So instead of writing last night, I sent out my first submission letter, which felt like a huge deal, even though it probably isn’t. I thought about my where to go next with my story. I also read The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins. I consider it working, sorta.
I have accidentally started reviewing things on my site. It is unintentional. It started with my adventures in reading Twilight. I don’t think I would normally have written about this book, except I found myself trying to explain it on Facebook. By the way, I’ve finished the Twilight Saga. I’ve decided that I had a lot of fun making fun of the first two, but I felt mean afterwards. I didn’t like them because they were romances, heavy teenage romances. I am not exactly the audience for that. The last two had some interesting ideas, and the secondary characters played a far bigger role in the story, giving me characters to relate to. I don’t think I can be made to watch the movies though. I am just not that into pretty people.
The cover of the book in question.
Anyway, back to the book in question, my sister lent me this book, and I started reading it last night at about 11pm and finished it at 6am. I read it straight through, that quickly, for a few reasons.
First, it is a fairly uncomplicated read. I don’t mean that in a bad way, either. Some writers get very involved in their own worlds when they write that they have a hard time making the story accessible for those of us who don’t live there, too. I also think some writers get off on how awesome they are when they write books that require the reader to have post-it notes to keep things straight. I think it says a lot for Collins writing that she allows her readers to rush through an unfamiliar world without feeling lost. I think this is because of the strength of the main character, and we follow her bewilderment at the entire situation.
Second reason: the main character is great. Actually, I think all of the characters are great. I love that Collins is able to write first person point of view so well. First of all, first person is hard to do well. I think that is one of my main gripes about that aforementioned series is that the main character is not someone I can slip myself into (that sounds so dirty), and in the first person point of view, that character is vital. I can’t fathom Collins ability to show us how other characters feel when the main character is oblivious to them herself. I don’t know if non-writers will be as impressed as I was, but, I respect the writing immensely.
Third reason: it is a dystopian novel. I love me a good dystopian novel. I read Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut in 10th grade and I have been hooked since. (Dystopias novels about worlds that are heavily controlled by the state under the premise of protecting the people. Some good examples are 1984, Brave New World, or Demolition Man though it is technically a movie.) Not only is it a dystopian novel, but it is a dystopian novel for GIRLS. The only other dystopian book for women I can think of is Hand Maid’s Tale, but The Hunger Games is written for teenage girls. I can’t express how amazing it is that there is a sharp, politically relevant, gritty, smart book written for the teenage female audience. I would have killed for this when I was a teenager.
I guess I really, really dug the book. I didn’t realize how much until I started writing about it. Now, just to get my hands on the other two.
Geeks a Geeking