For as long as I can remember, the Percy Jackson and following Heroes of Olympus series’ have been easily my favorite books. I’ve read hundred of books since then, but the nostalgia of these books for some reason just hit me in a way that no others series has ever been able to come close to.
Because of the new Percy Jackson show, I decided to pick up the books for a reread. I do want to add that this is my first time reading the books as an adult, and by no means would i say that I dislike the series now, but all of a sudden so many flaws that were once left unnoticed feel so visible to me now.
I think a huge part of it is that I used to put the author on a pedestal, and so a lot of problems I may have noticed felt easy to disregard because I trusted his “vision”, but after the release of the new show, I can no longer say I feel the same way.
Also, before people jump at me for criticizing, a children’s book, just because content is aimed at children does not put it above criticism. I’m obviously not judging it by the same standards I would an adult novel, but there multiple plot inconsistencies, poor chatacterizations and underwhelming endings that I can’t say I love.
I still love the series, it will always be a huge part of my identity (I literally have multiple tattoos commemorating it on my body), but I do have a different perspective on the books now. I was curious to know if this is a shared experience for anyone else.
by burnt_books
2 Comments
I loved Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series as a kid. Started to reread it a few years ago, and it did not age well. Weird class politics and sexual dynamics that I completely missed (or at least had forgotten about) the first time around. Disappointing.
The percy jackson books, like a lot of series for children, follow a strict formula per book. I’ve always found the world charming, even now as an adult, and go back on occasion for rereads while working via audiobook, but it’s not exactly a fine example of well written literature. But no one is expecting it to be.