This post contains spoilers. Seriously.
So, I finished Hunger Games in exactly 12 hours.
I had absolutely no intention of liking this book, and admittedly, there were times in the beginning I wanted to abandon it all together.
It’s like if The Fifth Element, The Most Dangerous Game, The Wizard of Oz and The Matrix all had sex, and one of them got pregnant, but nobody knows who the father is.
Hunger Games is definitely not my usual cup of tea. In fact, I originally refused read it because I didn’t want it to interfere with my love of Twilight, but as I heard more about the plot, I realized that I wasn’t going to read it purely because it in no way appealed to me.
Kids murdering each other with caveman weapons? Pass. I’ve seen the Justin Bieber Movie.
But then, I had insomnia, and only Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was on, and I’m just not feeling any of their faces this season, so I broke down and read it.
It took me three chapters to not hate it, and then I was hooked.
Oh to be a girl in post-apocalyptic America. Going about your daily life hunting in the woods with Miley Cyrus’ boyfriend, living off of squirrel and beaver, before being chosen by lottery to fight tweens in a fucked up Bio-Dome of death, while making out with the annoying kid from Zathura.
Who, by the way, looks totally hot now in the trailers, so good job on not still looking like Robin Williams’ son in RV!
Team Peeta.
I am now 5 Chapters into the second book, and so far it’s admittedly slower and less romantic than the first book. Fingers crossed it turns around, because it’s bordering on being the kind of sci-fi war of the future guy crap Andy likes to watch.
Hunger Games comes to theaters March 23rd, who’s going with me? No seriously, who’s coming with me, I plan to squeal like a teenager, bite my lip and get all blushy, and I’ll need a designated driver.
Fun fact: Did you know there’s beaver anus in vanilla ice cream? I guess were all closer to Hunger Games than we thought.
Check out my review of Catching Fire and Mockingjay!
The hubs got mt a Kindle for Christmas, so I spent all day Monday & Tuesday sitting on the couch while the kids played with their new Christmas toys & I finished the whole series. I’m still making up my mind how I feel about it. I thought it was very well-written and it did draw me in, but it was soooo violent and towards the end it started having a very political message that annoyed me a little, being a children’s book and all. Also, the romance aspect was pretty dull. If you’re going to write a book for teenagers and include all kinds of very graphic death scenes, then somebody can at least get to second base, right? Still, I liked it & I think I’m going to reread it because I get the feeling it’s the kind of series you need to read a few times to pick up on little things.
And I saw Jamie Oliver talking about the beaver anus on Letterman. Seriously, who was the first person who thought to try that?
I am loving your take on The Hunger Games! I really enjoyed the series, but was disappointed with the ending to it.
But more importantly, OMGWTFBEAVERANUS??? I have to Google it now, but I’m scared…
Be scared.
Dear Gd. I’m afraid to google, what if my boss calls me in and says, “Why in the hell are you looking for beaver anus?”
–>I will smuggle in the candy and flask to watch Hunger Games with you. I read the first book in one day and the second and third were not bad.
If I lived in Ohio, I would so be there with you on the 23rd! I am excited to see how they translate it to the big screen.
You should check out The Percy Jackson Series. It’s a very entertaining read all the way through the series.
We’re in! Whole House…so in maybe the midnight show!
The first was good the second was ok but I hated the third, actually the third made me dislike the whole series. The way it ended, who the characters became was the problem for me. I’m not even sure if I’ll go see the movie or not, though since my son is reading it for English silent reading if he wants to go I will probably take him just to compare the book to the movie.
Ok, this is worrisome. I was actually expecting it to pull a New Moon. Like the first was great, New Moon sucked ass, but then Breaking Dawn was way better…damn.
It’s different for everyone Brittany. Don’t worry. Book 2 starts off slowly, but it’s actually my favorite book in the series. And for me Book 3, was the one where I actually began to like Katniss. In the first two books, she’s simply reacting to everything that happens to her. In the last book, you see more about what everything she’s gone through has done to her.
Yeaaah… You should probably reserve judgement until you’ve read the entire series yourself. I was completely hooked by The Hunger Games by chapter three at the latest and devoured the rest of the series with relish. Can’t wait for the movie.
My stepmother, however… couldn’t get past the first book and refuses to read the rest of the series. Totally personal taste.
The second book was actually my favorite in the series. The third was… disappointing in a way. It’s very different from the first two, but still a good read. I’m not sure how the third will translate to the screen, but I’m sooooooo freaking excited for the first. I hope they slut Peeta up a bit (think Taylor Lautner in New Moon) during the part where Katniss has to care for his wounds during the Games. Barely of-age manflesh FTW!
I’ve read all three books in the past week. The second and third will not disappoint you!
I alternately loved and hated the whole series. But towards the end, I just HATED Katniss with the fire of a thousand suns. I was wierdly addicted and had to see what would happen, but I hated it the whole time. Strange.
See, I am already starting to hate her in book 2 and it’s annoying me. At least I can now expect that to continue.
Have you tried the Black Jewels books by Anne Bishop? I still read them at least once a year- kinda like Twilight meets super awesome world building.
LOVE the Hunger Games series. I am actually re-reading book 1 and I’m loving it more the second time. Books 2 and 3 were good…but not as good as the first one. The trailer for the movie? Yeah, first time I’ve cried during a movie preview. I cannot wait until March.
I’m glad you’re on board with Katniss and crew. I’m super pumped for the movie and could not be more pleased with the casting. I was just hoping they wouldn’t cast some twit as Katniss and they got the girl from Winter’s Bone. Score! I’m Team Gale all the way, so we wouldn’t even have to get into a drunken topless brawl at the theater. We could watch in peace and go splitskies on those hot teens.
are you seriously Team Peeta? Ugh.
I am. But remember, I only finished book 1, soooooo….
I’m done with book 2 and I have just started 3. I’m Team Peeta, too, but Gale is starting to come to life for me.
Ummm, what??? I didn’t realize there was anyone who *wasn’t* Team Peeta. I’m sorry, but if a man were to tell me what I was wearing the first time he ever saw me, more than a decade ago, it’d be all over.
I’m with you. I had no inetion of likong the boo, in fact I picke dit up by accident and then two chapters in realized it was “young adult” fiction which was very disappointing — but then I kept reading and really liked it. It’s an intriguing concept, if it were not for young adults I think it could have been better – more sex, more blood, etc.but all in all a good and easy ready. I’m reading the third one now — Mockingjay, not as good as he first and the second is not as good as the first either, but worth reading all I think.
I will also be going to see the movie! Probably by myself as I know I will never talk my hubby into it.
You never know… My hubby succumbed to the hype and is now reading the first book… I’m pretty sure I can get him to go to the movie.
this is why you need to move to NJ, STAT! team peeta all the way.
Beaver anus aside, It helps to know a little bit about Suzanne Collins and her background when you read the books. It’s a more challenging type of YA book, which is why a lot of universities are including it in their literature studies. If the second book is pissing you off, you might want to get some xanex before you read Mockingjay. :D
I read your comment about starting it last week, then another friend of mine posted that she read it and liked it. I downloaded the book at 9pm that night, and 3 days later I’d read the whole trilogy. The 2nd and 3rd books weren’t quite as good as the first, but they do pick up.
I wish there were more books to read! And I’ll totally be in line at midnight for the movie. My mom’s birthday is the next day, but this is WAY more important!! :)
Go to YouTube and search “Katniss and Rue” it’s the first video that comes up and has a million and something hits. It was done by some fans for a film class (I was told…) and they did an amazing job!! CANNOT WAIT FOR THE MOVIE!!!
Everyone hates the third cuz they don’t get the super happy waynes world ending they all come to expect. I’m sorry but if you expect those kids to go through all of that and come out normal on the other side then you are the dumb one. (Not you as in brittany but you as in the puplic in general) I loved it and would totally read again! Also I’m team peeta!
It’s been a while since I’ve read them but as I remember I liked the first book the best. I can’t wait for the movie though! I told Matt to tell you guys I’d go if you guys have a girly night at the movies! I’m going to have to read the books again before March though.
More goodies in your food. Nom Nom Nom…
http://www.restlesschipotle.com/2011/04/all-the-stuff-you-dont-want-to-eat-but-you-do-anyway/
Now see. I won’t even look at it. I’m not in the mood to get all wrapped up in a book to where I sit for days not hearing crap around me then sitting up in bed losing all kinds of sleep.
I don’t want an addiction right now.
But you kinda got me thinking.
Damn it.
I just did the same thing. Read the whole first book on Boxing Day. Working on the second now. I cannot put the Kindle down.
For some fucked up reason, My MacBook Air will not allow me to copy & paste, so I’ll just echo my exact reasoning for not getting involved with this series to date because I want nothing to interfere with my love of “Twilight” and Edward, too! ;)
However, since 9 out of 10 times I agree with everything you write, guess I’ll download “Hunger Games” today. No character better fuck up my Edward love….I’m not ready to end it yet.
As for eating squirrels, that’s called Saturday in Louisiana. ;)
Great! One more book series for my bucket list! Damn it sucks to be in a country where a normally $16 book costs around $90! I feel like I’m sitting in a bookclub where I’m not allowed to participate or have forgotten that I know how to read.
On the upside….I’m going to research fun facts about vanilla ice cream and beaver anus. Yum.
I absolutely am with you in your reasoning for having not read this book yet. I do not want anything to mess up my love of “Twilight” and of EDWARD!!
However, since I agree with you on almost every single thing you write, I guess I’ll download these books today. Again, no one better fuck up my Edward love…..
Squirrel for a meal? In Louisiana, we call that Sunday.
I loved the whole series so much that after I finished I read the first series that Suzanne Collins wrote, and I like it too. I love Katniss. She’s resilient.
Now I’ve been sucked into the Game of Thrones series.
G.O.T. is AH-MAY-ZING!! Enjoy!!! :-)
Still holding out.. still haven’t read it. I like to be different.
I think book one could definitely stand alone… but 2 and 3 don’t totally suck. I read all of them in a matter of days.
I’d be willing to fly to the middle of the country to see the movie with you in March. I have nobody here to drink and giggle with. As long as I can crash on a couch or something. Cuz plane tickets are f’ing expensive! And Andy picks us up from the movie. (designated drivers rock!)
Book Two doesn’t suck. Book Three is turning out to be extremely difficult to get through. I hope it gets better. I only have 150pages left!
lucky you. I cant stop watching the fucking Kardashians. It’s so less productive than reading…
Oh, I’m so there. Team Peeta.
I am just starting the third. I read the first two days ago, the second yesterday and now today hopefully I will finish the third. I had been avoiding it too because it just didn’t sound like my cup of tea. So I have been surprised by how much I have liked them. And she definitely draws you into the next book with the ending of each of the first two.
I am so there with you!
Now. This. Erm. Yeah.
I bought the series because the blogworld was raving about it. I was so excited about it, and actually felt giddy about grabbing the first book and taking the time to read a little.
And then I read the first page. And the second one. And I got incredibly annoyed. As in, grind-your-teeth-till-they’re-nothing-but-nubs – annoyed. Why?
Because of Battle Royale. Because the hunger games is battle royale repeated, in the US. I could tell exactly what was going to happen, who was going to get killed and how.
Annoyed.
And yet, intrigued. There’s no denying that she can write, and that some of the characters are identifiable (Peeta kinda annoys me…), and I’m still reading on, despite my annoyance. I feel like a traitor for basically liking something that could be a copy of someone else’s work. But I can’t help it!!!
OMG…I thought Peeta’s name was PETER. That’s what I get for listening to the audiobook at work. I’m almost through Catching Fire and can’t wait to start Mockingjay. I’m hooked. You’ll be shocked at Catching Fire…I was quite upset the further I got into it. Damn Capital
So I am like many others here finishing the three books in a few days (acutally finished the 3rd one a few hours ago)..and all I can say is it has been a LONG time since I’ve read a series like this one. I think the Catching Fire is my favorite and that there were times when I wanted to poke the eyes out of a couple characters…BUT I refrained and I did enjoy all three books. I am slightly worried about the movie, I don’t want to seem creepy thinking some young kid is hot, BUT eh what can I say?
Team Peeta. All. The. Way!
I have yet to read it, but it’s on my list. Looks like there will be some good and not so good parts. I’ll have to let you know how I like it when I start reading it.
Book 1 was the absolute best! 2 and 3 slowly get worse and worse. Katniss is the most pathetic character. But so with you. Team Peeta all the way!
Fark. I was totally wanting to avoid them altogether for very similar reasons that you previously had. And now you’re gonna make me read them. Biatch.
I’ve read the hunger games twice already. and I will be reading them again before the movie comes out for sure. I LOVE the hunger games
Ok these totally don’t sound like my thing, but you are my soul mate so I will blindly trust you and read them.