Hello, and welcome to my first passion blog post of the Spring Semester! As I said on the page to introduce my passion blog, I will be blogging about books that have affected me throughout my life (this will also function as a list of books that I recommend, because I would recommend anyone to read these books). If you guys have any suggestions about what you would like to see in this blog (any books that you’d like to see me discuss, etc.), let me know in the comments. Also, if you have any questions about the blog, also leave a comment. So, without further ado, here is my first blog post.
In regards to reading, there are two things that you need to know about me: 1. I love to read, and 2. I love to read context and background information. I love a good backstory. So this first blog is my backstory, how I learned to love to read.
It was a Tuesday some time in Fourth grade, and I was in the elementary school library (I know it was a Tuesday because our class always went to the library on Tuesdays). I was browsing through the books when I remembered the book reports that my classmates had given early in the year. This memory directed me to one specific book: The Lightning Thief, the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Immediately, I was hooked. The plot captured my attention, as Percy made his way throughout the hybridized ancient greek/modern world. The narrator, Percy himself, amused me as he recounted the events in his own humorous tone. But most importantly, I learned that hours can just melt away if you’re truly enthralled in a book. Beforehand, I read books just to do something, and I always seemed to be somewhat detached from the characters and plot. With The Lightning Thief , I became invested. I believed that the fate of the world was at stake. I believed that Percy was a real person, thrust into the events and conflicts of the Greek Gods.
Lucky for me, this book was the first of a series of five. This ensured the fact that my newly discovered love of reading wouldn’t dissipate. Instead, I continued on to the next book, and then the one after that, all the way until I had read all five books in the series. Not only was my appetite for reading satisfied, I felt like I had developed new friendships as I had gotten to know Percy and his friends, and I felt satisfied that the world wouldn’t end any time soon (now I’m not so sure).
While these books taught me lessons that I still hold with me, such as knowledge is power and that heroes don’t always have to be stereotypically heroic, these books taught me that reading is fun and enjoyable. Getting to know characters and hanging on every word that an author writes is one of the best feelings in the world, and I’ll never forget that, as I (obviously) continue to read for enjoyment to this day. These books are the backstory to this blog, as I wouldn’t have let books affect me without The Lightning Thief.
Hey Matt, it’s been good to meet you this semester,
I absolutely LOVED reading the Percy Jackson books back in middle school, so I know where you’re coming from when it comes to appreciating the inner dialogue of the characters and the wild mythological events that happen. Personally, the down-to-earth attitude of Percy Jackson is what kept me hooked when I was reading that series. Furthermore, I really enjoyed appreciating the messages as you mentioned, including people become heroes rather than just born them. The only bad memory I have about the series is the movies. If you’ve seen them, you know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t, please, they are so bad and unrelated to the book… don’t watch them.
Hey Matt, apologies for the late comment. I completely forgot about leaving comments on blog posts. I am sometimes convinced we are all living the same life when I read posts like this. I absolutely adored the Percy Jackson books, and just like you, also liked reading all the background information and context and Greek myths that the books are about. I was equally enthralled with these books in my younger age and even continued reading with the rest of the series. Which makes me curious. Have you read the heroes of Olympus series? It is a direct continuation of the percy jackson series. It bridges the gap between Greek Demigods and Roman Demigods, and it brings back a lot of the characters from Percy Jackson, including Percy and Annabeth of course. I look forward to reading more about your favorite books, and I’ll remember to comment more promptly going forward.