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lunabee34100 Things Challenge
(Yes, I have noticed the possessive punctuation error in the title of the book. It's not my fault. *cries*) ETA: How did I miss the two authors? *sigh*
I read this book in the first grade. It was the first book I ever read that had more than 100 pages. It began my lifelong interest in Greek mythology.
It's no secret I grew up in a fundamentalist Protestant household. I grew up with a god of vengeance, a god so very far removed from the human experience I knew, an anachronism. Frankly, this god was boring. Sure, he could take the form of a pillar of fire, but he clearly didn't care about his kid(s), and basically he was just ineffable. Unknowable. Why does this perfect god let bad things happen to good people? IDK.
The Greek gods were like a breath of fresh air to me because they are essentially glorified humans with human motivations. Sure, they're oft times douchey, but they don't pretend to be omnipotent, omnipresent representations of perfection. They love, they laugh, and they smite. And lordy do they fuck. Even at six, I was aware of the fuckery.
At this tender age (since Lorraine was a precocious babe), I realized that my interest in and preference for Theseus and Perseus and Hermes and Hector would be considered a wee tad sacrilegious to Pastor "Who Needs Seminary (Or Third Grade) When The Spirit Calls You To The Ministry?". So I came forward and told my Sunday School teacher that I thought the Greek gods are cooler than Jesus and God and that worried me in terms of my salvation. She wrinkled her powdered face like she had no idea what I was talking about and said, "Don't worry, sweetie. I know you love god." Which, okay. I was a first grader. Having a crisis of faith. I get that kiddos are hard to take seriously. But this was for reals yo, and it shaped my whole adult response to religion (along with other situations, naturally). I no longerhope believe the Greek gods are real, but that early dismissal, that early refusal to explain why one cosmology supersedes another was of EPIC IMPORTANCE in my ability to cultivate faith.
I would recommend this book for anyone with kids age 6-12. The illustrations are fantastic. I still see them in my head whenever the Greek gods are referenced (especially when reading Percy Jackson and the ilk).
I read this book in the first grade. It was the first book I ever read that had more than 100 pages. It began my lifelong interest in Greek mythology.
It's no secret I grew up in a fundamentalist Protestant household. I grew up with a god of vengeance, a god so very far removed from the human experience I knew, an anachronism. Frankly, this god was boring. Sure, he could take the form of a pillar of fire, but he clearly didn't care about his kid(s), and basically he was just ineffable. Unknowable. Why does this perfect god let bad things happen to good people? IDK.
The Greek gods were like a breath of fresh air to me because they are essentially glorified humans with human motivations. Sure, they're oft times douchey, but they don't pretend to be omnipotent, omnipresent representations of perfection. They love, they laugh, and they smite. And lordy do they fuck. Even at six, I was aware of the fuckery.
At this tender age (since Lorraine was a precocious babe), I realized that my interest in and preference for Theseus and Perseus and Hermes and Hector would be considered a wee tad sacrilegious to Pastor "Who Needs Seminary (Or Third Grade) When The Spirit Calls You To The Ministry?". So I came forward and told my Sunday School teacher that I thought the Greek gods are cooler than Jesus and God and that worried me in terms of my salvation. She wrinkled her powdered face like she had no idea what I was talking about and said, "Don't worry, sweetie. I know you love god." Which, okay. I was a first grader. Having a crisis of faith. I get that kiddos are hard to take seriously. But this was for reals yo, and it shaped my whole adult response to religion (along with other situations, naturally). I no longer
I would recommend this book for anyone with kids age 6-12. The illustrations are fantastic. I still see them in my head whenever the Greek gods are referenced (especially when reading Percy Jackson and the ilk).
