Well, that was enjoyable.
I'm always hesitant about books that everybody is reading, because a lot of the time they're horrible (see Twilight). At the same time, that same "Everybody likes this so it's probably horrible" elitism almost kept me from reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, so I'm glad I didn't let it stop me this time either.
Like I said Friday, these books are imperfect. They're too short. Some scenes are just seem rushed, and many of the character sketches are incomplete. At the same time it works on some level--Katniss is never really sure what's going on, and neither do we. It's a lot like real life: she doesn't understand her emotions, doesn't know what she wants, doesn't know what the right action is. She's a completely imperfect heroine.
I couldn't help but compare her to Harry Potter. For Harry, good and evil is an easy distinction, and, though Dumbledore becomes slightly more morally ambiguous in the last book, Harry never wavers in his faith that he's on the right side. Katniss never has this certainty. She knows the government is in the wrong, but she has reservations about the rebellion, ones she never really comes to terms with.
I suppose the difference between Harry and Katniss is that, with very few exceptions, Harry is always good, while Katniss can be kind of horrible (with good reason, though). It's refreshing, because heroes aren't perfect. We're not all Harry Potter.
The books aren't quotable or particularly eloquent. They get right into the dirt, the action of what's happening and Katniss's own confusing thoughts. But that's part of the reason why I could tear through them in three days--they're so fast-paced, I couldn't stop until I knew what happened. It's a good plot, and it will make a good movie (especially because so many things aren't explored. It leaves them a lot to explore).
Basically, read the Hunger Games trilogy if you like distopias, awesome female heroines, moral ambiguity, and/or have always wanted to be a skilled archer.
Next up: I don't know... I'll take a look at my bookshelf. Suggestions?
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