I've been home sick the past two days, so today I decided to finally read the book I purchased more than a year ago at the suggestion of several of my fellow Twi-hards. That's right, I'm finally reading "The Hunger Games." After four chapters into it, I am undoubtedly hooked. Why do I think this book - the first in a trilogy - will become my next obsession? I hear there's also a movie being planned, so I thought it would be interesting to make a few posts along the way as I read to document my reaction.
For those who don't know anything about "The Hunger Games," here's a quick run-down (borrowed from Wikipedia).
The Hunger Games is a young-adult science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins. It is the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy. It introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where North America once stood. This is where a powerful government working in a central city called the Capitol holds power. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl from each district to fight to the death. The Hunger Games exist to demonstrate not even children are beyond the reach of the Capitol's power.
My reactions so far? I wasn't sure I was going to like the book at first. You have to admit the picture of our future it paints is pretty bleak and depressing. However, I adore Katniss and her devotion to her younger sister, Prim, who is, as Katniss tells us, the only person in the world she knows for certain she loves. So when 12-year-old Prim's name is drawn as the girl Tribute in the next Hunger Games, it's no surprise that Katniss volunteers to replace her in order to save her life. And although I have a feeling this book is going to segway into a romance at some point a la Twilight -- a romance probably between Katniss and her best friend Gale (a guy..that's the one thing I don't like about the book so far - the names!) -- I'm already rooting for a romance to develop between Katniss and the other Tribute from her district, Peeta (also a guy). As soon as she told the story about how Peeta once saved her life by smuggling her those pieces of bread when she was 11, I was definitely on Team Peeta. I don't want to spoil too much of the book, but oh my, it just sucks you right into the story. I didn't want to put the book down!
It will be interesting to see if my Team changes throughout the course of the book, and I'm on pins and needles waiting for The Hunger Games to begin. Plus, there are two more books I will have to read now.
I have a feeling I won't be getting much sleep this weekend...
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