'The Hunger Games' 3

Summer has been so busy lately that I've neglected to read our books for the past couple of months. Thanks to Kimberly for letting me borrow her book this month or I probably wouldn't have been able to get my hands on it.

'The Hunger Games' was definitely an exciting read. I stayed up late every night last week because I just couldn't put it down. Once I finished it I stayed up even later with thoughts running through my head. I couldn't sleep. I even convinced Wesley to read this one, and he rarely reads novels. Now we are reading the second book 'Catching Fire' together. It's been fun.

Here are some of the thoughts that kept me awake all last week:

First of all it made me think of war and the brutality of it. It never leaves anyone the same, no matter the circumstances you experience it in (whether watching, or being in the thick of it or even just living close to those who have loved ones involved).

I also thought a lot about government and choices in this life. We are so blessed to have them. I can't imagine living in a world where so many things are controlled by someone so distant and withdrawn. The Hunger Games are all about power and keeping the lower classmen in their place. How sad it is that the government officials place so little value on the human life that they force people to murder for their own entertainment. It's a sick idea really, but not far from wars that take place today when you think about it.

Katniss was always so brave and at the same time lucky. She could have died so many times. I was touched by the acts of mercy/kindness in the arena. It shows how human they all were even in the midst of the horrors they were living. I think that in that kind of a situation it would be difficult to remember that you were really human, and that you could control what happens to you even though there are those who would make you think otherwise.

This book did NOT make me hungry!

I didn't even notice that The Hunger Games was on this list! I've been a terrible slack girls. I'm reading a lot but neglecting to look at our list. I did read this book however about a year ago. It's not one that I would say that I like, but it is an exceptional book. It has similar themes to 1984, Animal Farm...blah blah blah all the classics (not hating on those) that young people aren't likely going to pick up or read for fun.  This book series however brings up the issues of what is ethical in a government.
I just finished Catching Fire last week because the third book Mockingjay will be released on Tuesday and I'm interested to see how Suzanne Collins wraps it all up. I've been talking a lot about the books with my friend Erika and the girls she works with and we're all pulling for Gale to make a comeback.  Katniss's relationships are the light and fun part of the book to keep it from being overly depressing.  Only we're pretty sure that Peeta is going to die. Cause really who can't help but love the childhood best friend and want him to get the girl?
But back to the main story.  The bond between Rue and Katniss is a sensitive subject.  In the games each person fought for themselves, but they were really more powerful and better at surviving when they formed allegiances. I thought to myself how I would survive in the area. Quite likely I'd probably just be knocked off in the bloodbath.  The mindset that all of the characters were "raised" with is so much different than mine though.  Katniss killed animals for survival all of the time and when it came down to life in the arena she was ready to do what she had to. I cried one time when I killed a fish. Literally broke down. Yep. I'd be dead fast.
Well without having read the first book recently I'm just going to leave my thoughts here and I'm excited to see what everyone else thinks!

The Hunger Games

I haven't seen any posts on July's book, Infidel, so I am assuming that no one read it?? I was on a waiting list (surprise, surprise) and so I am reading it right now. It is very interesting, and often sad, to discover the way that people live in other countries. We are so blessed! I am only about 1/3 through it, but I would recommend that you all read it if you ever get the chance.

So . . . The Hunger Games! I had heard about this book quite awhile ago from an old roommate. She raved about this book, so I decided to give it a try since we usually have similar tastes in literature. I will admit that I did not expect a recommendation of such a - shall I say barbaric? - book from her. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed it because I think that my tastes can sometimes be a little more rough around the edges when it comes to books that include action/violence.

I found myself immediately sucked into the story. I found it so creative and intriguing. I began having dreams related to the book; sometimes during the day when my mind would wander, I would imagine up unlikely "what if" scenarios in which I would have to use my strength and brains to survive. Suffice it to say, it didn't take me long to finish this book and go on to read the second one in the series, Catching Fire. . . If you thought that the first book was incredulous, just you wait! I guess the third book in the series is coming out at the end of this month and I look forward to reading it some time in the future. While I was reading this book I couldn't help think to myself what a cool movie it would make.

Hope that those of you who are reading it are enjoying it! I look forward to reading your thoughts on it.