Greek Street: Blood Calls for Blood by Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfeelice

Title: Greek Street Vol. 1: Blood Calls for Blood

Author: Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfeelice

Publisher: Vertigo 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

Inspired by classical Greek dramas, the series constructs a crime epic following intertwined stories in modern London and most succeeds in channeling the shock value of the original works.

What would happen if we took the classic Greek dramas and set them in today's world?  Would they fundamentally change?  Milligan shows us that the answer is a resounding NO!  All the stories, the triumphs, the tragedies, the characters from ancient Greece are still with us.

I loved this gritty, definitely not for kids, graphic novel outlying the undying lessons.  All the remembered characters are here (Cassandra, Daedalus, Oedipus, Agamemnon, the Furies, the Fates, the Greek chorus) placed into modern bodies.  I love that this is set in the nasty parts of London, Greek Street, almost a world unto itself.  We feel for the tragedy of Eddie (Oedipus).  We sympathize with Sandy"s (Cassandra) plight.  We loathe Lord Menon's (Agamemnon) and the Furies' despicable behavior.  We hope for Detective Daedalus' future.  Will his blood be spilled while Jesus watches?

This first volume pushes the stories.  Retelling them, but adding new connecting bits.  I really want to read the second volume.  And the third coming out early next year.  Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after issue #16, so I must enjoy it while I can.  I like to think of it as a darker Fables series.  Definitely something perfect for me.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon -- Mini Challenge #1

From IB Book Blogging:

There will be two winners today. The winners will each get to choose from four mythology books that I have in my giveaway pile. They include an ARC of Die for Me by Amy Plum, an ARC of Wildefire by Karsten Knight, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton. That sounds awesome, right?? You can post your response to the questions on your blog, twitter, or facebook. Winners will be selected at random from each linky after the read-a-thon ends on July 13th at 11:59 p.m. Make sure to answer both questions and put your link to the answers in the linky below Question 2.

What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc)?

I am definitely going to have to go with Greek Mythology.  While Egyptian is interesting, I could never remember all the different gods and goddesses and their stories.  I have a good memory when it comes to Greek.  Maybe it has to do with all my background in history.  Maybe because of all my reading.  Maybe I watched too many Greek myth related movies as a child.  (I'm talking about you Clash of the Titans! -- definitely not the new one)  And Roman mythology is just Greek with some Etruscan influences.  Definitely Greek!!!

Mini Challenge Question 2:  

What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?

Since I love Greek mythology, is it any wonder that I thoroughly devoured the Percy Jackson series?  I read the series to my boys for their nighttime book, but I think I enjoyed them way more that the boys did.  I absolutely loved the series.  And we finally picked up

The Lost Hero

.  So I can now start on the new series!

The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Demigod Files

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Hyperion Books 2009

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Pages: 151

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library

Since the boys and I finished the Percy Jackson series, we've been reading other books until I could get a hold of The Lost Hero.  Well I got a copy, but I didn't want to dive into the story right away.  So, I found this little volume at the library to tide us over.  (We've actually started a stand alone adventure book, Rex Riders, since reading The Demigod Files.The Lost Hero is pushed back a bit.)

It contains three original Percy Jackson stories set before the fifth book.  We especially loved "Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades."  A great story featuring Percy, Thalia, and Nico working together to retrieve Hades' new sword.  All set in the Underworld, we encounter Persephone, Sisyphus, Melinoe, Ethan Nakamura, and the Titan Iapetus.  Of course life threatening actions occur and plenty of little sarcastic asides from Percy.  A great little story to for the series.

The volume also included interviews with the Stoll Brothers, Clarisse, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.  Fun little extra information for fans of the series. Also, a word search, a crossword puzzle, map of Camp Half-Blood, contents of Annabeth's trunk, and chart of the major gods and goddesses.

Overall, fun little book!

Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green

Title: Tales of the Greek Heroes

Author: Roger Lancelyn Green

Publisher: Puffin Classics 2009

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 272

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: May Read and Review

After the boys and I finished reading the Percy Jackson series, we wanted to take a break from a series and read a standalone book.  So we turned to Rudyard Kipling and then to Roger Lancelyn Green.  The boys showed an interest in Greek mythology.  I picked this up to be a companion to the Percy series.  And it was definitely a hit with the boys.  N especially loved making the connections between the original stories and the Percy versions.  Every few pages I would have to stop and help them work through the connections.  They would get this little spark of recognition that I absolutely adore.  They're learning mythology and enjoying reading at the same time.  A perfect combination.  I hope this interest continues into our next book.  We haven't chosen it yet, but we have tons of possibilities lying around the room.

I would definitely recommend this volume to elementary age children, although I enjoyed it also.  Green takes the Greek myths and strings them together into more of a history of Greece.  He helps the reader see the continuity and connections throughout the mythology.  He even explains certain ones just to help you out.  However, I never felt like this was just a children's book.  The vocabulary was challenged for elementary age without being overwhelming.  Great little book of stories!