Monday, February 28, 2011

the Hunger Games

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I know I haven't been posting for a few days, but I have a truly valid excuse.

I've been reading the Hunger Games.

Officially, this is considered a YA (Young Adult) novel, but I must say, it never felt like it was talking down to youngsters. If it hadn't been labeled as YA, I would have just considered it a great read.

It's a trilogy of books (including the Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay). I haven't been so immersed in a series in recent memory. Now I'm sorry that I'm done with them.

I've never read the Harry Potter books (maybe I should?) and I tried the Twilight sagas, but found them pretty boring. This kept me from reading this series for a while, since I thought it was just a "kids book". But trust me, this is a fine adventure.

Set in a not too distant future, the characterization is superb, and the story involving. Speaking to various topics like ecology, war and reality television, it subtly weaves these themes without ever getting preachy. And I really loved the characters

If you have any other recommendations (YA or not), please share. I don't know what to read next!

I also wanted to mention that we've had visitors. Russ and Donna, who have just taken delivery of their brand spanking new 30 foot Lazy Daze stopped by for an afternoon on their way home to Oregon. If you'd like to hear more about their new rig and their adventures, (including pictures) you can read their blog here.

We took another load down to the auction today, but we want to start getting ready for our short vacation next week when we'll be visiting Morro Bay. We need to clean the rig, inside and out, and hopefully give her a bit of wax (maybe). If we can't get her spin 'n' span to our specs, well, what they hey, we're going anyway!

Hopefully, I'll get a bunch of pictures to share with all of you.


10 comments:

photowannabe said...

Have a super trip to Morro Bay. it will be a grea tbreak for you. Hope your auction goes well.
I have heard good comments on the Hunger books. I may have to break down and get them myself. I just started the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Think it will be good too.

Pawson Travels said...

I have completed the series of three starting with the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Excellent series

Carol K said...

Here's a third recommendation for the Stieg Larsson Millenium trilogy. It took me a while to get into the first book, but it was worth it. My niece highly recommends The Hunger Games, too--maybe I'll have to give it a try even though that's not the type of books I usually read.

I also recommend "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, and of course, the Sue Henry books that I wrote about in my blog. I'm reading "Fall of Giants" by Ken Follett right now--a thick book about WWI which I am enjoying.

Jack D Walker said...

From SW LD GTG in Benson,AZ - I send greetings from the 29 gathered LD faithful around the circle. Opening night last evening was h'dours (finger food, eh) and lots of getting acquainted afterward. Jim and Gail - Ed and Carol from SE LD are here; so catching up is well underway. You and Terry were mentioned repeatedly, and how much so many of us have been helped and benefited in our LD lives by you dear folks.
Jeannette tells everyone how we met ya'll our 2nd night in our '96 MB - at Round Rock - Deming, NM...and how your counsel & advise really got us off to a good start. You insisted I remove my wrist-watch (hard for a Type AA); but I did ... and we still carry it on the LD shift handle as a reminder!
We wish you special enjoyment at Morro Bay; safety in travel and we'll all be reading your updates and watching for the picures. •• Jack & Jeannette

Kate said...

OOPS, somehow, I deleted a comment, so I thought I'd repost it for MeriKay.

"Merikay has left a new comment on your post "the Hunger Games":

Both Craig and I are avid readers. The Dragon Tattoo series is excellent!

I also highly recommend Harry Potter. It's a long series, seven books, but a very good read.

Actually My husband, Craig, read all seven out loud to me in the evenings in front of the fire! One a year after the first three!

I just finished Dean Koontz Frankenstien series. Very good too!

Donna K said...

Thanks for the book recommendation and all the other hints you so generously shared with us. I ordered my Cotton Carrier--yippee!!! My book recommendation would be the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz or the series featuring Christopher Snow by the same author. A little wierd and a lot funny! Have fun at Morro Bay.

Donna K said...

Forgot to say...anything by J.A. Jance, especially the Joanna Brady or JP Beaumont series (two separate series). Happy reading.

Ed and Jeanne Gaffney said...

Kate, thanks for the recommendation of the Hunger Games. My daughter is a YA and recommended it also. It was a great read. Now I'm waiting to get to the bookstore for Catching Fire and Mockingjay! Jeanne

BuyAionAccount said...

I've read some reviews and a little spoiler about the trilogy, and indeed it really is an interesting one to read.

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Andrew from Berkeley said...

Kate, I'm catching up on your old blog posts. I'm not sure you check on comments after a certain time, but thought I'd throw in some book ideas. These are oldies, so you may already have read them.

The most akin to “Hunger Games” would be the “Ender’s Game” series by Orson Scott Card. There’s a bunch of stories in this “universe”, but the original trilogy includes “Speaker for the Dead” and “Xenocide”. IMO, these stories are better than the Hunger Games stories.

Next up is the Tripod Trilogy by John Christopher (aka Samuel Youd). “The White Mountains”, “The City of Gold and Lead” and “The Pool of Fire”. This series is not as riveting as the Hunger Games trilogy, but the books are well written and the story line is great.

My final recommendation is a bit on the epic scale; something along the lines of LOTR. In fact, I would be hard pressed to say which of those epic tales are my favorite.

The author is Julian May.
• The Pliocene Exile series: “The Many-Colored Land”, “The Golden Torc”, “The Nonborn King” and “The Adversary”
• The Milieu series: “Intervention”, “Surveillance/Metaconcert”, “Jack the Bodiless”, “Diamond Mask” and “Magnificat”.

Most of these books should be available to “sample” on the Kindle store. Happy reading.

Now I’ll keep reading your blog and find out why you’re selling all your stuff.

Andrew