Winding Down and The Hunger Games

After a busy week just gone, and a busy one to come, sometimes we just need to wind down for a while and, in my case, stay away from the computer for a couple of days. So that's what we're doing in an hour or so - taking a couple of days off and visiting one of our favourite parts towards the east coast (we live on the beautiful west coast), to walk, swim (inside!) and read. Okay, I'll probably sneak in some writing, but only with pen and paper. We hadn't even realised it's an official holiday weekend, so neither of us will feel guilty about taking Monday off.

I went to see The Hunger Games with my daughter yesterday. I haven't read the books yet so I only knew a vague outline of the story. Have to say I really enjoyed it - but I like a touch of fantasy in fiction. The filming, actors and plot were all good, but I didn't like the violence between the young people and that's an integral part of the storyline. It was cleverly filmed, however, so that it didn't dwell on most of it. The heroine was a great role model and I was glad to see little vignettes of human kindness within the story. Donald Sutherland is still a force to be reckoned with!

While watching, I suddenly remembered Lord of the Flies and the shipwrecked children's cruelty to one another, which was horrific in its day. At least there was a purpose and reason to what happened in The Hunger Games, even if that was a terrible one, and it was largely outside the young people's control. I can almost guess what happens in the following two books, and presumably films, but I'll certainly want to see them. And I must now read the books. Apart from anything else, most of us are keen to see what makes a bestseller!

Have a good weekend,
Rosemary