The Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins

Rating: 5 Stars

I can't believe that I've waited so long to read this book! The time wasted seems absurd. When a book keeps me up 'til 2 in the morning, at the edge of my seat, well my bed, makes me ignore being yelled at to turn out the lights and commands my attention it definitely deserves 5 stars at least. The Hunger Games was no exception. I haven't read a book so captivating since Harry Potter but it doesn't beat Harry, mind you. This is a diehard Harry Potter fan talking here and apparently a Hunger Games one as well!

Panem had thirteen districts with the Capitol at the top of things and I emphasize on had. After the districts came together to overthrow the Capitol, District 13 was obliterated and the rest of them were in shambles, well most of them.

Long story short, the Capitol is full of a bunch of greedy power hungry, heartless loonies, with a few exceptions. Body alterations that you wouldn’t believe I mean they take surgeries to look perfect, a few dyes their skin colour, even guys wear make-up as a norm.

To remind everyone of their huge mistake the Capitol punishes everyone by forcing them to give up a boy and a girl from each district to participate in The Hunger Games, where they fight to the death until only one remains. So the people of Panem watch their children die before their eyes. Can you imagine being helpless, having no choice but to give up your kids for slaughter?

House on Prague Street by Hana Dementz

Rating:5 Stars

This story takes place during the second World War in Czechoslovakia where Helen's, through whose eyes we witness the heart wrenching events, sunny and care free world comes a-tumbling down when the Western parts of Czechoslovakia, known as the Sudetenland, were tamely handed over to the Nazis.Helen's German father refused to divorce his Jewish wife despite the pleas of his parents who had disowned him for their marriage.

Czechoslovakia lost its independent status and became a German Protectorate under the German Reich Protector Konstantin von Neurath. So life got tougher on them like it had on the rest of the Jewish population with the passing of demeaning decrees restricting access to transport, goods and services and a whole lot of other things. Helen grew up having everything she once had, the people, places and the things she had loved snatched away from her. The House on Prague Street deeply touched me and would always have a place in my heart.Sad as it may be, it's a book I'd re-read over again.

It's one of my favourite World War II novels despite being sad,but grief is rather an unavoidable emotion, especially during such a frightful time caused by the warped beliefs of the self-righteous.


Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2566076-the-house-on-prague-street