Hunger Games

So last night I read the first book in the Hunger Games Series, by Suzanne Collins. It was absorbing definitely. I literally read 6 hours straight.
The feel of the book reminded me of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, while the concept itself harkens the Running Man by Stephen King. Don't get the wrong idea, there wasn't a whiff of plagarism, it was an excellent and original story only reflecting  the best and most terrifying themes of those two books.
Set far into the future atop the land that once was named North America, the Capitol is in grim control of its 12 outer lying districts. There was once 13 but the final one was obliterated when the districts rose against the Capitol in civil war. Now, to maintain complete control and remind the poor providences of their utter defeat and humiliation, the Capitol demands annual tributes, in the form of children aged 12 to 18. These tributes are sent to an arena and made to kill one another off down to the last person standing, who is then emulated at a hero, and in charge of training next year's tributes.
Katniss, the main character is not supposed to be a Tribute, she has volunteered to take her very young sister's spot. She is a huntress for her family so her skill with a bow and arrow make her deadly, while her ability to scavenge for roots and other edibles make her a survivor. Despite this, Katniss knows she doesn't stand a chance against the other district's Tributes, who have been reared with a Sparten like mentality that to die fighting is to die with honor. The only help she will get in the arena, although she often doesn't know it, is from the second District 12 Tribute, Peeta. Peeta makes no secret of the fact that he's been in love with Katniss for years and has always gone out of his way to help her, which doesn't stop now.
This book is gruesome and terrifying. These are kids pitted against one another gladiator style while it is televised to cheering crowds who inanely see it as sport. The slaughter extends past the physical and into the emotional as even the very young and innocent are picked off in all manner of gory deaths. The Capitol fights dirty, changing the rules and inventing new ways to drive up viewer ratings and enflame desperation in the remaining Tributes.
To me this book felt a little fast paced to the point of rushing the story, but then again it's only the first installment in  a series. The story is obviously about much more than just survival and I predict another huge uprising of the Districts. By the end you are completely aware that winning the games is paltry. Death would really be the best way out, while living would demand that you constantly replay the games every single day over and over in your head. The system is broken and a fire of anarchy is in Katniss.

Excellent read and I will be getting the others soon.

There. I wrote about a book. I earned the right to read another.