Man, it’s been over a month since I posted last. Although I have been reading, my reviewing & posting took a backseat to Christmas baking during December. So here’s to playing catch-up….
I read Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan in a day. I love this guy! And the stories he writes are amazing. I so want to be a demi-god, but I can’t decide between being a Daughter of Athena or a Daughter of Poseidon. Anyway, Riordan spins yet another wonderful story about Perseus Jackson and his adventures as a Son of Poseidon. This time, the very existence of Camp Half-Blood is being threatened by the bad guys. Someone has poisoned the tree that protects the camp, and now all sorts of nasties are attacking. Riordan again starts the story with Percy being attacked at school, this time by fierce cannibal giants who blow up the gym during a game of dodgeball that would give even Ben Stiller pause. Aided by his homeless hulk of a friend Tyson, who turns out to be much more than Percy imagined, and the ever-ready Annabeth, Percy escapes and heads back to Camp. He finds things much changed there, with beloved camp leader Chiron being replaced by Tantalus, who obviously doensn’t have the best interests of the campers at heart. Eventually, Percy, Annabeth and Tyson set off on a quest to find the Golden Fleece, the only thing that can cure the tree and save the camp. Great fun from one of the most talented writers around.
Less satisfying is Tony Hillerman’s latest, Shape Shifter. I said this about his last effort, too — Hillerman needs to find new material. He needs to let go of Joe Leaphorn and focus more on the characters of Jim and Bernie Chee. Leaphorn is tired and dull, and so is Shape Shifter. Very disappointing.
Right now, I’m reading the Rescue Artist: a True Story of Art Thieves and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece by Edward Dolnick, which is all about the theft of Edvard Munch’s The Scream and how it was recovered. So far, it is a fascinating look into the world of art theft, which sometimes includes books. Let me tell you, it has made me think twice about some of the rare books we have in the library and how they are accessed. After reading some of the things in this books, I think PBS or BBC should do a mystery series on the Art Squad of Scotland Yard. Very fascinating stuff….
It's All About the Book 