Busy busy busy, what a surprise! But now I'm on Easter holidays I have more time to read (in between work exp hours) and have managed to read two books these past 3 days. I've been good and read 'The Passion of New Eve' by Angela Carter for my coursework essay on the commute during the day, and then indulged myself in reading the Hunger Games at night.


Summary:
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

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, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. (Goodreads)


The Hunger Games has become really big with the recent release of the film and in my opinion it has become the new teen craze, the new Twilight, but still I wanted to read it and see what the fuss was all about. Even better I won the books in a competition with Novelicious so I had no excuse to read it!
I actually really enjoyed it, it was written in a simple, straight forward manner (to appeal to the younger-teen readership no doubt) and so made it exceptionally easy to read. Perfect bed-time reading! But I found the more I read it the more I had to force myself to stop and put it down (to go to sleep)!
Usually with these kind of books they can drag on in the centre, trying to draw out the space  between the beginning and the end, but I have to say I was pretty gripped the whole way through - the action kept taking constant twists and turns, even ones that Katniss herself anticipates - when the Gamemakers manipulate the arena to create more drama and excitement, and when you think it must be nearly over something new happens which pulls it in a new direction. I found by the end of the games I was holding my breath for it to be finally over! For Katniss' sake! 
I liked the style of the writing and I did start to form attachments in the same way that Katniss did to Rue and Peeta  and although you know how it is probably going to end you can't help but root for them anyway!


I think the ending felt a bit short, but I think this is purely for the fact that I don't like the idea of Katniss having to face repercussions for her actions, and how the Capitol sweep it under the carpet in front of the public. But I can understand how it leaves a massive opening for the next book and if I had it with me I would probably pick it up and start reading straight away!

I am now interested in seeing the film, I want to see how it turns out because in my head I imagine that there might be parts that they gloss over, or at least glamorise in order to appeal to younger audiences. But I think if they could (I wish!) replicate it exactly as it is from the book then it would be fantastic! But then if they could replicate the way I saw it in my head then that would be even better! 


I would definitely recommend the book, even just to see what all the fuss is about like I did! But I certainly can't wait to start the next one!