The Wednesday Book Recommendation

Ok, do you all want to know what I did most of the day Sunday and Monday????  Come on, I know you do!  Well, yes, I did watch baseball, but that's cheating - that's pretty much a given most nights of the week thanks to my MLB package....and Monday was a day off (for my Sox, not for me).  And let's not really talk about that last embarassing sweep...deal?  Deal.

I was hunkered down reading one of the best books I've read in a looooonnnnggggg time.  Maybe I shouldn't play it up too much?  Will you be disappointed if I do????  Maybe.  But the truth is, this book consumed me.  And honestly, I would have never bought it on my own.  Something about the synopsis just didn't grab me the way others sometimes do.  Thank goodness I have bad taste.  Her fabulous Kimness had recommended it a while back and to be truthful, so far I've loved all of her recommendations.  Every.Single.One.  When it comes to Young Adult, this chick knows her stuff.

Among the annoying things this book made me do:  I actually read WHILE watching the Red Sox game on Sunday, which was going horribly wrong.  I found the worse it went the more I read, barely even looking up as the game went on, fully consumed by the book.  I woke up early Monday morning, read it while waiting on my coffee to brew, got to work earlier than usual, spent 10 minutes in a parking garage flipping through the pages, ate lunch at my desk so I could close the door and read for an hour, AND my two year old son actually told me Monday night to "put the book down mommy".  Yes, I realize that last one is a bit shameful, but you get the picture.  Obsessed.  I finished it in two days and have promised my family a few days of attention before I start book #2.  I hear it's just as good.  Surely the wait for book #3 (which doesn't come out until August) will be pure torture.

So, what was it? 

Here's the Goodreads Book Description:

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

And here are my thoughts:

I really loved this book if you missed that part.  I give it 5/5 or 10/10! 

This book is definitely a bit darker than most Young Adult novels out right now and I was surprised to find that I loved that about it.  The locations and culture that Suzanne Collin's creates is just as amazing as her characters.  Katniss is one tough, yet fragile girl.  You won't be able to get her and her courage out of your head. 

The way the story is told, each page leaves you enthralled in the action and wanting more.  I could gush on and on, but really, what more can I say besides, I loved it and it consumed me.  To me, reading a book this quickly is the highest honor one can receive.  There was only pure joy (and some tears) in the reading, it not once felt labored or long.

SOOOOO...other than that, I've been tip-toeing back to normal this week, admittedly in withdrawal today without something enticing calling to me read.  Maybe this means I'll get back to my WIP.  It's going well, but I'm feeling a writing break coming on as I make the final push to finish what I can before letting it sit  awhile.  My momentum is fading and I'm horribly missing my blogging buddies.  I've had so many other distractions out there lately.

So, how are you all?  Are you still there?  Hello?  Are you already reading The Hunger Games???

And as for you LOST fans out there, are you as ready as I am for this season to be over and for us to know what happens???  Seriously, I love the show but I'm starting to feel annoyed with them stringing me along.  And last week's rerun was just plain cruel.  But, tonight?  Tonight was pretty good.  I love me some Jack.  And Hurley.  And Sawyer.  And Sun and Jin.  *sniff*  Kate?  Not so much.  She's annoying me.

Time for bed.

*hugs*

kristi