Book(s) of the week: Hunger Games Trilogy

I just finished reading the Hunger Games trilogy a day or so ago. Can I just say I lovvvvvvvved it? I'm going to, to the best of my ability, tell you some of my feelings and thoughts about the books, BUT it will be cryptic. I don't want to give it away in case you are wanting to read it (and if you don't, you should).

Book one: Hunger Games

To be honest, this book has been sitting on our bookshelf for months. I knew I wanted to read it because so many people said I would enjoy it, especially a fellow book lover who would definitely know what I'd like. The back cover just didn't grab me. The reviews just didn't grab me. So I just didn't grab it.

Until one nannying day, I needed a purse book and this one was there, small, lightweight and paperback. So I grabbed it. I didn't have a chance to read any of it for several days, but, one day, I opened it, read a few pages and I. Was. Hooked. The sweet(?) background love story. The sweet(?) foreground love story. The tough, yet rebellious female main character. The crazy costumes. The crazy districts. My imagination was/is running wild.

As the book progressed, I found myself more and more unable to put it down. Lucky for me, T was working nights so my evenings were free to read, read, read to my hearts content. The alliances. The betrayals. The expected. The unexpected. The book ended, leaving me wanting more (in a good way).

Almost immediately, I sent out a facebook plea for someone to let me borrow the final two books, a plea that lead to a brilliant suggestion. Did you know that there is a place that you can go to that is filled with books? These places called libraries let you show them a plastic card and you can temporarily take home books to read. For free! So I went online and reserved the next two books to put a hold on them as soon as they came in. #3 was ready within days, but #2 was longer. I didn't want to read them out of order, so I not so patiently waited for #2 to come in. It came in on Wednesday and I was already close by, doing an excellent job of keeping a child alive and happy, so I picked up my two books.

Book 2: Catching Fire

I took this book with me, nannying on Thursday. When he took a nap and I ate my lunch, I started reading (I only read my books during naps and only then if I've finished cleaning up). I got so lost reading that I didn't even mind when the mother got stuck at work and in traffic, causing her to be late coming home. I continued reading that night at home. Book was good! Suspense, romance/unromance, action, disbelief(!). Hope. Nervousness. I couldn't even put it down to go to bed. I finished it that night. Or should I say early the next morning. Around 3 am, it was done and I was wanting more. I also needed sleep. Sleep won (even though I could have stayed up and watched that little wedding that was broadcast all over TV).

Book 3: Mockingjay

The next evening, I chose DVRed footage of le Royal Wedding, but once that was over, I started book 3. Now I did not stay up all night reading again, but I could have. This book had the usual action, suspense, romance, plotting, love and craziness that the other books had, just in different (but somehow the same) forms. I was nervous for the characters. At a couple of points, I actually gasped out loud. At other points, I actually cried at what happened. I was sad that this was the final book. I felt the last few chapters were a little rushed, but it did wrap things up decently, I suppose. I was still upset that it was over. I tend to get attached to characters in the books I read. But this series was definitely worth reading and I can't wait for the movie (which they are filming locally/semi-locally, woot woot!) that should be out next year. I just need more books to read before then! Any suggestions? Any opinions on these books if you have read them?

btw: I'm Team Peeta