Book Review: Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins, like she would ever read my blog but will you be my friend? Tell me stories? Describe pretty much anything to me? Because oh my gosh, this woman can tell a story with the most description, color, and intensity that I have ever read. If I were blind, I'd want her to describe everything to me because it would essentially be like I'm able to see. She's that good. 

She makes you feel as if you are IN this book. As if you ARE Katniss Everdeen for the entirety of the book. The world she transplants you into is like none other that our America - Home of the Free minds can wrap our heads around. It's hard to fathom what Katniss' world is like, especially since it's in the future. Which generally, when we think of America in the future sense we think of a world similar to the Jetsons not Jurassic Park meets Pangea meets Rocky Horror Picture Show meets video games come to life. Their future is almost like post-apocalyptic regression. 

Throughout The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does a great job of describing how the Hunger Games themselves are pretty much the only hope for Katniss and her family to have anything to live for ... literally and figuratively. I won't give away what the Hunger Games means in case anyone reading this has not yet read the books because I appreciated that those who had read the book didn't tell me. It just added to the surreal quality of the book and the shock and surprise. 

The movie comes out this week, on Friday, and while part of me CAN. NOT. WAIT. to see it. The other part is petrified. Because of how visual, descriptive and overall amazing this book is, it'd be so tragic if they don't get it right. Part in parcel because the book is like nothing else out there. So signing up to transform this book into a movie is going to be such a big challenge. It has the potential to not live up to the superiority of the book as most book to movie books do and on the other hand I can't wait to see this book come to life. 

Five out of five stars. 

Motion Pictures

Thor
What a name right? But let's not judge a movie by it's name shall we? Cause, just so happens Thor is ridiculously good looking a shockingly good movie. However, you must have an affinity, at least a small one, for super heroes. Growing up with two younger brothers I was left with no choice BUT to love super heroes ... and trade X-Men cards ssshhhh.

Let's say you don't care for super heroes. That's fine. An affinity for men that look like they were chissled from a piece of molten hot lava works great too. It's a fun movie. A good break from the heat if you will. Natalie Portman is in it too. Given the option, I'd do her or Thor I don't know his name in real life.

Pirates
What's more fun than a pirate? OK, so a lot of things but still ... Johnny Depp as a pirate is a pretty fun, good time. Typically, the last few Pirates of so-and-so have bored me to tears because of the following:

a of all Keira Knightley's horrible teeth when she opens her mouth
b of all Orlando Bloom is a prissy ninny
c of all 3.5 hour long movies are just too long to watch people who have bad teeth and are prissy ninnies

So,  they have tended to put me to sleep. But, this latest installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series kept me awake the whole time and I love, love, loved every minute of it. Also, it has mermaids!!

Pirates + Mermaids = Childhood memories
Huh? Read below:

Myth: Mermaids are real.

Fact: Regardless of that, every summer my best friend and I would go to the pool and spend all day pretending our legs were hooked together and swim around like mermaids.  

Needless to say I really, really wanted to find a body of water and pretend that I was mermaid. But I'm an adult ... And that'd just be plain silly ... *clears throat, nervous laughter*

Random Happenings

I'm not a big fan of food that requires an excessive amount of chewing. I find it to be so boring and tiresome. This could be part of the reason why I'm not a big fan of pork chops, steak, Dots and Sugar Daddy's. Sadly, this is the main reason why I will NOT, ever, eat beef & broccoli at a Chinese restaurant. The beef is always like rubber! So, I tend to stick to chicken quite a bit more. I like pork, especially a nice pork tenderloin, or pulled pork (yummmmm BBQ!), but pork chops are ALWAYS tough. My brother MBD, just completed a week-long film camp at the Central Virginia Film Institute. He got to be the director of a movie that was showcased at the end of the week to the family and friends of the kids who attended the camp. He was totally in his element and I'm so super proud of him. He's so talented. It's amazing to see your siblings grow up and develop such wonderful gifts. He's also a PHENOMENAL chef; so, be it directing movies or being a chef... He'll be creating masterpieces, either way. My other brother JCD, had jaw surgery recently. He gets his mouth un-"wired" on Tuesday of next week! He's so excited. As we all are. Just in time for vacation too! How's that for timing. He's been through a lot this past year and he's handled it all remarkably well. CWG, one of my most dearest and bestest friends, has the most wonderful family. Bean and I has the pleasure of meeting them this past Saturday. They are so fun, and nice, and have great accents! He and his family are from the Mid West. It's always a joy to meet your friend's families and hear about their childhood, and see who they look like the most. His Dad in this case. It was a fun-filled day... Bean and I also had the joy of seeing SJ's new non-bachelor pad. He has a great view of Arlington/Clarendon and even DC! He's on the 16th floor, so it was kinda disorienting to look over the balcony. He has a tomato plant out there, that looks like if it could talk it'd say, "I'm so hot! And suuuuuper thirsty." But, that's what the tomato plant gets for being in an apartment. Lastly, Bean is walking almost 100% of the time now. He's so good at it! It's crazy. Time has gone by much too quickly. My favorite is when I go to pick him up at day care, I run to him with my arms open wide, and he toddles over to me as quickly as his little legs will take him, throws his chubby little arms around my neck, and gives me a big ol' wet kiss right on the nose. That makes my YEAR, right there.