"I was so obsessed with this book...The Hunger Games is Amazing!" - Stephenie Meyer

Not only can Stephenie Meyer write she also recommends great books! The first time I saw The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, I was actually on Stephenie Meyer's website. From time to time she will recommend a book that she loves on her website. Then slowly I heard my friends mentioning it, and finally the same friend who brought Twilight into my life (bless her into an eternity of serenity) also brought over The Hunger Games. After finishing my Twilight blog (http://hubpages.com/hub/Twilight-A-Chapter-a-Day-Challange) I decided to give The Hunger Games a whirl. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and how personally it touched me.

Time: The Hunger Games takes place some time in the future.

Place: The setting is on the North American Continent in what used to be the U.S. Now it's called Panem.

Quick History: Natural disasters and wars have ravaged the world. On the North American Continent, what's left in the aftermath has been fought over until a government was founded and a sort of peace is established. This government however is domineering and controlling. "The Capitol" is at the center of Panem with 13 outlying districts. In the history of Panem, the districts formed a rebellion and lost. For punishment The Capitol initiates "The Hunger Games" and completely demolishes district 13 (the district that lead the uprising) leaving only 12 districts.

The Games: When I first heard the Hunger Games described by my friends for some reason I was imagining barbaric cage fighting. Not wanting to give away to much, I will say that it is more like the survival of the fittest. The officials in The Capitol create a terrain in which the "tributes" have to survive in, and fight for their lives. The winner is the last one standing, the one left alive. Each of the twelve districts have to provide a male and female tribute to compete in these games. Refusal is not an option.

The Main Characters:

Katniss - I had a hard time with her at first. She is a very hardened sixteen year old girl who lives in the poorest part of the poorest districts, district 12. In an effort to save her younger sister Prim, Katniss finds herself a contender in the Hunger Games. Through the book I softened to her considerably and found myself emphasizing with her on a deeper level than many of the other literary characters I've come to love in many ways.

Gale - Gale is Katniss' best friend and hunting partner. They both, for similar reasons, find themselves providing for their families. This and their general attitudes bond them together. They also look similar to each other with dark hair, gray eyes, and olive skin. He is also described as really tall and handsome. Gale hates the Capitol and would jump at the chance for change.

Peeta - The description on Peeta is great, but very opposite of Gale. He has a medium build, ash blond hair, and blue eyes. To me this description was almost as startling as Edward Cullen. Not because it has the same perfection that Edward holds, but in an almost adverse way. His character is so normal. Almost like a boy from your past, maybe a good friend or a boy you knew in school. He is such a human character. To me he is someone who is so real, he's almost tangible. I love real life characters. The more I read about him, his kindness, humor, and strength of character, the more I got entwined into this story. He is my favorite character of this book.

Storyline:

In an effort to save her only sister, Katniss enters the game. She is forced into this sport of survival and killing. The only way she can win is to take out the competition. The contrasts in this book are amazing as she is also compelled into the spot light of The Capitol, a city and enviornment totally different from the one she grew up in. The comparison would be like New York City is to the oldest, most destitute small town you can think of. She has to win the approval of this flush and comfortable society. The Capitol under the surface of a high class society, has frightening , deranged, and loathsome views of humanity. The people and challenges she meet through this process are just as contradictory as the different habitats. She finds friends as invaluable as you could imagine and enemies just as deadly. It took me less than 24 hrs to read and I was spellbound throughout. I laughed and cried.(which doesn't happen often) My only problem is now I have to hunt down my friend and beg her for the sequel Catching Fire. http://hubpages.com/hub/Still-Burning-Hot-Read-Catching-Fire-the-sequel-to-The-Hunger-Games