Fiction: Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

I am reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, I've just started the second book The Sea of Monsters. So far I am enjoying the series very much, the books are clever and humorous in the way that they give a modern, quirky interpretation to Greek myth. A book series like this, however, cannot help but be compared to the Harry Potter series, though it be an unfair comparison. Many of the story elements, particularly showing magic/myth in the real world, are similar but each series sets out to do different things. I am glad that the comparison does not seem to be diminishing the popularity of this series.

http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/0786838655/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217083517&sr=8-1

News: Thar She Blows.

A new white whale has been spotted off the coast of Australia, please keep Capt. Ahab away.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7519263.stm

Fiction: The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp

Just finished reading The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey. This was a good story with a very compelling "loser" as a main character. In fact, it is seeing how this seemingly ordinary, down on himself teen responds to the most desperate situations that drove me on as a reader. Very well done.

http://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Adventures-Alfred-Kropp/dp/B000Z41MS0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216344417&sr=8-2

Fiction: Standard Hero Behavior

I recently read the book Standard Hero Behavior by John David Anderson. I enjoyed this book immensely! Two bumbling teens are off on a quest to find heroes to save their village and run into all manner of tongue-in-cheek trouble. Highlights include a narcoleptic swordsman, a hero with ads from merchant sponsors all over his armor and a witch that can't cackle. The book is an interesting blend of fantasy with elements of today's society and it actually delivers a nice message too. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Hero-Behavior-David-Anderson/dp/0618759204/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216038591&sr=8-1