After multiple people yelling at me when I told them I had not read "The Hunger Games" trilogy, I decided to give in to peer pressure and read them (haven't read "50 Shades of Grey" yet either...uh oh!). It's amazing to me how word of mouth can spread to a magnitude like this. As PR manager for a large bookstore in 2006, I was told that an author by the name of Stephenie Meyer would be coming to our store for a signing. I knew that "Twilight" had just come out, but I had no idea how big she would become. She drew about 400 people to the store that evening, but now she would need armed guards. (Side note...She is SO nice and deserves all of her success.)I read all of the "Twilight" books and loved them, so why was I so hesitant to read "The Hunger Games?" Perhaps the concept...kids trying to hunt down other kids is not my definition of beach reading. However, I gave in to the hoopla and started with "The Hunger Games."
I'm certainly not going to discuss the plot, because I'm probably one of the only people in the world who just got around to reading these books. Were they books I couldn't put down? Not really. "Catching Fire" was my favorite, while I didn't like "Mockingjay" much at all. But I can completely see the appeal of them. For some reason, people like their triangles in books (Harry, Ron, Hermione; Edward, Jacob, Bella; and now Peeta, Gale, Katniss).
They are definitely suspenseful but probably not books I would read again. However, I'm sure Suzanne Collins won't mind, as I doubt this review will stop the huge moneymaker that is "The Hunger Games" trilogy.
MY RATING:
"The Hunger Games" - 3
"Catching Fire" - 4
"Mockingjay" - 2
