The Hunger Games and Catching Fire

I lack reading now. Usual reason is I don't have time even though I put rather ambitious goal in GoodreadS.com to read 24 books in 2012. Embarrassingly, I put one French comic and one half read book as already read (I pardoned myself since the comic is in French while for the latter book, I need to remove it from the list). As of August 17, 2012, I am 9 books behind my schedule. Therefore when I saw the Trilogy of The Hunger Games at Gramedia book store, I immediately bought it. Now, I am 7 books behind and reading the last book, Mockingjay.

I read the books on Eid-ul Fitr holiday and I felt like I was in college again. Spending nights and days reading while doing other things for time to time. I really was absorbed in reading them. Very entertaining.

Just little synopsis, Katnis Everdeen take part in Hunger Games competition in place of her sister to save the latter from the game. Objective of the Games is simple, each of 12 Districts sends a boy and a girl to fight till death. Winner can be only one who will receive an abundant of money and won't be hungry anymore. While the districts regard this as dreadful, the capitol sees it as entertainment.

The second book is about Katnis after winning the game. Mostly regarding the unhappiness of Capitol or the President with Katnis because of her actions during the games and the start of the districts' rebellion. Accumulate to her fighting in The Hunger Games for the second time.

I haven't finished the last book.

The book itself very entertaining. Prior reading, I have watched the movie and find the book and movie almost similar in plot. So it will be very good for my friends who wants to read it and learning English at the same time. They we'll be easy imaging it.

Things I like about The Hunger Games
- Likable characters
- Peeta Mellark (like the character in the book, not so much in the movie)
- fast pace story-line
- the story itself
- the killing, the blood, the gore is so oh wonderful

Things I dont like about The Hunger Games
- Sometime it move from one scene to another too fast and unclear

Things I like about the Catching Fire
- again likable characters and especially the previous winners (even the old lady is charming ;D )
- the story about how each of previous winners won their game.
- Katnis back to the games
- the story itself. The rebellion to the capitol is kinda similar feeling with fight again colonialism.
- while reading it, I suddenly feel hopeless thinking how will the characters win against the Capitol. This feeling that evoke by only reading a book is kinda great.
- more blood, more killing, more torture is so oh very very wonderful :D

Things I don't like about Catching Fire
- the game is too short
- the love triangle and Katnis being confuse in the two guys...swt

Overall I like the book and give it 5 stars out of 5 :D

Additional Note
Some say it similar with Japan's Battle Royale. Well  I enjoyed both film but find it different. BR is just wicked and insane. However I need to read the BR first to understand it.