The Hunger Games

I completed The Hunger Games and am well into Catching Fire, both by Suzanne Collins. I must say I am impressed! The Hunger Games wasn't contrived, at least in my opinion, and seemed genuine. The main character, Katniss, is flawed yet complete. Her internal struggles and external persona are both so real and intertwined I found it hard not to root for her. This book is intended for young adult readers, yet I found it was better written and paced than many adult books. The story and details within are thorough yet no overdone. Compared to another young adult sci-fi type series-into-movie (Twilight) this story isn't just some teenage girls romantic mellow drama. This has action, human emotion, detail, and realistic personalities. Unlike many books, the main protagonist learns to pity enemies and feel for them, even those she hates. This is a great read!

The Alexander Cipher

I finished The Alexander Cipher, by Will Adams, a few days ago. I'm of two minds on the book. It was not a bad book at all. The story is fun, simple, and moves along at a decent pace. The characters and their connections are buttoned up nicely in the end. I suppose I'm undecided because nothing really stands out. There aren't any poor loose ends or unfinished side stories however there isn't anything that sets the story apart from others in the same genre. I do have a question as to references of disease made by the main character about a deceased character with influence over two people in the book. But that's more curiosity than anything. Overall it's a good read for a summer vacation or a rainy day. It just doesn't deliver the impact of a David Hewson or Steve Berry.