Top Ten Tuesdays: Books I’d Love to See as Movies

toptentuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by Capturyyyy

June 2nd Is Top Ten Books I’d Love to See as Movies or TV Shows

A lot of books I love have already been turned into movies or TV shows with varying results of awesomeness and some being just plain shitty!

So this is my list of ones I think they should give ago – FYI I’m available for creative input into the production process if you’re interested; Sony? Universal? Disney? Anybody?

Movies:

(1) The Divided” by Amy A. Bartol

(2) We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach 

(3) Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

(4) Jump Girl by Leigh Hutton

(5) Rev Girl by Leigh Hutton

(6) Longhorn by Jo Baker

TV Series:

(7) The Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan

(8) The Jack Reacher Series by Lee Child without Tom Cruise anywhere near the project

I stopped at eight – thinking so hard at this time of the morning was starting to hurt :-P.

Top Ten Tuesdays: 1st Attempt

toptentuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by Capturyyyy

May 19th’s Top Ten Tuesday is Freebie YOUR CHOICE OF TOPIC and because this is my first Top Ten Tuesday, I was like ummmmmmmm. So I read back though the recent list and went for April 7th’s Top Ten Characters You’d Like To Check In With.

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1) Percy Jackson  – Is he as adorable in his late thirty’s? Did he marry Annabeth and live happily ever after in New Rome? (Percy Jackson and the Olympians series & The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan).

2 & 3-ish) Mr Darcy and all those Bennett sisters – Did Mary and Kitty ever find a man? Did Lydia ever grow up? Did Lizzy and Jane live happily ever after with their wealthy men? (Pride and Prejudiced by Jane Austen).

4) Albert – Did he find the promise land, old Australia? Did he find where his heart and soul belonged? What happened to that wonderful platypus!!!! (Albert of Adelaide by Howard L. Anderson).

5) TJ – What adventures and mischief did he get into once he parted ways with Albert? (Albert of Adelaide by Howard L. Anderson).

6 & 7) Wanda and Melanie – What became of their lives and loves? How did the earth hold up? Did the humans take over again? (The Host by Stephenie Meyer) on closer look at this it seem that Meyer was going to turn it into a trilogy, but back when it came out and I read it in 2008 it was a one off as far as I know??

8) Seth – I loved that little wolf boy, what ever happened to him and his sister? (The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer).

9) All the Characters in We all looked up – Did the meteor kill them all? Did some of the earth survive? (We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach).

10) Luna Lovegood – What ever happened to her? Did she get happily ever after with kids? Did she continue the Quibbler for her father or did she get herself some other magical profession (The Harry Potter phenomenon by J.K. Rowling).

The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

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Synopsis:

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they’re stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it “might” be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea’s army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

 My Thoughts:

The seven demigods of the prophecy Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Leo, Piper, Hazel, and Frank are going on their final adventure to defeat Gaea, while Nico, Reyna and Coach Hedge attempt to bring the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood  – Ok, awesome high action and high-jinx to come – Right?

What I was hoping to get out of this final instalment, keeping in mind I’ve invested ten books worth of emotion into this world of Riordan’s:

  • More of Reyna.
  • Nico coming out.
  • Percy being awesome and he and Annabeth living happily ever after.
  • Leo recusing Calypso.
  • An Epic finale.
  • Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter staying separate, but forming a truce and maybe even hinting at inter camp events later on.

The Blood of Olympus is the fifth and final book in The Heroes of Olympus series and the Tenth book if we look at it as one massive Percy Jackson Demigod Olympus saga, Which I Do.

The Blood of Olympus is fast paced and quick to get into the action. The last instalment definitely doesn’t disappoint on action and suspense. It has all the Riordan elements and style I have come to love, even if the Percy awesomeness is a little light (more on that later). We get monster battling and butt kicking, parental god drama, sibling rivalry, bromances and sister hoods forming.

In the five Percy Jackson and the Olympians books Percy was the viewpoint character, The Heroes of Olympus books swap chapter by chapter between the seven demigods of the prophecy. In Blood of Olympus the chapters are from the perspectives of Jason, Piper, Leo, Reyna and Nico, making this book the first time in the series that someone other than one of the seven demigods of the prophecy are the viewpoint character.

So whoop whoop we got plenty of Reyna as she was a viewpoint character – it was awesome I loved being in Reyna a Nico’s heads.

BUT I really missed Percy’s voice. It began with him and I wanted it to end with him. I was totally fine with another demigod saving the day (I love the others too), but I wanted to hear it or rather read it from Percy – major let down.

I was getting quite agitated at one stage when it felt like the book was turning into a bag-out-Percy-a-thon. I felt that maybe a few of Piper or Jason’s chapters could have been given to Percy and it would have made me love the book 100% – Like there was a really sweet scene between Percy and Annabeth, but it was from the perspective of Piper – Seriously, give me some insite into that Seaweed Brain.

Nico finds his place in the end and intends to stay on at Camp Half-Blood. He even opens up and tells Percy about the crush he had harboured for years. I was really nice to see Nico finally at peace with himself.

Leo, that adorable lil Latino and Festus his super-awesome-mechanical-bronze-save-the-day-dragon, Yes! Festus is back! And together they kick dirt mother butt (with help from Piper and Jason) and rescue Calypso from her island prison. Gods Yeah Leo!!!!

In the end a friendship is formed between Camp Half-blood and Camp Jupiter, where weekend visits and inter camp exchanges take place and they band together in times of need etc. So it’s a queasy-cheesy-happily-ever-after that all the demigods deserve.

It leaves me imagining old Percy and Annabeth in New Rome with grandkids running amuck as Percy stirs them up.

OR Leo and Calypso, exploring the world before returning to camp half-blood year’s later to accidently (and to everyone’s glee) gate crash Piper and Jason’s wedding.

4.5 stars because Leo is so Awesome, but it lost the 0.5 because there wasn’t enough Percy.

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus)

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus) by Rick Riordan

Goodreads Synopsis:

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

My Thoughts as a Fangirl:

I LOOOOVED IT!!!! I finished reading this book a few days ago and haven’t been able to bring myself to review it. I don’t know how to do this book justice. This book is brilliant. Well done Mr Riordan, you are awesome. I was thrown into a state of emotional shock and haven’t been able to pick up another book and move on yet. In the Heroes of Olympus series this is the fourth book, but if you read the whole Percy Jackson Saga it’s the Ninth. Please Mr Riordan get that final book out as fast as you can, I NEED it. I think I’ll have to reread ‘house of hades’ a few times between now and August to hold myself together.

My Thoughts as an adult (with a son who will be introduced to these books when he is the right age):

Thank You. Thank you for giving us heroes who deserve to be heroes. Thank you for giving us heroes from different backgrounds. THANK YOU for giving us heroes who have been pigeonholed as naughty kids. Heroes that are dyslexic and have ADHD. And THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving us a homosexual male hero, who is uncomfortable in his own skin and who feels he doesn’t fit it or belong. If more authors were to slip these things into their books, hidden so well the way you have the world would be a better place.

The story was full of action, adventure, love and accepting the truth. Enemies had to come together and new friends were made. There was comic relief in the form of Bob the titan and Little Bob the cat, which was needed after the intense maturing all the characters go through. A definite pleaser for teen or adult. There were struggles overcome and every one of the heroes shined and came into their own. Riordan has given us heroes to be proud of, all with different talents, all using them working together for the greater good.

Five Stars. Bring on the final instalment!

The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus) by Rick Riordan

Goodreads Synopsis:

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare….

My Thoughts:

You’d think what with four different demigods narrating the story it would get a bit confusing, but even though the story keeps jumping between the characters Riordan manages to make it flow so that you don’t get lost. I think if you weren’t familiar with the story and hadn’t followed the whole series you may find this the third instalment rather overwhelming with so much going on. The extreme pace and non-stop action of the story propels you forward, the story races over the pages. I’m only dropping it to Four stars instead of Five because in places I felt like some events got rushed as Riordan was trying to fit so much in. The hard work for our favourite demigods has only just begun! Unfortunately the story ends and the cliff-hanger with Percy and Annabeth will have you racing out to get the next book (the House of Hades).

I will add though that I really missed Tyson and Mrs O’Leary, their presence always warms my heart, I am rather hopping we will see them back again in the last book (The Blood of Olympus) for the final battle.

Four out of Five Stars – Bring on the House of Hades!!

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5)

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5) by Rick Riordan

Goodreads Synopsis:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate

My Thoughts: 

NOOOOOO!!!! It’s over. I just wanted to keep reading, I couldn’t stop! I’ve got a major book hangover now, I don’t want to move on. I want to know how Percy and Annabeth’s lives turn out.

This the final instalment of the Percy Jackson series is fast paced from the start and I LOVED the opening line: ‘’The end of the world started when a Pegasus landed on the hood of my car’’ Blackjack is pure awesomeness in Pegasus form. Action, action, action, Kronos defeated (for now!), Nico getting his chance to shine, a twist with Rachel Elizabeth Dare and even a little bit of romance, Percy and Annabeth together at last. There is so much packed into this book, but it flows wonderfully. It also finishes leading the way for Riordan’s follow up series ‘’Heroes of Olympus’’ which gives us a fresh new bunch half-blood campers to get to know and have adventures with.

I wasn’t all that drawn in when I first started to read this series, but oh boy in the end it got me. I’ve just downloaded ‘’The Demigod Diaries’’ short stories involving well you guessed it Demigods, then I guess I’m going to have to purchase and read the “Heroes of Olympus” book series so I can keep living in this world Riordan has created (I better get my looooong to read down a little bit first, or the husband will be mad at me for buying more books hehehehehe)

Brilliant!! Five Stars!! Mr Riordan

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read instalment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young reader’s series. Starring Percy Jackson, a “half-blood” whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliff-hanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each instalment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come

My thoughts:

I’m glad I persevered after reading the first one and not loving it, because this the second book in the series is awesome! For one I feel it’s faster passed with more action. Our hero’s Percy and Annabeth have to try and save one of my most loved characters from the first book Grover! Riordan also gives us another character to fall in love with in the form of Tyson! Of course at the end of the second book Riordan gives us a cliff-hanger ending propelling us into wanting to read the third instalment. The second is a much more engrossing book, but you would need the first to feel so.

Five Stars!! For young and old.