Sea of Monsters Movie mini-review

When you read a book, you have a picture in your head of what the characters look like, right? And sometimes, when there's a movie made where the actor looks nothing like you pictured, you can't help but be a little disappointed.

That happened to me yesterday.

I went to go see Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters with my two best friends from elementary school, who were the ones who introduced me to the series. We did not have high hopes. Therefore, we were pleasantly surprised! The movie got the broad strokes of the book right, and overall, even as an adaptation, it wasn't bad. We agreed that Clarisse was a little too small and we were all SUPER DISAPPOINTED at the lack of guinea pigs, sirens, and man-eating sheep, but overall, well worth the six bucks we paid.

But one thing majorly kept throwing me. Tyson. The guy who played him was great, and perfectly fit my mental image, except for one fact.

He was white.

In my head, Tyson is a big, African-American-looking dude. He's dark. Darker than Grover, even! So when this pasty white kid shows up with dreads and one eye, I had to do a double-take. It kept weirding me out, even though I don't think it really caused too much of an issue -- the guy was spot on in every other characteristic.

Now, it's been a solid three years since I've read any of PJO. I've read some of Heroes of Olympus since then, but it's been a couple years on that front as well. I have no idea what the canon description of Tyson is, but I'm fairly sure that his race is never explicitly stated. But still -- I think it would have been awesome to have a little more diversity with the campers. Luke, Annabeth, Thalia, Clarisse, Percy, they're all white. At least Grover provides a LITTLE color.

*sigh*

Oh well. Maybe in the next one?

(THEY LEFT OUT THE PARTY PONIES WAIT A SECOND THIS IS NOT OKAY.)

A to Z Book Survey

Created by Jamie of Perpetual Page Turner

A to Z Book Survey

Author you’ve read the most books from:

I think the honor here goes to Ann M. Martin. Babysitters' Club, Babysitter's Little Sister, the Specials, Super Specials, the mysteries... I read most of them! 

Best Sequel Ever:

Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

Currently Reading:

Eleanor and Park, Intuition, Parallel, The Queen of Attolia... and those are just the ones I can see from where I'm sitting!

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Usually just water, if that. 

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical books all the way! I only have books on my phone when they're e-shorts as yet unreleased in book form.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

No one immediately comes to mind, but give me a while to think.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Book Thief, by Markus Zuzak

Hidden Gem Book:

My Most Excellent Year, by Steve Kluger. Almost no one has ever heard of it, but it is FANTASTIC

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

When I saw one of my friends reading Gregor the Overlander and immediately got it from the library to read myself. From there I discovered The Hunger Games  and the whole wide world of YA!

Just Finished:

A re-read of The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Anything super-Christian. I'll read overtly Jewish, overtly Muslim, overtly some made-up religion, but Christianity in novels usually rubs me the wrong way. (Disclaimer: I identify as Christian.)

Longest Book You’ve Read:

I guess The Hobbit? Or Gone with the Wind. But I read those back in fourth grade. I don't think I've recently read anything anywhere near that long.

Major book hangover because of:

Anna and the French Kiss  by Stephanie Perkins

Number of Bookcases You Own:

I have four in my room right now, for a total of 27 shelves. Most are double-stacked, and some of the books I share with my sister are in her room, and the ones I share with my dad are elsewhere. Also there are piles. Piles everywhere.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskins. 

Preferred Place To Read:

Anywhere I can scrunch down and put my feet up.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

"Let me tell you about it," from Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak

Reading Regret:

I regret giving away all my Charlie Bone books before the whole series was out. 

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

I rarely rarely rarely actually finish a series. Right now, the Hourglass trilogy and the Attolia books are at the forefront.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger, and When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Harry Potter. After all this time, you may ask? Always.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. The wait for this is KILLING ME. 

Worst Bookish Habit:

I dog-ear my pages. 

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet

Your latest book purchase:

 Intuition by CJ Omololu

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner