The Hunger Games (An orgasm so intense it reverberates around the world)

I'll start with the first book in this phenomenal trilogy. The second the writing kicks off, you're drawn into this desolate world of Panem where the Districts starve and slave away while the Capitol feasts and enjoys their rich and fancy life. While District kids starve to death, the Capitol folks watch these kids kill each other for entertainment and also as the government's reminder to the Citizens that they're still powerless. #Panemproblems for real. More importantly, we watch all of this horror through the eyes of Katniss, a fiery buttkicking purveyor of awesome. This chick is like the ideal of strong independent teens.


***SPOILER ALERT***


Heartbreaking moment #1: When she takes Prim's place at the Games. We all knew it was coming, but who didn't admire the internal strength of a big sister who would protect her sister at all costs? When Prim's name is announced, the reader waits in tense silence for Katniss's daring declaration. "I volunteer as tribute!"

Heartbreaking moment #2: Rue's death. Man. That hits you HARD. She's exactly like Prim and the way Katniss interacts with her is identical, plus she's also twelve years old. And after they triumphantly blow up the food stock, you so want them to find a way to escape the games together. But what gave it even more impact was the note of rebellion where Katniss covered her in flowers and sang her to rest. She gave the gamemakers and audience her own personal fuck you and really told us what inner fire this chick had inside.

Heartbreaking moment #3: In a different sense than the tragedy, when she returns for Peeta and gets him the medicine he needs, she really shows she cares. Despite her concern for his well-being, she doesn't reciprocate the feelings he's so intensely proclaimed. But this disparity in what Katniss feels versus what Peeta obviously feels creates something that's rather painful to watch. If Peeta was a douchebag character, you might not feel bad, but he shows himself throughout the book to be self-sacrificing, humble and generally just a very sweet, honest person. So at the end of the book, when she tells him the truth, it's nothing less than soul crushing. The boy with the bread echoes throughout your mind with the final words, like the residual notes of a gorgeous song that's come to an end.

This book is amazing. It's one that reminded me why I love books so much and has reawakened a want to read around the world. The spark inside carries across in beautiful writing that haunts you long after you've finished the trilogy.

Rating: 5