K-Drama of the Year 2012..or NOT... my POV

Hi there....오랜만이다 (oren-manida), if you are familiar with hangul and korean drama im sure you know what that means.. for those who are not familiar.. it means 'it has been awhile'... yes, it has been awhile since the last time i wrote an entry in this blog. My reasoning? well because i was a bit busy and have no idea what to write about.huhu...

Currently im on holiday so i spent most of the time just playing guitar, reading books and watching k-dramas :)... well what do you expect from a not-so-exciting-girl like me..lol.. i refuse to use the word 'boring' on myself since last june so just bare with me...please.

Lately, I've been diligently watching every single k-dramas i got my hands on.. and Ive been following 'girlfriday' and 'javabeans' of "Dramabeans.com" you see... I just love reading their reviews & writing... fun fun fun.. I wish I could write like em'!!.. so they have this like annual k-drama polls that they do every year to see which drama is The Best Drama of The Year!!! and getting all the fans/readers input on it... And based on my last observation/visit, it seems like 'Nice Guy' is in the lead... Im not surprise by that. Because it was a Great drama... if I had not watch 'Answer me 1997' (just now finished the whole drama), I would have agree 100% with the poll results... But what can I say, I love the underdogs!!.. you dont expect anything from them and yet they gave everything that you're looking for!!.. Below is my POV on the most entertaining & exciting drama for this year.... and I'll give you a little recap on some... If you had not watch the dramas listed, you should really give it a go and consider buying the dvds the next time you stop by the dvd store :)


BEST K-DRAMA OF THE YEAR 2012. (in order btw)

1. ANSWER ME 1997.

OMG I Looooooooooooooooooooooveeeeee this DRAMA!!!! before I pick-up this drama, i read a few review and feedback and everyone was saying how GREAT this drama is and I was like 'aisshhh... what could be better than NICE GUY or A GENTLEMAN'S DIGNITY'. Honestly I didnt expect much especially with the casting, new faces everywhere and its on cable tv (tVN cable)!!!.. I was thinking 'hmmm.. so the script must not be that great that it wasnt able to get a slot in KBS or MBC or SBS???'...
Boy was I wrong... Big time!!..

I love the script... and story telling... The drama is set in Busan in 1997 so everyone was talking in Busan dialect and you can feel the YEAR 1997... every single detailed reminds you of the old days... the slow dialed up modem, the old model handphone people use (it changes along with the drama time interval, you got this HUGE looking hp in the 90s, and then as the years goes by you have these flip phones etc), not just handphones, VHS tape, Walkman, CD player..like I said just every single thing reminded you of the good old days... And I also love the fangirling theme the writers add up to the drama... just shows you how much the korean teenage girls are fanatics of their 'Oppas' lol.

But what I love the most in the drama is probably the individual characters that the writers managed to make em' unforgettable. Thumbs up to the casting!!! What a fantastic acting debut for Jung Eunji (A-Pink), might I highlight here Debut As Lead Character mind you!!!and Seo In Guk was brilliant as always..  This drama is definitely a MUST WATCH for 2012... Ive you havent watch it go watch now!!!


2. NICE GUY...

To be honest, I'm not really a fan of Song Jong Ki. If just by looking at the casting of the drama at first, before I even watch it, I just tought 'hmmm... melodrama...not really a fan.. but wait, Park Si Yeon!!.. wow havent watch her in a drama for like... forever.. might aswell give this drama a go'.... it was the fact that Park Si Yeon is in the drama that got me watching Nice Guy... I know, I Know, i know what you guys think... "MOON CHAE WOON is in it also... how could I not have considered that as one of the main factor to pickup the drama..?!!" well at the time I wasnt really familiar with her acting that much... I havent watch 'Princess' Man'.. I didnt even know she was in it and won all the awards she did!.. But hey, I am absolutely a fan now!!... Cant wait for her next drama!!..

 
If you havent watched the drama, thru and thru you will likeeeeeeee noo, not likeee... you'll loveeeee Kang Maru's (Song Jong Ki) character... and you will hate thru and thru Jae Hee's ( Pask Si Yeon) character.... and you will have a Love and hate relation ship with EunGi (Moon Chae Won).. If it werent for all these three brilliant actors playing their role brilliantly, this draama wouldnt have gotten so much love by the fans... there are definitely no other actors/actress that are more suitable to play the characters other that those three... brilliant casting!!!...

Now, the only thing that is making this drama no. 2 in this list instead of no.1 is its FINAL EPISODE!!!.. For me, the final episode of a drama is the focal point which determine whether the drama is in the bunch of GREAT K-Dramas of the year or whether it is in the bunch of Good/Enjoyable K-Dramas of the year..
Dont get me wrong, i like the final episode because the writer gave us a happy ending considering the other dramas that the wirter (Lee Kyung-Hee) did eg. Will It Snow For Christmas?, A Love to Kill, I'm Sorry, I Love You... You know what the 3 dramas have in common... Sad endings.... The ending for nice guy is okay but not as great as Answer Me 1997, you felt fulfilled at the end... if you've watched both you would know what Im trying to say... If the ending of Nice Guy was nicely  folded would I've put this drama No. 1 instead of Answer Me 1997? Absolutely YES... why because interms of the drama content and plot twisting event, Nice Guy gets it..It is among the many reason why many kdramas fan glued and have gotten so attached to this drama.. None the less Innocent Man/Nice Guy is a must watch drama for the year IMO.

3. The Moon That Embrace The Sun


Not gonna elaborate much on this and the other dramas.... But yeah I love The Moon That Embraces The Sun... I love both Male & Female leads Kim SoHyun and Han Ga In... Love the storyline and amaizing twist of plot... not really a fan of Saeguk dramas but what I really love about the drama is these two...

너무 귀엽다..so adorable

I enjoy the drama more during their youth period.. :)


4. The King 2 Hearts 

 Love the idea behind the drama. Reuniting The North & South Korea. But what interest me the most is Eun Shi-kyung character played by Jo Jung Suk. A very loyal Royal Guard. I got bored when he died lol.


last but not the least.. worth mentioning... is..
5. A Gentleman's Dignity

 I like the female all 4 female leads but not so much on the 4 Male leads. I know the writers & director are looking for someone to play the characters in their 40s but you dont actually HAVE to cast some one who is ACTUALLY 40.. maybe someone who's in their 30s??to make the drama more ALIVE. Jang Dong Gun is okay but not really a fan. But thank god he's good at acting. I mean for example look at Kim Min Jong (far right in the pic) in the drama it looks like he's dating his own daughter. So every scene involving him and Im Meari (his partner in the pic) I tend to fast forward or skip it. 
If I could change the cast.. the 4 male leads would be.....Yoon Kye Sang, Song Seung Heon, Yeon Jung-hoon, Kim Sung-soo ?? :)



MOST DISSAPOITING/A FLOP K-DRAMA OF THE YEAR 2012. (dont even bother to watch) 

1. Big

 Love all the cast... Disappointment in story telling & script writing. Surprisingly the writers are The Hong Sisters!!! The scriptwriters for great great great dramas like, Sassy Girl Choon Hyang, Best Love, My Girlfriend is A Gumiho, You're Beautiful, Hong Gil Dong, Fantasy Couple, My Girl. 
This drama is probably their biggest flop! Probably thats why they decided to call it BIG?? Big flop..


 2. Dream High 2

Probably the most anticipated drama after the very successful Dream High drama. But what a flop this sequel turns out to be. I would rather have Jinwoon & Jiyeon be the main pairing. Probably then the sequel would be enjoyable. Definitely not better than the 1st drama but atleast it would not make into my list of most disappointing dramas lol.

 

Allah Knows, while you know not

"...But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not."

[ 2 : 216 ]

Book Review : Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Trilogy Book #3)

Asslamualaikum...

Hi all......
WOw! it seems that I just cant stop with all the book review thing lol.... Well, when it comes to this book, i just cannnot NOT review it... it really has been awhile since I last felt this kind of adrenaline when it comes to reading a book.. You have this some of adrenaline wanting to not stop reading it because you are desperate to know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT???!! and then when you realize that you have been reading for quite awhile and only a few chapters left until it ends at that point you realize that you dont what everything to end.... you know how that feels? IT FEELS TERRIBLE!!...Because I LOVE this book SOOOOOO MUCHHHHH!!!... and that is how much I LOVEEEEEEEEEE it.....

::sobbing that the whole book has come to an end:: huhu...

Well lets go through the synopsis before I do the review on the book #3.. MOCKINGJAY....


Synopsis

As the novel opens, Katniss, Finnick & Beetee was saved by Haymich & Plutarch by a hovercraft from the 75th Hunger Game's arena. They and hundreds of other refugees and revolutionaries have been taken in by the citizens of District 13. While the other survivors from the 75th Hunger Game, Peeta, Johanna Mason & Enobaria was captured by The Capitol. The rumors were true, but District 13 is both more and less than anything she could have envisioned. While safety is a fluid concept in Katniss's experience, she is what passes for safe at the moment. Still, she is tortured by thoughts of Peeta, being held prisoner in the Capitol. And she is tortured by too many ghosts. We're introduced to a somewhat more fragile Katniss in this novel, and she is not the only character in a somewhat diminished state. The events unfolding around them, as well as those of the past few years, have taken a heavy toll. Both Johanna & Peeta was tortured by President Snow in order to get the details behind what the rebels have been planning. As a result, when the rebels managed to rescue Peeta and Johanna from The Capitol, both were tragically damaged mentally. Peeta was poisoned by tracker-jackers venom into thinking Katniss was a Mutt (Mutation) designed by Capitol to destroy district 12. So everytime he sees Katniss, he wanted to finish her. While Johanna was having Hydrophobia because while being captured by the capitol, they tortured her by trying to drown her.

As the book continues further, the rebels prepare for an invasion into the Capitol. It is in this preparatory segment that the past victors shine the brightest. Finnick and Johanna become of vital importance, Finnick in showing in the first half of the novel his love for Annie (and despondence at her capture along with Peeta), then later, after she is rescued and they are married, they become the Remus Lupin and Tonks (Harry Potter) of yet another trilogy. Every book has the couple who shows amid war and civil unrest the promise of happiness, and the best writers make us love them so dearly. Just as with Lupin, the ending, however, hurts. It is the kind of plot twist you cannot overlook--nobody, regardless of the side they take in a war, wants a child to grow up alone (which is, in my opinion, one of the most haunting moments in all of Harry Potter...seeing Harry's beginning echoed with the child of Remus and Tonks). Finnick will stay firmly in your memory after you close this book, and so will Johanna, but for an entirely different reason. She had the cell next to Peeta's in the Capitol, but unlike Peeta, who still cannot separate reality from fiction due to the venom, she remembers everything. She becomes a symbol of the Capitol's cruelty. Her strength and abrasiveness from Book 2 have been replaced with cowering at the sight of rain and an inability to bathe, due to the Capitol's technique of torturing her with water.

The final chapters will rip you apart. The deaths pile up, and we have to watch and feel with Katniss as the perils of war take their toll. Some deaths you cannot help but react-- we have grown to love some of these people so dearly-- but others, you may simply sigh or groan because it was yet another life that could not be avoided. While the battle between Presidents Coin and Snow heat up and the rebels and Capitol use increasingly underhanded tactics, Katniss simply attempts to keep her own ground force alive. It is reminiscent of the first two Hunger Games, and it takes her hunting skill combined with every ounce of her resourcefulness from years of starvation to preserve the lives of any in her unit. She still manages to keep a small amount alive, and she gets them to the Capitol lawn, intending to kill President Snow.

SPOILERS ALERT!!!!

The ending will hurt. I screamed as I visualized it- Prim, running across the lawn in full medic attire, one moment holding on the remainder of a fatally injured child, the next, being blown up herself. It was horrific. From that point, I could completely understand Katniss losing all will to live. She has lost the one thing she swore to protect, the only reason she ever entered the Hunger Games in the first place. The war has truly destroyed the most beautiful and innocent of things--Prim, who only wanted to be a doctor and help others.

On the day of President Snow's execution, Katniss kills President Coin with the arrow that was meant for Snow's execution. Katniss tries to commit suicide when the guards come for her, but Peeta stops her. When Katniss tells him to let go, Peeta says he can't. He implies later that he too went mad after Coin's death and that Aurelius, Katniss's mental doctor, was treating him too. He returns to District Twelve months after Katniss and Haymitch, where he plants several evening primroses along the house in honor of Katniss's dead sister, Prim. When she starts to write a book about their experiences during the Hunger Games, along with things she is unwilling to forget about it, Peeta and Haymitch join her. Peeta draws the victims if they were not able to find a picture of them. Peeta still has some "episodes" where the hijacking will try to take over again: he is mentioned clenching onto the back of a chair until it passed. Otherwise, he displays signs that he has returned to his former self. Katniss and Peeta slowly find each other again. Peeta comforts her when Katniss has nightmares. Katniss believes that she has finally found the once-lost feeling Peeta stirs inside of her, that she needs Peeta to survive because he symbolizes hope and rebirth rather than destruction (Gale). They play the game of Real or Not Real one more time: Peeta asks, "You love me, real or not real." Katniss answers, "Real."

In the epilogue, the pair are still togehter and have two children. Though it took fifteen years of convincing from Peeta, they have a girl with her mother's dark hair and her father's blue eyes, and a boy with his father's blond hair and his mother's gray eyes. Katniss feels hesitant to tell her children, but Peeta assures that it will be okay, because they have each other. So, one day, they will tell their children of the Hunger Games, share the book Haymitch, Peeta, and Katniss compiled together, explain Katniss' hysterical episodes during the night, and inform them of the graveyard they happily play above everyday. The graveyard is the burial site for the dead former-residents of District 12.

The Review

This was a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy. I can only compare it to "Harry Potter" - and that is extremely high praise, indeed.

When I first closed the book last night, I felt shattered, empty, and drained.

In this third book, right from the start Katniss was badly hurt... not really physically but more emotionally because of Peeta. we see how badly she wanted to protect the bread boy but she failed and even blame Haymich for not keeping his promise with her that they both would try to keep Peeta alive through out the game. The emotional roller coaster continues when the rebels managed to save Peeta from the Capitol and when Katniss was reaching for him the first thing he did was strangle her intending to kill. It was soo heart breaking not just for Katniss but also to the readers. I love how Suzanne Collins brilliantly just twist the plot and we readers didnt even see that coming. Especially not from Peeta.

And then there is Prim. The one person that Katniss loved sooo much dearly. Died... At first I cannot accept the fact that Primrose Everdeen dies in the final book. Why, oh why did Collins killed one of the main characters especially when Primrose was the sole reason as to why Katniss sacrifice herself into taking Prim's place in the 74th Hunger Game (Book #1). But then when I read how Katniss was miserable after that and how much she was affected by Prim's death, I knew that it was inevitable. It was another climax in the book.

So I think the ending was perfect, it's a bittersweet ending, in a way you are happy Katniss has the love of her life, but at the same time you realize that war scared her, and even though she's happy (she says so herself), she'll never forget what she went through, and the people she lost, so at the end of the book, there's no smile in your face, it's just another reminder that life is not perfect, there are ups and downs, and both define the way you live. So for the first time in my life, I enjoyed an epilogue, not only I enjoyed it, it was perfect.

A perfect ending for a great series.

Book Review : I Am Number Four

Hi all....

Again here I am with another book review...... I cant seem to stop reading these YA (Young-Adult) novels.... you know I havent even been spending much time online surfing the web or downloading Korean dramas or variety shows because I cant stop reading..... sometimes when I realize just a couple of chapters left before I finished the book I'd feel like I dont want to keep reading because I was afraid Id finish reading the book and then dont know what to read next but yet I need to keep reading until finish coz i need to know what happens next hahah... its my love-hate relationship with reading I guess...especially when it comes to the hunger games trilogy....

Well anyway, in this entry im not going to review the hunger games but im going to do a review on I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore... In the previous entry I wrote that I had order the hunger games book 1 & 3 online at mph..well while waiting for the books to arrive I was soo bored to death and dont know what to do so I went to the Popular book store to get what I can read while waiting for the books from mph to arrive and I bought this book to keep me busy...for awhile... well I grab the book judging that I read a few reviews from hunger games fan that suggest me to read it and also because it was another novel-adapted-into-a-movie novel so I thought owhh what the heck... it must be good also the summary on the back of the book grabbed me to read it.... you know what they say, Dont Judge the Book by its Cover.. or in the case of 'I Am Number Four', Dont Judge A Book by its novel-adapted-into-a-movie title on the cover :P lol.....

Well Anyway, before I comment on the writing style of Pittacus Lore and the whole story line and plot, I'll make a brief summary on the book...


Summary
The high stakes premise goes like this: Nine alien children have fled their annihilated homeworld of Lorien and have sought refuge on Earth. Having scattered to the winds, they are being hunted down, one by one, by a separate and malevolent extraterrestrial race from a dying planet. Thanks to a quasi-mystical protective charm placed on the Nine, they can only be killed in order (although, my bet is that Number One doesn't regard this charm as all that "protective"). As the book opens, three of the Nine have already been tracked down and murdered. So we come to Number Four.

His name used to be Daniel Jones. It used to be something else before that, and then something else before that, and so on. Ten years on Earth, ten years of hiding and staying always on the move and staying safe and alive... this is the life of Number Four and his guardian and mentor whose name is Henri (oddly, Henri's alien accent sounds very much like a French accent). Number Four has just collected a new scar circling his right ankle, this an indicator that another of the Nine has been recently slain. Three scarred rings around his ankle, and so Number Four knows he's next. And it's time to pack up the bags again, time again to get the eff out of Dodge.

Henri and Number Four - or "John Smith," his new assumed name - have always gravitated to tiny towns, conjecturing that their hunters would stick out more like sore thumbs in tiny towns. They end up in Paradise, Ohio. For John it's another try at blending in in school but without making friends, because no one can be trusted. Except that it's a little different this time. John Smith befriends a geeky kid who is a science-fiction enthusiast. He adopts a stray mutt named Bernie Kosar (and Bernie Kosar, by the way, is easily the book's breakout character). And John Smith also meets a girl, Sarah. So much for staying on one's guard.


The Review
I dont know whats the hype for the movie since I havent watch the movie yet but this book is badly written.... I rolled my eyes so many times at this book. There are no surprises in this book. There is no descriptive language, the characters are completely shallow and unlikable. John has no personality, Sarah REALLY has no personality (besides liking photography and being pretty). Their whole relationship is ridiculous. It pretty much consists of "You look so pretty", "I missed you", "Hey beautiful", and them kissing eachother. Again, me rolling my eyes at all this. Basically there is nothing in this book that will keep your interest or make you want to read more. The only character that was semi-interesting was maybe Sam. I don't know why people like this book. Actually I'm not even sure who the target audience for this book is. The writing is so poor and unemotional that I would guess it was for elementary age children if it wasn't for the swearing that Henri does. All the fight scenes at the end were repetitive and annoying and I ended up skimming a lot of it just so I could find out what happens ultimately. Although, at that point I just wanted to be done with the book and it was holding very little of my interest anymore. The part where the dog first shows up- it was obvious something was different about the dog, but the characters never even question how he can move so fast from one place to another? How dumb is John? He knows he has aliens after him, trying to kill him and yet he doesn't even notice the things around him. He is very very hard to like as a main character. Oh, and the part with the house fire? I stopped reading at that point and seriously considered giving up on the book.
But I kept on reading anyway not because of John but because I was curios of Bernie Kosar, the dog and the remaining aliens (number 5,6,7,8 & 9).. by the end of the book I was a bit relief with a few stories on the remaining aliens and also of number 6 comes into rescue.. she was as interesting to me as Bernie Kosar and Sam... thru the middle of the book John was trained by Henri and he learns and had flashes of his past memory in Lorien, there were no peaking event at all its boring. The end battle was interminable and characters kept getting death dealing blows and going on to fight. Half the time I was not clear about what was going on.

Overall this book to me seems like a badly written book resulting from lazy writing and no research at all on the details of the whole storyline. I must say there is a good idea behind the whole thing but it was just badly executed.

Book Review : Catching Fire (2nd Book of The Hunger Game Trilogy)

Assalamualaikum..

Hi peeps... I know its been awhile since the last time I did a book review here : ) not that I havent been reading any books lately... I have...lots of em.... its just that I have been busy and I dont think that they are GREAT and AMAZING enough to write a review on it.... Not to underestimate the authors... its just that I have been missing something freash enough to be excited enough to write a review about.... Do you guys understand me here?... Lets just say, I have been missing Harry-potter like series... Different and yet fresh storylines...

Since my last book review... Diary of a Wimpy Kid... Ive been reading lots more Diary of a wimpy kid series... also book by Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?).. and also have been reading lots of non-fiction books.. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T Harv eker... Hot to Get Rich by Donald Trump...Rich Dad Poor Dad....How to get from Where You are to Where you want to be.... and more... Cant list em all... but thats not Im going to write about here...

In this entry I want to share to you one of the most intriguing, brutal yet engaging and cant-put-down YA (Young-Adult) book since Harry Potter.... I present to you....

THE HUNGER GAME SERIES.....

I dont remember how I got dragged into reading this... bcoz this book isnt even in the top list in Popular book or MPH book...dunno why... it should be tho.... how did I got dragged into reading this eh? owh probably becoz of Amazon.com... You see before I buy a book, I always read the review there first.. and somehow I jump from one book to another and I stumble upon The Hunger Games... The summary of the book itself just dragged me into wanting to know more... so I flip thru the reviews by the readers.. and its just amazing... and when I read along the reviews Ive found out that there was going to be a movie coming out in march... so I go to youtube and watch the trailer....

How can you not like 'that'???!!!!.........
I check at Popular Book Store (Bintulu) but no Hunger Game book... so a week ago I went to kuching so I stop at Times Book Store to get the book...sadly enough no The Hunger game (book 1) but there was catching Fire (Book 2) left... so I just grabbed it, pay and back to hotel I read it...
I was sooo hooked!!.. okay before I start with the review lets do a brief summary on the book... keep in mind this is the 2nd book...not the 1st...

Synopsis

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The 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 is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

Katniss Everdeen

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. So for the next Hunger Game (75th Hunger Games) it was the Quater Quell, it had past victors from earlier Hunger Games compete for a second time. This action was made to destroy any bonds the districts had with each other and to make them feel weak. It was meant to be a reminder to the citizens of the districts that "even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol." It is believed that this twist was not planned at the founding of the Hunger Games, but was decided specifically to force Katniss Everdeen back into the Games.

Peeta Mellark

So once again, Katniss was to represent the District 12 as the female tribute. Along with her, Haymitch (past victor, also her mentor in the 74th hunger game) was also chosen (randomly) but Peeta Mellark volunteer to replace Haymitch as the male tribute. Its for the sake of saving Katniss in keeping her alive in the game. Peeta was willing to be the victim of the game in order to keep Katniss alive and for her to win the game entirely. Both were traumatized at first when they heard the news about Quater Quell but they know its the Capitol doing.

If you have seen Survivor (yes the reality tv show) then you can imagine how the games works. except the difference with survivor is that you are voted off instead in hunger games you are being killed and die.. so its not just a GAME, its more brutal. All 24 tributes from 12 districts then released into the arena where they meet with many dangers not just from each other but also from the arena it self which was designed by the Capitol to kill.
So im not going to spoil you with all the important parts in the book you need to buy it and read it urself. but i must tell you.... worth every penny and time... go to the nearest book store and buy one!!!!


The Review

You know what I like about the book? well so many...

First is the game it self.. its like Survivor game where 24 tributes from all 12 districts are thrown into the arena and try to survive from each other and from the dangers in the arena designed by the capitol. Before they were thrown into the game, they were trained by their mentors from each district. The mentors were the past Victor (Winner) of the past Hunger Game from their own district. How heart breaking it is that kids from the age of 12-18 are forced to kill each other in order to survive and win. Only the last to survive the arena can get out of it victorious. During the game, the people of Panem are able to watch the whole game on TV (like I told you, Survivor). And during the game the popular tribute constantly receive package or present from their sponsors (capitol people). So they (tribute) have to make an impression in order to get lots of sponsor during the game.

I love how it is so believable... and real....

And then there is the relationship between Peeta-Katniss-Gale.... some might think it the twilight trio all over again but no... this is noooo Twilight... I hate twilight love relationship... it is soo heavy on the vampire..what was his name again.. i dont remember..
I love Peeta character.. Peeta has a very likable personality. Peeta is bold, having announced that he was in love with Katniss to the whole nation; smart, figuring out strategies to use in the Games; and willing to go to extremes to keep Katniss alive. However, in the first book, Peeta told Katniss that he did not expect he would win. He is a great public speaker and is very brave. Peeta is also loving and cares about the people around him, and hates killing unless the pursuer is a threat to himself or Katniss; selfless, for sacrificing his own life for Katniss'; funny, for making those around him laugh even when times were tough; and he always knows exactly what to say to make you feel better and to cheer you up. He is able to work with Haymitch on goals and strategy and unlike Katniss, he is able to keep secrets and is trusted by Haymitch. It is noted throughout the series his deep understanding of situations such as the Hunger Games where he says "I don't want to be just a piece in their Games." It took Katniss much longer for her to understand the same concept. In Catching Fire, Finnick Odair states that Peeta is one of the only truly good people to survive the arena Peeta is usually the more sentimental of any of the main characters, "feeling" things more than everyone else. He doesn't have Katniss or Gale's "fire" but isn't soft.
Great character building thru out the novel especially for Katniss, Peeta and Finnick (Catching Fire in particular).

Overall I love it!!!... I already ordered Book 1 & 3 thru MPHonline... cant wait to get my hands on it : )