Book Review: "The Lost Hero"

I think Rick Riordan might be my favorite author. First he wrote the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, which were 5 fantastic books. Then he got started on "The Kane Chronicles", which I thoroughly enjoyed. And now, he's giving us a sequel to the Percy Jackson series, "The Heroes of Olympus." I just completed it's first book, "The Lost Hero."

"The Lost Hero" is different from the Percy Jackson books in that it is told from a 3rd person point of view, and centers around 3 new heroes...Jason, Piper and Leo. This story takes place about 1 year after "The Last Olympian" (the final book in the Percy Jackson series), and things are amiss all around. First, Jason shows up at Camp Half-Blood, and is pretty sure he doesn't belong there, but he is also suffering from amnesia so he doesn't know why. Piper and Leo have memories of Jason that may or may not be real. It turns out, all 3 are demigods...children of the Greek gods. Oh, and one hero of Camp Half-Blood has gone missing (I bet you can't guess who that is).

I loved this book...couldn't put it down. I read it's 557 pages in about 4 sittings. The 3rd person point of view didn't bother me at all, and I liked that Riordan continually switches the focus between Jason, Piper and Leo. All 3 characters are great and mold well with the carry-over characters from the Percy Jackson series. I did miss some of the old characters, but I think all of my old favorites will gain more prominent roles and the series progresses. There's also the suspense of not knowing where the lost hero is and the worry over that throughout the book that kept me turning pages. Just a top notch story.

But, I will issue a warning, there is quite the cliffhanger at the end, so if you don't like cliffhangers, wait for the 2nd book to be released next fall. The title of the next book will be "Son of Neptune"...hmmm, wonder who that could be?

Liberal Translator

I read a blog on MSNBC today that has given me a great opportunity to use my Liberal Translator. The blog discusses the current Democratic campaign strategy of urging people not to vote with their emotions, specifically anger. Very interesting tact for a party that relies on emotion, not logic, to get their people elected. But, that's a topic for another blog.

So, here's how this works...I find things that liberals say in the media and then I translate it to tell you what the liberal really means.

First, this quote from former President Bill Clinton:

"People are angry," former President Bill Clinton said yesterday at a campaign event for Washington state incumbent Sen. Patty Murray. "But when you make a decision when you're mad about anything, not just politics -- there's an 80 percent chance you make a mistake."

Translation - you little people seem really ticked off, so rather than exercise your Constitutionally guaranteed right to vote, just stay home.

And now this quote from our current President, Barack Obama:

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now, and facts and science and argument do not seem to be winning the day all the time, is because we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared," Obama told Democratic donors at a fundraiser in Massachusetts last week. "And the country is scared."

Translation - I'm so much smarter than all of you pathetic uneducated slobs. I'm so smart that there is no way you weak minded fools can possibly understand the genius of my policies. In fact, the depth of my brain power has so astonished your feeble minds, that the only way you can respond to it is with fear. And it is that fear that blinds you to my brilliance.

And then finally this, from Professor Eric Herzik of the Department of Political Science at the University of Nevada Reno. Professor Herzik is discussing the Harry Reid/Sharron Angle race. Senator Reid has repeatedly categorized Angle's views as "extreme". Professor Herzik said the following when discussing the message of a recent Harry Reid ad:

"You're mad at Obama. So you're going to let Sharron Angle be your senator? You may be angry about the economy, but the alternative is not a good alternative" for many voters in the state who think that Angle is "just too crazy."

Translation - Anyone who disagrees with a Democratic policy is crazy and doesn't know what is good for them. Trust us, we know what's best for you, even if you disagree with us.

That's all I have tonight folks. Hopefully we'll get some more opportunities for me to use this translation skill I have in the near future.