The Hunger Games

Just started reading (listening) to The Hunger Games. The host of Pottercast (a Harry Potter fan podcast) talk about it all the time and say how great it is, so I decided to pick it up. It's a trilogy, book 1 is The Hunger Games, book 2 is Catching Fire and book 3 is MockingJay. It's by Susanne Collins who wrote another book series that I really enjoyed last year called The Underland Chronicles.

I went into this book really not knowing anything and I've listened to about 2 1/2 hours.. or about seven chapters so far and have been really enjoying it. It's not fantasy at all, very different then Harry Potter, it's a post apocalyptic story, but the characters (at least the ones I've been introduced to thus far) have been very endearing. Here's is what I've learned so far about the story:

(from wiki) It takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as "Panem." Panem used to consist of a rich Capitol, located somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, and thirteen surrounding, poorer districts which cater to the Capitol's needs. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol wherein the thirteenth district was supposedly destroyed, every year one boy and one girl from each of the remaining twelve districts, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, are selected by lottery and forced to participate in the "Hunger Games." The Games are a televised event where the participants, called "tributes," must fight to the death in a dangerous outdoor arena until only one remains. The winning tribute and his/her corresponding district is then rewarded handsomely. It is required viewing for everyone in the districts.

I'll post a full report on this blog when I'm done with book 1. For now I'm just enjoying where the story is taking me... btw they are making this series into a movie.