I’ve spent this weekend reading The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, the first in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. As I told you in an earlier post, these books are a hit with my kids, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I so admire Riordan for being able to introduce the complicated world of the gods and goddesses to such a young (or old!) audience in such a fun and engaging way.

My kids have now moved on to the Pandora series by Carolyn Hennessy, and are having fun discussing the similarities in the two series, where they diverge (my 7 year old informs me that Riordan calls the container that Pandora opens a “pithos”, which means “jar”, while Hennessy uses the term “box”. Makes my brain hurt.) and whether boys who love Percy Jackson will read the Pandora series.

Can grownups ever catch up?

Neil left a comment on the earlier post, It’s All Greek to Me, asking:

Other than the obvious classics (i.e Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey), can anyone suggest any adult fiction (as in, not young adult or kids fiction) books that involve Greek or Roman mythology? If not Greek or Roman, how about any other fiction books that involve the mythology of any other cultures?

I had the same question, so I posted it on twitter to get some immediate response. The twitter account @askindies is manned by dozens of independent booksellers from a variety of stores. If you post a book question to @askindies, you’ll likely get several well-informed answers by passionate, knowledgable booksellers (see this article from Bookselling This Week for more information). Their responses, along with others from various bookish twitter types, have given me a list that will keep me reading until the end of Western Civilization.

The most-recommended book was Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips. Bethanne Patrick (@thebookmaven), says “GODS BEHAVING BADLY is delightful; such dark humor, told with such a deft touch”. This story, set in the 21st century and featuring the 12 gods of Mount Olympus sharing a London townhouse is exactly what I was looking for. I’m buying this on my next bookstore visit. It was also recommended by @bookavore (Stephanie of WORD bookstore in Brooklyn), @jennsbookshelf of Jenn’s Bookshelves.

Hope, (@taueret), one of our first Books on the Nightstand readers and listeners, and creator of the term “literary kryptonite,” recommends American Gods by Neil Gaiman, which tells of the old-world European titans (not just Greek), who immigrated along with their human believers, preparing to do battle with the newer American gods of commerce and marketing. It sounds fantastic, and has been added to my list.

Joe Foster (@joebfoster) of Maria’s Bookshop in Durango, CO recommended Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold, by CS Lewis, which is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. – “Not as funny as Percy, to be sure, but a classic, ” says Joe.

Booksellers who twitter on behalf of their bookstores also responded. Because I don’t know the names of the people behind the twitter accounts, I am using the store name. Please know that I am fully aware that the physical bookstores themselves cannot yet tweet.

Skylight Books http://twitter.com/skylightbooks in Los Angeles says: “I love the Canongate Myth series, contemporary authors retell ancient myths in their own style. Especially Victor Pelevin & Ali Smith.” Keith Arsenault (@KeithArsenault), former bookseller and now sales manager for book distributor Publishers Group West, recommends Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad, also part of the same series.

Leftunder Books of Catawber, VA says that “Sheri S. Tepper’s The Gate to Women’s Country has a Greek drama woven into its plot” (@leftunderbooks)

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• http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/ Harry Markov

  I haven’t heard about Gods behaving badly, but I think it’s going to be quite some fun. American Gods has been on my TBR list for quite some time and plan on finally reading it.

  PS: Just so you know I sent an e-mail to you regarding the interview swap for the BBAWs in September.

• http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/ Harry Markov

  I haven’t heard about Gods behaving badly, but I think it’s going to be quite some fun. American Gods has been on my TBR list for quite some time and plan on finally reading it.

  PS: Just so you know I sent an e-mail to you regarding the interview swap for the BBAWs in September.

• Chris Kovach

  I was totally into Greek myths as a kid. I enjoyed Gods Behaving Badly and American Gods is fantastic. The sequel Anasazi Boys is good too.

  I’ll have to check out the Pandora series and compare to Percy Jackson. I really like the Jackson books.

• Chris Kovach

  I was totally into Greek myths as a kid. I enjoyed Gods Behaving Badly and American Gods is fantastic. The sequel Anasazi Boys is good too.

  I’ll have to check out the Pandora series and compare to Percy Jackson. I really like the Jackson books.

• Tanya

  THE NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS by Thorne Smith (written in the 1920′s) is about an eccentric scientist who manages to figure out (with the help of a leprechaun) how to turn statues into life. He hits up the Met and turns the statues of the Greek gods into life and they in turn are set loose in NYC during Prohibition. It’s a little dated in style, but still really funny.

• Tanya

  THE NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS by Thorne Smith (written in the 1920′s) is about an eccentric scientist who manages to figure out (with the help of a leprechaun) how to turn statues into life. He hits up the Met and turns the statues of the Greek gods into life and they in turn are set loose in NYC during Prohibition. It’s a little dated in style, but still really funny.

• Tanya

  Oops! Correction: THE NIGHT OF THE GODS was written in 1931.

• Tanya

  Oops! Correction: THE NIGHT OF THE GODS was written in 1931.

• http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

  Thanks for the recommendation, Tanya – sounds like fun. I’ll have to see if it’s still available and check it out.

• http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

  Thanks for the recommendation, Tanya – sounds like fun. I’ll have to see if it’s still available and check it out.

• http://twitter.com/iansfan Jamie

  I agree with the Skylight gang, Canongate Myth Series is awesome. My favorites are Margaret Atwood’s and Jeanette Winterson’s “The Weight.”

• http://twitter.com/iansfan Jamie

  I agree with the Skylight gang, Canongate Myth Series is awesome. My favorites are Margaret Atwood’s and Jeanette Winterson’s “The Weight.”

• http://www.bunchofgrapes.wordpress.com Katherine

  I missed the twitter discussion on a crazy day, so it’s great to see it here.

  I’ve adored everything I’ve ever read by Pelevin, including the Helmet of Horror.

  Not novels, but on the poetry and play and short story front: Omeros by Derek Walcott, The Cure at Troy by Seamus Heaney, and The House of Asterion by Borges are some favorites.

  For the kids: they should try The Fire Thief trilogy by Terry Deary. It’s a retelling of the Prometheus story. And if they are not wedded to Greek mythology, the Chronicles of Prydain are always a favorite.

  But I admit, Percy J is my favorite.

• http://www.bunchofgrapes.wordpress.com Katherine

  I missed the twitter discussion on a crazy day, so it’s great to see it here.

  I’ve adored everything I’ve ever read by Pelevin, including the Helmet of Horror.

  Not novels, but on the poetry and play and short story front: Omeros by Derek Walcott, The Cure at Troy by Seamus Heaney, and The House of Asterion by Borges are some favorites.

  For the kids: they should try The Fire Thief trilogy by Terry Deary. It’s a retelling of the Prometheus story. And if they are not wedded to Greek mythology, the Chronicles of Prydain are always a favorite.

  But I admit, Percy J is my favorite.

• http://www.bunchofgrapes.wordpress.com Katherine

  Ooh… and I should have said on the not-Greek and Roman front, Icelander by Dustin Long has some pretty ridiculous/hilarious takes on Norse mythology… think “Fenris dachshund”.

  It Cracks. Me. Up. But its footnotes as jokes style does annoy some.

• http://www.bunchofgrapes.wordpress.com Katherine

  Ooh… and I should have said on the not-Greek and Roman front, Icelander by Dustin Long has some pretty ridiculous/hilarious takes on Norse mythology… think “Fenris dachshund”.

  It Cracks. Me. Up. But its footnotes as jokes style does annoy some.

• http://longleggedfly.etsy.com Hope

  oh my, thanks for the shout out. I wanted to say- trust Margaret Atwood to create the Penelopiad!! I have always imagined that poor woman fending off suitors for decades… “just another row!” can’t wait to read that one.

• http://longleggedfly.etsy.com Hope

  oh my, thanks for the shout out. I wanted to say- trust Margaret Atwood to create the Penelopiad!! I have always imagined that poor woman fending off suitors for decades… “just another row!” can’t wait to read that one.

• http://bkglutton.wordpress.com Christine

  I’d recommend THE ARKADIANS by Lloyd Alexander for young adults or anyone who still reads YA (me!)… but this is a great list. Love Greek mythology retold in new ways.

• http://bkglutton.wordpress.com Christine

  I’d recommend THE ARKADIANS by Lloyd Alexander for young adults or anyone who still reads YA (me!)… but this is a great list. Love Greek mythology retold in new ways.

• http://desperadopenguin.blogspot.com/ Jessica Stern

  Wonderful post. I used to adore mythology as a child, read all of Edith Hamilton, etc … Reading this made me realize how much I’ve missed it! I added Gods behaving badly to my reading list – thanks for a great idea!

• http://desperadopenguin.blogspot.com/ Jessica Stern

  Wonderful post. I used to adore mythology as a child, read all of Edith Hamilton, etc … Reading this made me realize how much I’ve missed it! I added Gods behaving badly to my reading list – thanks for a great idea!

• http://age30books.blogspot.com Heather J.

  Since I just found your blog during BBAW I’m been reading through some older posts and just had to make a comment here.

  I’m currently reading book 2 of the Percy Jackson series to my 7 yr old son. It’s working out well since I had listened to The Iliad myself last month and am in the middle of The Odyssey right now. I know your commentor was looking for other books besides those ancient epics, but I have to say that I think they are SO worth reading/listening to. I’ve been repeating the stories of Achilles and Odysseus to my son on car rides and he is fascinated.

  And I just reviewed Till We Have Faces on 9/10/09 … and I hate to say it but I didn’t like it. :/

• http://age30books.blogspot.com Heather J.

  Since I just found your blog during BBAW I’m been reading through some older posts and just had to make a comment here.

  I’m currently reading book 2 of the Percy Jackson series to my 7 yr old son. It’s working out well since I had listened to The Iliad myself last month and am in the middle of The Odyssey right now. I know your commentor was looking for other books besides those ancient epics, but I have to say that I think they are SO worth reading/listening to. I’ve been repeating the stories of Achilles and Odysseus to my son on car rides and he is fascinated.

  And I just reviewed Till We Have Faces on 9/10/09 … and I hate to say it but I didn’t like it. :/

• http://www.driveawayawning.com/ drive away awning

  haha, I like Felipe Massa! He’s so lovely

• http://www.driveawayawning.com/ drive away awning

  haha, I like Felipe Massa! He’s so lovely

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