Since I haven't reviewed anything in ages (as per usual), I'm just gonna do a quick rundown of the books I've read this year. You'll easily noticed that most are a) serialized, and b) dystopian fiction, because when I get into one genre, it's hard to snap me out of it. So, anyway, absolutely not in the correct order at all, I've read:

1) Obsidian Butterfly - Laurell K. Hamilton
2) Narcissus in Chains - Laurell K. Hamilton
3) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - JK Rowling
4) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
5) Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
6) Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (Yeah, I read the series three times this year. I'm a freak.)
7) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling
8) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - JK Rowling
9) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling
10) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - JK Rowling
11) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - JK Rowling
12) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling
13) Matched - Ally Condie
14) Crossed - Ally Condie
15) Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
16) Uglies - Scott Westerfield
17) Pretties - Scott Westerfield
18) Specials - Scott Westerfield
19) Extras - Scott Westerfield
20) Cerulean Sins - Laurell K. Hamilton
21) The Host - Stephanie Meyers
22) Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris
23) The Stand - Stephen King
24) Rant - Chuck Pulahniuk

I'm aware that I read 13-year old girl books. I'm sure I've missed something in there, damnit, and I am currently reading The Giver - Lois Lowry and The Room - Emma Donoghue. GOOD DAY!

After I roaring start, I've been slacking lately. I have read (but not reviewed) a few more books...the rest of the Hunger Games trilogy (Catching Fire and Mockingjay) and Chamber of Secrets. I know I read one more serialized book in there somewhere, but it's escaping me, so I'll have to add it later. I'd like to pretend I will review these all later, but considering my progress up to date, I'm gonna go ahead and doubt it. Anyway...reading Prisoner of Azkaban now. Look forward to not seeing my review for it here later!

4) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

It's taking everything in me to not write "OHMIGAH, it was SOOOO good!!" and call it a day, so bear with me.

In the far-off dystopian future, North America has been ravaged by some unnamed society-destroying means. America is split into 13 districts and an autocratic Capitol that rules with an iron fist. After a failed rebellion, the 13th district is wiped out. In an attempt to shame the remaining 12 districts and further demonstrate their power, each district is forced to send two teenagers, a girl and a boy between the ages of 12-18, to fight to the death gladiator style in the annual live televised Hunger Games.

*mild spoilers ahead*
The story follows a 15-year old girl named Katniss who lives in the poverty ridden District 12. Katniss spends her days hunting illegally to provide food for her mother and 12-year old sister, Prim. The book takes off almost immediately, beginning with the annual reaping in which the teenagers are chosen randomly in a lottery. Katniss has her name thrown in multiple times in order to trade for supplies for her family. Prim, who at age 12 only has her name thrown in once, is chosen for the games. Katniss immediately volunteers to go in her place.

I read this book yesterday and I haven't shut up about it. It's technically a young adult novel, so the 384 pages are a pretty quick read. The story itself is pretty fast-paced and thrilling. There is some romance, but it is minimal for now, as the story is all about Katniss's remarkable mental strenghth and ability to survive. I read it at work and ended up staying an hour late to finish it. Highly recommended.

(Oh, and my take on the Hailee Steinfield casting rumor...she's a little young for it, but I'm sure she could pull it off beautifully. I, for one, would rather see a newcomer. I just hope it's PG-13 rating allows for the movie to be as dark as it should be.)

Off the read the second book...

In an attempt to not go crazy on this insanely busy work day (it's taken me almost 2 hours to write this post), I present to you...

Books I've read so far for Cannonball Read!

1) Anita Blake Series, Book 9, Obsidian Butterfly - Laurell K. Hamilton

Mini-review because these books are reeeeally long, there's waaaay too much backstory, and there's no way I can sum them up. This book takes my favorite character, Edward, and sends Anita on a trip with him. It's awesome. Which is good because...

2) Anita Blake Series, Book 10, Narcissus in Chains - Laurell K. Hamilton

It's apparently the last good book of the series. My sister warned me several times that right around this point, the books become extremely sexual. Check it...Anita was a virgin til Book 6, has sex with her other boyfriend in Book 8, then becomes a giant ho in Book 10. By Book 11, which I'm currently rolling my eyes through, she's a great big whorebag succubus thing. It's getting insanely boring, and I'm not sure if I'll finish the series.

3) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone - JK Rowling

Everytime I told someone I was reading Harry Potter, it was always the same conversation..."Which one?" "The first one." "Oh, you're re-reading it?" "No, I'm reading it for the first time. I know, bout time, huh?" *Person gives me crazy eyes*

I never had any interest in reading the Harry Potter series. The more people tried to tell me that oh my god, I needed to read it, the less interest I had. I didn't see either of the first movies in the theater, either...holding out until I was being forced to go see the third movie. I saw the first two, was meh about both, then went to the theater and loved the third movie. Since then I've been a pretty consistent fan of the movies (loved the last one), and with a bevy of road trips in my recent (now) past, I decided to finally read them. Well, I got through one. And I loved it.

This book was charming as hell. The first 50 pages broke my heart with lines about how Harry wasn't scared of spiders because there were plenty in the cupboard he slept in and the continuous berating and abuse by the hands of his horrid leftover family. Then comes a letter...and another...and hundreds more...that is the onset for a heartwarming endearing story. I may more or less know what's going to happen through the next 6 books, but I can't wait to read it.