The Last Olympian is the fifth and final book in the excellent Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. In the story, Percy and his friends and allies have to face Kronos and the Titans in a showdown over Mt. Olympus, conveniently located in New York City. Along with the titans, Percy and his friends must face a variety of monsters, including the powerful Typhon, who is rampaging across the country toward New York and attracting the attention of the Olympians. Percy also has to deal with the disturbing prophecy of his sixteenth year.
I don't want to give away any specifics about this book for people who have not yet read it. It was action packed though, with a very quick moving plot. Many of the familiar characters from other books return. Riordan also delves into areas of mythology which he had previously left unexplored in his other books, including the involvement of some of the minor gods.
I found The Last Olympian to be a satisfying conclusion to a great series. And while it seems to wrap up Percy's story, it does leave the door open for more tales about demigods.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Glacier Lake Trip Report
Our troop took a trip Glacier Lake on 6/21-6/22. Glacier Lake is located in the Bowman Lake area, north of I-80 and near Emigrant Gap and the intersection with Highway 20. After a drive on a bumpy gravel road, we pulled into the parking lot at Carr Lake. From there, the hike to Glacier Lake was about 5 miles. The hike itself was not bad in terms of terrain. It was a little steep as we approached out destination, but nothing really difficult. The problem was the mosquitoes! In many places that we crossed, it was swampy due to residual snowmelt and was teeming with mosquitoes. To add to the problem, we had to stop several times so the boys could check where we were on the map so that they would know where we were going.
When we reached Glacier Lake, it was gorgeous. It lies just north of the Black Buttes, which reach up past 8000 feet. As we approached the lake, we passed some smaller ponds which were still partially frozen. The surprising thing was just how much snow was still around the lake. The south side of the lake was completely covered with snow. As we walked around to the north end of the lake, the slope was also covered. Still, there was a large, open, snow-free area for camping. We set up our sleeping bags there with no tents. The clouds looked ominous for a little while, but then vanished. The other weather factors were not so nice though. It was quite chilly (at least to me), as the daytime high didn't pass 60, and it cooled off somewhat at night. What was worse though was that we were blasted with wind all night, so we did not get much sleep.
We woke up Monday morning for the hike out, and it was sunny and pleasant. The sky was clear, and the temperature was significantly higher. While we still had to deal with the mosquitoes, we made it out in pretty good time. I was sore afterward, but that is to be expected. My favorite part was trying out my newly acquired camera, as I took 200 pictures over the two day period. Next up is another backpacking trip, but it should be much easier, as we are bringing some first time backpackers.
Halfway Done (with reviews at least)!
The reason I started this blog was because of a kind of contest called The Cannonball Read that I read about on a website I visit frequently. The goal of the contest is to read 100 books in one year, although it is more of an individual challenge than a race against others. The other part of the challenge is to post reviews of each book that you read on a blog. The reviews don't have to be anything spectacular, but are supposed to illustrate that you have read the book.
Well for me, the reading is the easy part. Then I have to write the reviews. I have always had confidence that I would get through 100 books, especially with my months of leisure during the summer. However, the challenge has been writing a review for each one. I have hated writing since elementary school (and yet I make the students do tons of it), so I constantly put off writing the reviews when I finish each book. I am also somewhat self-conscious about my writing, as I don't want my reviews to sound like garbage, even though I know some of them do.
So now I have completed review number 50 (and finished reading book number 66) with several months to go. I am motivated to see this through to the end. I have also been contemplating adding other content to my blog, so now that I am making significant progress, I will actually follow through with this. Thank you to everyone who has been reading and tolerating my reviews so far, and I hope you are getting some ideas about things to read.
Well for me, the reading is the easy part. Then I have to write the reviews. I have always had confidence that I would get through 100 books, especially with my months of leisure during the summer. However, the challenge has been writing a review for each one. I have hated writing since elementary school (and yet I make the students do tons of it), so I constantly put off writing the reviews when I finish each book. I am also somewhat self-conscious about my writing, as I don't want my reviews to sound like garbage, even though I know some of them do.
So now I have completed review number 50 (and finished reading book number 66) with several months to go. I am motivated to see this through to the end. I have also been contemplating adding other content to my blog, so now that I am making significant progress, I will actually follow through with this. Thank you to everyone who has been reading and tolerating my reviews so far, and I hope you are getting some ideas about things to read.
#50: In a Sunburned Country
In a Sunburned Country describes Bill Bryson's journey through all parts of Australia. I have wanted to visit Australia for some time, so I was intrigued when I picked up the book, and became further hooked as I began reading.
Bryson begins his narrative by describing some of the many ways you can die in Australia. For example, several of the deadliest species of snakes in the world live on the continent. In the ocean, there are strong rip currents along with saltwater crocodiles. In the outback, there are the high temperatures, lack of water, and distance from everything. These are in addition to the more mundane ways that a person can die in other places.
Bryson also stresses how little most people know about Australia. He includes statistics about the rarity of Australia appearing in American news sources. To further illustrate his point, he tells the story of an Australian prime minister who simply vanished in the ocean. The leader of a very well-known country just disappeared, and very few people have heard of the story.
Now, on to the subject of the book. Bryson travels throughout the country, visiting all of its major cities and comparing and contrasting them. He describes the majestic landmarks of Sydney, the beauty of Perth and the dullness of Canberra, among other things. He also describes the countryside in between, taking trips to the outback and off the coast to the Great Barrier Reef.
No Bryson book would be complete without his sense of humor. Some choice examples include his listing of place names, such as the town of Tittybong, his summary of commentators at a cricket match that he heard on the radio during a long, lonely drive, and his story about how a dozen rabbits unfortunately led to major changes to the country's ecology.
If you like reading about distant places or have an interest in Australia, be sure to pick up In a Sunburned Country.
Bryson begins his narrative by describing some of the many ways you can die in Australia. For example, several of the deadliest species of snakes in the world live on the continent. In the ocean, there are strong rip currents along with saltwater crocodiles. In the outback, there are the high temperatures, lack of water, and distance from everything. These are in addition to the more mundane ways that a person can die in other places.
Bryson also stresses how little most people know about Australia. He includes statistics about the rarity of Australia appearing in American news sources. To further illustrate his point, he tells the story of an Australian prime minister who simply vanished in the ocean. The leader of a very well-known country just disappeared, and very few people have heard of the story.
Now, on to the subject of the book. Bryson travels throughout the country, visiting all of its major cities and comparing and contrasting them. He describes the majestic landmarks of Sydney, the beauty of Perth and the dullness of Canberra, among other things. He also describes the countryside in between, taking trips to the outback and off the coast to the Great Barrier Reef.
No Bryson book would be complete without his sense of humor. Some choice examples include his listing of place names, such as the town of Tittybong, his summary of commentators at a cricket match that he heard on the radio during a long, lonely drive, and his story about how a dozen rabbits unfortunately led to major changes to the country's ecology.
If you like reading about distant places or have an interest in Australia, be sure to pick up In a Sunburned Country.
#49: The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief is the first book in Rick Riordan's excellent Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. In this book, the protagonist is twelve-year-old Percy Jackson. He has always struggled with learning disabilities and always gets into trouble without trying, leading him to attend a different school every year. As a sixth grader, Percy attends a field trip to a museum with his class from the prestigious Yancy Academy. Although he tries to behave, he manages to vaporize his despised math teacher. Even stranger for him, it seems like no one has noticed. A new teacher appears out of nowhere, and no one has ever heard of the old one.
After this, Percy and his mom take a trip out to Long Island. A fierce storm arises, and Percy and his mom get into their car. Along the road, they meet Percy's friend Grover from school, who seems to Percy to be there randomly, although Percy had thought Grover knew more than he let on. They get into more trouble, and leading to a fight with a minotaur. Percy's mother disappears into thin air, but Percy manages to escape to a safe place - Camp Half-Blood.
At Camp Half-Blood, Percy finds himself in a new world. The Greek gods that he studied about in school are real. His former Latin teacher at Yancy Academy is a centaur and Grover is a satyr. Percy, like all of the other campers, is a half-blood: one parent is a mortal and one is a god. Unfortunately for Percy, he does not know who which god his father is.
Percy eventually figures out from some characteristics he exhibits and a revelation that his father is Poseidon, the sea god. This leads him to become embroiled in a three-way struggle between Poseidon, Zeus and Hades. In order to fix things and save the world, Percy must go on a quest to the gates to Hades, located in Los Angeles. He is allowed to bring two friends: Grover, and Annabeth, a brilliant daughter of Athena.
The Lightning Thief is a very engaging book to read for two reasons. It is packed with action, the author also incorporates a lot of humor. I read it to my class this year, and they enjoyed it thoroughly. Several of the kids read the series on their own, and it got them interested in Greek mythology due to Riordan's seamless incorporation of the mythology into the story. I strongly recommend it!
After this, Percy and his mom take a trip out to Long Island. A fierce storm arises, and Percy and his mom get into their car. Along the road, they meet Percy's friend Grover from school, who seems to Percy to be there randomly, although Percy had thought Grover knew more than he let on. They get into more trouble, and leading to a fight with a minotaur. Percy's mother disappears into thin air, but Percy manages to escape to a safe place - Camp Half-Blood.
At Camp Half-Blood, Percy finds himself in a new world. The Greek gods that he studied about in school are real. His former Latin teacher at Yancy Academy is a centaur and Grover is a satyr. Percy, like all of the other campers, is a half-blood: one parent is a mortal and one is a god. Unfortunately for Percy, he does not know who which god his father is.
Percy eventually figures out from some characteristics he exhibits and a revelation that his father is Poseidon, the sea god. This leads him to become embroiled in a three-way struggle between Poseidon, Zeus and Hades. In order to fix things and save the world, Percy must go on a quest to the gates to Hades, located in Los Angeles. He is allowed to bring two friends: Grover, and Annabeth, a brilliant daughter of Athena.
The Lightning Thief is a very engaging book to read for two reasons. It is packed with action, the author also incorporates a lot of humor. I read it to my class this year, and they enjoyed it thoroughly. Several of the kids read the series on their own, and it got them interested in Greek mythology due to Riordan's seamless incorporation of the mythology into the story. I strongly recommend it!
#48: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is Bill Bryson's very amusing memoir of growing up in Des Moines, Iowa during the 1950's. Bryson grew up in a middle-class family, with his parents, who both wrote for the local newspaper, and his brother and sister. He describes with nostalgia the adventures he engaged in as a young boy in a quick changing society.
One of the amusing things in Bryson's book is the cavalier attitude toward safety that people in the 50's had compared with today. He describes nuclear tests in Nevada in which the fallout could easily drift across populated areas, but people did not care. In fact, they actually went closer to these sites to get a better look. He also talks about things like the preponderance of food dyes, preservatives, and artificial flavors, which people looked at as signs of progress in food preparation without considering any adverse effects.
Bryson also describes his superhero alter ego, as described in the title. Whenever someone such as a teacher or other mean adult offended him, the Thunderbolt Kid would come out that person would be vaporized.
If you have ever read anything else by Bill Bryson, you know that he has a great sense of humor. He also engages in many escapades with a variety of characters. Some brief anecdotes include when he was in high school and there was a plot to liberate beer from the distributor, as well as a set of too smart for their own good brothers who get the idea to set off an explosive device in a high school field. It is the stories like these that make the reader laugh repeatedly.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is a book that I would highly recommend, and it encouraged me to go to the library and pick up more books by Bill Bryson.
One of the amusing things in Bryson's book is the cavalier attitude toward safety that people in the 50's had compared with today. He describes nuclear tests in Nevada in which the fallout could easily drift across populated areas, but people did not care. In fact, they actually went closer to these sites to get a better look. He also talks about things like the preponderance of food dyes, preservatives, and artificial flavors, which people looked at as signs of progress in food preparation without considering any adverse effects.
Bryson also describes his superhero alter ego, as described in the title. Whenever someone such as a teacher or other mean adult offended him, the Thunderbolt Kid would come out that person would be vaporized.
If you have ever read anything else by Bill Bryson, you know that he has a great sense of humor. He also engages in many escapades with a variety of characters. Some brief anecdotes include when he was in high school and there was a plot to liberate beer from the distributor, as well as a set of too smart for their own good brothers who get the idea to set off an explosive device in a high school field. It is the stories like these that make the reader laugh repeatedly.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is a book that I would highly recommend, and it encouraged me to go to the library and pick up more books by Bill Bryson.
#47: Youth in Revolt: The Journals of Nick Twist
I first read Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne a couple of years ago. Due to the upcoming movie starring Michael Cera, I decided to read it again. Because of the absurd nature of the story and the ridiculous situations that Nick gets into, I enjoyed the book as much as I remembered.
Youth in Revolt describes the travails of Nick Twisp, a 14-year-old living in the wonderful city of Oakland. His main objective in life is to lose his virginity. His parents are divorced, and when Nick's father loses his job, Nick is forced to leave his private school and endure the Oakland public school system. He quickly decides this is not for him and looks for a way out.
During the summer on a trip to Clear Lake (a couple of hours north of Oakland), Nick met Sheeni Saunders, the girl of his dreams. They scheme to get Nick's father a job in Sheeni's hometown of Ukiah (further north) and for Nick to behave so badly that he gets sent to live with his dad. Their plot seems to work, until Nick gets to Ukiah and finds out that Sheeni and her ex-boyfriend have transferred to a private school in Santa Cruz.
From here, the plot continues to thicken. Nick gets himself in to situations that are more and more ridiculous in order to try and reunite with Sheeni, and leaves a huge trail of damage in his wake. Sometimes, trouble just finds him without any effort. As things happen, one after another, the plot keeps the reader entertained.
Youth in Revolt is a hilarious novel. If you are expecting something serious, look for another book to read. However, if you want a book with an authentic voice that will keep you laughing out loud, pick this one up.
Youth in Revolt describes the travails of Nick Twisp, a 14-year-old living in the wonderful city of Oakland. His main objective in life is to lose his virginity. His parents are divorced, and when Nick's father loses his job, Nick is forced to leave his private school and endure the Oakland public school system. He quickly decides this is not for him and looks for a way out.
During the summer on a trip to Clear Lake (a couple of hours north of Oakland), Nick met Sheeni Saunders, the girl of his dreams. They scheme to get Nick's father a job in Sheeni's hometown of Ukiah (further north) and for Nick to behave so badly that he gets sent to live with his dad. Their plot seems to work, until Nick gets to Ukiah and finds out that Sheeni and her ex-boyfriend have transferred to a private school in Santa Cruz.
From here, the plot continues to thicken. Nick gets himself in to situations that are more and more ridiculous in order to try and reunite with Sheeni, and leaves a huge trail of damage in his wake. Sometimes, trouble just finds him without any effort. As things happen, one after another, the plot keeps the reader entertained.
Youth in Revolt is a hilarious novel. If you are expecting something serious, look for another book to read. However, if you want a book with an authentic voice that will keep you laughing out loud, pick this one up.
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