We Saw The Hunger Games

Friday night was date night for my husband and I, and it's been our plan for a month to go see The Hunger Games.  Even though my husband is not really a reader, (not like me anyway, he reads the Bible, the paper, and magazines, but not many books) he was fine with this since he saw the preview during our last movie date night and was interested.  Plus he's been listening to me rave about these books for  months.  I'm happy to say that we were not disappointed.  The Hunger Games was a great movie!  And most importantly to me very true to the book. This always makes me very happy because then my husband can get an idea of what the book is about and why I love it so much!  Of course there were a few differences and things left out, but that's always to be expected.  On the whole, the movie does a very, very good job of staying true to the book!

Just as I thought when I saw the very first preview, the casting is brilliant.  Jennifer Lawrence is perfect as Katniss.  Katniss is one of the best female characters in a long time, and Lawrence definitely does her justice.  Although Josh Hutcherson may not immediately pop into your mind when you think of Peeta,when you see the movie it's obvious that it works.  To me there couldn't be a better Gale than Liam Hemsworth, and Lenny Kravits as Cinna is genius!

So if you are a fan of The Hunger Games, you must see the movie.  I don't think you'll be disappointed!

The Last In The Series: Mockingjay

Source:  Goodreads

Goodreads summary...

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief.  In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating:  President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12.  The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy will keep your hearts pounding.

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I know a lot of people have a favorite book from this series or one that just wasn't quite as good for them as the others, but that wasn't the case for me.  I couldn't pick a favorite.  I loved them all, and I have to say that this may be one of my favorite series of all time.  I just loved it.

I do think that the last book was different from the first two though, and very much so.  The Hunger Games and Catching Fire are full of action and violence, but there's also hope.  There's the hope that Katniss and Peeta share that they might each be able to save the other.

In Mockingjay there is a lot of misery and madness, but very little hope.  It was easy at times for me to say well what was it all for then.  But that is what makes this an amazing book because you are feeling this along with Katniss.   I think during a lot of the book that is exactly what Katniss is feeling.

Having said that, I loved the ending and the epilogue shows you exactly what the point was...love, honor, and freedom.

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Now that I've read the entire series, I am super excited for the movie.  I think the casting is brilliant, and  I especially like Lenny Kravitz as Cinna.

Lenny Kravitz as Cinna,Stylist to Katniss
www.disneydreaming.com

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This trilogy really resonated with me.  Katniss and Peeta are those rare literary characters who will stay with me forever.  So even if you aren't a "young adult" and are having doubts about whether this series is for you, set them aside.  I'd recommend this book to anyone.

What An Appropriate Title...Catching Fire

Source:  Goodreads

Goodreads Summary...

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in The Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph.  Instead, they have become the poster children for a rebellion that they never planned to lead.  The new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by the Capitol...

Suzanne Collins
Author of The Hunger Games Series
Source:  Goodreads

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I just finished Catching Fire, and when I say just finished, I mean I read the last word of the book ten minutes ago.  I just couldn't wait to blog about it.  I know I should probably wait a few hours and think about it a little, but I won't because I loved it!  For me, Catching Fire was even better than The Hunger Games.

After reading the first book I said I loved Katniss's character, but now after reading  Catching Fire I know that was a huge understatement.  What Collins was able to do with her character is amazing.  I don't like her  because she's perfect and always knows the right answer.  It's quite the contrary actually.  She is an extremely flawed, scared young woman who at her core is very good.  She has all the great qualities of a heroine...bravery, toughness, skill, honor, undying love, and spunk, but she also has the qualities that make her very real...fear, jealousy, pain, mental break downs, indecision, moodiness, anger, and at times weakness.  These real qualities are what make her bravery and unconditional love for Peeta (fellow tribute), Gale (best friend), and her family all the more believable and inspiring.

Katniss isn't the only good thing about this book.  I really like all the characters especially Peeta.   The story itself was riveting to me.  The book is full danger, sadness, humor, happiness, anger and yes sappy love stuff, and I felt it all.

I love to read, and I find that I enjoy most books I read.  But I really love when I come across books that make me remember why I'm so passionate about reading--the books and characters that stay with you long after you've finished the book.  Yes I know this is YA fiction, and I am no longer a young adult.  I am a 35 year old mother, but a great story is a great story no matter how old you are.

Now I'm off to the rest of my day, eagerly anticipating later this evening when I can dive into Mockingjay which at this moment is on my kitchen counter.

My Thoughts On "The Hunger Games"

Source:  Goodreads

Suzanne Collins
Source:  www.suzannecollinsbooks.com

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I knew nothing about The Hunger Games until I started blogging last year.  Then it was every where.  It seemed like every blog I visited had reviewed this book, and it was on all the must read lists.  My sister and I both love to read and we trade book recommendations back and forth, and I love to buy her books for any occasion...birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, just because.  I bought her The Hunger Games, and she liked it.  So over the next few months I bought her the the other two books in the series.  But I still hadn't read it.

Then I read a post on one of my favorite blogs, Susie's Blog.  She had recently read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and was in the middle of Mockingjay.  She had good things to say, so I decided it was time to read them.  Plus I had just signed up for this awesome reading challenge I'm doing for 2012, and the genre for January is Juvenile/YA fiction.  It just seemed like the time to read it.

Let me just say that I did not expect to love this book as much as I do.  From the very first page I was hooked and couldn't put it down.  I love character driven books, and man oh man is Katniss a character.  I just love her.  Suzanne Collins gives her such an authentic voice.  It feels like someone is telling you their story.  I totally forgot I was reading a book.  Nothing felt forced to me.

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I cannot wait until the movie comes out in March, and just for fun I thought I'd add the preview to my post.