Catching Fire Preview Cover

 

So I'm super excited about Catching Fire hitting theaters in November and everyone's been showing off the new EW cover and movie stills and I wanted your opinion on cast choices. What do you think of Finnick? And I know this has been no secret, but how about Jena Malone cast as Johanna Mason?

I've seen her in Pride & Prejudice and she did fairly well. Didn't much care for her part in The Hatfields & McCoys. But I have to admit, most of what I've seen her in was when she was younger. She's just not the person I pictured to play Johanna. BUT.... Jennifer Lawrence wasn't how I pictured Katniss and yet... darken her hair and slap a quiver on her back and BAM. You've got the Girl on Fire.

 

I reckon I'll have to wait and see how the new cast fits in to their roles. Regardless, I can't wait to see the movie. November is so far away!

Hunger Games Gifts

If you know a Hunger Games fan who's got a birthday or some kind of special occasion coming up... why not get them a gift you KNOW they'll love?

Here are a few examples:

From chasingatstarlight - Real Or Not Real Double Sided Hand Stamped Aluminum Bracelet

"You love me. Real or not real?"

From MajaBoutique - LOVE Changes the Games - Hoodie in Black w Metallic Gold

From JenArtCreation - Mockingjay Charm Bracelet with Peeta's Pearl

From touchsoul - The Hunger Games Inspired Katniss BOW with Peeta Pearl bracelet

From joevetoe - Limited Edition Movie Poster

From pattyofurniture - Hunger Games Inspired Charm Bracelet

From NovelCreations - The Hunger Games Book Purse

There you go! Hope if you were stuck with no ideas that you have some now! :-)

And may the odds be ever in your favor.

Follow Friday #39

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosting Follow Friday every week!

This weeks question:

Q: Have you ever looked at book’s cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

A: I have to be honest.... it was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I thought the cover was dull and boring and figured the book would be about the same. Course, now that I've read the book the cover makes total sense.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am, unfortunately, a cover snob. But I am totally glad that I finally broke down and bought this book.

Can't wait to see your answers!

NEW Hunger Games Movie Poster

It's so awesome. I saw it on The Hob and wanted to share it with you all incase you hadn't seen it yet.

Drumroll please.

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Become a Citizen of PanEm

I'm a citizen of Pan Em now! I went to The Capitol's Website and signed up to be a citizen. I was placed in District 2 and got to make my own ID card. Apparently I'm a plasterer.

You guys should definitely check it out!

Hunger Games Movie Trailer

I'm so excited!

Ladies & Gentlemen - Katniss Everdeen

Click the picture up there to take you to Entertainment Weekly's Exclusive First Look at Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen!

I was totally having a hard time picturing her as our leading lady before with the blonde hair. But while I was reading the books THIS is exactly how I imagined her. She looks great! I'm so excited to see this movie. I only wish we didn't have to wait so long.

What do you guys think? Katniss material?

Monster Factory

Much thanks to Maggie Stiefvater for posting this first one on her facebook page. Totally hilarious!

Shiver

And then because of THAT one I found THIS one. LoL. The things people do with their free time.

Catching Fire

Look for my review of Graceling by Kristin Cashore some time today or tomorrow!

Covers Around The World

Was looking at the facebook page for casting of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. And started looking through the covers for all the different editions of the books. The ones for Catching Fire really caught my eye and I thought it'd just be fun to share some of the different covers I found on Goodreads.

Russian



German



Danish



Chinese (I think this one may be my fave!)

Do you have a favorite? What do you think of these pretty cool covers?

In My Mailbox #5

Time for another IMM hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. IMM is to show off books you've bought/stolen/borrowed/begged for/been given/etc.

This is my pretty kitty (once thought to be pure Maine Coon, now looks like a mix between coon/ragdoll awww) Cinderella showing off all of the books that I received since last Sunday. Yesterday was my birthday so of course, I told everyone I wanted books. And books I got. :-) Two of them I've already read.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (which I'm reading with my 8 year old)

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (which I'm also currently reading, AND it's my favoite movie)

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater (the bookstore FINALLY got a copy in!)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (see my review here)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (read my review here)

Perchance To Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Lots of books! What did you get in your mailbox?

PS. I also got a TON of books for my Kindle Reader on my phone. But they were all free! WOot.

Review - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I started reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins last night and finished it about 5 minutes ago.

It made me sad. Lots of it made me sad. I definitely liked the book. And LOVED the series. Honestly, I think it's one of the best trilogies that I've read in a LONG time. There were a lot of shocks and surprises (not all the time good) in this one, and a lot of things that just completely broke my heart. But I think it tied up the story nicely. Kind of wish there'd been some way to keep the series going, but I realize that it probably would have made it start to suck if that had happened. I always hate it when I'm done with the last book though. GrRrR.

Seriously though, the Hunger Games trilogy was outstanding. I'm almost afraid to watch any movie version because I know I'll do what I always do and completely tear it apart before remembering that the movie is not the book. But if the movie is even half as good as the books were then I know I'll have a new favorite film in no time.

I mean wow.

If you haven't read them, I strongly suggest it.

Or I will find you, tie you to a chair, and read them to you.

Yes.

I said it.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Ok, so this week I'm going to post teasers for more than one book. The book I'm reading. The book I won on GoodReads which is on deck. And MockingJay which is in the hole.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is up first.

"If you wanted me to rip my clothes off you should have just asked." He dug into his pocket and brought out his stele. "It would have been a lot less painful." p 187

On deck is The Keys of Fate novel number 1: Tower of Change by Tina M.Randolph.

Suddenly there was an outpouring of melodramatic opposition, and one of the wizards roared, "Maybe we shouldn't allow them to co-exist. Maybe we should use our magic to make them extinct!" p 36

Last not least comes the batter in the hole,

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The last in the Hunger Games trilogy!!!!! Happy birthday to me!! Hehe.

"Oh no. It costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people?" says Peeta. "It costs everything you are." p 23

Review - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins!

Wasn't as "Holy Cow I Can't Put It Down" as the first in the series, but I still finished it in a couple days (would have been sooner but unfortunate circumstances have slowed down my reading this week).

Parts of this book surprised the heck out of me. I'm not gonna lie. What happened to Cinna? Horrible. It broke my heart. He was such a wonderful person and I loved him as a character.

In this story, Katniss and Peeta are back in the Hunger Games again. But this year is different. This year they're competing against the winners from games past. Two winners from each district. You're introduced to amazing characters like Johanna and Finnick who seem haughty and arrogant at first but you end up loving them in the end.

We discover how Haymitch won the games the year he competed. It was really quite interesting. And it gives Katniss an idea. This year the games won't end like they did the year before. Those behind the scenes in The Capitol have made sure of that. So the tributes need to think fast. How are they going to make it out of this with their lives?

The ending just blew me away.

Loved this one too. Wasn't as fast paced as The Hunger Games. But I loved it almost as much. Have to go grab MockingJay now so I can finish the series! AHHH. Mixed reviews on the 3rd book. I've heard some people loved it and others weren't fond of it. So we'll see!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

OK. So today's teaser is from my current read, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.

"It's easier to keep up the irreverent, invincible manner we've all adopted when there are more of us. As people disappear through the door, all I can think is that they have a matter of days to live." p. 234

And because I'm so excited to read this, I'm going to do another.

"This is a tall, muscular man with sharp creases in his pants. The pieces of the picture do not quite come together until I see his arm raise the whip." p. 185

I'm only on page 57 of this one! It's a little bit slower going, not because it's any less exciting than the first book, but there have been other things going on and I just can't bring myself to pick up my book until very late in the day, and by that point, I'm too tired to read. I'm emotionally and physically drained.

But I hope you enjoyed the teasers! Can't wait to see all of yours!

In My Mailbox

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren every week.

And I know it hasn't been a full week yet since my last IMM, but I've been holding on to these books (or most of them) for days now and I just can't do it anymore!

There are possible spoilers in here! Just so everyone is aware.

So without further ado.....

Catching Fire. The second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I loved The Hunger Games so much I couldn't wait to get the second one (luckily, since I'm reading these so late in the game, I don't have to wait... hehe). Catching Fire follows Katniss and Peeta on their "Victory Tour" around the 12 Districts after The Hunger Games. They have to prove their undying love and devotion for each other or face the consequences of their actions at the end of the games. And from the description it seems like their could be a rebellion at hand. I can't wait to read it!

Darkest Mercy. I've been waiting for this one forever. When I first started reading the series, there were 3 out already (what can I say... I'm a slacker). I was walking though the book aisle at Walmart when the cover for Fragile Eternity caught my eye. I snatched it up and went through checkout without another thought. Started trying to read it and couldn't help but feel like I had come in during the middle of the story. Which of course, I had. I learned that Wicked Lovely was actually the first novel, so I went and grabbed that. Read it and then found out that there was ANOTHER one I'd missed. Ink Exchange. Of course I had to buy that one before I could start to read Fragile Eternity again. But read I did. At the time, they were unlike any fae novel I'd ever read before. And I loved them. A while after finishing Fragile Eternity, I found Radiant Shadows. Which was, by far, my favorite book in the series. So with Darkest Mercy, I can't wait to find out what happens with Aislinn and Seth. Can War be defeated? What of Ani and Devlin (my favorite pair in the series!)? Another one I can't wait to crack open!

City Of Ashes and City Of Glass. Now, as I haven't even started this series, I don't personally have a lot to say about it except I've heard nothing but good things about all the books that are out. I knew if I read the first one and loved it I'd kick myself for not having the other two so I snagged those from Walmart as well. :-)

What's in your mailbox?

Review - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Oh my geezie peezie.

I have 3 words for the book that I just finished.

A. Maz. Ing.

I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (no seriously... I didn't sleep last night, like, at all, so I was up until 730 in the morning finishing it!) and I'm kicking myself in the patootie for not literally ripping this thing off the shelf in the book store every time I walked by it before Tuesday.

What is my problem?

Katniss is strong and determined. Gale is amazing. And Peeta. I absolutely love Peeta. The love from afar that she never knew about. The characters in the story were so likeable (the ones who were SUPPOSED to be anyway).

Katniss volunteers in her sister's place to be a player in the Hunger Games. Where you basically compete for your life against 2 players from every other district, PLUS 1 more from your own. Whoever is the last one standing wins. It's not a game where friendship matters, where alliances matter (in the end), where loyalty matters... until Katniss and Peeta.

Two tributes from the same district. They've been the ones to watch from the get-go. The girl on fire. That's what they call Katniss. Along with her best friend Gale she's been breaking the rules and hunting out of bounds for food to feed her family. She's impressed and offended the people in charge and her hair & make-up team try and help her do damage control. Peeta is the baker's son. He can paint and he can decorate, but can he do much else?
I want to sprint back to the store and pick up Catching Fire and MockingJay now.

If I had been sitting in a chair the whole time I read this book, I'd have been on the edge of it. Heck, I might have even fallen off a time or two. This was a totally outstanding read, and I'm glad I waited until all 3 books were out before reading the first one. Because I really don't think I'd be able to wait for the release of anymore. Now if only I could make it to the store to grab the other two.

READ IT if you haven't. That's an order! I will follow you all around until you do.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

1. The first novel in the stack is one that was given to me to read. It's Montana Sky by Nora Roberts. I've read a few other novels by Nora. Namely her Sign of Seven series which is set around my area.

Summary from GoodReads: Jack Mercy's three daughters are strangers to each other. Now they must learn to live as a family-in order to gain an inheritance worth 20 million dollars...

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is not something I normally would have picked out for myself (again, I'm a cover hater) but I've seen so many good reviews and so many other people say that they absolutely love it, I couldn't not read it.

Summary from GoodReads: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

3. Cassandra Clare's novel City of Bones IS something I've been looking forward to reading. I would have gotten it from the library on my last trip but that was the ONLY one in the series that the library didn't have. So of course I had to run to Borders the first chance I got and pick it up for myself.

Summary from GoodReads: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end