THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY - A DYSTOPIAN WORLD BUT STILL PULLS YOU.

About the Novel:

"The Hunger Games trilogy is told from the perspective of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl who lives in “District 12,” one of the (formerly) 13 districts that make up the nation known as “Panem.” Panem is essentially what is left of the continent of North America in the future, after the current world has been destroyed. It also has a Capitol, a rich and luxurious city by comparison to all the districts, that exudes power over the entire nation. To punish the districts for a previous rebellion, the Capitol forces one boy and one girl from each of the remaining 12 (the 13th was destroyed during the rebellion) to participate in the “Hunger Games” each year. The Games are televised for the entire nation to see. Its participants, called “tributes,” must fight to the death in a dangerous arena until only one remains. When the annual event arrives yet again and the names are chosen, the last person Katniss expects to be called is Prim. Shocked, her first instinct as protective older sister is to take Prim's place and join the games, risking her life and the welfare of her family that depend upon her ability to hunt in order to survive.

Her journey brings her into a tangle of lies, deceptions, politics, love, and violence. And books take off from there." - courtesy : http://www.eatingbender.com/2012/03/20/book-review-the-hunger-games-trilogy-by-suzanne-collins/

My Experience:

Well, The Hunger Games is officially my first book, from Amazon Kindle and to be read in my Ipod Touch. Since i got some good reviews for the book, I felt that i should give a shot, as I'm one of those who would dive down and get myself lost in some fantasy world by a book more than a movie.

At first, I just felt the book was good. And then, the pace picked up and I never got to think outside of the book. I went right into the fantasy world, felt the emotions of the protagonist Katniss, fell in love with the sweet character of Peeta. Trust me, You could feel more than one emotion in the course of the book, anger hatred love jealousy funny sympathy, etc. though it has parts of some extreme gore and violence which arouses your own anger and violence at times.

When I finished the first book, all i could say about it was "not bad". But the next day, I found myself thinking much of the fantasy world, which made me buy the other two books and which i finished in the next consecutive nights.

Addictive was the word.

More than the fantasy fiction thing, I liked the way it drags us into the game, clouds us even after the book is closed and the way it makes us think about the details even after hours of completion of the trilogy.

The third book, Mockingjay, was my favourite personally.

The whole complete trilogy, an awesome read. Worth an experience.

I AM HARD-CORE SPIRITUAL. MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS. A REVIEW and AN EXPERIENCE.

One Complete week with the book, which left me with so many questions as well as many answers.

All the while, from the start till the end, reading the book, I was clouded by the thought whether I should have my Faith On or not.

I Believe in God, more like a Super Power who directs our Lives, no particular choices or religions. I am Firm in my own beliefs of Spirituality, which had been under the disdain of some on many grounds of Practicality of World.

Seriously, What is characterised as "Practical"? That which happens in Present, Right in front of our Eyes, which is bound to have Evidence and exist as a common Belief? Not exactly so. Many are actually dreading to think beyond the Horizons owing to this misconception, and have given the terms for the as "far-fetched" and "illogical".

All the same, Reincarnation though I might have had ideas about it to be true but then when presented with proofs, I am having mixed thoughts.

As the Author says, Life would become much Simpler if we just Believe in the Things that has been Said in the Book. However, Believing Things just to make Life easier as a way of absconding from everyday Trifles doesn't sound Right.

I Believe that one has to Learn things in One's own way. I'm not rejecting the concept altogether, I'm just making a Promise to the Masters, Guardian Spirits and to myself that if not Now, within this Lifetime, I ll keep my Mind Open and Learn as much as I can.

The Book, A complete Spiritual Guide, a Good Read and a True Medicine for those facing Dead Ends, Though I must warn beforehand that If sarcasm and narrow thinking be your hold then keep it to yourself cos' Your own Trust, not this Book, is the Key always to unlock your Mind.

And If you plan to start with the book, then be open to the views and be inspired of the thoughts along the spiritual journey.

I can assure you that the enlightening thoughts penned down in the book will be a Torch during the Dark tunnel phases of Life.

As for me, I might give a re-read after certain span of time. Belief and Faith, on whatever be it, takes Time and Maturity to become firm and Stable. Balance can be attained only through Trust, Sensibility and Knowledge.

"By Knowledge, We Reach God." - Brian Weiss, Many Lives Many Masters.

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND. A REVIEW. OF LOVE AND JOURNEY.

There are different kinds of books, Those that guide you in Life, those that get you self introspecting, those that make you emotional, those that inspire you, those that receive your admiration and love, And even some that get you snoring over the book.

I am, though a vivid reader and in company of some novel all the time, not the literary expert. Pure fiction lover, with a happy ending note.

The day when Daniel (in the story) chose the "Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax" from the cemetry of forgotten books and got adopted by the same, I was sure that similar fate awaited me with "The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafon".

Every day, when i touch the book and read and live through the words, I feel (and still remember the feel) a unique sense of belonging.

Proud Owner Of the Masterpiece.

Every morning I would rush to the bus, get myself a comfortable corner seat and dive into the world.

Every Night, till late I would turn through the pages and stay glued to the book with a fatal attraction.

And Every time there would be a regretful act of closing the book with a rude snap from the Trance.

Furthermore, I would catch myself going reverse in pages, sometimes to reread and get a full feel of the moments, and other times out of fear of missing the lines and in turn the feel.

Basically, all of us dread a disappointment, a betrayal of perfection, in every story be it a movie or a book. Similarly even i was bound by the fear of losing the love for the book, which i had been garnering for days, to the climax.

But then I wouldn't have asked for more apt end than this.

Even a week after the final showdown, I still feel that I am walking through the streets of  Spanish Downtown, hand in hand with Daniel, Carax, Fermin, Sempere and others. And I just don't stop from taking the book and skimming through my favourite conversations over a cup of tea.

All i know is that the book has got me right well, And I have built a new world to relive.

As for the REVIEW, Carlos has done a beautiful work in portraying each and every character, making a sketch in our minds.

His Choice of words is a class apart and keeps the life in the story going on and even after the story is over.

The book keeps us bound to it with the events of twists and turns and ties a knot with our Hearts making it to render to each character.

Just as Carlos pointed out, this story is more like a split of one thing into million reflections, a fission of one story into thousands. Every turn of a page we discover smiles as well as tears, Joy as well as heaviness.

This may have been an exaggerated review for few, but then it is purely my take of the Book and I would recommend to anyone coming across.

Fiction lovers out there, You will just Love it. And Do give me a Hi-five below if you have been nodding all along the way.

Also, If any of you have similar bondings with some book in your lives then mention it below. :-) Who knows, I would also create another world of it.