Book update:

Found at the flea market: The Virgin's Lover (now finished reading, and what an intriguing read it was), and The Other Boleyn Girl (already have read this one, but don't own it) both by Philippa Gregory and The Charlemagne Pursuit, by Steve Berry (excited to read this one! because all his other books are fabulous.) 

more to come on The Virgin's Lover later

Currently reading: 

Archimedes' Claw by Dr. Theodore Morrison Homa, which is awesome and there will be a detailed review of this coming in the next week or so, so stay tuned! 

Phantom Island of the Atlantic: The Legends of Seven Lands that Never Were by Donald S. Johnson, which is so far a fascinating read and which i am planning on incorporating into a photo/art project. 

A History of Pirates: Blood and Thunder on the High Seas by Nigel Cawthorne, which is also fascinating so far, and which is also research for an eventual photo/art project. oddly, the two projects are not connected except temporally and by artistic media, but the books themselves have ended up with a bit of overlap, which just makes it that much more interesting if you ask me. :) 

hunger for the hunger games

Sincere Question.

What is it about The Hunger Games? All respect to Suzanne Collins, but I personally was unimpressed considering all the hype. The concept is brilliant, but the execution of the stories was sorely disappointing, and the plot resolution could really use work. So then why are these books and movies so popular??? I am genuinely curious! (and open to any suggestions!)

The only thing I can think is maybe they are popular, not for the social political commentary that I find so fascinating, but for the blood and gore of children fighting to the death as a form of terror/punishment/entertainment. Maybe society likes the hunger games for the same reason we used to enjoy gladiators. Maybe humanity is secretly very barbaric? 

Perhaps we love the hunger games so much for the same reason that after everything, Katniss still votes to continue the hunger games?