Holding On

So, I know I’m about 4 year late to the party, but I finally have read ‘The Hunger Games.’

Warning now, spoilers..

I remember the first time I picked up the novel, back in 2008.. In one hand I held Thirteen Reasons Why, the other had The Hunger Games. I chose Thirteen Reasons Why, a decision I do not regret. But that’s another story.

I Re-visited the Hunger Games a couple of months later, but this time opted for the Twilight Saga.. Big mistake. However, at this point of time there wasn’t too much buzz about the Hunger Games, and I thought the premise was too intense and wouldn’t be handled properly in a teen novel. God was I wrong.

After six months working in Borders, a thrilling movie trailer, and countless referrals from friends, I finally decided to put my hang ups aside, and read. Holy crap, it was intense.

So, I suppose I’ll start in the most logical place, the beginning. By the first page, I was hooked. I read the book from 3 in the morning until 10.. Lord knows I couldn’t put it down.

From the start, Kat demanded your attention, which is brilliantly paralleled by the attention she demands in the arena. From the first page, you feel a connection to her, and you’re rooting for her. I cried several times within the first 40 pages, something almost no novel has done to me before.

This connection with Kat is very interesting.. Kat doesn’t suffer from the same horrid fate of every other teen novel heroine, emptiness. Almost every teen novel heroine falls into what I’ve deemed ‘Bella Swan Syndrome.’ basically BSS means, an empty shell of a character, with ordinary looks, ordinary attributes, ordinary beliefs. BSS make characters relatable, allowing the high target market of teenage girls to easily step into the shoes of the character, relating more. However it is damn near impossible to step into the shoes of Kat Eveerdeen. She is too much of a fleshed out character, one that very few can step into. However, the reader feels a strong connection to her. That is BRILLIANT writing.

Okay, I could go into how amazing the novel is, how gritty it is, and how daring it really is. But I’m just going to talk about one scene.. Rue’s death. It was about 7:44 in the damn morning by time I got to this scene, and I sobbed so loud, I woke my whole family. See Stephanie Meyer, good writing makes you feel something! All I know is that when I get around to seeing this movie, I’m going to die..

I thought the whole novel was great. I loved every second of this quick paced novel, twisting every second.

As for Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Alright, I haven’t gotten to read these yet, I’m getting them as soon as the stores open tomorrow. But, I mean, anyone can see where the story is going. The DREADED love triangle. I mean, what teen fiction does not have a terribly written love triangle? I hate love triangles, and they’re so over done. HOWEVER, I think that the love triangle is going to work really well in this particular trilogy. There’s an interesting twist.. In this scenario, Kat obviously has genuine feelings for Gale. He’s here everything before the arena. And with Peeta, she was forced to love him. Or at least act like it. Lord knows, she developed feelings over the course of the games, but it’s going to be very interesting watching this love story play out over the next two books.

Hmmmmm.

Okay, I’m going to watch 50/50 and cry over my man, JGL..