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Series: The Hunger Games
Book Order: The Hunger Games* (1), Catching Fire* (2), Mockingjay (3)
* indicates a book I have read
There's a part of me that's resisted reading this series because of all the hype surrounding it. Staring at the dramatic black cover of book one, with its striking golden bird, I wondered if the product could truly live up to the promise. Could this book really be as good as everyone has said?
I have to admit I have heard much more about The Hunger Games rather than hearing what The Hunger Games is about. The story is set in Panem, a dystopian version of America divided into twelve districts. Every year at a ceremony called The Reaping, young adults - one boy and one girl - from each district are chosen to fight to the death in a barbaric and brutal survival contest called The Hunger Games. The hero and heroine of the book are representatives from the coal mining District Twelve, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. They are drawn together in their fright and disgust at the contest, but pulled apart knowing that friendship cannot last when there can only be one survivor.
It was the character of Katniss that drew me so deeply into this book. She is a great picture of adolescent strength and has a bright loving spirit that occasionally shines through the hard, rough exterior that her life and circumstances forced her to adopt. And yet, even with tinges of romance, this was not a girly book. It's a gritty, violent, suspenseful story of survival and battle - people against each other and the elements - but the emotional side of the story complements the action wonderfully.
As intense as Deathly Hallows and with a love story more believable than Twilight, it's no surprise that The Hunger Games has captured so many fans. This is a book that truly does live up to its hype, and like many, I can't wait to read the subsequent books in the series.
In celebration of Series in September and because I enjoyed this book so much, I'm going to give away one (once read, like new) paperback copy of it to a lucky winner! The contest will be open internationally - or basically to any address that I can ship a book to within my price range. (My apologies to those on the International Space Station, I don't think I can get this one to you...) There will also be a reader loyalty bonus in that entrants who have previously left meaningful comments on this blog will be given one extra entry - I know who you are. :)
To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me what interests you most about The Hunger Games, why you want to win this book, and your email address written in spam protected format (ex: herbookself AT gmail DOT com). Selection from eligible entries will be made using random.com. Winner will be contacted by email and will have three days to respond with a valid mailing address; otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Contest closes on October 1st - or when Her Book Self reaches 100 followers, which ever comes later. Let me know if I've forgotten any details or if you have any other questions. Best of Luck!
September 21, 2010 at 9:52 AM
Lisa. Nice! I haven't bought this yet, but I am really gunning to read this series. Maybe this is my chance. :) I've read a lot of great reviews about this book that's why I wanted this.
greyz DOT greyz AT gmail DOT com
September 21, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Love this series. I'd love to own a copy!
bkhabelATgmailDOTcom
September 21, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I have heard so many good things about this book but I haven't read it yet.
hewella1 at gmail dot com
September 21, 2010 at 12:10 PM
I have heard many good things about this book, but I've sort of been resisting it. I should give it a go ...
September 21, 2010 at 12:20 PM
I've read the first two books and I really liked Katniss's character (and okay, I kind of liked Peeta A LOT.) :)
piratepenguinreads(at)gmail(dot)com
September 21, 2010 at 2:23 PM
I have heard so much about this series. A friend of mine is going crazy over it. Also, I happened to acquire a free copy of the second books, so now I have to read the first one! That's why I want to win it. :)
melydia AT hotmail DOT com
September 21, 2010 at 2:59 PM
I'm reading The Hunger Games now (borrowed from a friend). I'm really only at the beginning but I'm enjoying it so far. So, I would like to have my own copy (which I will probably buy if I don't win it).
quigui . i AT gmail . com
September 21, 2010 at 3:10 PM
I definitely want to read this book because of all the hype the whole series has...it's been well recommended to me countless times! I think the plot excites me most it sounds brilliant!
m-hussein AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk
September 21, 2010 at 3:48 PM
I read Hunger Games and really enjoyed it. I would love to own my own copy. Thanks for the chance! :D
tabbylewis at hotmail.com
September 22, 2010 at 10:29 AM
I read Mockingjay, the third installment in the trilogy, this summer. It was a satisfying conclusion. Another book I'll highly recommend to those who like the Hunger Games is Birthmarked, by Caragh M. O'Brien. Its another book with a strong female lead, dsytopian society, and fast-paced. action.
September 22, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Thanks for clearing up what all this 'Hunger Games' stuff is/was. It's warmed me to the idea of reading them.
September 23, 2010 at 5:34 AM
I had a chance to read this amazing trilogy but unfortunately I don't have my own copy...:( What I loved most about this books was their originality. In these days it's quite hard to come up with something new as I have sometimes feeling I've read almost about everything. Hunger games trilogy surprised me and became my favourite.
Thank you for giving a chance to international readers!
judittten at gmail dot com
September 23, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Hunger Games is such a great book. I'd love to own a copy. I think the dynamic between Katniss and Peeta is fun and intense. "Real or not real?" Peeta asks later. Thanks for a great giveaway!
coral DOT edwards AT gmail DOT com
September 23, 2010 at 3:11 PM
I love how katniss is such a strong character, and I would like to win this because it is an amazing book!
ako4eggs AT comcast DOT net
September 24, 2010 at 2:23 AM
Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com
I'm eager to read Hunger Games because I've heard nothing but PRAISE for it, and I think the premise behind the *hunger games* is very creative ... sounds like such a gripping read :)
September 24, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Hello!
I'm the friend who borrowed quigui up there The Hunger Games, so if I win it, I'll give it to her!
This is certainly a fun book, even if I would not recommend Mockingjay to a living soul x_x
jen7waters AT gmail DOT com
September 24, 2010 at 10:55 PM
EXACTLY! What I absolutely ADORED about this book was 100% Katniss. She was one of the best heroines I've read because she was so strong and tough, despite the horrible circumstances, but there was still some emotion and vulnerability underneath it all that made it feel so real. I want to be more like Katniss. Give me a heroine I can admire, and you win me over completely ;-) Great review! I'm so glad you enjoyed it too!
September 25, 2010 at 4:45 AM
+JMJ+
Hi, Lisa!
What interests me the most about The Hunger Games is that it's Dystopian Fiction with Young Adult heroes. That's a blend I really, really love!
I'd love to win this book because I have a very limited book budget for new (or might-as-well-still-be-new) releases. There are no public libraries where I live and my friends read very different books from the kind I prefer. So until a major sale happens at my favourite bookstore, I'll have to keep waiting to read the series everyone else is getting to rave about. =P
My e-mail address is altaemoeniaRomae [at] Gmail [dot] com.
Thanks for this chance! =)
September 25, 2010 at 9:35 PM
I haven't read any of the series, but I've seen SO much about them lately that I can't help but be intrigued. It'll be good to read something a bit heavier, rather than all the fluff I've been reading lately (which I enjoy too, I just need some balance).
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
September 25, 2010 at 10:13 PM
I'm most interested because..well everyone else is! I've heard of a great love triangle in it, and I'm excited >w<
blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh and my name's Karen! (:
September 28, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Now that the trilogy is complete I'm ready to begin the series. Besides I've heard sooo much about it I'd like to decide for myself if it's that good.
undermyappletree at gmail dot com
September 28, 2010 at 9:29 PM
What interests me most about this book is the idea of potentially pitting friends against each other in a battle to the death. Plus I'd like to read this book just because everyone else is doing it. (Is that a bad reason? Heheh.)
gjmc90 AT gmail DOT com
September 30, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Lots of people I know have already read that book and I didn't even know what it was about. Wanna win this 'cause I love suspenseful stories. Thanks for making it international :)
suellencoletta at hotmail dot com
October 1, 2010 at 12:00 PM
This contest is now closed! Thank you all for entering - the winner will be drawn shortly and notified by email. If no response in 3 days, a new winner will be drawn. Once a mailing address is confirmed, winner will be announced on this blog. Thanks again for entering - Good Luck!