The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book Description: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

First off, wow! This author has a very interesting imagination. I was captivated by the creativity of her dystopian society and surprised at how easily it was for me to accept the characters lifestyles. Upon recommendation of this book, Izzy told me to "just get to the hunger games". I thought for sure that was going to mean that the author over describes things or gets too wrapped up in having us get to know all aspects of Katniss' life before the action starts, but for me this wasn't the case. I was instantly interested in the day-to-day lives of the characters and seemed to want to know even MORE about just what the Gale and Katniss relationship had going on.... when the chaos begins.

When Katniss goes to the Hunger Games, I was of course not surprised (it would have been odd for the main character to not go when the whole book was named after it). But, nevertheless, I was startled at the images the author constructs of CHILDREN preparing to go to a place where they fight till the death. Collins really walks the tight rope of ADULT action and with just enough gruesome detail to not be gory, however, holds on to her YA audience by refraining from any sexual encounters.

One of my main criticisms of this book was that once we are made aware that there's going to be a romance between Katniss and Peeta, there's NO action...no thoughts...no almost...nothing. Just kisses. In my own opinion (and this is JUST ME & WHAT I would have LIKED), I thought that perhaps a little more description of their romantic experiences together would have really broken things up a bit. However, it CERTAINLY makes you want more! I was very anxious to read the remainder of the trilogy and know that like most everyone else that has read this book, you will want to too.

Now....on to the MOVIE!

With ALL this talk of The HUNGER GAMES Movie coming out, you didn't think I would fail to mention ANYTHING about it! All this talk of production has me on "Hunger Games Patrol" following blogs and reading up on who's who in the upcoming movie. Because, whether your a book fan or not...it's going to be an interesting film and has potential to be great! AND...furthermore, if you needed ANY more reasons...one word - Gale (aka: Liam Hemsworth)!

(Entire cast mentioned thus far on eonline)