The Hunger Games
Let me get this out of the way first: this book has some serious problems. I could enumerate them, but why bother when I'm certain there are entire forums devoted to picking this puppy apart? I just feel it's important to note that I am aware of this book's shortcomings. That said, once I got past page 60 I couldn't put it down. The Capitol is like some twisted and sinister version of Oz with its color and frivolity. And once the tributes enter the arena the pacing is deft and the scenes vivid. I fell into this book with a depth that is rare for me these days. It really sucks you in. The next time I see an episode of Survivor, our modern hunger games, I know I'll see it in a different light - I'd like to think Collins has created her parallels as pointedly as I'm reading them.
