A Review From Nov 2009!

Hi,  I thought this would be fun for you guys to check out.  This is a review I wrote for The Hunger Games book back on Nov 23, 2009.  Enjoy my good taste.  ;)

Book: The Hunger Games    Author:  Suzanne Collins  Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Set in a bleak future where the United States has fallen into a dismal ruin. As a punishment for an earlier rebellion each district has to send a boy and girl to the Hunger Games. A fight to the death blood sport event that everyone is forced to watch. The book follows Katniss Everdeen who volunteers in place of her sister to fight in the games. And that's the plot.
The writing is very good. Suzanne Collins does a nice job of spinning the narrative into a tense and bloody story. While the basis of the book is simple and straightforward it does a good job of fleshing the characters out. Even adds a little romance to the mix.
The only downside I found to the whole thing is it is book 1 of a trilogy! Which I didn't know when I began reading it. So you can imagine how annoyed I was at learning it was to be continued. Oh well, sign me up for book # 2!
I have also read online that there is a movie in the works based off this novel. So do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Historical But Not Boring

Book Title:  Chasing Lincoln's Killer   Author:  James Swanson  Rating:  3.4 out of 5 stars

James Swanson does an admirable attempt to put together all the events leading up to, and right after Lincoln's murder. He does a pretty good job. Told from many different perspectives he gives you good insight into what each person in the story was most likely feeling back in 1865.
He avoids a couple traps along the way too, because he sticks with the facts to present the sad happenings without offending anyone. Swanson also does a nice job without being preachy or monotone.
At the same time though what really gives the book it's power is the striking black and white photographs. From the gun used to kill Lincoln to the 8 hoods the convicted conspirators wore in prison it paints a sad and horrifying picture of one of histories senseless murders.
A good book.