At the suggestion of a friend of mine I started reading this book trilogy:

And it's quite awesome.

It's set in post-apocalyptic America. In a new nation called Panem where the country is divided up into Districts. One district, the Capitol, has subdued all the other districts via war, and the other districts are in a state of famine and subordination. As a reminder of who's in control, the Capitol has created an annual event called the Hunger Games, where each of the other 12 districts (not including district 13 which was wiped out) has to send 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 12-18 to compete in a fight-to-the-death in an outdoor arena. The environment of the arena changes from year to year, and there are goody bags of weapons and survival equipment scattered around a central area that is literally a giant gold cornucopia representing what the Capitol can provide you if you win. The sole survivor is allowed to live, and given basically a lifetime supply of food and money and a nice house, and their District is showered with food.

What happens in the arena is a battle for survival, alliances form, there is betrayal, love, fake love, lots of sneaking around, risking going out into the open to snag supplies, and many quite gruesome deaths. All the while the entire Hunger Games competition is televised for the Capitol's entertainment and for the other Districts' dismay. The main character is a girl from District 12, the coal-mining district, and she ends up befriending her costume designers from the Capitol who create a series of coal-themed outfits for her that make the people of the Capitol and all the districts fall in love with her. There's one where she is literally on fire, and another that makes her look like a simmering, glowing piece of coal. She ends up becoming a rally point for the oppressed nation. She's really good with a bow because she hunted outside the city walls as a child with her dad.

What happens outside the arena, well, that's in books 2 and 3, and I'm halfway through 3 right now. It's incredible. They're about to make a movie trilogy about the book series. I highly recommend it to anyone who even remotely enjoys a good story. Even people who don't read much, like myself, you'll gobble this shizz up.

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RIP Shiloh - I'll never forget ya

ps Woody Harrelson will be in the movie. omg

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RIP Shiloh - I'll never forget ya

Whisp my wife read these a little while ago. She loved the series. Ill get her to post her thoughts here too.

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RIP Shiloh

I will take your recommendation into consideration.

That being said, I have used up my quota of long words for one thread....

I suggest the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks.

Rather easy read, but with a lot of depth. This was a great trilogy for me, mostly because it broke me up from more of the same old books (WoT, Sword of Truth...etc) that I had been reading.

It is about a guy that grows up to be a Wetboy (more effective assassin). Kingdoms collapse, political intrigue, killing people, evil summoned creatures, cool fucking magic...

check it out, cause I am horrible at summing it up.

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I'm glad you made this thread. I'm almost done with the books I've been reading and could use more.

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[In Yarr we trust.]

reading for fun, I can't wait to do that again. That series does sound interesting. When the movie comes out you'll have to tell us how it compaires, because I doubt I'll get a chance to read the series anytime soon.

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I'm just a question knowing my answer,
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Whisp - your summary of the story is really accurate! The Hunger Games series was amazing! I read those three books so quickly and loved every minute. I was disappointed in the ending of the series. Book 3 was my least favourite.

I spent the summer reading the Game of Thrones series. I made it halfway through book 4, but once I went back to school this fall my reading totally dropped off.

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Not this time, nancy-boy!

Dean Koontz - The Odd Thomas Series
Laurell K. Hamilton - Anita Blake Series

Tweak was good too

thats my two cents, the rest i got are textbooks

Sunshine
It couldn't have ended any other way. I loved the ending, although it wasn't entirely "happily-ever-after." I thought book 3 was easily the best.

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RIP Shiloh - I'll never forget ya

My recommendations.
Anything with Chuck Palahniuk from early 2000. Lullaby, Choke, Survivor, Fight club, in the 90s he also wrote a travel book about Portland that I've been wanting to read.

Neal Stephensons Snow Crash, is still one of my favorite novels.

Isaac Adamson - Tokyo Suckerpunch and Dreaming Pachinko are the only two Ive read in the Billy Chaka series of books, but I really liked it.

World War Z

Currently I'm reading Game of Throne when I have time to read lol.

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You're right that it couldn't have ended any other way. It did have good moments and I liked most of it. I suppose that most of my disappointment was in the series ending. I read through it so quickly and wanted more!

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Not this time, nancy-boy!

I read both the Night Angel's Trilogy and the Hunger Games Trilogy. Both were excellent series in their own right. And I will second any recommendations of them.

If you're looking for something in a similar vein to the Night Angel's but a bit more fantasy-y than those two I heartily recommend the Kingkiller Chronicles. Only two books out for it so far but the first one was amazing, and the second one while a bit weaker was still very very good. Penny Arcade even did a comic about the second book http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/04/11 Not sure it does the series justice but remember they actually liked it.

And if you want books that reads like a 90s comic book (i.e. AWESOME!) I recommend the Acts of Caine triology by Michael Stover. Underneath the swearing, violence, and badassery there is actually a fair bit of social commentary and philosophy underlining he worlds and actions involved.

I admit my selections are probably much more appealing to a male reader.

wtf its vurin

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You act like I never call.

Discussion over :P

what is with dark tower and western do with each other?

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PS3 Friend list name: Pantherxx Wii code 1629-0463-4657-0263 (revised 9/28/07) Steam ID - Pantherxx010 62BLU 75PLD Reactived 7/5/10 I dare you Click this!

lol read the books to find out

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Take my hand, brave adventurer. We face this dungeon together - with FRIENDSHIP!

When someone watches the Hunger Games movie let me know how it is, it looks good.

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I'm just a question knowing my answer,
hope I'm wrong.

I'm going tonight

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RIP Shiloh - I'll never forget ya

I remembered you posting about the books, then saw a comercial for the movie. Figured I'd get good reviews on here.

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I'm just a question knowing my answer,
hope I'm wrong.

Hunger Game was pretty good but you decide how it was when you watch it.

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I can only speak from the point of view of someone who has read the books:

The movie was incredible. Very well done.
The actress that played Katniss really made you feel like you were watching Katniss from the book. I was pleasantly surprised with Peeta's performance as well. All the scenes from the arena were awesome. The scene with Rue and the flowers was touching. They really stayed true to the book, with only minor changes that I think were appropriate (like leaving out Madge and instead Prim giving Katniss the mockingjay pin).

For someone who hasn't read the books, I still think you'd really like it. There's a little bit of over-the-topness regarding the citizens of the capitol (but that's the way the book was too). Great story, memorable characters, strong acting, excellent adaptation. *****

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RIP Shiloh - I'll never forget ya