I am a literary snob and will never have mom-friends

[Karen in CO]

I was in a discussion with moms this week about books which is always dangerous for me. I typically keep my mouth shut because I get tired of being treated as if I have two heads. Now I'm outcast again. I was getting close to having mom friends too. :coolgleamA:

 

Here is what happened:

The mothers of my 8yo's co-op friends were talking about Percy Jackson. I admitted that I don't let my kids read those books until they are older, then explained that I want them to study ancient history and mythology first and read a couple of children's versions of Homer before they read Percy. I want them to have thier first encounters with Greek gods with a historical perspective instead of in a pop-culture form. When they read the Iliad and the Odyssey, I don't want them to view some of the greatest works of western culture through Rick Riordan's lens. I would rather they judge Rick Riordan's mythology with their own knowledge than use Riordan to judge Homer.

 

You could really hear crickets chirping. They had never considered that their kids would encounter Odysseus's journey at all. My kids listen to the Fagles translation of the Iliad in the car on long car trips, and I've have read them The Children's Homer along with several other versions of the Iliad and Odyssey that they've either read themselves or I've read to them depending on their age and the complexity of the telling. My older dd loves Riordan's books, but she's on her second trip through ancient history this year- she's not 8 and never studied it.

 

There. I am a literary snob and will never have mom-friends. Next time maybe they will ask something fun like why I won't read Harry Potter or Lord of the RIngs to my kids . At least I'll read them Beowulf. Everybody loves Beowulf, right . :smilielol5:

[Bang!Zoom!]

This is worthy of being published in The Atlantic. :hurray:

[Mommyfaithe]

I'll be your friend. I have heard the same pin drop.....sigh. My kids are all enjoying epic poetry....lol! And trying their own hand at it. Strange kids.....

[Hoot]

I :001_tt1: Beowulf.

 

Favorite. "Book." of. ALL. Time.

[Element]

I totally agree with your sentiments, but I have to ask: Why won't you read them LOTR? I wanted my two to get through Norse mythology before reading LOTR, but I see it as important to read sometime even if just as a "cultural literacy" thing. (Ack. I know I'm setting myself up here with the "cultural literacy" comment. Still, though, I value your input so I have to know! :D )

[WTMCassandra]

I am a fellow literary snob. Will you be my friend?

 

I am not even cool enough to know who Percy Jackson is.

 

And I didn't sit down and seriously consider what translation of Iliad and Odyssey to use until last year (Ian Johnston's). But, my geeky children have loved the audiobook of The Children's Homer for years and even request it on car trips.

 

AND we did read Beowulf this year, and Augustine, and we're doing John Bunyan now.

 

Am I literary enough to be your friend? ; )

[Jayne J]

Well personally I vote Gilgamesh, but it takes all kinds I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding. Actually The Iliad is the best.

 

ETA: err. My comment is in reference to Contessa20's post. I wasn't fast enough, and now it is just hanging out there, with no reference, feeling silly.

[Mrs. A]

I have not had conversations like this, however I always get strange (or blank) looks when I have to explain to people who ds is talking about when he brings up Achilles or Hector. :ohmy:

[Rebel Yell]

The mothers of my 8yo's co-op friends were talking about Percy Jackson. I admitted that I don't let my kids read those books until they are older, then explained that I want them to study ancient history and mythology first and read a couple of children's versions of Homer before they read Percy. I want them to have thier first encounters with Greek gods with a historical perspective instead of in a pop-culture form. When they read the Iliad and the Odyssey, I don't want them to view some of the greatest works of western culture through Rick Riordan's lens. I would rather they judge Rick Riordan's mythology with their own knowledge than use Riordan to judge Homer.

 

At least I'll read them Beowulf. Everybody loves Beowulf, right . :smilielol5:

 

 

:coolgleamA:

 

First let me say :iagree: but I do want to give you a point to consider (although I suspect it doesn't apply to those particular friends.) Diamond is a voracious compulsive reader. But she could not get through Iliad & Odyssey. She *wanted* to. Percy Jackson books and graphic novels gave her the interest to get through the "real" books. She is a very very VERY detail-oriented person, so the overall story got lost to her. After she knew a version of the story, she was able to read the 'big' books with much more interest. And even then the only thing that got her through it was reading along with a CD reading it "with" her.

 

Beowulf! OK, we had so much fun with this! First, we read the graphic novel. Babybaby told the most amazing summary of the story- I'm still kicking myself for not writing it down. THen we "read" it with the English subtitles as we watched this DVD: http://www.bagbybeow.../dvd/index.html HIGHLY recommended!

[HomeschoolingHearts&Minds]

I admit that my oldest has read the Percy Jackson series, but he has been hearing about the Odyssey and the Illiad since he was a wee one and has read children's versions. And Gilgamesh and Beowulf. Imagine the looks I get when my 3-year-old starts talking about Grendel in public. I will add that I think he enjoyed Percy Jackson much more than his friends because he had that prior knowledge of the "source material."

[Mommyfaithe]

P.S. my kids LOVED Beowulf!!! I read it to them during a blackout, by flashlight. It is one of their favorite memories. Ds was 4 and still says it is his favorite story. We are now reading the Song of Roland.....least began it yesterday....but they are begging for more....now if I could get them to do some math.....sigh.

 

[unsinkable]

Self-proclaimed snobbery about most topics make me uncomfortable.

 

Literary snobs, food snobs, beverage snobs, music snobs, whatever.

 

 

 

[GailV]

Eh, we meet a lot of people who don't even know who Percy Jackson is. Older dd has a sweatshirt with the Lotus Casino logo on it; someone commented that they didn't recall that one from when they were last in Vegas.

 

And in spite of my good Waldorf-based intentions of introducing Norse myths and Beowulf at a very specific age, I'm pretty sure younger dd's first exposure to Beowulf was via Star Trek Voyager.

 

I've accepted that we march to the beat of a different drummer. I'm delighted when we meet people with the same tastes, but I generally just shrug it off if others have no clue what I'm talking about.

[PachiSusan]

I dont have any desire for M to read "Harry Potter" or "The Hunger Games" but I have let her read "The Goddess Girls" and I have read some of Rick RIordan's stuff. I love them. :)

 

We were watching "Drive Thru History" and she knew the gods and goddesses from the books. I thought it was cool . It didn't confuse her in the least.

 

That said, you have every right to introduce your children to the books you want them to read when you want them to read them without being a literary snob. When you get crickets...those people aren't really for you.

[ladydusk]

We had only read the Mary Pope Osborne Odyssey books and my son wanted to be Odysseus for trick or treat. That got some questions.

 

My kids adored SWB's version of Beowulf in SOTW2. They played it for at least a week. Maybe we should have gotten a different retelling for them ... hmmmm ....

[mommymilkies]

We read HP and Percy Jackson here. We also read the classics and mythology. I don't see why there is a disconnect. For a lot of people, it is like a gateway drug to better books. Riordan's mythology is actually fairly accurate and he writes in an engaging way. If the kid is interested, it can open up a whole other world. Not that it should be all they read, but I don't see why it's bad.

[JudoMom]

I was in a discussion with moms this week about books which is always dangerous for me. I typically keep my mouth shut because I get tired of being treated as if I have two heads. Now I'm outcast again. I was getting close to having mom friends too. :coolgleamA:

 

Here is what happened:

The mothers of my 8yo's co-op friends were talking about Percy Jackson. I admitted that I don't let my kids read those books until they are older, then explained that I want them to study ancient history and mythology first and read a couple of children's versions of Homer before they read Percy. I want them to have thier first encounters with Greek gods with a historical perspective instead of in a pop-culture form. When they read the Iliad and the Odyssey, I don't want them to view some of the greatest works of western culture through Rick Riordan's lens. I would rather they judge Rick Riordan's mythology with their own knowledge than use Riordan to judge Homer.

 

You could really hear crickets chirping. They had never considered that their kids would encounter Odysseus's journey at all. My kids listen to the Fagles translation of the Iliad in the car on long car trips, and I've have read them The Children's Homer along with several other versions of the Iliad and Odyssey that they've either read themselves or I've read to them depending on their age and the complexity of the telling. My older dd loves Riordan's books, but she's on her second trip through ancient history this year- she's not 8 and never studied it.

 

There. I am a literary snob and will never have mom-friends. Next time maybe they will ask something fun like why I won't read Harry Potter or Lord of the RIngs to my kids . At least I'll read them Beowulf. Everybody loves Beowulf, right . :smilielol5:

 

:001_tt2:

[UrbanSue]

I totally agree with your sentiments, but I have to ask: Why won't you read them LOTR? I wanted my two to get through Norse mythology before reading LOTR, but I see it as important to read sometime even if just as a "cultural literacy" thing. (Ack. I know I'm setting myself up here with the "cultural literacy" comment. Still, though, I value your input so I have to know! :D )

 

 

 

I know how you feel. But I am curious about your LOTR position as well. I am not a Tolkien fanatic but I don't know that I've ever met a self-proclaimed literary snob who takes a strong negative position on LOTR so I'm curious.

[Cindyz]

We read it all. We read sooo many Greek myths as well as various versions of each myth. We've watched video versions of the myths as well as documentaries. We read various versions of The Odyssey and the Illiad as well as audio books. We read about 3 different versions of Beowulf and we read the first Percy Jackson book and watched the first movie. We're on Harry Potter book 2, we read The Hobbit, and we'll read The Lord of the Rings as well. We do it all!!

 

Funny enough, he didn't really seem to enjoy the Percy Jackson movie. He wasn't totally excited by the book either. It was the other stories (the more historical versions) that really seemed to ignite his passions. We haven't read another Percy Jackson book, but I suspect that when he's a little older, he'll be more interested in reading them himself.

 

My son attends a home school program where they were asked to write a paragraph about anything of their choice. I was proud when he wrote his about Beowulf. :)

[Karen in CO]

I totally agree with your sentiments, but I have to ask: Why won't you read them LOTR? I wanted my two to get through Norse mythology before reading LOTR, but I see it as important to read sometime even if just as a "cultural literacy" thing. (Ack. I know I'm setting myself up here with the "cultural literacy" comment. Still, though, I value your input so I have to know! :D )

 

 

I won't read it to them, but they are free to read it any time they want. I know a lot of people that read it to their kids as tiny tots. I think it steals some of the power from the books. They are wonderful to encounter alone at a time of your choosing. I have elctronic copies, paperbacks and beautifully bound hardbacks.

[PachiSusan]

Would I be run out of here with an armed mob chasing me if I said I don't get the attraction of LOTR? Hypothetically of course... :tongue_smilie:

[Karen in CO]

 

:001_tt2:

 

 

 

I wasn't talking about you!

:D

I miss you.

[Library Momma]

Would I be run out of here with an armed mob chasing me if I said I don't get the attraction of LOTR? Hypothetically of course... :tongue_smilie:

 

 

I've got your back if the angry Hobbits start attacking. I don't get it either.

[PachiSusan]

 

I've got your back if the angry Hobbits start attacking. I don't get it either.

 

"Nasty Hobbitses...."

[WTMCassandra]

I won't read it to them, but they are free to read it any time they want. I know a lot of people that read it to their kids as tiny tots. I think it steals some of the power from the books. They are wonderful to encounter alone at a time of your choosing. I have elctronic copies, paperbacks and beautifully bound hardbacks.

 

Wow, I can't imagine reading it aloud to tiny tots!

 

That series was not written for children and is darker than Chronicles of Narnia. It is more subtle and graphic, and I don't think it is suitable for children at all.

 

Only just this year did I allow my two to hear an unabridged audiobook of The Hobbit. I'm waiting a bit for the trilogy, but we won't be studying it in school--it will be fun reading. It is on our shelves and deserves to be there, but at the proper time.

 

It kind of bugs me when people lump Narnia and LOTR together--they are not the same at all. That doesn't mean that both don't have their place, but just because modern media and toy companies decided to start marketing LOTR to children, I don't have to bow to that.

 

By the way, we didn't study the Chronicles of Narnia in school, either. To me, those stories are to be wallowed in, not "studied." Each child has a set, and they are well-thumbed, but for fun reading. We have played the FotF Radio Theatre versions until we can all recite them. But not for school. Some things are too sacred for school and would be spoiled if "studied," IMNSHO.

[misty.warden]

Books are actually a banned subject for me with some of my friends who feel like I'm talking down to them because they haven't read the same things :bored: I'm just passionate and like to make nerdy references.

 

I thought Percy Jackson was crap personally so it's not ds's lack of classic mythology that makes me not want him to read them when he reaches that reading level.

[JudoMom]

 

 

I wasn't talking about you!

:D

I miss you.

 

You're missed, too. People keep asking me where you are.

 

Did you hear that HSA is doing an Arts Academy one day next year?

[PachiSusan]

 

It kind of bugs me when people lump Narnia and LOTR together--they are not the same at all. That doesn't mean that both don't have their place, but just because modern media and toy companies decided to start marketing LOTR to children, I don't have to bow to that.

 

I read LOTR and "The Hobbit" when I was a Sophomore in High School and I still felt it was above my head in some ways. I can't even IMAGINE My nearly 10 year old DD reading it. The layers and complexity of the series is amazing to me. I appreciate it's place in society. It's just not where my brain is.

 

Narnia, on the other hand - I LOVE!!!!!!

[Alice]

Without knowing all the context of the conversation I think I would have also responded with silence. It’s not necessarily that I’d think you were a snob but that there isn’t much to say to someone who is basically saying that they made a very different parenting choice than you, especially if they seem to be saying that their choice is good and yours is bad. I find that a lot of time people take that kind of statement as a judgement even if it’s not what you mean. They could have heard “you are a bad parent who lets your kids read junky Rick Riordan books. I educate my kids in a much better way than you do yours.†You might have been just having a discussion about books, they could have heard something different.

[PachiSusan]

They could have heard “you are a bad parent who lets your kids read junky Rick Riordan books. I educate my kids in a much better way than you do yours.†You might have been just having a discussion about books, they could have heard something different.

 

Yes. I get this reaction about home schooling. It seems like my MIL always has to put in, "But your SIL works so hard with the kids. She is very involved at school and her kid's lives...." like she thinks I'm saying that just because others choose to put their kids in a brick and mortar school that automatically I'm putting their choice down.

[Miss Marple]

I was in a discussion with moms this week about books which is always dangerous for me. I typically keep my mouth shut because I get tired of being treated as if I have two heads. Now I'm outcast again. I was getting close to having mom friends too. :coolgleamA:

 

Here is what happened:

The mothers of my 8yo's co-op friends were talking about Percy Jackson. I admitted that I don't let my kids read those books until they are older, then explained that I want them to study ancient history and mythology first and read a couple of children's versions of Homer before they read Percy. I want them to have thier first encounters with Greek gods with a historical perspective instead of in a pop-culture form. When they read the Iliad and the Odyssey, I don't want them to view some of the greatest works of western culture through Rick Riordan's lens. I would rather they judge Rick Riordan's mythology with their own knowledge than use Riordan to judge Homer.

 

You could really hear crickets chirping. They had never considered that their kids would encounter Odysseus's journey at all. My kids listen to the Fagles translation of the Iliad in the car on long car trips, and I've have read them The Children's Homer along with several other versions of the Iliad and Odyssey that they've either read themselves or I've read to them depending on their age and the complexity of the telling. My older dd loves Riordan's books, but she's on her second trip through ancient history this year- she's not 8 and never studied it.

 

There. I am a literary snob and will never have mom-friends. Next time maybe they will ask something fun like why I won't read Harry Potter or Lord of the RIngs to my kids . At least I'll read them Beowulf. Everybody loves Beowulf, right . :smilielol5:

 

LOL! The mom group I was around most of the time when the boys were young thought it was weird that I would even let my kids read Greek/Roman mythology at all. It could cause them great emotional/religious harm.

[Bang!Zoom!]

I haven't subscribed to a thread in a million years. :hurray:

[PachiSusan]

LOL! The mom group I was around most of the time when the boys were young thought it was weird that I would even let my kids read Greek/Roman mythology at all. It could cause them great emotional/religious harm.

 

Seriously?? I'm truly truly interested. Just how did they describe the emotional/religious HARM of it? How simple is it to say that other people believe x, but we believe y?

[kiwik]

I had the hobbit read to me at about 9 and lotr at ten (I was reading iylt myself but my father read me a chapter a night). I think the hobbit was ok for that age but I would have got more out of lotr if I had been a few years older. But I probably got as much out of it as most adults. I have never wanted to read it again or see the movies though.

 

A friend of mine and her 6 yo have just watched the first six hp movies but she doesn't read to him much (she does read herself though). I think this is strange - I think one cycle of history would be best for a lot of books. I get a lot if the two-headed looks when I say my kids can't see the movie version of books they aren't ready for but luckily my oldest is very sensitive and has no desire to see them.

[Karen in CO]

Without knowing all the context of the conversation I think I would have also responded with silence. It’s not necessarily that I’d think you were a snob but that there isn’t much to say to someone who is basically saying that they made a very different parenting choice than you, especially if they seem to be saying that their choice is good and yours is bad. I find that a lot of time people take that kind of statement as a judgement even if it’s not what you mean. They could have heard “you are a bad parent who lets your kids read junky Rick Riordan books. I educate my kids in a much better way than you do yours.†You might have been just having a discussion about books, they could have heard something different.

 

I was getting beaten over the head with "your daughter is missing out and should read them so she can be part of the group." I added my 2 cents to defend my well-reasoned position. Sometimes, smiling and passing isn't good enough or nearly satisfying enough. I had already passed on the subject more than once with a comment that we save them for later. I don't view that my youngest is missing anything nor will lightly accept being told that she is.

[Karen in CO]

You're missed, too. People keep asking me where you are.

 

Did you hear that HSA is doing an Arts Academy one day next year?

Arts Academy? I hadn't heard. I'm so out of touch.

[jujsky]

Without knowing all the context of the conversation I think I would have also responded with silence. It’s not necessarily that I’d think you were a snob but that there isn’t much to say to someone who is basically saying that they made a very different parenting choice than you, especially if they seem to be saying that their choice is good and yours is bad. I find that a lot of time people take that kind of statement as a judgement even if it’s not what you mean. They could have heard “you are a bad parent who lets your kids read junky Rick Riordan books. I educate my kids in a much better way than you do yours.†You might have been just having a discussion about books, they could have heard something different.

 

Reading the OP, that's what I took out of it. It wouldn't surprise me if the real-life women hearing that took it the same way.

[Karen in CO]

Books are actually a banned subject for me with some of my friends who feel like I'm talking down to them because they haven't read the same things :bored: I'm just passionate and like to make nerdy references.

 

I thought Percy Jackson was crap personally so it's not ds's lack of classic mythology that makes me not want him to read them when he reaches that reading level.

 

:) there's that too.

[boscopup]

We read HP and Percy Jackson here. We also read the classics and mythology. I don't see why there is a disconnect. For a lot of people, it is like a gateway drug to better books. Riordan's mythology is actually fairly accurate and he writes in an engaging way. If the kid is interested, it can open up a whole other world. Not that it should be all they read, but I don't see why it's bad.

 

I also don't understand why a child being 8 would mean they haven't learned about Greek and Roman mythology yet? My 8 year old started reading it at age 6. He started with the D'Aulaire's Greek Myths book. He got their Norse Myths book for Christmas year before last. In first grade, he studied Ancient history via SOTW1 combined with various library book recommendations from the AG. He knows the stories of Beowulf and the Illiad. Anything he encounters in Rick Riordan books are just review of what he's learned over the last 2 years of reading. I wouldn't assume that an 8 year old child doesn't know Greek or Roman mythology.

 

He's also read LOTR (on his own) and understood the story line. Did he catch all the symbolism and deeper themes? Of course not. But then again, I didn't catch them the first time I read them (which happened to be the same time he read them :tongue_smilie: ). Aren't you supposed to read a book once to get the big picture, then read it again to catch the nuances? Next time he reads them, he'll probably catch more and more.

[Miss Marple]

Seriously?? I'm truly truly interested. Just how did they describe the emotional/religious HARM of it? How simple is it to say that other people believe x, but we believe y?

 

Yes, they truly did. They also had issues with the Narnia series. The issue appeared to be that if one taught mythology that our kids would be unable to separate myth from the Bible. Now I know that there are those who believe the Bible is myth, but I'm not going to go there :)

 

When I first met some of these I hosted an event at my home. There were several parents perusing my bookshelves and asking me how I could reconcile teaching these subjects with my Christianity. I will say, though that these folks have grown and stretched over the years and probably would no longer have as big of an issue with it as they once did when their kids were young. I think there is a lot of insecurity out there in Christian circles - and particularly in homeschooling circles - and I think there are some leaders who use that insecurity to promote their twisted version of Christianity (and child rearing).

[PachiSusan]

 

Yes, they truly did. They also had issues with the Narnia series. The issue appeared to be that if one taught mythology that our kids would be unable to separate myth from the Bible. Now I know that there are those who believe the Bible is myth, but I'm not going to go there :)

 

When I first met some of these I hosted an event at my home. There were several parents perusing my bookshelves and asking me how I could reconcile teaching these subjects with my Christianity. I will say, though that these folks have grown and stretched over the years and probably would no longer have as big of an issue with it as they once did when their kids were young. I think there is a lot of insecurity out there in Christian circles - and particularly in homeschooling circles - and I think there are some leaders who use that insecurity to promote their twisted version of Christianity (and child rearing).

 

Thank you for explaining. I just don't get that line of thinking. Shouldn't our faith give us STRENGTH of what we believe? Fear and insecurity that these things can threaten your very own faith is not faith IMO.

[Karen in CO]

 

I also don't understand why a child being 8 would mean they haven't learned about Greek and Roman mythology yet? My 8 year old started reading it at age 6. He started with the D'Aulaire's Greek Myths book. He got their Norse Myths book for Christmas year before last. In first grade, he studied Ancient history via SOTW1 combined with various library book recommendations from the AG. He knows the stories of Beowulf and the Illiad. Anything he encounters in Rick Riordan books are just review of what he's learned over the last 2 years of reading. I wouldn't assume that an 8 year old child doesn't know Greek or Roman mythology.

 

He's also read LOTR (on his own) and understood the story line. Did he catch all the symbolism and deeper themes? Of course not. But then again, I didn't catch them the first time I read them (which happened to be the same time he read them :tongue_smilie: ). Aren't you supposed to read a book once to get the big picture, then read it again to catch the nuances? Next time he reads them, he'll probably catch more and more.

 

I wasn't assuming they hadn't. I know the kids and know they haven't. None of them has had a history class yet with the exception of mine. If they had, it would be different and wouldn't have bothered me.

 

And yes, good books have enough story that they should be read more than once.

[Faithr]

My 11 yo is passionate about knowing Ancient Mythology largely because of the Rick Riordian books, which I admit are not the best written books ever! But she really knows her stuff. The other day she asked me if there was a test on mythology like the National Latin exam and I said yes. I asked her if she wanted to take it and she thought about it but decided next year would be better. But just the idea that she thought a test on the subject might 'fun' is amazing to me.

 

Anyway, I can see the original poster's point but we've not experienced anything negative by letting our kids read these books. If anything I think she'll be more open to reading the original Odyssey/Illiad (in translation!). She already knows the story cold from Rosemary Sutcliff books. As for LOTR my dh is reading it aloud to the 11 and 14 yo right now and it is a wonderful bonding experience because my dh loves them so much. So while there is something valuable about encountering the books on one's own, there is also something valuable in encountering them as a read aloud too.

[PachiSusan]

So while there is something valuable about encountering the books on one's own, there is also something valuable in encountering them as a read aloud too.

 

Like!! Melissa is reading "Black Beauty" and while she struggled through it as a read alone, when we turned it to a read aloud, she loved it so much more because of the interaction.

[Julie Smith]

Beowulf! OK, we had so much fun with this! First, we read the graphic novel. Babybaby told the most amazing summary of the story- I'm still kicking myself for not writing it down. THen we "read" it with the English subtitles as we watched this DVD: http://www.bagbybeow.../dvd/index.html HIGHLY recommended!

 

That clip looks amazing.

 

Thanks.

[Julie Smith]

 

Beowulf! OK, we had so much fun with this! First, we read the graphic novel. Babybaby told the most amazing summary of the story- I'm still kicking myself for not writing it down. THen we "read" it with the English subtitles as we watched this DVD: http://www.bagbybeow.../dvd/index.html HIGHLY recommended!

 

I'm looking at the website. I can't find out how long the DVD is.

 

My previous exposure to Beowulf was Star Trek, and SOTW.

[elegantlion]

Well we love Percy Jackson. I'm pretty sure if I was a young girl I'd have a poster of Percy Jackson in my room. However, ds has read the children's version of the Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid before PJ. Riordan has created a step-stool to The Iliad and Odyssey that many kids would never ascend without first exposure via Percy Jackson. He's also made Egyptian mythology cool again. His book series were the ones that got my reluctant reader excited about books. Of course, I'm a bigger fan than ds. I have my Camp Half-Blood shirt and I was a Roman demi-god for Halloween a few years ago.

 

We're also reading The Iliad right now, finished book 16 today. I thought I might tear up again at dear Patroklos' demise, but I held it together. And yes, outside of classical educators, I've been looked at with two heads because we read mythology

 

We also loved Beowulf and I cried in parts of Gilgamesh.

[redsquirrel]

Like so much it is all in how it is presented. I am in your camp. We did greek myths etc long before we read Rick Riordan etc. My sons have both both been exposed to the original language of Fagles. They enjoy the actual Beowulf. I didn't let my elder son read the later Harry Potter books until he was 12 and ready for more YA material etc. I have lots of friends who approach it differently, but it's never interfered with our friendship. That said, I am also friends with people who choose to send their kids to public school, are hardcore unschoolers, are classical homeschoolers etc.

 

If I am asked my opinion or if my kids have read a certain series I might just say "well, we haven't got there yet." If pressed as to why I will answer that I want my kids to read some foundational material first. But, if I announce that I wouldn't allow my darling children to pollute their beautiful minds with such twaddle then I can imagine I wouldn't be in big demand as a friend.

 

I am not saying that is how the OP presented herself. I just want to point out that having a certain set of priorities doesn't rule out relationships with people who have different priorities. I don't think there is much pride to be taken in being exclusionary or elitist.

 

Now, I once sent a room to stunned silence simply by announcing that we had done 'school' that day. I didn't see that one coming in a room full of homeschoolers.

[myfunnybunch]

We read HP and Percy Jackson here. We also read the classics and mythology. I don't see why there is a disconnect.

 

:iagree:

We study the classics. I try to introduce the classics/originals before popular retellings, but if my kids want to check out Percy Jackson from the library and enjoy it, that's fine, and I certainly don't think any less of those who don't make that choice.

 

Sometimes in groups I hear crickets when someone inadvertently makes it sound like their choices are superior to the choices of the rest of the group. That's how the original post came across to me as well, even though I am philosophically on the same page. I might not have known how to respond either.

 

FWIW, I couldn't stand the Percy Jackson books either. Bleh. Left me cold. But my boys thoroughly enjoyed the series.

 

Cat

[SarahW]

We had only read the Mary Pope Osborne Odyssey books and my son wanted to be Odysseus for trick or treat. That got some questions. My kids adored SWB's version of Beowulf in SOTW2. They played it for at least a week. Maybe we should have gotten a different retelling for them ... hmmmm ....

 

Reminds me of the time I dressed as Athena for Halloween. I had a spear and a shield and everything. It was really cool. But I quickly got very tired of:

"who are you?"

"Athena"

"WHO?!?"

"Athena. You know, like Nike"

"oh.....here's your candy......"

:glare:

 

I read LOTR and "The Hobbit" when I was a Sophomore in High School and I still felt it was above my head in some ways. I can't even IMAGINE My nearly 10 year old DD reading it. The layers and complexity of the series is amazing to me. I appreciate it's place in society. It's just not where my brain is. Narnia, on the other hand - I LOVE!!!!!!

 

I love Narnia too, but for some reason my son didn't share my enthusiasm. But then he got the Lego Hobbit game for Christmas and wanted to go see the Hobbit movie. No, I said, the orcs are too scary. I showed him the clip of "meat's back on the menu!" from the LOTR movie on youtube to prove my point, but son decided they weren't scary at all, they just have bad teeth! We compromised by husband agreeing to read The Hobbit to him at night, but when they went to the bookstore son decided that he must start with Book 1! So now they are reading the Silmarillion every night. And since ds just turned 6, after every paragraph he asks "what happened???" I'm sitting there thinking, there are so many more age-appropriate things! but this is what son wants, so.... Yeah, weird, different strokes for different folks and all that, I guess.

 

To the OP : I share your frustration. I almost never get along with "other moms." :grouphug: Do the other moms share your views on classical education? If not, they probably didn't understand your point at all. If they're "normal" they may even view Percy Jackson as "educational." I don't saying that to demean them, I'm just saying that I think that is common. That's the view my mom had on these sorts of these, and I just chalk it up to her not receiving a good education herself. I totally agree with you, btw, that one should start with the underlying story before one moves into interpretations. Children are sensitive to variations after they have already done a preliminary "world-building."