mockingjay :)
as if i have time to be on here right now. i’ve been in the middle of moving (hence my absence) so my world is on fire at the moment, but there’s always time for an amazing book 🙂 happy reading!
book nite
a few of the girls preparing edibles
every couple of weeks a few girls and i get together and discuss books. we also talk about what’s going on in our lives since we all pretty much work from home. we pass books around and talk about upcoming ones we are excited about—–>like Mockingjay!
we’re totally going to have a Mockingjay party once it’s released. i’m trying not to go overboard, but this kind of thing doesn’t happen often. sooooo, i was thinking i’d try to find some mockingjay pins like Katniss wears. and maybe make some cupcakes with a mockingjay on it. in “catching fire” a cracker with a mockingjay makes an appearance so maybe something with that, too.
i recently stumbled upon mockingjay.net and found that Hot Topic is now carrying themed t-shirts. they look amazing!
beginning battle royale by koushun takami
the first thing i noticed was that this book is extremely heavy for its size. weird. i’m on page 78 and it’s been interesting because the killing has started. the plot is that a junior high class in japan is picked to fight to the death in an arena. very “hunger games”-ish, so i like it. there is actually a nice dictionary explanation of this killing ritual know as “the Program”.
Program n. 1. A listing of the order of events and other information […] 4. A battle simulation program conducted by our nation’s ground defense forces, instituted for security reasons. Officially know as Battle Experiment No. 68 Program. The first program was held in 1947. Fifty third-year junior high school classes are selected annually (prior to 1950, 47 classes were selected) to conduct the Program for research purposes. Classmates in each class are forced to fight until one survivor is left. Results from this experiment, including the elapsed time, are entered as data. The final survivor of each class (the winner) is provided with a lifetime pension and a card autographed by The Great Dictator. In reaction to protests and agitation caused by extremists during the first year of its enactment, the 317th Great Dictator gave his famous “April Speech.”
whaaaaaat?! awesomeness. makes for a thrilling and emotional story. and before every chapter there is a current body count. it started with 42 students, 21 girls and boys. i’m currently at “38 students remaining”. so far, the story has been narrated by a boy named Shuya Nanahara who is immediately likable. all the students are on an island and have just been released from the central location to disperse within the island. before dispersing, each student received a bag filled with food, water, and a random weapon. keeps getting better. they each have a metal collar around their neck which will explode if they try to remove it. even better, the island is divided into zones and a computer will randomly select forbidden zones. if you don’t evacuate a forbidden zone by the given time, the collar will explode. keeps the students moving around. there’s so much more but you’ll have to actually read it to get all the details, duh.
Shuya has witnessed the deaths of some classmates and still cannot wrap his head around the idea that they have to kill each other. he’s still holding out hope that he can meet with his classmates and plan a way of escaping. so far, he’s only caught up with one injured girl, Noriko Nakagawa, and they are on the run. will Shuya keep from falling into the government’s trap and believe the only way to survive is to kill his friends? I DON’T KNOW! THIS MESS IS CRAZY!
part 2 review
final review
catching fire–the review
well, i can finally breathe! this book was just everything i expected it to be. i’m still on the high of finally getting my eyeballs in catching fire. this usually means that the plethora of good stuff completely outshone anything that may have been wrong with the story.
book 2
practically every old favorite makes an appearance or gets honorable mention. it’s the inclusion of dead and gone characters and the slight development in the background characters that made me feel really connected to the story. i was so pumped when rue was mentioned a fair amount. the interaction with katniss and district 11 is so heartbreaking and fiercely powerful that i had to take a moment to slap myself together. but it was over for my already fragile tear ducts when katniss has a run-in with a new character and fellow district twelver named darius…you’ll see (and maybe you won’t act like a big baby like me, but every heartless savage is entitled to their own reaction).
the plot twist is pretty sweet and allows the introduction of new characters who i loved right off the bat. the biggest surprise came from johanna who i was initially annoyed with, but she became one of my favorites due to her fabulous way of speaking the truth. suzanne collins did a great job of including the hunger games in this book without rehashing the same storyline that we saw in the first. and the ending? well, it is just the darndest thing of a cliffhanger…practically a climax of the story that is abruptly cut off…until next time.
i really don’t want to give away any spoilers because this series is so full of surprises it would be a shame to even shed light on the storyline. but here’s a morsel from our very own katniss, a girl after my own heart:
For dessert we dip chunks of fruit in a pot of melted chocolate, and Cinna has to order a second pot because i start just eating the stuff with a spoon.
movie notes: eyes peeled!
CATCHING FIRE
in my possession!
ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!!!! i can hardly contain my excitement! i have just returned from walmart on the off chance that they might have the second installment of the hunger games which was released today AND THEY DID! there it was stacked next to a fresh supply of hardback copies of the hunger games, how appropriate 🙂
finally!!!!!
i will make quick work of this one no doubt–i started reading while i was in line to pay. it’s simply 2 legit 2 quit. happy reading and stay tuned for a review post!
dead until dark
finished the first book in the popular sookie stackhouse series which we all probably know is the basis for the show “true blood”. my first impression is that it was entertaining. this take on vampires was very adult, so that was a nice change from previous books i’ve read. i also liked the bits of southern charm peppered throughout (story takes place in Louisiana). reading this book actually made me feel like i was indulging in a guilty pleasure because it only appealed to my superficial senses. i mean, how many times did sookie and bill need to bed each other?? (aaawwww, sookie sookie!)
book 1
i was sucked into the story only after the murders started happening. the descriptions of sookie and bill at the beginning just weren’t enough to fully capture my interest. but as my friend mendie agrees, i always appreciate a story that surprises me, and the resolution at the end of the whodunnit murder spree was an eye-popper. i’m looking forward to development of the main characters in the rest of the books ’cause right now, bill and sookie seem kind of shallow. although i will say that i love sam and hope to see a lot more of him (in whatever form). and why does sookie get the dickens beat out of her all the time and not seem that upset? and why does she act all scared just running from house to car (and vice-versa) yet when the murderer is in the dark woods around her house she decides her best bet is to run throughout the woods? enough questions. i did like how she got all katniss everdeen in those woods though (the hunger games, people!). anyway…
i will read the rest of the series as soon as i can get my greedy hands on them. does anyone know if the series is complete? (leave comments guys!!!) i’m into buying completed boxed sets these days. i would recommend these books to everyone of course because they’re so easy to read. and sometimes its nice to have a brainless, carnal read.
tv notes: i don’t have hbo. boo!!! as usual, i’m going to have to buy this series because all i do is read about how awesomely awesome it is. as if i have enough money to fund all of my diversions.
the hunger games
ah, mockingjays, tracker jackers, and Peeta, oh my! i think i might like this book better than twilight. it’ll depend on how the rest of the series pans out. this is the first book in a trilogy (hurrah for trilogies!). the second installment called “catching fire” will be released on sept 1st. i so love discovering a good series. there’s nothing better than reading an awesome book and finding out it will have siblings. it just prolongs the enjoyment.
book 1
the story is set in postapocalyptic america which is now called panem. the book begins with the reaping where one boy and one girl are selected from each of the 12 districts to compete in the hunger games. and then the story just goes nuts from there. you will totally love this nutty goodness. there’s a badass chick named katniss everdeen that will make bella from twilight look like a sappy wuss. there’s so much action and lots of twists that you couldn’t possibly be bored when reading it (which is why i would absolutely recommend this book for someone who doesn’t like to read). the descriptions in the story were impacting and provided really cool visuals. and if a book can make me cry, then it automatically moves up in my opinion–damn you, rue!! wwwwhhhhyyyy???? the suspense was very consuming. i had to abandon unnecessary daily tasks just to finish. when i go into lockdown like this, my dogs and husband have to band together for food and care–such good sports.
of note: since stephenie meyer recommended this book, it has gained quite a following. i wouldn’t be surprised to see its popularity continue to grow. since the series is still in progress, this could mean opportunities for midnight releases and parties and such.
book 2
if you’ve missed midnight release madness for harry potter and the twilight series, this may be your chance to have this experience! it’s so much fun to be with others who are just as excited as you when anticipation comes to a head at midnight. and you’ll know you’ve become a supernerd when you pull an all-nighter after you get the book. “catching fire” is already available for preorder!
movie notes: they’re going to make a movie!! lionsgate has bought the rights to make one 🙂 and suzanne collins (the author) is going to write the screenplay 🙂 🙂 i’m extremely excited to see this book on film and if you’ve read it, you know why. i’ll be at the midnight showing. holla back.
the bookend. 