The Hunger Games

After weeks of deciding whether to read The Hunger Games or not I found the trilogy at a discount price and took it as a sign.
It took me a little while to get into the first book because I don't normally read dystopia fiction, however, once I started to love Peeta and Katniss I knew it was a hit and couldn't put it down. The introduction was a little long, but I see that it was important for the development of the characters. We needed to see where they had come from in order to appreciate them and want them to win.
The idea itself is great, one that I wish I had thought of first! It was also very well written which is rare for teen fads these days. Writers seem to think teens don't appreciate a good bit of prose, well they do and I certainly did when I was a teen.
Of course, because I am a romance glutton, I instantly sought out the love affair and was a little disappointed with Gale. Even though he is gorgeous and strong and brave, I still didn't feel he was right for Katniss in that way. And then we are introduced to Peeta. The wonderful, lovely Peeta and I just knew I was rooting for him from then on. It only got better once the games started and Katniss was looking after him. Such special moments that really come off the page.
I was even happy with the ending and, with a little bit more closure around Peeta and Katniss's relationship, would have been happy to end there without the other two books.
I think it works because it is an exaggeration of our society and how other societies may have been throughout history. When we read we want the truth in a different way than we're used to and The Hunger Games delivers that.