's not for the faint of heart, but it's better than the alternative.
But you don't need an excuse. Not everyone will enjoy every book (but please don't knock silly nonsense just because it's not your sort of silly nonsense ). Join us next round to nominate something more to your tastes. |
07-20-2020, 12:38 PM | #21 |
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It's true, I often love silly nonsense (Jeeves & Wooster, for example), but this particular silly nonsense was just so poorly written that I couldn't just bury myself in it. Too bad, I actually had hopes for this book. Sigh.
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07-20-2020, 01:29 PM | #22 | |
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I know my lack of appreciation for fantasy that involves any superpowers is extreme. I've been trying to figure out why, and age seems to fit the best. I also don't appreciate what seems to me to be a lack of craft, in that it appears to be too easy for authors to just make up crazy stuff to get out of any bad situation. "You think I wrote that post above? That wasn't me, it was my best friend the all-password-knowing goat!" Seems too easy. |
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07-20-2020, 06:58 PM | #23 | |
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07-20-2020, 09:37 PM | #24 |
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We all have our limits for the crazy stuff we will, or will not, accept. They are just at different levels or types.
The best fantasy worlds have their own rules and must operate within those rules or the story falls apart - and there are some that do fall apart, I had one series do this around book 5 or 6 (they were long books). And some do cheat for their ending (literally the hand of God in some cases), although a few seem to get away with it, at least for most their audience. All that said, one of the things I've noticed about the many variations of stories based on ancient mythology is that the rules tend to be quite loose. This can be because my knowledge is limited, and so sometimes the author is using some aspect I was previously not aware of, but I also think it's because the myths themselves played pretty fast and loose. I didn't find Percy to be any more guilty of this than most. |
07-21-2020, 12:09 AM | #25 |
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Thinking about this a bit more, one thing that bugged me a bit was the first person perspective that has become so common to YA and middle-grade stories, what I've come to think of as First-Person-Self-Obsessed.
The self-obsessed part wasn't too excessive in this book, which is what typically bugs me the most in YA works, but the first person perspective means that the text can become awkward in places as it tries to integrate details that happened elsewhere (off-camera, if you like). The confrontation with Ares near the end is a particularly awkward moment that still stands out in my mind. |
07-21-2020, 05:11 AM | #26 | |
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And there’s no doubt but that playing with worlds based on mythological narrative structures can go in all sorts of directions. In my last post I mentioned Tenn’s A Lamp for Medusa. There’s a case where the myth becomes science fiction. Yet it all works (for me, anyhow). I think the liberties taken by Riordan are par for the course and are generally entertaining. I am going to read more because, as you note, the ratings remain high. Maybe I’ll be disappointed but the Harry Potter series certainly increased in strength and possibly this will happen to Percy Jackson. Last edited by fantasyfan; 07-21-2020 at 05:16 AM. |
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07-21-2020, 06:13 AM | #27 | |
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07-21-2020, 06:18 AM | #28 |
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I cannot stand Le Guin. She's is so overrated. One of her books was a book club pick and it did not go over well.
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07-21-2020, 06:56 AM | #29 | ||
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I'm sorry, but the above was a conjunction I just could not resist ... it's been said before, I should try harder. |
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07-21-2020, 08:28 AM | #30 |
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