My Bookshelf--THE HUNGER GAMES

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins is probably a book

I never would have picked up to read.

But my very literary daughter is a big fan

of the young adult genre

and gave it a big thumbs up.

First let me say, don't let the genre

keep you away from this book,

especially if you like riveting, suspenseful,

action packed plots.

The book's setting is future America,

in which the country has been divided into twelve districts,

ruled by an oppressive government known as "The Capital."

Each year games are held, with each of the districts

represented by two of their youths, a boy and girl between

the ages of twelve and eighteen years old.

These games are held in a huge arena,

with all action televised to the entire nation.

The horror of the situation is that the games

are actual fights to the death,

until only one competitor remains.

The youths must battle each other, manipulated nature,

wildlife, injury, hunger and thirst.

The book captures you because of it's

sixteen year old protagonist,

Katniss Everdeen.

I quickly cared very much about

Katniss's endurance and survival.

The book is very intense and had me

hoping that the young adults

it was aimed at were mature ones.

I've made the book sound like a total action book,

but there is a love story here too.

My question is, why does this genre so often have the

girl caught between two guys?

(I'm reminded of the TWILIGHT saga.)

Since this is the first in a trilogy,

the ending is a set-up for the next book.

Perhaps that's why the ending seemed a little contrived to me.

But, that's my only complaint.

I liked this book a lot.

However, I did not much like NOAH'S COMPASS.

I usually like Anne Tyler's quirky characters, but

Liam Pennywell, the central character here is

not much likable.

He is a man who seems to participate in life

by holding it at arm's length.

It's not until the latter part of the book that the author

shares Liam's past and his passive existence is better

understood as his nearly lifelong depression.

I only recommend this book if you're a

big fan of Anne Tyler's work, in which case

you've probably already read it.