The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

SPOILER! I have read them all and I will blurt, so if you have yet to read them do not continue past this point!

Firstly, I saw the movie before I read the books, and I even dragged my feet about that in the 'not fussed' kind of way. After seeing the film (when I got around to it) it became a case "WHY HAVE I NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE!" and therefore I got hold of the books (eventually) and I began to read.... 

Now I loved the movie, but the book, unsurprisingly  blows it out of the water. The in depth first person account is just unreachable in terms of visualization, and the sheer horror, gruesomeness and heartbreak just hasn't been pulled out of the hat in the film. Her relationship with Peeta and Gale is much more complex and they just haven't touched on this enough, it's almost become a Twilight's Jacob vs Edward, which it isn't in the novels. They have glossed over the psychological torment of the mutt dogs in the arena and just haven't given the terror and hopelessness enough gusto. This is a horrendous, gut wrenching, miserable situation to be put in by a president so warped and despicable that it's beyond comprehension. A ruler through the sheer terror, fear, and extreme lengths he'll go to to create misery. I am disappointed that they haven't made a bigger deal of the Avox slaves that Katniss and Peeta encounter while in the Capitol, as later in the series they are quite a big part of the action, and probably most confusing and disappointing of all is the fact that Katniss gets her Mockingjay pin from The Hob in the movie and yet it is given to her as a gift from her friend Madge - the mayors daughter - in the book, which again, later in the series becomes something of huge significance.

If you aren't familiar with the plot, it's set in futuristic existence, where although the human race has advanced it's knowledge of technology, medicine and beauty, it has also digressed to the point of executions and lashings being the norm in poorer districts as punishment for breaking laws that have been introduced by a power hungry tyrant. People all over the districts starve to death or die from minor injuries due to a lack of money and medicine that can only be obtained by the wealthy in the Capitol - The main city where a population of blissfully misinformed 'Rich' live their lives in excess of everything, having no insight into a world beyond their cities walls. Due to a rebellion 74 years ago, a law was in-forced as a 'reminder' to all of those who surged against the Capitol, that each year two children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be chosen at random from each District, (1 - 12) and will be entered into a live televised fight to the death in a man made arena filled with booby traps, genetic mutations and each other. Imagine 'I'm a Celebrity' with a very nasty twist. Our leading lady Katniss Everdeen is thrown into this after she volunteers herself to take the place of Prim, her 12 year old sister who is chosen at the official reaping. 

This trilogy is utterly heartbreaking, you can't not get dragged into this with all your emotions hammering you full force as you read; but along with the stomach churning, breath holding and the anger, there are some brilliant comedy moments throughout as relationships blossom and friendships between unlikely allies sparkle through. There are moments I think my heart stopped, and there have been times I have had to physically force myself to put the book down at the end of a chapter. I began Mockingjay at 2.30pm one afternoon and read right through to 11pm when I finally ripped the book from my own hands in a bid to get some sleep. It keeps you ticking over throughout your day. It has been literally all I have thought about for the entire 4 days I've been reading them. 

There are so many favorite parts of the story to chose from, I love the ending (pre-epilogue) - it's spot on. I love some the personal snapshots with Finnick and my heart broke during her several intimate moments with Peeta. I love the blossoming relationship they have with Hamitch, despite all his faults and lies. The most distressing thing for me, is a moment, or rather, the panicky seconds where the group of rebels are inside the underground sewer of the capitol and she can hear the mutts whispering "Katniss" in what I imagined to be a sadistic sing song voice, and she suddenly realizes that Peeta is next to her joining in with them after his torture at the hands of President Snow. I think my own heart was in my throat. It has played on my mind since, that eerie horrid realization of being in a dark hole next to someone you care about who has been programmed against you and realizing he has started whispering your name along with the mutts descending upon you. Urgh!
Believe me this is one to read, I am literally Obsessed with it! *****

The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley

This is another BDSM novel but unlike it's counterparts it is more about the individuals and the lifestyle and not naive girl meets wealthy businessman. At first I struggled with it, mainly due to her overuse of the word 'soaked' early on in the story, which I find such an off putting description. However the story line itself is quite good and at least gives the reader and accurate and erotic version of the lifestyle in which some of us know little about. It does pull on the 'damaged' individual chain again though very much like 50 Shades, the past demons affecting the choices in the present, which I found a little irritating as again, it almost attempts to make the connection that people with difficult or damaged sexual backgrounds are the 'type' that gravitate towards the BDSM lifestyle, which is wholly inaccurate. The story does have a good plot line though and instead of the reader only following one relationship we follow two with this, which is a refreshing change, and once the author thought of some more words for describing female arousal it was a good read. 

Fire Bed & Bone by Henrietta Branford

I came across this book on amazon and thought it sounded intriguing. It is set in 1381 and has been written from the dogs perspective as a revolt is rolling over the country. We witness the outcome first hand through her eyes and follow her as she leads us through the punishments and hardships of the time. It's a lovely little read and something a bit different form the norm, which I really feel makes it special and worth while picking up for a bed time read during the winter. 

Blood Games by Faye Kellerman

Excellent crime thriller with a gritty and brutal plot line, This is worth a read. 

Detective Peter Decker opens a case after the mother of apparent suicide victim, fifteen year old Gregory Hesse, tells him she doesn't believe her son would take his own life. Although dubious and assuming it is denial after such an unforeseen loss, Decker agree's to take a look at the case file and poke around. He soon discovers that there are some dirty little secrets to uncover, and this intensifies when the body of another suicide victim is discovered - a teenage girl from the same school. Soon the detectives are grasping at straws for evidence while Decker is oblivious to his foster son's connection with the school and his prime suspects. 

Breaking Dawn Part 2

I hope everyone is as excited as I am about the latest movie. I read the books of course, and although not particularly impressed with Stephanie Meyers style I was hooked on the plot. Unlike her writing for Host, the Twilight Saga was terribly written and very childish - It's a rarity, but I actually think the film adaptations have a much more adult and realistic format, from their speech to the the way they think and their actions. The movie's have been very well put together and modified, when usually the opposite is true. They have of course made plot changes for the movie adaptations that I was disappointed with, for instance, the birth scene for Part 1, I much preferred the book,  where Carlisle was present and not off out hunting like the movie portrayed, I feel they made the movie a little too graphic compared to the book in the sense of Edward biting Bella open and all the unnecessary sound effects that accompanied it. I felt the book was much more tasteful but far more powerful and I thought more disturbing. 

I am really looking forward to Breaking Dawn Part 2 and am saddened that I cannot attend the Thursday  midnight  showing or experience the movie marathon back to back of the previous 4 installments. Unfortunately I cannot take the Friday off of work, and I start at 5.30am, so don't really fancy surviving an 8 hour day on 3 hours sleep. I have instead arranged to do a back to back movie marathon at my house with my friends on the Friday eve and go to the Cinema Saturday for Part 2. Bring on Bella The Vampire. 

Dead Lovely by Helen Fitzgerald

This book is so wildly unexpected it's amazing. The plot twists and mayhem are just fabulous, but most of all the humor in this really makes it something special. It is outrageously funny! It's also extremely well written, shocking and punchy. Most highly recommended! 

Krissie is the wild, unruly, social worker best friend of Sarah, the married to a doctor, settled down, starting a family type of woman. When Krissie discovers she is pregnant after a steamy encounter in a Tenerife bathroom while on holiday, their friendship begins to show cracks. Sarah has been trying to conceive for years and Krissie's unexpected announcement after a casual fling is an earth shattering blow. Things deteriorate quickly during a walking holiday in the Highland's with Sarah's husband Kyle - Krissie's friend from college. Soon things unravel and become a nightmare of guilt, murder and forgotten secrets with catastrophic consequence. 

The Quickie by James Patterson

We follow Lauren's story through this book after she see's her husband with another woman and decides to get even, however, what was supposed to be a way for her to even the score goes pear shaped when things take an unexpected turn and Lauren is thrown into a whirlwind of hurt, lies and deceit after witnessing the most unbelievable crime. Now Lauren is trying to cover her tracks and find out the truth, to save her life and career in a bid not to lose everything. 

This has a sharp plot, it's got great twists and turns and is a bit of a roller coaster ride with an epic ending! It's totally unpredictable and keeps you surprised the whole way through. One of the best Patterson books I've read to date.