An example of how it's done RIGHT

I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins yesterday. Several people recommended it to me, and I had seen a lot of positive reviews for the series online, so when I saw the first book on sale at the bulk chain I have a membership to, I couldn't pass it up. Honestly, I think all of the praise is completely merited - it was, in my opinion, some of the best YA fiction I've read in quite a while. The Hunger Games has interesting, well developed characters, an engaging storyline, and excellent pacing. It is written in a simple style, suited to the reading level of the target audience, but is anything but "dumbed down".  It has been a long time since a book has held my attention that fully to the point where every spare moment available has been devoted to reading, and I just devoured this one. I finished the book in less than 24 hours, and I really can't wait to get my hands on the subsequent books Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

I also picked up Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin during the same bulk store shopping trip, and just started it. Also on my shelf waiting for my attention (and some more free time) is a collection of short stories by Rudyard Kipling that has an introduction by Neil Gaiman, which was bought for me by my best friend while she was paying me a visit and we'd gone to the B&N for coffee and browsing. The people who love you best always know what books to buy you, don't they?

 (Courtesy of Neil Gaiman's Twitter account)

While reorganizing my bookshelves this afternoon I realized that my copy of The Hobbit is 21 years old. It will be 25 years old when my son is the same age I was when I bought it, and I think that will be a prefect opportunity to introduce him to one of my favorite literary gateway books.

That all being said, the neighbors are here, everyone's out back in the pool, and I have laundry to finish and some general tidying up that I should be doing, not to mention I'm probably missing a hockey game. So, that's enough internet for one night!