Book Talk Thursday-The Hunger Games

Ok.  If you're like me and have been living under a rock the last few years and you haven't read The Hunger Games yet, you need to get the book NOW.  I'll wait while you reserve it at your library (good luck!), buy it from Amazon, or download it on your Kindle.  


Ready?  


The Hunger Games is actually the first book in a trilogy by Suzanne Collins.  So you're actually getting a three-fer this week with my Book Talk Thursday.  I have read all three books in less than a week.  The second book is Catching Fire and the third Mockingjay.  I am not kidding you when I say these are the best books I have read in a LONG time-maybe ever.  I loved me some Twilight-but Bella and Edward have nothing on Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.  This review should mean even more to you when I say I am not a Science Fiction fan-at all.  I lost that desire long ago when I was forced to read A Wrinkle in Time in seventh grade.  Don't shoot me-I probably would enjoy it now, I think it was more being forced to suffer through a book I wasn't interested in.  


Anyways...


The Hunger Games takes place at some point in the future.  The United States has been destroyed and a country called Panem has risen in it's wake.  The Capitol controls each of the country's 12 districts.  An uprising in the former District 13 caused the Capitol to start the Hunger Games as punishment to the other districts and to distract the citizens from another rebellion.  One boy and one girl from each district, called tributes, are chosen to fight to the death in an arena with many man-made obstacles.  The last person standing is the victor.  


There are so many twists and turns, ups and downs, in this book that you will not want to put it down.  I have not been this excited about a book in a very long time.  I want everyone I know to read these books so that I can talk about it with them.  I have even convinced my husband (who is not a reader) to read this book and he has been reading it non-stop ever since.  This book will turn nonreaders into readers.  Catching Fire and Mockingjay are just as good as the first book.  I don't want to say more, so I don't give anything away.  


And, as a nice little sidenote, The Hunger Games movie is coming out March 2012.  Liam Hemsworth plays the role of Katniss' best friend Gale.  Although not a major role in the first book, he will be very nice to look at!  


Happy Reading!