Recently Read: Naruto Book 5: The Challengers

The centerpiece of Naruto Book Five: The Challengers is a 110-page exam sequence; our ninja-in-training heroes Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke take the Chûnin Exams, in order to become full-fledged shinobi. This could be the most suspenseful exam sequence in comics, where the rules may be designed to be subverted, the room is monitored by a wall of over-lookers, alliances are made, and psychological pressure is intrinsic to the test.

A second, Hunger Games-like test taking place in the Forest of Death is set up and continues into Book Six

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Recently Read: Mockingjay

I don't agree with the Hunger Games readers who hate on this book. 

Mockingjay is much more interesting and satisfying than Catching Fire, the second book in the trilogy, which inexplicably and boringly became a replay of The Hunger Games.

Instead of heading back to the arena again, Mockingjay instead does what the second book should have done: take the story to its logical conclusion and into the cultural revolution we've been wanting to see from the beginning.

There are things to complain about: the constant and needless comparisons of the pod weapons in the Capitol city to the Hunger Games arena; a "surprise" ending at the climax that was telegraphed long before; and an ending that feels like it was written in a sloppy rush.

There are good, unexpected, things here, too, though, such as the haze Katniss is in that subtly carries over from the last action scenes to the epilogue; so life-transforming are the events in the raid on the Capitol that the Katniss we knew from the story thus far is gone for good fifty pages before the book is over.

Some readers hate the epilogue, claiming it's a downer. Spoiler Warning: Katniss is alive, as well as can be expected and free to live out the rest of her life as she sees fit with her new-found family. Collins killing all the main characters in battle - that would have been a downer.

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Recently Read: Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is suspenseful and entertaining, but not as tight or engrossing as the first book in the trilogy.

The world created has several flaws that keep the series from being entirely convincing, such as: why isn't a society as totalitarian as Panem using the same technology used in the Hunger Games (tracking, cameras, etc.) in the Districts, so as to squelch the rebellion they're so afraid of? I also found Katniss' continuing ignorance and skepticism of the rebellion (both in the Districts and at top Panem levels) unbelievable and eventually annoying. Lastly, I think Collin's writing in the last fourth of the book is very sloppy and rushed, leaving out many details that could coherently describe what's happening.

Still, I have to read the next one.

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Jesse Cale's The Hunger Games Song: Spending My Nights with Katniss Everdeen

Check out the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDnXM6B_-tY

And then buy it on iTunes!

Above, Jesse (AKA The Official McSwagger) at the '09 Wild Goose Creative New Year's Eve bash.

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Recently Read: The Hunger Games

The first book in Suzanne Collins' mega-popular trilogy has no poetry in its sparse, minimalist prose. What it does have is the capacity to create unrelenting suspense involving characters the reader quickly cares about.

The influences on The Hunger Games are many, including: Battle Royale, Tunnel in the Sky, The Running Man, Logan's Run, Gladiator, Lord of the Flies, Rollerball and elements from American Idol and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Again, the derivative nature of The Hunger Games can't pierce its armor, so to speak, for two reasons:

1. The target audience for The Hunger Games isn't familiar with many of its influences; it's new to them.

2. The book is sustained by its strong characters. The story is expertly equally divided by plotting and character. We care what happens next because we care about the characters.

I know I want to read the next two books to find out what happens next. On that level, it's easy to understand why Collins' book is a huge success.

Hollywood: please don't mess it up.

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Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games

See a larger version here: http://www.nenoworld.com/Hunger_Games_Illo.html

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