Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publication Date: October 2008
Pages: 374
Source: Bought
First Lines:
"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim's warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of the reaping."
Back Cover:
Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Katniss' sister is chosen by lottery, she steps up to go in her place.
My Thoughts:
I'm glad that I've FINALLY gotten around to reading this book. I was getting tired of kicking myself every time I read another rave review and I still hadn't picked it up. I'm sure most of you guys know this already, but The Hunger Games has been getting TONS of hype, and I'm always interested to pick up those kind of books because I'm hoping they'll be my next favorite. The problem with all the hype is that, more times than not, I'm let down, and the book doesn't live up to what I expected to be.
I'm happy to say that The Hunger Games was one of those books that did live up to the hype. Suzanne Collins is a genius. I loved the plot, adored the characters, and overall enjoyed the book immensely. Most times, either the plot or the characters (or both) fall short, but The Hunger Games did not. I read the book in a day and I'm eagerly awaiting my chance to run to the nearest book store and pick up a copy of the sequel, Catching Fire.
If any of you, like me, have been waiting around to read this book, I suggest you do it soon. You're missing out if you don't! The Hunger Games was a genuinely great read, and I'm pleased that I was able to find a 5-star book so early in the new year!
I'm happy to say that The Hunger Games was one of those books that did live up to the hype. Suzanne Collins is a genius. I loved the plot, adored the characters, and overall enjoyed the book immensely. Most times, either the plot or the characters (or both) fall short, but The Hunger Games did not. I read the book in a day and I'm eagerly awaiting my chance to run to the nearest book store and pick up a copy of the sequel, Catching Fire.
If any of you, like me, have been waiting around to read this book, I suggest you do it soon. You're missing out if you don't! The Hunger Games was a genuinely great read, and I'm pleased that I was able to find a 5-star book so early in the new year!
This book is part of the 2010 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.
This book is also part of the 2010 100+ Reading Challenge
Cover: 5 stars
Plot: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Writing Style: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
"Drop everything you’re doing and read this NOW. I don't care if you have to call in sick from work."
It's great hear! I am anxiously waiting for my copy of HUNGER GAMES, and with all the hype, I am trying not to build up my expectations and hope that it'll be a good read. :>
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this book! My best read of 2009! And the series is my newest book obsession (since Harry Potter). Great review and this is definitely a "drop what your doing now and read" book :)
ReplyDeleteLove, LOVE this book! I can't say enough good things about it - Definitely agree, stop what you're doing and read it NOW.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I can't wait to see what you have to say about Catching Fire. :)
Exactly, this has to be the best reads in a LONG, LONG time!
ReplyDeleteCatching Fire is amazing too!
Oooh, so good. Great review! I want to read this so bad now, but unfortunaly I cannot do the last thing you adviced us to do. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you hadn't already read this! I'm so glad that you weren't disappointed over the massive build-up you would have received from everyone blogging about this book. I hate it when that happens!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy Catching Fire! :)
I loved Hunger Games, too. In fact, I hadn't read any recent YA until this books. Now I'm hooked on the series AND on Young Adult books.
ReplyDeleteWait until you read the next book, it only gets better!
ReplyDeleteI thought this novel lived up to the hype, too -- and that's saying a lot! :-) Thank you for visiting my blog and becoming a follower -- now I'm following you too. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm still kicking myself for not having yet read this one. Soon though...soon. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice review!
I am also going to read this for the same challenge. Every time I try a popular super hype book I have been let down, so i'm hoping I react like you.
ReplyDeleteAn overall 5 stars? Dang, I've got to read this!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this. It was a gripping read.
ReplyDeleteTold ya! Well lots of other people too. I'm so glad you weren't let down and you'll be pulling your hair when you finish the second one. Good luck:D
ReplyDeleteI have got to read this one soon! Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! This is an awesome book, glad you finally got to read it!
ReplyDeleteI avoided this book for a long time since I didn't want to be disappointed if it didn't live up to the hype, and I'm happy to say I was wrong and LOVED IT. I have Catching Fire and hope to start it soon.
ReplyDeletethanks for the comments. The more I hear about this book, the more certain I am that I need to read it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this book and glad to see you did too!!
ReplyDelete5 stars...I'm so excited to read this book. I kind of did a happy dance when I saw some packages on the kitchen table this morning. And Hunger Games was one of them...YAY!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!!!
Good luck this semester. Do what you have to do. We'll wait to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you do book reviews with the first line and then the back cover. Very inventive!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this book! I can't say enough good things about it - Definitely agree, stop what you're doing and read it NOW.
ReplyDeletelingerie parties
I really enjoyed this book when I first started it and couldn't put it down. By the end though I wasn't quite satisfied. You may not agree with what I have to say, but check out my review of the Hunger Games at http://realreviews-yaf.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks, and great review!
Love your blog, I just started one of my own..."Grandma Reads YA" with a YA author in the family.
ReplyDelete