For Christmas I received the book, The Hunger Games, and was looking forward to reading it. I had heard about it because they filmed some in my hometown of Charlotte (I actually had relatives who were in town for a few months working on-set.), and planned to read the book before seeing the movie. However, in my emotional pregnant state, I was nervous I would feel so overwhelmed from what I had heard of the book – that it’s set in future North America which is now divided into 12 districts and a Capitol. Each of the 12 districts is required to produce a teen boy and a teen girl to fight against the other districts child representatives to win benefits for their region – food, honor, etc. Knowing how hard I cried (seriously, I was bawling for hours afterwards) seeing The Help and how the children were treated, I didn’t know if I could handle something like this.
After some prodding from my sister, who NEVER reads anything but was promoting these books, I decided that I would try to read it before the baby came.
SO. GOOD.
While the premise of teens fighting for their state in a Survivor-type setting is there, the focus isn’t on gruesome battles, but more on outwitting others, building relationships (including a love interest or two) and understanding the main character’s – Katniss Everdeen- life and past. Her role as provider for her family when her father is killed and her mother goes into a deep depression leaving her to care for her little sister. The book gives so much great detail that it is hard to put down (I read it in 5 hours one afternoon) and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for several days afterwards. I loved some of the futuristic concepts of the book, while still having an almost-Depression-era setting.
I can’t wait to get into the next books in the series and read them before the movie comes out. I know I won’t be able to put them down! If you have read this book, tell me if you loved it as much as I did!!
Yes, book 1 is good, but so is 2 and 3- keep reading! 🙂