Yay! Book two of the Uglies trilogy, Pretties, by Scott Westerfield continues the story of Tally Youngblood after she turned pretty. After her operation, Tally turned into a fluffy pretty whose biggest worries were what to wear to the next party - with a hangover. With the help of Shay and Peris, Tally is voted into the hippest clique in New Pretty Town, the Crims, and her life is complete! On the same night, Croy comes to Tally and leaves a "bubbly riddle" for Tally and her friend, Zane.
Discovering a note written from herself, Tally splits the pills with Zane that will cure her of the lesions implanted in her brain. Their trick results in Tally and Zane having to wear metal cuffs that could potentially eavesdrop on their conversations; however, this doesn't deter them from finding new ways to stay bubbly. Zane and Tally have decided to run away and they use all the members of their clique to create a diversion so they can head out to New Smoke. On the way, Peris chickens out and Tally jumps from an incredible height to a river to avoid being recaptured by the Specials. After her crash landing, Tally finds herself on a reservation with pre-Rusty tribes, built for the sole purpose of studying human nature such as revenge. So, what does Tally do? Steal a hovercar, of course! When Tally finally makes it to the ruins, she discovers that she is all alone, except for David - someone that she had forgotten about.
Special Circumstances placed a tracker on Zane and followed the signal to New Smoke. They also brought their newest Special, Shay. And I think that in the next book Tally will be one of them.
I still really liked this book, but Tally has a huge complex where she believes that everything is her fault. I'm hoping that she learns to forgive herself in the next book. I was a little annoyed when Tally was reunited with David and wasn't sure what to do; however, I feel like it was taken care of appropriately at the end of the book and I was incredibly thankful that it ended in this story. Having just read The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, which was 3 books of one girl having to decide between 2 boys, I was so glad when Tally made a quick decision.
This book wasn't as scientifically driven as the last, but it was anthropologically interesting with the study of human nature on the reserve. I find it fascinating to read about the Rusties: a society 300 years ago that pretty much describes our current culture and state of mind. It makes you wonder if the oil plague, or something similar, will happen and how will that shape the future?
It was a little annoying when the characters spoke fluent pretty, but it made the difference between being pretty-minded and bubbly more obvious. I am really excited for the next book though, since I am convinced that Tally will be turned into one of the Specials. I'm also curious as to whether or not Shay is as crazy as she lets on. And off I go to read the next story, Specials!
Showing posts with label The Hunger Games Trilogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hunger Games Trilogy. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Mockingjay
Mockingjay! The long-awaited finale to Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games trilogy!
And....!
I didn't love it.
Katniss Everdeen returns as the rebel's icon: the Mockingjay. In an effort to overthrow the Capitol, the rebels have banded together to take back Panem, district by district. Katniss' only request is that she herself wants to be the one to kill Snow. Peeta, Katniss' fake lover, was captured at the end of the last book, and it is evident in this book that he has been tortured. In a desperate rescue attempt, he is saved but his mind has been hijacked and perceives Katniss as a threat and tries to kill her.
In theory, the storyline is good, but Katniss herself is angsty as she still waffles between Peeta and Gale. And to make matters worse, both guys are aware of her struggles; they even come to an agreement that she will choose the guy that she can't survive without. Katniss also strikes me as sulky for most of the book; while others are going about their business (going to classes, etc), Katniss wanders off and does what she pleases, when she pleases. It isn't until near the end of the book that she accepts authority, but it is still for her own purposes: to sneak off and kill Snow. Katniss also spends a large majority of the book in the infirmary, so it seems like much of the story is happening behind the scenes. And it seems like Katniss doesn't care.
I also found the writing style to be jarring. I don't know the proper term, but it is written in first person present tense; meaning that it is written as it happens. However, I didn't like that style and I'm surprised I didn't notice it in the other books.
Even the ending was anticlimatic: Katniss assassinated the wrong person (the correct person in her thinking) and then tried to kill herself with a poison pill. In the end she was exiled back to District 12. There's an epilogue included as well: a 20 year look into the future. Which would've been fine if it wasn't written in the present tense.
Like I said, I was disappointed by the story. Maybe I'll re-read it in the future, this time with the books back-to-back (instead of reading the third book several months later) to see if it makes a difference. When I read them before, I really enjoyed the series, so I'm rather surprised that I didn't care for this one.
So, read it if you want. And let me know what you think.
And....!
I didn't love it.
Katniss Everdeen returns as the rebel's icon: the Mockingjay. In an effort to overthrow the Capitol, the rebels have banded together to take back Panem, district by district. Katniss' only request is that she herself wants to be the one to kill Snow. Peeta, Katniss' fake lover, was captured at the end of the last book, and it is evident in this book that he has been tortured. In a desperate rescue attempt, he is saved but his mind has been hijacked and perceives Katniss as a threat and tries to kill her.
In theory, the storyline is good, but Katniss herself is angsty as she still waffles between Peeta and Gale. And to make matters worse, both guys are aware of her struggles; they even come to an agreement that she will choose the guy that she can't survive without. Katniss also strikes me as sulky for most of the book; while others are going about their business (going to classes, etc), Katniss wanders off and does what she pleases, when she pleases. It isn't until near the end of the book that she accepts authority, but it is still for her own purposes: to sneak off and kill Snow. Katniss also spends a large majority of the book in the infirmary, so it seems like much of the story is happening behind the scenes. And it seems like Katniss doesn't care.
I also found the writing style to be jarring. I don't know the proper term, but it is written in first person present tense; meaning that it is written as it happens. However, I didn't like that style and I'm surprised I didn't notice it in the other books.
Even the ending was anticlimatic: Katniss assassinated the wrong person (the correct person in her thinking) and then tried to kill herself with a poison pill. In the end she was exiled back to District 12. There's an epilogue included as well: a 20 year look into the future. Which would've been fine if it wasn't written in the present tense.
Like I said, I was disappointed by the story. Maybe I'll re-read it in the future, this time with the books back-to-back (instead of reading the third book several months later) to see if it makes a difference. When I read them before, I really enjoyed the series, so I'm rather surprised that I didn't care for this one.
So, read it if you want. And let me know what you think.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Fragile Eternity
Written by Melissa Marr, Fragile Eternity is book 3 in the Wicked Lovely series.
This book follows Seth as he struggles to deal with his humanity in a circle of immortals - including his girlfriend. On his quest to become Faerie, Seth meets the reclusive Sorcha, Queen of the High Court, and strikes a deal: one month a year in Faerie to become one. Unbeknownst to him, one day in Faerie is 6 in the real world. When he finally serves his month, 6 have passed and Aislinn has turned to Keenan to give their Summer Court a true queen to his king.
I did not like this book at all. While the bits about the High Court and his deal with Sorcha were fine, the angsty love triangle/rectangle was a little much. Keenan was still trying to win over Aislinn, and when that didn't work, he stuck it out with Donia. However, when Seth went missing, he immediately dumped Donia to be at Aislinn's side. Aislinn starts to feel strongly about Keenan with the approach of summer, so instead of being open with Seth, she hides it from him. Seth, for his part, knows that something is up with Aislinn and decides to completely change to be with her.
Those elements are wrong on so many levels. I can forgive Aislinn and Seth since they're young and dumb, but Keenan is 900 years old. You'd think that having to back off for 100 years-ish, would be super easy, especially now that his powers are unbound. Instead, he actively tries to seduce Aislinn and then when Seth is gone, he jumps at the chance to soothe her. His only saving grace is that when she offers her body, he turns her down.
Aislinn's behaviour at Seth's disappearance is pathetic. She becomes reclusive, to the point of shutting out her grandmother and close friends, and she leans heavily on Keenan - who I believe she had no right to demand that kind of attention after turning him down so often. She even offered to sleep with him to make herself feel better!
And Seth? Seriously? He seemed to be the only character who was completely satisfied with who he was. Until he got it in his head that he needed to be with Aislinn forever and went against everyone's wishes to do it. I believe that compromise is necessary in a relationship; but changing who and what you are to be with someone? On top of that, Seth has a Persephone-esque contract: 6 months in Faerie and 6 months with Aislinn. As much as I like happy endings, I almost hope this ruins their relationship. I think it would be too tidy to have Keenan and Donia together, as well as Aislinn and Seth.
I guess I'll find out eventually. The next book, Radiant Shadows, is available now. I, however, am going to read Mockingjay next, book 3 of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins!!!
This book follows Seth as he struggles to deal with his humanity in a circle of immortals - including his girlfriend. On his quest to become Faerie, Seth meets the reclusive Sorcha, Queen of the High Court, and strikes a deal: one month a year in Faerie to become one. Unbeknownst to him, one day in Faerie is 6 in the real world. When he finally serves his month, 6 have passed and Aislinn has turned to Keenan to give their Summer Court a true queen to his king.
I did not like this book at all. While the bits about the High Court and his deal with Sorcha were fine, the angsty love triangle/rectangle was a little much. Keenan was still trying to win over Aislinn, and when that didn't work, he stuck it out with Donia. However, when Seth went missing, he immediately dumped Donia to be at Aislinn's side. Aislinn starts to feel strongly about Keenan with the approach of summer, so instead of being open with Seth, she hides it from him. Seth, for his part, knows that something is up with Aislinn and decides to completely change to be with her.
Those elements are wrong on so many levels. I can forgive Aislinn and Seth since they're young and dumb, but Keenan is 900 years old. You'd think that having to back off for 100 years-ish, would be super easy, especially now that his powers are unbound. Instead, he actively tries to seduce Aislinn and then when Seth is gone, he jumps at the chance to soothe her. His only saving grace is that when she offers her body, he turns her down.
Aislinn's behaviour at Seth's disappearance is pathetic. She becomes reclusive, to the point of shutting out her grandmother and close friends, and she leans heavily on Keenan - who I believe she had no right to demand that kind of attention after turning him down so often. She even offered to sleep with him to make herself feel better!
And Seth? Seriously? He seemed to be the only character who was completely satisfied with who he was. Until he got it in his head that he needed to be with Aislinn forever and went against everyone's wishes to do it. I believe that compromise is necessary in a relationship; but changing who and what you are to be with someone? On top of that, Seth has a Persephone-esque contract: 6 months in Faerie and 6 months with Aislinn. As much as I like happy endings, I almost hope this ruins their relationship. I think it would be too tidy to have Keenan and Donia together, as well as Aislinn and Seth.
I guess I'll find out eventually. The next book, Radiant Shadows, is available now. I, however, am going to read Mockingjay next, book 3 of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins!!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Running Man
Now that I finished The Satanic Verses, I have TONS of time to read other books! Plus, I'm currently on vacation, so I hope to get heaps of extra reading done. If I'm going to spend money for the books, I might as well read them, right?!
The Running Man is a novel by Stephen King, written during his Richard Bachman phase. Made into a movie in the late 1980's, it is loosely based on the novel. By loosely, I mean that it involves running from people trying to kill Ben Richards. And that's it.
In this dystopian novel, set into the not-so distant future (2025!), the social gap has been split even further. The rich are still living the high life, but the less fortunate are so poor that in order to make money they vie to be contestants in game shows that may cause injury or even death. Ben Richards, the novel's hero, is a 28 year old man who is desperate to keep his wife from making money "on her back" to pay for the medicine that their 18 month old daughter needs to treat her influenza. In a last ditch effort to provide for his family, Ben goes through the extensive physical and mental testing required by the game show corporation and ends up on the highly acclaimed, and highly paying, Running Man show.
In this game, the contestant runs for his life: for every hour he survives, he earns $100 and for every hunter he kills, he gets $100. On the flip side, the public is encouraged to help the hunters find the contestant: for a reported sighting, the person gets $100 and for a sighting ending in a kill, the person gets $500 and if the contestant makes it 30 days, he'll receive $1,000,000. However, the longest record for survival is only 8 days.
Ben's plan of attack is to stay low; using his first 12 hour head start, he attains a fake ID to fly to New York. Convinced that his mandatory twice daily tapes to the studio are being traced, he buses to Boston and stays in a run-down hostel. Bored and watching cars, he realizes that the men outside the window are hitmen; to solve this problem, Ben sneaks in to the basement and blows up the hostel on top of him. On the other end of the sewer, he meets a kid by the name of Stacey and his older brother, Bradley.
Turns out, Bradley is an educated gang member who enlightens Ben on the issues of the poor air quality. In his videos, Ben attempts to address this problem, but the games corporation does its own form of censorship: voice overs to increase hostility towards Ben. Bradley helps Ben by smuggling him through road blocks and sending him to meet his contact: Elton. Unfortunately, Elton's mother tips off the hunters, resulting in a car chase.
Separating, Ben ends up in a small town and he hijacks a car driven by an upper class woman named Amelia. Bluffing his way through a few road blocks, he demands a jet and for the head hunter, McCone, to join him onboard. While on board, Ben is offered the job of head hunter by the head of the games corporation, Killian. When Ben refuses, he learns that his wife and daughter were murdered at the start of the show. In a fit of madness (or perhaps clarity) Ben kills everyone on board and crashes the jet in to the building of the games corporation.
I really liked the concept of this book: running for your life and money. I honestly believe that reality tv will end up this way in a few years (hopefully decades). I mean, look at UFC! Sure, that isn't to the death, but it could end up that way eventually. For example, Roman gladiators and hangings of the past were for the entertainment of the public. However, I didn't really care for the personality of Ben Richards - who was too cynical and too quick to flip off everyone.
Having read books by Stephen King in the past, I figured that there was a 50/50 chance of Ben surviving this show. However, I didn't like the ending: sure, the building was destroyed, but who did that benefit? Definitely not Ben or his family; and he sure didn't help out the poor by breaking the news of the poor air pollution and nose filters. Essentially, he destroyed the building out of spite.
So, honestly? If you like dystopia, you might like this book. If you've watched the movie, you may get a kick out of the book to see the differences. Otherwise, I don't know if you'd like it. The language is racist and coarse, the hero really isn't a hero and some scenes are unnecessarily graphic (which is typical of Stephen King).
The Running Man is a novel by Stephen King, written during his Richard Bachman phase. Made into a movie in the late 1980's, it is loosely based on the novel. By loosely, I mean that it involves running from people trying to kill Ben Richards. And that's it.
In this dystopian novel, set into the not-so distant future (2025!), the social gap has been split even further. The rich are still living the high life, but the less fortunate are so poor that in order to make money they vie to be contestants in game shows that may cause injury or even death. Ben Richards, the novel's hero, is a 28 year old man who is desperate to keep his wife from making money "on her back" to pay for the medicine that their 18 month old daughter needs to treat her influenza. In a last ditch effort to provide for his family, Ben goes through the extensive physical and mental testing required by the game show corporation and ends up on the highly acclaimed, and highly paying, Running Man show.
In this game, the contestant runs for his life: for every hour he survives, he earns $100 and for every hunter he kills, he gets $100. On the flip side, the public is encouraged to help the hunters find the contestant: for a reported sighting, the person gets $100 and for a sighting ending in a kill, the person gets $500 and if the contestant makes it 30 days, he'll receive $1,000,000. However, the longest record for survival is only 8 days.
Ben's plan of attack is to stay low; using his first 12 hour head start, he attains a fake ID to fly to New York. Convinced that his mandatory twice daily tapes to the studio are being traced, he buses to Boston and stays in a run-down hostel. Bored and watching cars, he realizes that the men outside the window are hitmen; to solve this problem, Ben sneaks in to the basement and blows up the hostel on top of him. On the other end of the sewer, he meets a kid by the name of Stacey and his older brother, Bradley.
Turns out, Bradley is an educated gang member who enlightens Ben on the issues of the poor air quality. In his videos, Ben attempts to address this problem, but the games corporation does its own form of censorship: voice overs to increase hostility towards Ben. Bradley helps Ben by smuggling him through road blocks and sending him to meet his contact: Elton. Unfortunately, Elton's mother tips off the hunters, resulting in a car chase.
Separating, Ben ends up in a small town and he hijacks a car driven by an upper class woman named Amelia. Bluffing his way through a few road blocks, he demands a jet and for the head hunter, McCone, to join him onboard. While on board, Ben is offered the job of head hunter by the head of the games corporation, Killian. When Ben refuses, he learns that his wife and daughter were murdered at the start of the show. In a fit of madness (or perhaps clarity) Ben kills everyone on board and crashes the jet in to the building of the games corporation.
I really liked the concept of this book: running for your life and money. I honestly believe that reality tv will end up this way in a few years (hopefully decades). I mean, look at UFC! Sure, that isn't to the death, but it could end up that way eventually. For example, Roman gladiators and hangings of the past were for the entertainment of the public. However, I didn't really care for the personality of Ben Richards - who was too cynical and too quick to flip off everyone.
Having read books by Stephen King in the past, I figured that there was a 50/50 chance of Ben surviving this show. However, I didn't like the ending: sure, the building was destroyed, but who did that benefit? Definitely not Ben or his family; and he sure didn't help out the poor by breaking the news of the poor air pollution and nose filters. Essentially, he destroyed the building out of spite.
So, honestly? If you like dystopia, you might like this book. If you've watched the movie, you may get a kick out of the book to see the differences. Otherwise, I don't know if you'd like it. The language is racist and coarse, the hero really isn't a hero and some scenes are unnecessarily graphic (which is typical of Stephen King).
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Catching Fire
In her second book of the Hunger Games Trilogy, Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins returns us to Panem, which used to be formally known as North America.
In Hunger Games (book one), the heroine Katniss was introduced and forced to play the Game. In the end when she was told that only one would be allowed to return, Katniss and her partner, Peeta, made a suicide pact; her minor rebellion against the Capitol provided the spark for an uprising.
In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta hear whispers of rebellion in other Districts. Two figures from District 8 are found hiding in the woods, searching for the destroyed remains of District 13; however, Katniss is recognized and the two strangers have a wafer with a mockingjay on it. Katniss finds out that the TV reportings on District 13 keep showing the same footage and a conversation with the Head Games Master, Plutarch, has a mockingjay on his watch.
After it is announced that the 75th Hunger Games will have the tributes reaped from the victor's pool, Katniss and Peeta are forced back in to the arena. During her live interview, Katniss models the wedding dress she'll never wear and is shocked when it starts to smolder and burn away to resemble that of a mockingjay.
When she returns to the arena, Katniss has sworn to herself that she will protect Peeta and that he will be the one to make it home alive. However, protecting him is proving difficult as her allies are trying to keep them separated, even though they seem to be willing to die to protect the both of them. In the end, Katniss ends up blowing up the force field that traps them in the arena and is picked up by a hovercraft. Inside, she finds out that she is the symbol of rebellion: the mockingjay.
The first book was more straight forward: Katniss was determined to live at all costs. Having met Peeta, she tried to keep them both alive. In this book, she has resigned herself to death since the Capitol is trying to kill her anyway. She also figures that by protecting Peeta, her family will be able to live as well. So this book is more about politics and hidden agendas than the last one was. Throwing them back in the arena was a surprise for me.
I was disappointed at first since that was what happened in the first one and didn't want a replay. However, while I figured out that the Mockingjay was a rebel's symbol earlier than she did, I didn't expect her being placed back into the arena was part of the larger picture. Or that the other players were aware of it and were trying to further their cause.
Needless to say, the story was good. Katniss still hasn't deepened in character and she's still clueless about guys, but I don't think that will change much in the next book either. She still wavers between Peeta and Gale, between staying and going. It's inevitable that something will happen between her and Gale now that they're in the same place since she's affectionate with Peeta when they're in the same vicinity. However, I'm hoping she'll shed some of her cowardice and bluffing to reveal a real backbone.
Unfortunately for me, the newest book, Mockingjay, won't be available until August 24, 2010. Which sucks because the author ended after disclosing that Katniss was the figurehead for their uprising. So that means that I'm going to have to wait a few months until I can read the next part, when, clearly, I'm dying to find out right now.
In Hunger Games (book one), the heroine Katniss was introduced and forced to play the Game. In the end when she was told that only one would be allowed to return, Katniss and her partner, Peeta, made a suicide pact; her minor rebellion against the Capitol provided the spark for an uprising.
In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta hear whispers of rebellion in other Districts. Two figures from District 8 are found hiding in the woods, searching for the destroyed remains of District 13; however, Katniss is recognized and the two strangers have a wafer with a mockingjay on it. Katniss finds out that the TV reportings on District 13 keep showing the same footage and a conversation with the Head Games Master, Plutarch, has a mockingjay on his watch.
After it is announced that the 75th Hunger Games will have the tributes reaped from the victor's pool, Katniss and Peeta are forced back in to the arena. During her live interview, Katniss models the wedding dress she'll never wear and is shocked when it starts to smolder and burn away to resemble that of a mockingjay.
When she returns to the arena, Katniss has sworn to herself that she will protect Peeta and that he will be the one to make it home alive. However, protecting him is proving difficult as her allies are trying to keep them separated, even though they seem to be willing to die to protect the both of them. In the end, Katniss ends up blowing up the force field that traps them in the arena and is picked up by a hovercraft. Inside, she finds out that she is the symbol of rebellion: the mockingjay.
The first book was more straight forward: Katniss was determined to live at all costs. Having met Peeta, she tried to keep them both alive. In this book, she has resigned herself to death since the Capitol is trying to kill her anyway. She also figures that by protecting Peeta, her family will be able to live as well. So this book is more about politics and hidden agendas than the last one was. Throwing them back in the arena was a surprise for me.
I was disappointed at first since that was what happened in the first one and didn't want a replay. However, while I figured out that the Mockingjay was a rebel's symbol earlier than she did, I didn't expect her being placed back into the arena was part of the larger picture. Or that the other players were aware of it and were trying to further their cause.
Needless to say, the story was good. Katniss still hasn't deepened in character and she's still clueless about guys, but I don't think that will change much in the next book either. She still wavers between Peeta and Gale, between staying and going. It's inevitable that something will happen between her and Gale now that they're in the same place since she's affectionate with Peeta when they're in the same vicinity. However, I'm hoping she'll shed some of her cowardice and bluffing to reveal a real backbone.
Unfortunately for me, the newest book, Mockingjay, won't be available until August 24, 2010. Which sucks because the author ended after disclosing that Katniss was the figurehead for their uprising. So that means that I'm going to have to wait a few months until I can read the next part, when, clearly, I'm dying to find out right now.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is book one in a series by the same name. This series centers on Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl who supports her family with the game she hunts and the greens she forages for daily. Living in the Seam, a seedy part of District 12, she does what she can to protect her small family. Even if it means taking her sister's place in the Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games is a fight-to-the-death amongst the tributes (ages 12 to 18) on a televised program. A macabre combination of Running Man and Lottery, but with all the flash and pomp of a beauty pageant, the tributes are paraded in the Capitol, show off their talents before a panel of judges in private and then interviewed live on tv. By doing so, the tributes attempt to gain sponsorship by showing the crowd that they will win; sponsors will then return the favour by sending gifts into the arena (which is a closed, controlled environment) to help the tribute survive.
Katniss, along with Peeta (her fellow District 12 tribute), are told to act like a couple in love and Katniss keeps this strategy in mind throughout the game. During the games a new rule is announced: if tributes from the same District are the last two standing, both will live. This rule allows Katniss to open up to Peeta and she plays up the love angle knowing that her affection will gain them gifts from sponsors. Unfortunately, this is not an act for Peeta and when they win, Katniss is worried for her life if they don't keep it up. Peeta finds out on the train ride home and this is where the book ends.
This book was very morbid but very captivating. The book is set in a futuristic North America, where the Hunger Games were a means of putting an end to a rebellion. By creating the games, and forcing the people to watch it, the Capitol showed their citizens that rebellion was useless: afterall, weren't their children chosen at random for a duel that only ever yielded one survivor?
Katniss proves herself to be a strong (if clueless when it comes to boys) female lead. She's capable and has the drive to succeed - which is why her sister & mother were still alive - and why she was able to win. She also had a level head - another reason why she was able to win. I think these are traits that are important to be featured in female lead characters since most are portrayed as fluffy.
Overall, I really liked this book: after hearing my coworker rave about it, I moved it to the top of my "to read" list and the second book "Catching Fire" will be next. Unfortunately for me, the third and final book, Mockingjay, won't be out until August. However, I've already pre-ordered it so I'm good to go.
The Hunger Games is a fight-to-the-death amongst the tributes (ages 12 to 18) on a televised program. A macabre combination of Running Man and Lottery, but with all the flash and pomp of a beauty pageant, the tributes are paraded in the Capitol, show off their talents before a panel of judges in private and then interviewed live on tv. By doing so, the tributes attempt to gain sponsorship by showing the crowd that they will win; sponsors will then return the favour by sending gifts into the arena (which is a closed, controlled environment) to help the tribute survive.
Katniss, along with Peeta (her fellow District 12 tribute), are told to act like a couple in love and Katniss keeps this strategy in mind throughout the game. During the games a new rule is announced: if tributes from the same District are the last two standing, both will live. This rule allows Katniss to open up to Peeta and she plays up the love angle knowing that her affection will gain them gifts from sponsors. Unfortunately, this is not an act for Peeta and when they win, Katniss is worried for her life if they don't keep it up. Peeta finds out on the train ride home and this is where the book ends.
This book was very morbid but very captivating. The book is set in a futuristic North America, where the Hunger Games were a means of putting an end to a rebellion. By creating the games, and forcing the people to watch it, the Capitol showed their citizens that rebellion was useless: afterall, weren't their children chosen at random for a duel that only ever yielded one survivor?
Katniss proves herself to be a strong (if clueless when it comes to boys) female lead. She's capable and has the drive to succeed - which is why her sister & mother were still alive - and why she was able to win. She also had a level head - another reason why she was able to win. I think these are traits that are important to be featured in female lead characters since most are portrayed as fluffy.
Overall, I really liked this book: after hearing my coworker rave about it, I moved it to the top of my "to read" list and the second book "Catching Fire" will be next. Unfortunately for me, the third and final book, Mockingjay, won't be out until August. However, I've already pre-ordered it so I'm good to go.
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