Book Club Mondays: Catching Fire

After reading through two of the three Hunger Games books, I can now definitely understand why they're such a big deal and why so many people have fallen in love with them! The way Suzanne Collins writes is almost addictive; you can't put down one of the books when you start reading them. 

Catching Fire is the continuing story of Katniss Everdeen, shared winner of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, as she gets used to life in the Victor's Village, and as the only surviving female from District 12 in the history of the Games. Considering she didn't come from much, the life change into a place where she didn't have to worry about much was definitely confusing for her - though she got used to it as easily as she could. It seemed as if life was getting back to normal, until President Snow decides that they need to do something 'special' for the 75th annual Games, and calls for a 'Quarter Quell', in which former winners are called back into the arena for a second go-around. At this point, Katniss doesn't seem to care about much but keeping Peeta alive, and the adventure she goes through in this book almost encapsulates the drama of the first book. 

Suzanne Collins is definitely a wonderful writer, gifted with the ability to open up an entire world with her words and ignite a fan base for her writing that's barely been seen before. Since YA fiction seems to be heating up, it's a good time to be a Hunger Games fan!

Have you read it? What do you think?

Book Club Mondays: The Hunger Games

Okay, I did it. I kept hearing about it, and hearing about it, and hearing about it, and I finally decided to see what all the fuss with The Hunger Games was about, since hearing all about the movie's upcoming release. I was absolutely not disappointed.

I was enticed by the promise of a story, that, for once, featured a strong woman. No sparkly vampires or emotional abuse in teenage relationships, just the story of a young girl forced to make difficult decisions by the world around her.

Katniss Everdeen is a talented hunter and archer, and is forced into competing in the yearly Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a fight to the death between two tributes (one boy, one girl) from each district in futuristic Panem, with Katniss coming from District 12 (of 12 total districts). When the name of Katniss' younger sister, Primrose, is pulled at The Reaping, it does not take long for Katniss to volunteer herself as tribute so her sister does not need to feel the carnage that is The Games. Along with baker's son Peeta Mellark, the two go into the arena for the 74th Annual Hunger Games. The cast of characters surrounding them (eccentric emcee Effie Trinket, mentor Haymitch Abernathy and stylist Cinna, to name a few) bring a certain humanity to the story that I'm not certain would have been there without them.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me just say that if you've been thinking whatsoever about checking out either the books or the film - definitely do it. The Hunger Games is definitely worth your time - I started Catching Fire as soon as I could after finishing it!

Show I Saw: Henry Rollins

Photo courtesy of the Pabst Theater

Henry Rollins has always inspired the hell out of me. Listening to Black Flag during my awkward teenage years, and as an adult listening to his spoken word, I've wanted to check out a live show, but never made it happen. A couple of weeks ago, I finally got to. 

It was very much a Henry Rollins show. He went on about everything from current events to his experiences as a globetrotter, and produced some of the most entertaining stories I have heard in a long time. Of course there were the expected wise cracks about political candidates, but what really got me were the stories. Henry Rollins has such a way with words, and with conveying his experiences productively, that it really makes me jealous, sometimes. Experience is good for that.

I think that the best part of the show, for me, was looking at my phone after it was over and realizing that it had gone on for three hours. Three hours of sitting in a room watching someone speak, and I hadn't even realized that much time had passed. It was so much fun that I nearly forgot to worry about what time it was. 

Making a long story short - if you get the opportunity to see a Henry Rollins spoken word show, take it. You will not be disappointed.

Book Club Mondays: "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang"

 

The only reason why I read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang in the first place was because the Kindle I'd rented from the Milwaukee Public Library was pre-loaded with memoirs, and it seemed like an interesting book to try out.

I have never watched Chelsea Handler's show, and would not even consider myself a fan - she just has a great way of putting words together in an entertaining way - and I'm sure that she wouldn't be a celebrity if she didn't, right?

In any case, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang is a collection of essays, all humorous, about certain parts of her life from childhood to a hilarious wedding date - each story more vulgar and entertaining as the last, although once you get pretty far in, it seems like it wouldn't be possible to laugh out loud anymore.

One thing I can say about Chelsea Handler after picking up this book and knowing barely anything about her is that she can write an interesting book with her hands tied behind her back, basically - I was thoroughly entertained with each page I turned in the book, and hesitated to put it away each night when I was done reading, even though I was ready to pass out most nights.

Look out for a review of another of Chelsea's books, My Horizontal Life, coming soon!