Review for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)
By Suzanne Collins
Published by Scholastic, Inc.  
Personal Copy
374 pages    

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love." - Goodreads

I've been pondering on how I was going to write a review. I can honestly say, my review will not do justice for this book. It's my greatest nightmare - being unable to voice how TOTALLY spectacular this book was. It's beyond my ability. You've heard everything there is to hear about why this book is great so I'll be like a broken record fan-girl. I am probably the last person to read it but if you haven't, I've got one word: why?! I was like you - putting it off. Don't. Just don't. Pick it up. Read it. You won't regret that decision!

Let's just start with the characters because that's one of the greatest aspects of The Hunger Games. Ms. Collin's knows how to get you to feel for her characters, even the bad ones! There are such colorful characters in here that it makes it feel like the real world - very interesting with multiple personalities, different sides and deep emotions. Katniss was beyond my favourite, she is down-right my new favourite hero. She's such a strong, brave, intelligent, independent yet vulnerable character that you can't help be drawn to and love. Her family, friends, neighbors, competitors, instructors are all beyond well written! Peeta, Gale, Prim, Rue... wow. Just wow. What a cast of characters! The relationships in here are so deep and raw, it's amazing to read about.

Where did the author come up with this concept? Where? I demand to know! Yeah, its gruesome and horrible - but there is such a story beneath it all that we are just uncovering! The descriptions make the reader feel like they are with Katniss in that arena and are facing whatever comes her way! What heart-pounding action, I never had a doubt in my mind that Katniss could make it through but at some points I was wondering - how is she going to survive? This is really one of those books that makes you think about what you would do in that situation and I loved that.

This book is one of my favourites of all time. Down right favourite. I cannot wait to read the next one and even more can I not wait for the movie!!! I don't just recommend this to you if you haven't read it, I demand that you try it :) Seriously its one of those books you don't want to miss out on!

Excerpt:

“Hey, Catnip,” says Gale. My real name is Katniss, but when I first told him, I had barely whispered it. So he thought I’d said Catnip. Then when this crazy lynx started following me around the woods looking for handouts, it became his official nickname for me. I finally had to kill the lynx because he scared off game. I almost regretted it because he wasn’t bad company. But I got a decent price for his pelt.
“Look what I shot,” Gale holds up a loaf of bread with an arrow stuck in it, and I laugh. It’s real bakery bread, not the flat, dense loaves we make from our grain rations. I take it in my hands, pull out the arrow, and hold the puncture in the crust to my nose, inhaling the fragrance that makes my mouth flood with saliva. Fine bread like this is for special occasions.
“Mm, still warm,” I say. He must have been at the bakery at the crack of dawn to trade for it. “What did it cost you?”
“Just a squirrel. Think the old man was feeling sentimental this morning,” says Gale. “Even wished me luck.”
“Well, we all feel a little closer today, don’t we?” I say, not even bothering to roll my eyes. “Prim left us a cheese.” I pull it out.
His expression brightens at the treat. “Thank you, Prim. We’ll have a real feast.” Suddenly he falls into a Capitol accent as he mimics Effie Trinket, the maniacally upbeat woman who arrives once a year to read out the names at the reaping. “I almost forgot! Happy Hunger Games!” He plucks a few blackberries from the bushes around us. “And may the odds —” He tosses a berry in a high arc toward me.
I catch it in my mouth and break the delicate skin with my teeth. The sweet tartness explodes across my tongue. “— be ever in your favor!” I finish with equal verve. We have to joke about it because the alternative is to be scared out of your wits.

Movie trailer: (Can I just say I WANT TO WATCH THIS NOW!)