The Hunger Games

I tend to fall in love with fictional literary characters and then go into a depression after I have read all of the books in the series. Currently I am particularly low as I am without Sookie Stackhouse (this is hard on so many levels as I have read all of the chronicles and short stories and the show won;t be back until next summer), Mickael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander (Stieg Larsson went so far as to die to avoid writing any more of these books), Henry VIII and Elizabeth I (Philippa Gregory has moved on to the War of the Roses and I've read those too but they're not as juicy as the Tudors' stories) and now I am without Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mallark and Gale Hawthorne. You should really read these books--they are so fabulous. If you are not familiar with the story allow me to catch you up. The world has changed dramatically due to an environmental disaster which caused the coasts to flood thereby shrinking North America. The United States is now knows as Panem and it is divided into the ruling Capitol and 12 subservient districts. 75 years ago during the "Dark Days" the districts revolted against the Capitol and lost. To remind the people of the districts of the absolute power of the Capitol and to punish them for their revolution the Capitol established "The Hunger Games." Every year there is a reaping in the districts in which 2 children, 1 boy and 1 girl, between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen to compete in a fight to the death. 24 children are chosen and only 1 can survive as they are forced to kill each other or be killed by the many traps, mutts (lab made monsters and harsh environmental conditions in the arena. I don't want to give away anything in the books so I won't go into anymore detail. The characters are so amazing. The author is amazingly descriptive despite her short prose. I flew through all three books in about 1 week. I should have spread it out further so I wouldn't be so lonely right now. I'm seriously considering Katniss or Everdeen as at least a middle name for a daughter--seriously she's that great. I, myself, would like to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. I laughed, I cried, I stayed up to all hours of the night finishing each book. I almost missed my stop on the T more than once. How will I ever replace her?