What makes The Hunger Games so awesome?

(my niece is #teampeeta, so this one's for you, Amanda!)

The Hunger Games movie opened at midnight on Thursday night, and eager fans (my niece included) bought tickets early, waited in long lines, and packed crowded theaters to see their favorite story come to life on the big screen. Yes, it's Hunger Games hoopla time!

In honor of the movie release, I thought I'd join the frenzy and discuss one of my favorite books. Keep in mind, I'm not a huge fan of dystopian stories. But my buddy, Lisa Green, encouraged me to read this book, and I'm so glad she did. (BTW, Suzanne Collins is a genius, and if she could bottle that talent and sell it, I'd buy a truck load)

What made this story so awesome? Here are my thoughts:

Amazing Characters

No doubt Katniss, Peeta, and Gale are beloved characters who carry the entire series. Katniss is smart, strong, and rebellious. Peeta is sweet and protective. Gale is loyal. Add a love triangle, and we're hooked.

Sacrifice

Katniss sacrifices herself for her sister. Peeta sacrifices himself for Katniss. Gale helplessly watches the girl he loves and wishes he could sacrifice for her. These acts endear readers to the characters, and we root for them all the way.

Death

The threat of death is constant in the story, and all along we wonder how in the world Katniss and Peeta will escape death "this time." We learn early on that there can only be one victor, and we worry about these characters throughout the entire novel.

Live TV

In a sick twist, the Hunger Games play out for the nation on live television. This adds to the tension, but also affects how the main character plays the games. She knows people are watching, and she uses this to her advantage.

How about you? If you've read the book, what do you think made it so special? Are you Team Peeta or Team Gale? If you've seen the movie, did it live up to the hype? And if you haven't read the book yet, what are you waiting for??

And just for fun, my buddy, Leslie Rose, shared a cool link on Facebook. Click here to see what district you're from, and how you met your demise in the Hunger Games. Enjoy!

"May the odds be ever in your favor"

photo credit

Tools in the Writer's Toolbox

My husband is the ultimate handyman. Seriously, this man can fix anything. He strolls in with his handy little toolbox, fixes the problem, then moves on. It's one of the many things I love about him.

With writing, I'm grateful for all the tools at our disposal. How-to books, writer and agent blogs, Twitter, search engines. Austen and Hemingway were not quite as lucky. These tools help me a great deal, and I'm grateful for them.

I recently finished reading Hunger Games. I know, I know, everyone's read it but me. It was an amazing book, and when I finished, I felt so...inadequate. Then I remembered that great novels are one more tool in my toolbox. I paid attention to what worked. Why did I care so much about the main character? How did Suzanne Collins get someone like me, who never reads this genre, to love her book? Simply put, it's great writing.

By paying attention and absorbing all the greatness out there, we writers can be our own handymen. We can spot weaknesses and fix them. We can toss aside tools that don't work for us, and move on to the tools that are a perfect fit.

What tools do you use with your writing? And do you ever feel horribly inadequate after reading a great book?