By Jesse Dolojan, Staff Writer

Not many people knew I was a massive fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series as a kid because I read them so fast. I checked the first book out of my grade school library, took my time, and asked for the rest as a Christmas gift. I launched myself into the world of Camp Half-Blood over break, and before I knew it, I blitzed through them before the start of the New Year.

I didn’t have the best memory of the books when returning to them this summer. As I was rereading them, I realized I had forgotten about 90% of the major plot points. I wanted to try to understand why I loved the series so much. As I ventured back into the world of Percy Jackson, I was reminded of why I couldn’t put the books down as a kid. The endearing characters, witty narration and engaging plot all grabbed my attention once again, and haven’t let go. 

 What really surprised me was how much fun they were to read again. Almost all my reading is just for class, so going back and reading purely for entertainment was a welcome breath of fresh air. Not only that, I gained a stronger appreciation for Percy Jackson than ever before. I had the chance to talk to people about the books again, which helped me flesh out my ideas and discuss them more in-depth. As an English major, I have learned to read books more thoroughly. 

Riordan calls attention to how we have harmed the environment, with a major plotline being a quest to find the God of Nature Pan. In the series, Pan goes missing, and the environment suffers because of his absence. The mythological creatures known as satyrs have taken it upon themselves to find Pan in order to help restore the environment. Additionally, Percy often comments on how disgusting various lakes are and how many sea spirits are in bad moods because they are in foul water. 

Now, as a kid, I was pretty dumb, so everything flew over my head. I was always more interested in the battles because, obviously, swords are cool. I also thought it was awesome how Percy’s watch doubles as a shield. I have always wanted one like that, but I digress. The point is, I missed all this genius writing as a kid! Another big thing I missed was how Percy almost fumbled the bag with Annabeth many times. But again, I digress.

I had a lot of fun rereading these books, and I think a big reason is that I had that time away to develop a new perspective and grow as a person. With that new perspective, I appreciate Percy Jackson a lot more. They are great novels to read as a kid, but returning to them as an adult makes me appreciate them for their deeper themes as well. 

Additionally, I think it’s just relaxing to return to things I found interesting as a kid. As a college student, I can say it is very time-consuming to get completely invested in a new show or book. So, sticking with classics like Percy Jackson, Diary of a Wombat or Lord of the Rings and rereading them allows me to view these books through a new lens.

And I think the idea can apply to more than just books as well. Revisiting an old hobby like biking or playing video games can be a lot of fun, too. Sometimes you notice something super nuanced about your hobby you just didn’t pick up on as a kid as well. Imagine playing Pokemon and realizing that there is commentary on the environment in those games! Or is Snorlax blocking your path an allegory for taking a break in the middle of a journey??!! I’m telling you, those games are much more nuanced than you think.

No, this is not an excuse for me to skip my classes and just read Percy Jackson and play Pokemon all day. I have no idea why anyone would think that! Hey, maybe we should all be like Snorlax and just take a break in the middle of the day. It’s a rough world out there, and I know I need my rest.

But it’s important not to forget what made us happy because those hobbies and interests still define us. Some may frown on it, but I do think there is wisdom and joy in looking back and appreciating what made us smile so many years ago.