Hysterical!
Finished the second book, in a little more than 24 hrs, with breaks. Lols. I was waiting for the “lull” in the story, like one friend warned me about, but it never came. Had a very late dinner simply because it was impossible to tear myself away from finding out how the book ends! Lols. That was a completely engrossing story. Characters had depth and wry humor abounds that balances the gore and probably what kept the players from descending into insanity or despair.
Perhaps it’s also because it relived memories of reading “1776” by David McCullough that so captured my imagination of the American Revolution. How normal but heroic people of America 230 years ago had unified to break free of the English King’s tyranny and consequently declare that
“…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Those words up to now take my breath away.
It also reminded me of Pope John Paul II who often wrote at length about his own experiences of the war, and the suffering his own country and people endured. Anne Frank and all those figures who somehow thrived and did not lose their sense of self despite how deadly their circumstances were. It brings to mind the reality of dictatorial regimes (Nazi Germany, Communist Russia/China, the Berlin Wall), and how truly privileged a lot of us are while people in some parts of the world still suffer much oppression and starvation is a common thing. The book also touches on the fact that despite these oppressive efforts that bend Nature to their will (with technology) and crush the human spirit (with tyranny), Nature will always be one step ahead; the human spirit never fully extinguished.
As a final note, “The Hunger Games” is more substantial than the Twilight saga can ever amount to. It soon dawned on me how gravely overrated Twilight is. It’s not even funny. I completely misjudged this book for saying it’s all hype thinking it’s another bore like Twilight and I deeply apologize for that. Lols. Anyway, I’m now starting with the 3rd and final book of the series “Mockingjay”. Strange how deep inside I’m praying the author keeps Peeta Mellark alive! Haha.
