For Diana's birthday we got her The Just City, because she so loved Tooth & Claw, and she's a mythology buff, and—well, it just seemed like a good bet.

Since her birthday (April), it has wended its way through the family, until it finally landed in my hands this past week, and I read these lines.

OK, wait: before I get to them, I have to say that it's a novel about the attempt to bring the ideals of Plato's Republic to life, and that both Apollo and Athena are characters. 

Near the beginning, there is a scene between Apollo and Athena, in which they are trying to decide the right place to conduct this experiment (and Apollo's personal experiment in becoming temporarily human). Apollo is speaking:

"Look, if you're about to suggest I go to some high-tech hellhole where they've never heard of me because it'll be a 'learning experience,' forget it. That's not what I want at all. I am Apollo. I am important." I pouted. "Besides, if they think the gods are forgotten, why are they writing about us? Have you read those books? There's nothing more clichéd. Nothing."

I know this is the wrong, small, gossipy way in which to read fiction, but…is Apollo dissing the Percy Jackson novels here? What do you think?

Also: to the wonderful reader who recommended Rosanna Lippi, thank you forever. That was a wonderful book.