Thoughts 
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Scholastic 2009, 374 pages, first in a series of 3
I was on an unexpected trip out to Western Kansas and my iPad was losing charge so I desperately needed a paperprint BOOK to read. While frantically perusing the shelves at the Midway Chicago airport, trying to recollect the authors names* that I keep saying I want to read, my eyes fell upon The HUNGER GAMES.
“YES!”
Grabbed it, plunked down a $20 bill and ran back to the gate. I started immediately. I read after being told to queue up (Southwest style). I politely smiled and only showed the cover to the gentleman attempting to converse with me, “What are you reading?” [I suppose I was rude, since I usually love to engage in such conversation and initiate many in this very same manner!] I kept reading through take-off and only later, upon hearing that beep-tone that we are are free to unhook our seatbelts, did I see others standing up to gather their overhead luggage. Oh. We had landed.
It being midnight, I was not up to reading more during the hour drive home. But I did manage a few more pages before succumbing to sleep. I was able to finish the next day.
RATING: four slices of pie. Peeta could bake me a gorgeous pie, I expect.
Clicking on the book cover above or on this sentence will take you to the goodreads.com synopsis. I figure I am one of the very few people left in the world who has not read this already and certainly many of you who are frequent visitors here know what this dystopian thriller is about. If you are not a frequent visitor here and do NOT know about this trilogy, wow! and welcome. Clicking on THIS sentence will give you the results of Fyrefly’s book blog review search for this title.
Do I have to read the next book before I can select a Team Peeta or Team Gale?!
HIdeinWhitetoSkipLine
Yay! I’m glad you liked it Care! You certainly don’t have to wait to pick a team. Just be mindful there are more choices than Peeta or Gale. I was personally Team Katniss – I didn’t want her to end up with either guy.
I can cheer for Team Katniss, thanks!
It is a page-turner, isn’t it?? I LOVE being totally absorbed in a book that way — of course, they do get in the way of laundry, driving, sleep, etc. Curse life for getting in the way of a really good book!!
exactly. I am really enjoying – and think you might, too – my current read by Rosy Thornton: Tapestry of Love.
and just because the dude can bake doesn’t mean you have to go with team peeta…in case you were leaning in that direction.
I gather you are all aboard the Team Gale?
I guess it’s official now – I’m the last person on Earth who hasn’t read The Hunger Games.
Hey! I was your last hold-out with you?! hee hee
I just finished Book Two — I LOVED the first book so much. Second book I liked but not as much… but now I am eagerly waiting for the third from the library. And please, Peeta totally beats Gale. Peeta is a prize.
I must admit all this Team So-and-So finally makes a bit of sense. Methinks book 2 is all about the fighting over Katniss or getting her to wake up to the conflict? It won’t be all sappy love crap, will it?!
Kathy is, in fact, not the last person in the world who hasn’t read the book. I haven’t gotten to it, yet. However, my son has read the series and we own them. What he’s done with the three books is beyond me, but someday I’m sure I’ll find them and get around to reading.
It’s a battle now between you and Kathy!
I enjoyed the first book quite a bit. The others…not so much. I am very much a Team Peeta kinda gal though.
Huh. I really am questioning if I will ever ever get to the others. I think I have much more excitement to get my hands on the Knife of Never Letting Go. and/or Tender Morsels.
i’m such a freak…i’m team cinna and team haymitch!
i love those two more than peeta and gale. glad you finally read it. i’m going to send you a giant peeta snuggie. hahaha
Snuggie?! Have you seen the commercial for the big lazy fleece zipup suit or whatever it it? I was just dumbstruck when I saw it…
Yay! Glad that you enjoyed this one! Oh, don’t worry about Team Peeta vs Gale! I was on something like Team Peetale or Team Galeeta! It was hard for me.
I do believe Amanda’s sug wins here: I’m on Team Katniss!
I was so, so Team Katniss. I legitimately was rooting for her to end up alone. Be prepared for the other books to be less good though!
Sure. Sometime in the next 5-10 years, I will find a set in the discount bin and buy it for my niece, then read the last 2 before I gift it…
I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love the trilogy overall and that made me sad…
Aw. Don’t be sad. Be happy that you completed a set and can participate in all the convos! THAT is often my motivation to read these run-away hits that everyone else has already read. Peer pressure?
I’m bad on planes. I start reading the minute I get to the airport, and I don’t stop until we are ready to get off the plane. I sometimes even wear headphones because people respect that more than reading as a reason to not talk to me.
I do love a great fast book to read on a plane. I can recall one in particular – I read The Reader (the movie with Kate Winslet?) and started AND finished in perfect timing with the flight. Of course I was all teary while walking off the plane but it couldn’t have been more perfect.
Aside: I have yet to watch the flick…. Gotta get to that.
Glad to see you enjoyed it. It certainly made the time go by quickly for you. I do the same thing when someone asks what I’m reading, show them the cover in the hopes that they will get the hint that I want to read and not chat to a stranger. I guess I’m antisocial, but I do try not to be rude. LOL
I know! It was rather funny, because usually I WOULD be more personable. and/or, I usually interrupt a reader that is not too absorbed AND it’s a book I already know about.
I get Katniss mixed up with another YA heroine from a book that came out about the same time, Katya from Graceling. Both of these are good books, but I don’t understand the enormous fuss adults sometimes make over them.
Adults are just fussy sometimes. I admit, the hype-phenomena fascinates me, but I don’t often ‘get’ it. At least on this one, I don’t have to be too perplexed with any backlash. (or I just missed it.)
AHHHH YAY!!! SO glad you read it… you can be on whatever team you want whenever you want…. go CARE!
Team Care?!
I’m so glad that you read HG and enjoyed it! It’s one of my favorite reads. Team Gale forever!
Well, since we don’t see too much of Gale really in book 1, I suppose you are suggesting I really do need to read Catching Fire.
I don´t think this one is for me, but I loved reading your very enthusiastic review
Why thank you!
You are very kind.
Looks like I’ll be joining Kathy and Nancy in the race to see who the last person on earth to read The Hunger Games will be! It’s in our house somewhere, too… one of my daughters loved it.
Ha! Question is…. Are you avoiding it?!
I love this series and this book! Catching FIre is just as good. I will be curious what you think of Mockingjay. People either love it or hate it.
I sure remember the excitement generated when Mockingjay was released! The series has been so popular I just had to find out what the buzz was about.
I read this in less than a day as well – a quick read, so totally gripping and absolutely fantastic.
Glad you enjoyed it.