Ithilwen the Interrogator, I really expected to hate The Hunger Games myself, but was surprised (and almost appalled) when I really fell in love with them. Many times in the past I've read books or seen movies that everyone raves about only to think they were duds. Not so with this series. Enjoy your reading, there's some wonderful moments ahead for you!

I might try to read The Hunger Games soon because it seems to be the most popular and only book being read by kids my age. I've heard many good things about it, but what is it that makes it the book that people want to read? I just want some opinions and things before I read it.

I read The Hunger Games a bit before the movie was announced, and I got the whole series done in about three days. I absolutely love those books! I think my opinion about why it's good is the characters. I mean, the plot and the world it inhabits are phenomenal too, but the characters are what sold it to me. They're all so real, and you can actually feel what they feel. Usually when a book is written in first person I have a disconnect between me and the main character, but with Katniss I felt like it was me out there in the arena. I'm not a crier, but there were a few parts where I got choked up and had to put the book down for a few seconds. I'd highly recommend reading it! =)

I found the High King, and finished it yesterday. I did like it a lot, but it's heartbreaking - kind of like the end of LotR, though not quite so traumatic, because the books aren't quite as good.
I have to tell you guys, the sort of reviews you three have given have made me want to read The Hunger Games. If 10 people had posted saying "Oh, they're awesome, they're epic, you'll love them!", then I wouldn't have cared, but your thoughtful real reviews make me really interested.

^^ And to follow that post about "thoughtful real reviews", we'll see what I come up with...

-I just finished The Hunger Games today, and it took me about 14 hours, but 7-8 of those were sleeping and eating. So it was one of those books that I found hard to put down for too long.

-It wasn't as intense as I expected. Not that that fact disappointed me... I'm just stating it.

-The end was very sad to me, and I'm glad it probably won't be too long before I read the next book. The suspense in waiting to read the next book isn't too bad. But the sadness is. But I'm really excited to read the next two.

-And yes, the characters were pretty strong and likeable. Over all I would agree with what everybody's said-- I think.

/notadeepreviewbutohwell

The Hunger Games trilogy = awesome.

I bought and read The Son of Neptune all in one day. Of course, this means i have to read it all the way through again soon, because i have this horrible habit of skimming, but anyway.

First, have to wait a whole year for the next book? Ugh.

I am reading "I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore and it's rather epic I actually don't know if I like the movie or the book better, but when I finish the book I'll try to compare and see what the result is. I am actually glad I saw the movie first, mostly because Alex Pettyfir is totally perfect playing John being able to picture him while reading the book is so cool I really like how Lore's style of writing makes the story fast paced and makes it feel like it's happening real time
I'll give a more detailed review once I've finished!

I've just finished reading Randy Alcorn's novelization of Courageous. It was good but not great. If the book is reflective of the movie, the studio has improved their craft but they still don't seem to understand the visual medium of movies. There's plenty of let's stop and preach moments, pat answers to problems and needless exposition. Also, some of the theology is not biblically-based. On the plus side, the story is decent, the theme of becoming a Godly father is vital if overdone, the characters and conflicts are more complex, realistic and interesting (sadly many of the females are still flat characters - oops).

Anyone ever read the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket? Yes, I know they're kid's books

I've seen the movie when it first came out, but never read the books. I just bought books 1,2, & 8 at a second hand store. I flipped through the first 2, it's funny how they combined numerous books into one rather short film. But the books themselves are funny, a bit odd, but enough to make you smile.

How many books are in the series, by the way?

Goodness, yes!!!!!!! I've read The Series of Unfortunate Events twice now, all the way through. There are 13 books in all. I consider them marvelous, really well written, enjoyable, and slightly depressing. But I love them. You should take the time to read straight through the series, some time. It's totally worth it.

Anyone ever read the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket? Yes, I know they're kid's books

I've seen the movie when it first came out, but never read the books. I just bought books 1,2, & 8 at a second hand store. I flipped through the first 2, it's funny how they combined numerous books into one rather short film. But the books themselves are funny, a bit odd, but enough to make you smile.

How many books are in the series, by the way?

Great bookseries. One of my favorites. I've read them about seven times.

We had a big discussion on them about a month or so ago, a few pages back on this thread. There are 13 books in the main series, plus some additional books like The Unauthorized Autobiography, The Beatrice Letters, and Horseradish. Great stories, great overall mystery-plot, and lots of little hidden things to find throughout the books. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

EDIT: Our previous discussion on it can be found here. Look out for spoilers.

~Riella

I finished reading "I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore and WOW that is one epic book and I bawled like a baby at the end when

Spoiler

Henri dies and then John has to leave Sarah behind

wow Ithilwen, I looked at the old discussion (and read the spoilers )...are we sure these are kids books? lol I mean, that's a huge, twisted plot; I don't see any kid getting all of that.

On another note, these books would make an awesome TV series.

And that's SO weird about that Beverly Cleary book.

wow Ithilwen, I looked at the old discussion (and read the spoilers )...are we sure these are kids books? lol I mean, that's a huge, twisted plot; I don't see any kid getting all of that.

They are quite complex. I personally think they serve as both a children's series, and a series for older readers. There is some some content I thought wasn't too suitable for kids ( ); but the surface story is, overall, something children would enjoy. The deeper stuff is sort of hidden under a veil, you might say. Which I thought was brilliant. It gives us "older children" something to search for and figure out. Younger children wouldn't understand it and wouldn't notice it, and can appreciate the surface story for what it is. And then, when they're older, they re-read it and enjoy it in a new way.

On another note, these books would make an awesome TV series.

Quite certainly, yes. I think a TV show or mini-series is, frankly, the only way to adapt them properly. Brad Silberling is a talented director, and he got the right atmosphere in his ASOUE movie; but the problem was he combined three books into one film, and even added elements from book Ten. Which was much too much to throw in without it crowding the story together; and throwing vital elements out, never to be seen.

And that's SO weird about that Beverly Cleary book.

I know, right? It freaked me out when I read it. In a good way. You know you have a talented writer on your hands when they can add their own elements to a book already written and published years ago.

~Riella

Not possible. The Eleventh ASOUE book wasn't even released at the time the movie was being made. The series seemed to be marketed to children but it's more a parody of Victorian literature for older audiences. That said, there's nothing in the series that's particularly objectionable, although the series is very sombre, sometimes disturbing and in the latter half, quite complex.

Not possible. The Eleventh ASOUE book wasn't even released at the time the movie was being made.

Sorry, I meant the Tenth, not the Eleventh. When

Although, there were even some elements from the Thirteenth and final book in the movie. I've read a lot of interviews with the director and author, and they both admitted to working very closely together during the writing of the script, and admittedly put into the film some elements from books that hadn't been published at that point. Spoilers.

That said, there's nothing in the series that's particularly objectionable, although the series is very sombre, sometimes disturbing and in the latter half, quite complex.

There were some objectionable things in the Tenth and Twelvth books. Some suggestive innuendo inappropriate for a kid's book. And some mild language in the Second.

~Riella