Apologies to Suzanne Collins

    Several months ago I wrote a somewhat disparaging review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I take it all back. I was wrong. I honestly think I was so ready to dislike the book and it's sequels merely because I thought she was going to end up writing as poorly and as hackneyed as Stephanie Meyers and the truly heinous TWILIGHT series. At my daughters urging I picked up The Hunger Games once more and read it in it's entirety. Yes, there are are parallels to The Wizard of Oz and to the seminal 1984 and Animal Farm but Ms. Collins  manages to bring a freshness to the subject therein.  Despite the not so subtle allusions to reality shows, the American Revolution and the formation of the 13 states the author manages to engage the reader; to imbue her characters with a vibrancy and a sense of pathos rather than bathos so prevalent in todays YA Lit. To be clear, this is not YA Lit. per se but a book that can be read, enjoyed and discussed by all ages. I am presently finishing the second book in the trilogy; CATCHING FIRE, and if my daughter does not finish the third book, MOCKINGJAY in a timely matter I shall be forced to buy a copy for myself. In conclusion I must implore all readers to give each and every book they are reading or skimming to try once again at the beginning. One never knows. One might  find a truly gifted author or a truly engrossing tale. If the reader is lucky they will find both. And if one is really fortunate one will discover an author who will continue to write excellent books.