Book Review: The Hunger Games

A lot of people have already tried to get me to read "The Hunger Games", but I never showed any interest in it. Why? Well, for one, it sounded like a complete rip-off of "Battle Royale", one of my favorite books in the entire universe. And second of all, the young adult genre is pretty down there on my list of book genres to devour. Right above chick lit, to be exact.

However, I am one of those stubborn people who refuses to watch a movie based on a book unless I've read the book first. So, when Krissy Cruz of I am Krissy bought tickets for the premiere of "The Hunger Games" on Wednesday, I practically ran to the bookstore and bought myself a copy right away.

via Collider

Now, because of my latest major fail at trying to finish a book before the movie came out ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", anyone?), I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to finish this one before Wednesday.

But I finished it in 10 hours.

Yes. It is that good.

Although the story of "The Hunger Games" really does sound like a rip-off of "Battle Royale", it becomes quite clear early on in the book that it really isn't. After all, I was bawling like a baby by page 24 and the awesomely emo Taylor Swift song for the movie suddenly made sense to me.

Of course, there are still similarities between the two books. The storyline is pretty similar: kids are sent into a random arena to kill each other and some of the kids band together and work together to try and win. And, of course, both books are gripping, thrilling and incredibly nerve-racking.

But what makes these books so different from one another, I believe, is the fact that this one comes with an engaging yet subtle love story for sappy women like me young adults to enjoy. And oh, it wasn't banned anywhere, either. In fact, it was a New York Times bestseller.

I'm really, really, really, really, really, really hoping - DEAR GOD, PLEASE!!! - that the movie won't suck. I hate the "Battle Royale" movie. HATE it. So if this goes down that route or if they turn it into a sappy love story instead of a subtle one, I will be very angry. Rotten Tomatoes currently has it on 100%, though, so I'm keeping my hopes up. If it ends up being awesome, then I'm totally gonna order this to add to my movie memorabilia collection:

Yes. I have a collection of movie memorabilia. :D

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the cast members just yet, though. See, I feel that Josh Hutcherson fits the Gale role better, and Liam Hemsworth fits the Peeta role better. Hmm...

Anyway, while you're waiting for my movie review on Wednesday night, what did you think of the book? :) If you haven't read it yet... why haven't you?!??