Upcoming Book Club Meetup

I used to attend a local BookCrossing meeting regularly and I loved it. To non-BookCrossers, I sometimes called it my "book club meeting" if I didn't have time to explain the whole awesome concept of BookCrossing. But I never regularly attended a traditional book club. You know, a formal group meeting where everyone actually reads the same book and discusses it. Since I love YA, I've been weary of groups that read more traditional book club fiction. So when my pal passionatebklvr asked me to go an upcoming book club meeting that she's leading, I hesitated for a moment and then immediately said YES (because you got to support your girlfriends, am I right?!?).

On Saturday, I'm going to my first Media Women's Book Club Meetup. I tracked down a copy of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan through a BookCrossing trade (shout out to ekgv414 for coming through quickly). I have about a quarter of the book left to go and I'm actually enjoying it more than I thought I would. Maybe I'll even post a mini-review when I'm done...or a book club meeting wrap-up post. Yeah, that means appropriate. There's also a movie version that my friend recommends. After some time away, it's nice to be back in the book blogging world. 

If you have any book club tips or anecdotes, leave them in the comments below. 

HG: Our First Look At Katniss And More!

In March, I ranted a little bit when Jennifer Lawrence was casted as Katniss in The Hunger Games movie. Too blonde, too old, yada yada yada.

Now I'm breathing a big sigh of relief.  Jennifer Lawrence is on this week's Entertainment Weekly cover...and she looks pretty awesome!  The hair and makeup does wonders.  She almost looks like the Katniss image in my head.  I can't wait to see more pictures. Hopefully we'll get a glimpse of Gale and Peeta soon.

Other reasons to anxiously await and celebrate the movie's release in March 2012:
- Woody Harrelson as Haymitch: I'm doing back flips! Absolutely loved Harrelson as Tallahassee in Zombieland. Perfect casting job there.
- Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman: Incredible actor!
-  We can splurge and buy some amazing HG merchandise from Cafe Press, Etsy, Amazon, NECA, and more other sites.
- The Girl Who Was on Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy: This collection of essays released last month (I haven't read it yet...I know, it's blasphemous) is a must read to add on your TBR list before the movie. Hmm, perhaps there will be books in the future on HG film criticism and interpretation.

So excited to see the movie. Gary Ross, please do it justice!

Check out these HG links:
EW's Hunger Games Central for news and updates.
My Hunger Games
Mockingjay.net
JabberJays

Katniss Casted in The Hunger Games Movie

Yesterday the world found out that actress Jennifer Lawrence was casted as Katniss Everdeen, the incredible heroine of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy.

The Hunger Games (HG) is my favorite book series, so as a fan I must admit I'm a little disappointed with the pick.  I haven't seen Winter's Bone, Lawrence's film that earned her an Oscar nomination.  But she just doesn't look like Katniss.  The movie's director, Gary Ross, says in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that "Jen will have dark hair in the role, but that’s something movies can easily achieve."  She will have to act her a** off to get this part right.  At 20, I think she's too old to portray Katniss.  Hopefully, she'll prove my assumptions wrong.  I really want to love the movie adaptation unlike my devastating letdown with the Twilight franchise. 

The New York Post reports that Ross said, "Katniss requires a young actress with strength, depth, complexity, tenderness, and power. There are very few people alive who can bring that to a role. Jen brings it in spades. She’s going to be an amazing Katniss."  I hope so.

The casting challenge will continue with finding the perfect Peeta and Gale.  I'm happy that HG author Suzanne Collins is a part of the movie process.  It'll be interesting to see the end result.  The movie is scheduled to release in March 2012.

Want more of a HG fix?  Check out the news and chatter on these links:

E! Online: The Race for Hunger Games' Peeta Mellark Heats Up

MTV Hollywood Crush: Fans React to Jennifer Lawrence As Katniss

Mockingjay.net

Jabberjays.com