Triple Threat: Hunger Games Trilogy Review!

I finally finished The Hunger Games trilogy.  As you'll read, I was totally blown away.  What an amazing series!!  Here are the links to the GoodReads blurbs for each of the books so you can find out what they are about.  It's a little long to put each synopsis here.

The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay


The Hunger Games Trilogy Review

The Hunger Games:

I had no idea how this book would affect me before reading it. I could not predict that it would change my expectations of books I intend to read. Suzanne Collins has written a book that leaves me almost wordless. Almost.

I felt so connected to Katniss and her world; felt as if I was there with her in the arena, battling for my life. The descriptions of everything were so perfect, I could see what Katniss was seeing, what Peeta was feeling. The other tributes were so real I felt for them when they died. Though this is fiction, it felt as though the world of Panem could be a place that actually existed.

Now I know some of you might be asking yourselves, “Is this book really as good as you say, Charlie?” Well, I recommend to all of you to read it yourselves. Always be your own judge. But trust me, all the bajillion people who have read it and loved it can't be wrong.

So off I go to read Catching Fire, the second book. Hope it's as good as this one.

Catching Fire:

This book rocked me to the core! It was so emotionally charged I couldn't stop reading it for anything. I think I stopped once or twice to use the facilities, but other than that I couldn't stop turning my electronic pages.

After the first one, I didn't think a second book would keep pace. I was wrong! Catching Fire did that and more. With twists and turns that kept coming, I had no idea what to expect. I don't want to give anything away, but just know that Suzanne Collins did a fantastic job creating this world and all of it's intricacies.

Katniss's emotional journey was expertly crafted. Her inner fire leaped off the pages and kept me enraptured through the whole book. Peeta's steadfastness to stick through his love for Katniss was so heart wrenching, it was as if I could feel what he was going through. It is so refreshing to read a book with characters I can actually care about.

The only thing that frustrated me was Katniss's back and forth game with Peeta and Gale. But it is part of what kept the story interesting, so it's not that big of a deal.

Overall, this book was amazing, shocking, and moving. If I could personally thank Suzanne Collins for writing it, I would. It was so fun to read, and it has been a long time since I've read a book I couldn't put down, even forgoing food breaks. Maybe since The Hunger Games.

Again, you must read it for yourself. And I hope you do.

Now, I'm off to read the next book, Mockingjay. I bet it's friggin awesome!

Mockingjay:

Wow. Just wow. I can't believe how good this book was. I can't believe how much stuff happened, and I can't believe how it ended. Simply amazing. I don't want it to be over! I want to keep reading about Katniss, and Peeta, and Gale, and all the others. I actually cried while finishing up this book; the events were so moving.

I am completely blown away at how good this trilogy was. I am again wordless. I just sat here after finishing it, shocked. Thinking, how did Suzanne Collins do this? How did she make such magic? Everyone should read these books. They tell a fantastic story of love and war and how those conditions change people's lives.

 

I can't wait to read these again. I've never re-read a book before, but I reread the Hunger Games to prepare for the other two. And I'd do it again. 

Nook Color!!

The Nook Color has changed my world.  I thought when I got the first Nook, everything was different.  But this new Nook, well, it has shattered all that.  As soon as you turn the thing on it amazes.  It's bright, colorful, and you can touch the screen.  You have to touch the screen.  It begs you to touch the screen. 

You first have to go through a quick and easy setup process, which is made even easier if you already have the B&N account set up and all.  But after that is over, it's off to the exploring!  The first thing I did was personalize the background (I picked the white snow with paw prints and red ribbon - fitting for December).  There are only a few stock backgrounds, but there are many websites out there with free downloadable ones.  But you are supposed to be able to set your personal pictures as the background, I just haven't figured it out yet, I've been too busy reading! 

The next thing was picking out what books I was going to read first, then setting them on my home page (the main and biggest part you see here.)  I've picked out several that I need to finish and some more that I plan on starting.  It's a fantastic way to organize the books, because you can see them right there, staring at you, waiting to be read.  There are no lists to go through, just the bold covers of the books.  It's wonderful! 

So you're probably asking, what's the big deal, I can read on the Nook (or other E-reader) I already have - it does the same thing, sort of.  Well my advice to you is to keep reading.  This Nook is like a mini-Ipad.  Without the apps.  It surfs the internet with ease, although the only thing that does bug me is how tiny the words are when you are looking at a full page.  But you can easily zoom in and that problem is fixed.  I tweet, facebook, and blog (mostly read blogs) all from my Nook Color.  I can turn it sideways for better viewing, and it's almost as big as my netbook's screen. 

It's lightweight, easy to hold, though as you can see I do have a cover for it - makes me feel better about carrying it around.  This is one of the best Christmas presents ever, and would make any book reader squeeeee! with excitement. 

So to wrap up, simply put, this Nook Color rocks.  I don't have really any drawbacks to comment on.  It's user friendly, organized, colorful, and fun.  Better get to the store and get yourself one - they may just run out!

------Charlie------