My Favortie Things: The Hunger Games Edition

Remember when this used to be a blog about running? Yeah, me too. But, part of what makes runners so special is that we are multifaceted, interesting, over-involved, over-committed, dedicated, inspirational, multi-talented individuals, right? Right!

Which explains why the last week and a half of my entire life has been consumed with reading The Hunger Games trilogy, right? Right.

Let me back up. My sister suckered me into reading the series on Easter weekend. Yes, my family and I went to see The Hunger Games on the day we also celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection. Is that bad? There were other people in the theater! Actually, it is the first time I have ever gone to a movie on Easter, but then again, no holidays are the same anymore, anyway so maybe it will be the start of a new and interesting tradition. I’m not opposed to change (Okay, I really am, but you get the idea…). As you may recall, I am not a movie person and can be highly critical of them. There are only a few I like, and I rarely go to see them. I am one of those people who would “rather read the book.”

MOVING ON… we watched the movie, and I do have to admit I liked it all except for the ending, which in my opinion, cuts off abruptly. I had to remind myself that it is a trilogy and therefore, there really was more to the story.

Let me back up even more. The last time I got sucked into a book ~~craze~~ ~~obsession~~ I’ll-read-it-because-everyone-else-is was when my sister convinced me to read Twilight. As you may also recall, I am a bit of a ~~literary snob~~ nerd, who generally does not like or appreciate modern fictional novels. Not that there aren’t great writers and authors out there today, I just prefer the classics. Okay, nothing compares to Wuthering Heights, and the fact that I am ~~mildly~~ overly obsessed with that book is beside the point. ANYWAY, I liked the story of Twilight well enough that I made my husband drive me to Wal-Mart (of all places) at 2:00 a.m. to get Breaking Dawn because I hadto know what happened. Much beyond that, I was disappointed with the actual writing and over-simplicity and juvenility of some things. [Please note: If you are a Twilight/Stephenie Meyer fan, I am not trying to be overly critical or spark an endless debate, this is just my opinion].

I bought The Hunger Games on the Monday after Easter. I was prepared to be disappointed as usual.

I devoured it. I did not complain to my husband about one single thing in the book, the way it was written or that there were “too many mistakes” – grammatical or otherwise. He promptly thought something ~~awful~~ normal had happened to my brain. His exact words were, “I thought maybe you got tired of being a genius or something.”

I bought Catching Firethree days later.

This was the text I sent my sister (And no, Michael was not fast enough to pick it up):

I devoured it.

I bought Mockingjaya few days after that (Yes, I really went out three separate times to get all three books. I never did claim to be normal to begin with).

I devoured it last night. I was awake until 2:00 a.m. reading. That never happens. I could not sleep because it was so wonderful and exciting and heart-breaking and beautiful and genius and everything that I was literally up until a little after 4:00 a.m. thinking about it all. Is that weird? At least my sister doesn’t think so:

Yes, I am sleepy, but I am giddy thinking about the book. That never happens. Something apparently is very wrong with me!

All I can say is ~~if you like to read~~ READ THE HUNGER GAMES. Even if you think you will be disappointed, you won’t. Even if you think it is too juvenile, it is not. Even if you don’t have time, it doesn’t matter, you will stay up all night reading too.

It is absolutely terrifying to read. I also believe says a lot about our society and the direction it is headed today. It says a lot about people (the inherent goodness and evil in them) and what has happened to humanity over the years. It says a lot about relationships, hopes, dreams, fears, etc. etc. etc. I could go on and on and on and on. I could tell you the whole story right here, right now, but you wouldn’t believe me if I did.

READ THE HUNGER GAMES.

Then, after you do, come back so we can talk about it again and again and again.

Until the next mile marker,

In Case You Missed It:

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Comments

Misszippy1 says

April 27, 2012 at 9:10 pm

This post made me smile. I am a bit of a book snob too (and hated Twilight), but Hunger Games pulled me in and chewed me up. I downloaded all three on my Kindle, which was great b/c I could just keep reading. I think she did a really great job developing the characters–I became very invested in them! My 11-yr. old son is reading them now and can’t put it down either. I love being able to book chat w/ him!

Marcia says

April 27, 2012 at 10:19 pm

I downloaded THG and finished the whole trilogy on our cruise. I read it as a pre-screen for my 11-yo but loved it! Totally agree with your last paragraph.

Ali Mc @ Running with Spatulas says

April 27, 2012 at 8:00 pm

felt the exact same way. Although I wish the last two paragraphs were a whole chapter. I am a huge Peeta fan 😉 f*** gale ;p

Elle says

April 28, 2012 at 1:36 am

Oh gosh, I feel so all alone out here… I have not heard anything yet that makes me want to read these books. I don’t like cruel/sad stories and I am not a sci fi fan at all.

But I am so glad that you liked them. I was getting a kick out of watching your FB posts!

RainStorm says

April 28, 2012 at 11:03 am

I read all three over Easter too! But I’ve got to say that by book three I wasn’t enjoying it so much – I really wanted to know what happened (because I was so invested in the story from book 1), but I felt that it was getting a bit repetitive (and a bit “happily ever after”). Thought the film was very well done too – they managed to fit *most* of the important stuff in 🙂

Jenroe says

April 28, 2012 at 11:19 pm

Well crap. How can i NOT read those books now? Grumble… will go shell out money for them. xo

RunningMandy says

April 30, 2012 at 8:16 pm

“I thought maybe you got tired of being a genius or something.” I have this problem all the time.