The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Easily my favorite read of all. Though I didn't actually finish it before the read-a-thon ended. I absolutely LOVED this book! Frankly, I can't see it not making my top reads of the year. Actually, it's kind of funny. When I first heard of this book, not even from the blog world (shocking as that is, as I hear of most every book first here), it immediately made me think of Richard Bachman/Stephen King's The Running Man. So I was intrigued from the start. But I just never got around to reading it, as much I really wanted to, something else always seemed to jump in front of it for one reason or another. Finally, it got so damn popular that I found myself sort of hoping I wouldn't even like it. I know that's stupid, but don't some of you get that way too? When a book just gets so popular, you put up mental roadblocks and want to avoid it like the plague? Hey, I said I knew it was stupid. And I couldn't avoid it anyway, the premise just appealed to me too much.
And I'm soooooo glad I did actually read it! It is absolutely the kind of book that appeals to me the most. Books of survival and suspense. But ones that go much further. Ones that so totally suck you in that you're no longer just reading the story, you're living it. Stories with characters so real, you can't help but love them. Or hate them. Characters who make mistakes and you just want to scream at them, but at the same time you know that's why you love them so much...because they do make human mistakes. Okay, this book won't take over the number one spot from The Stand in my heart (for so many sentimental reasons I can't see any book ever doing that), but the fact that I even think to compare them in my mind says a lot!
There were times when the book was a bit predictable, but I have to admit that it didn't take a lot away from it for me. And I have to admit that I was worried about the end. Knowing that a sequel is coming left me anxious. I didn't want things left hanging. But I needn't have worried. Yes, there are some unanswered questions about the future. But they're the right unanswered questions. In fact, they're questions I'm not even sure I want the answers to. Personally, I think I'd prefer it if there were no sequel. Please, don't shoot me for saying that.
Hmmm...I just realized that I didn't really say anything about this book was really about. Oh well. There's gazillions of reviews out there that explain that better than I ever could. Especially today.
*****
Other opinions:
Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made On
Stephanie at Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-Holic
Becky at Becky's Book Reviews
Melody at Melody's Reading Corner
Renay at YA Fabulous
Joy at Thoughts of Joy
Melissa at Book Nut
Amy at My Friend Amy
Suey at It's All About Books
The Sleepy Reader
Elizabeth at As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves
Reading Rants
Bookshelves of Doom
Oh my, trying to come up with all the reviews is overwhelming...I swear there must be hundreds of them. So, if I missed yours, first of all, please forgive me! And secondly, leave me a link in the comments and I will happily add it to the list. Thanks!
21 comments:
I know a lot of people were unhappy with the cliff-hanger ending, but I wasn't all that angsty about it. Yes, I want to read the sequel, but I didn't have the same urgency that so many readers seem to have :)
I'm so glad you loved this, too! My concern about the cliff-hanger is if the sequel can live up to the first.
I am going to have to read this book again before I review it. I loved it, but I know my brain was so mushy in those late night hours that I didn't retain as much as I should have. I want to experience it again! I think you're right about it being the right questions left hanging at the end. I'm not so anxious about the sequel, though I do plan to read it. I don't know if lack of anxiety is caused by lack of sleep though, haha!
I'm glad you're feeling a bit better. I had one of those hangover-like days yesterday, too.
Glad to hear you are coming back to earth. This books keeps cropping up and I think I need to read it now!
You're not pathetic! I slept for TWENTY HOURS after the read-a-thon, lmao. So I'm sure if I had been awake, I would have been in hangover hell too!
I'm going to try to read and review a short story for John's SS Monday, but we'll see if that happens. I'm afraid to open up my google reader, lol.
I decided that because of the cliffhanger ending, I was going to wait until the sequel was out to read this book. But you, Chris, Stephanie, etc are making it hard! Especially now that you said you actually didn't mind it that much. Grrrr :P
(PS: From now on, I'm going to pretend you're saying those mean things about yourself about us. Pathetic, Debi? Why would you call us that? That's CRUEL, Debi. CRUEL :( )
Definitely one of those books that is making waves in the blogging world. I am so glad you enjoyed it so much. Hope you are feeling better today after a day of getting over your all-nighter!
Glad you're recovering from the Read-a-thon! I am not meant to stay up all hours of the night anymore and that is a fact. I'm just glad I'm not in a timezone that started at 2am or something like that.
I haven't read this one, but I keep hearing about it. Man it sounds good!
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed this one that much! I really thought it was fantastic. I was kind of tied up in the love story too, that's why I wanted more when it ended! But the action and the emotions of the book were top notch! I'm like Joy...I worry about the sequel living up to the first.
LOL...read-a-thon hangover hell..I know exactly what you mean. I've been there for the past couple of days. It's been a disaster.
And I'm with Nymeth!! No calling yourself names, lol. Nymeth, I think we do indeed need to fly to NY and kick her ass ;)
BTW, this was a fantastic review! You summed up my thoughts too.
I'm glad you read this book and loved it! It's great, isn't it?! :D
This book definitely marked one of my favourite reads this year!!!
I am trying to catch up on blog reading and I haven't read all of your read-a-thon posts yet, but just had to comment on this post real quick...
SO glad you read this one and enjoyed it. I want every book lover I know to read it because I thought it was so good! I am not sure whether the sequel will even be able to hold a candle to this one but I am still anxious to read it!
Glad you're feeling better. I fell asleep on the couch last night at 8, so I'm pretty well-rested now. Don't feel like blogging or reviewing or even reading, though! :)
I'm glad you loved this one--and to at least hold it up to The Stand for comparison tells me a lot about how you felt. One day I'll muster the courage to read a Stephen King novel.
Guess I'm gonna have to break down and get this one. How's that for a rambly comment!! :)
I am looking forward to reading this book when it finally comes in for me at the library!
I loved your random thoughts and to be honest sometimes I really don't want to know too much about the story in a review..I usually am more drawn to how the book made a person feel!!! My son loved Hunger Games and he told me months ago that I needed to read this. Scholastic is the one that brought this to my attention. I got an early release but I loaned it out to my kids at my middle school. Each one came back telling me how awesome this book was!!
You are not pathetic! I couldn't pull an all-nighter if my life depended on it. (Okay, maybe I could, but I'd have a messed-up sleeping schedule for the next week or so.)
And yes, I do know the feeling of wanting to avoid the popular things. I kind of do feel that way about this book. I might be convinced to read it some time after the hype has died down, but... Not before I think. There are so, so many other books to read still...
wow! you've so made me want to read this now - even though you didn't even say anything about it! hahaha!
i can also very much relate to your feeling about a book which you discover and before you get to read it suddenly becomes popular. i feel exactly as you do. its very silly and i know i shouldn't, but i still feel that way.
You're making it very, very hard for me to put off plunking down money on this book. Fortunately, my local bookstore is awful and I'll bet a bundle they don't even have a copy. So, I'll wait. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I do understand that feeling that you've seen so much of a book that it becomes irritating. I never desire to hate a book, though. I just feel like avoiding them, if they get too much exposure.
You've hit on the reason I've never joined in on the readathon. I am too old to stay up all night. I already know it takes me about 3 days to recover and I *will* get a migraine from lack of sleep. The potential migraine is enough to dissuade me. Just not worth it.
You are so fantastic! I think that the angst in wanting to read the sequel comes from hoping it's as good a story and compulsive a read. But maybe I'm wrong. I will be trying to snag it at BEA and waking up in the wee hours of the morning to do so!
Yeah for The Hunger Games!! I figured you would like this one. It was actually Stephen King's review of this book that made me want to read it!! (even though it is very similar to his Running Man!)
The ending?? Well, I actually didn't realize it was going to have a sequel until I finished it. Sometimes this happens and I feel kind of blindsided. This time, I just took it in stride.
maybe you could just say: "reviewed by many" lol..
This is another book that seems to be everywhere in blogland at the moment. It does look like something I would enjoy, I really must get a copy.
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