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: "Running With Scissors"

 

Since getting a Kindle of my own as a birthday gift from my parents back in December, I have found a new appreciation for e-book reading that I never thought I would have. Of course, life has a way of screwing us out of the best laid plans so I haven't been able to use it much, but I'm attempting to get back into it. Prior to that, I'd rented an older version Kindle from our local library and read several books, both old and new, and figured it was a good enough time as ever to get back into a normal posting schedule, as well!

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs is one of the most well-known novels of my time, at least, and spawned not only eight weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, but many conversations about how some individuals treat their children, which I believe is what was intended. The book tells the story of his downright bizarre childhood, in which his mother sent him away, to live with her psychiatrist. It was good enough to spawn a film, which was released in 2006.

For me, Running With Scissors is the kind of book I could (and have) gone back to two times, even three times, and still enjoy every second of reading. There is always something new to find out, and a different facet to the story. I believe that's a big reason I keep going back to it - as an adolescent (the first time I read the book), I could see myself in the same position - granted my mother was a crazy person - and I believe that's what has always made the book that much more real to me.

If you want a story that can put a chill in your bones and a thought in your head, look no further than Running With Scissors or any of Burroughs' other novels.