{book covers via:  wikipedia}

i know i only started reading this series later than after most people, (first one came out in 2009), but i am actually glad i did, because i could read all 3 of them back to back.  i also found out that there is the movie that is coming out in 2012.  i just hope that the movie won’t take away the idea that i pictured in my head of these books. 

the plot of the first book:  In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 13 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

I JUST LOVED IT!! it is classified as young adult fantasy books but i think it will be suited for all ages even if it has pretty gruesome descriptions of the deaths and battles that ensued as part of the “Hunger Games”.  i must admit i was truly impressed by the author's imagination and vivid storytelling. she built a world which i could totally imagine in my mind, and she provided sufficient background information so readers wouldn't need to deduce anything on their own. it was even fast-paced and there was not a dull moment in the book.

the major theme of the book was fairly clear from the start - it was about survival. this was not an easy topic to tackle. although I really thought that the book was well-written and would recommend it to others, I would never call it an "easy" or "fun" read.  iIn fact, the "Hunger Games" left me feeling somewhat disturbed, and I had to think about some of the themes that were intertwined throughout the story:

Survival - it was all about what one must do/act/learn in order to survive in the worst of times, to provide for your loved ones, and how survival will change your outlook on life.

Deceit - what one must do to fool others to one's benefit, to achieve hidden agenda.

Love - unconditional love for one's family, as well as the actions that may be driven by romantic love towards another person.

Trust - in a world where survival is the primary driver, is there anyone you can trust besides yourself?

I loved Katniss & Peeta, as the main female and male characters of the book. Katniss, a mere 16-year-old, had learned her survival skills and techniques through suffering and the burden of providing for her young sister and dysfunctional mother. i think she is incredible. She's strong, proud, passionate, clever, yet cold, calculating and soft.  Peeta, although without any special or unique skills other than his strength, had a good heart and his innocence was something that I fell for partway through the book.

The supporting characters are just as rich and interesting. The world itself is three dimensional and when reading you will probably find yourself immersed in the science fiction world that doesn’t seem that distant from our own.

in all honesty, i think these books are way better than twilight!! it’s better written & had more body & passion to it than twilight.

i would recommend you ALL to read it!

  katniss & peeta  {via:  collider} images from the movie coming out in 2012