Ever since reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I have been plagued with the urge to climb trees like Katniss Everdeen, the main character.
I was skeptical at first when my friend began gushing about the Hunger Games. We usually have very different tastes when it comes to these things but I eventually caved in and have not regretted once. I couldn't put the book down once I opened it and had my mom not taken it away, I would've stayed up the whole night reading it. Not a good idea considering there was school tomorrow. I laid in bed thinking about how I would not survive a single day in the Hunger Games and how cool Katniss is.
Katniss is strong. She's brave. She is everything another famous heroine, coughbellacough, is not. While she is not cruel, she will kill another if it meant her survival and returning to her beloved sister, Prim. She is a survivor in a world where even the strongest are crushed by the oppressive regime of the Capitol.
Then there's Peeta who is just too kind, too sweet, and too charismatic for his own good. Not to mention too smart. I've heard some people call him whiny, immature, mary stu-ish and I wonder if they're even reading about the same character. Unlike Katniss who radiates coolness and expertise, Peeta is normal. He's a normal boy who was chosen for the games. He's not skilled in weaponry or handsome and I think that's what drew me to him.
This isn't a book for everyone. It's not happy. It's not a lovey dovey romance. It's chilling and disturbing and somewhat depressing. And had it been any other way, I would not love it as much as I do.
