Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Hunger Games

Ok, so let me start with the two I just finished - simply because they're fresh and because they so completely rocked my mind. I finished each (since they're a series) in one day; burning through the night, ignoring my child, reading while cooking and while my kid took a bath. Please don't judge. Books just kind of do that to me sometimes. Even Stephenie Meyer was quoted saying she brought Hunger Games with her to dinner and read under the table! Anyway, here they are:

Title: The Hunger Games; Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Reading Level: YA
Rating: AMAZING!
Summary: 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 regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games...Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Review: W-O-W! This book totally blew me away. I could NOT put it down! And even when I finished, I couldn't get it out of my head. The story was excellently told, and constantly moving. And once the Games began, it was just awesome. I really don't want to give anything away, so all I can say is to go get it and read it! ASAP! And if you love books like I do, get it in hardback. It's totally worth it. :0) Book 2 is just as good and I am anxiously waiting for the final book of the trilogy due out in August. My only complaint is that there's an Edward-Bella-Jacob triangle that annoys me. Those never turn out well.
If you've got a reluctant reader, these books could get him/her interested. I'd definitely put it on the summer reading list for my high schoolers if I was still teaching. It's a great war, coming of age story.
So, check it out. I promise you won't be disappointed.

6 comments:

  1. Sounds awesome! I cannot wait to check these out. What do you think...ninth or tenth grade summer reading??

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  2. Yay! I'm so glad you liked them. Can't wait until book club! Hopefully most people get to read both books so we're all on the same page!

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  3. Irene, I'm "Hermana Black," Walmir's friend from his mission. We've met before but I'm not sure you remember me. You know me as Ruth. :)

    Anyway, I found this blog and am so impressed with your writing style. I will definitely come back to visit you. I also have a book blog and I'm a big fan of Goodreads.com. Are you on there?

    I loved the first two books of The Hunger Games! I keep checking on Amazon to see if the cover of the third (and final) book has been released. It has! It's called Mockingjay. I can't wait to read it! Happy Reading!

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  4. I've been meaning to tell you that we finished the books. Very very good. Just stinks that we have to wait until August to finish it.

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  5. I'm one of Lindsey's friends. Just wanted to say that I had a really similar experience... I couldn't put these books down and read them non-stop for a couple of days straight. Can't wait until August for the next one!

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