I heard a ton about The Hunger Games before I read it. A lot of people said it was really gruesome and intense--even more people said it was sad and heartbreaking. Personally, I didn't think it was particularly gruesome or heartbreaking. It felt like "Survivor" meets Lord of The Flies and the myth of the Minotaur. My familiarity with similar types of stories and knowledge about the plot going into the story contributed to my lack of shock while reading The Hunger Games.Even though a lot of people thought that The Hunger Games was really gruesome, the fight scenes were not described in too much detail, so this was not a problem for me. The overall concept is, of course, appalling--but that is the point of the novel. No one goes into Lord of the Flies expecting it to be an uplifting story, and no one should go into The Hunger Games expecting a story filled with joy.The deaths and tragedies of the story weren't particularly upsetting to me either. The majority of the players in the games weren't very developed. There was only one character that dies that I cared about, but I knew she was going to die so I did not let myself get too attached to her character.The best part of the novel for me was definitely Peeta and Katniss. It was a joy to see their interactions. You can tell that Peeta truly loves Katniss, and even though Katniss is just playing the game, there is clearly potential for something beautiful to develop there.Filled with the makings of a beautiful love story, a tragedy torn nation, and a lot of action, The Hunger Games is definitely a must read. Perfect for fans of "Survivor," Lord of The Flies, and the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, The Hunger Games has enough action and romance to leave you wanting more. 

Question: How is the novel?
Answer: I heard a ton about The Hunger Games before I read it