We are. We’ve been counting the days until the movie finally opens and we have to admit, we’re getting antsy. We’ve reread the entire trilogy, we’ve explored the website (www.thehungergamesmovie.com), we’ve registered as citizens of Panem (apparently, I’m a lumberjack from District 7—sexy, I know), we’ve tried to take the tour of the Capitol (and failed because we use Safari and not Internet Explorer 9), we’ve had Peeta vs Gale debates, we’ve obsessed over the IMDB page, we’ve watched the trailers, the interviews, the YouTube videos—heck, we’ve even started dreaming about Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson.
But the movie is still days away.
We resisted the urge to pull a Katniss and take up archery and did what we usually do in times of restlessness—we hit the bookstores. And we found some real gems—books so good you’d grab them from the cornucopia, books that can tide you over until the opening credits finally roll.
The Hunger Games
The Official Illustrated Movie Companion
By Kate Egan
P769, available at National Book Store
This movie companion was written by Kate Egan, editor of “The Hunger Games Trilogy” and longtime editor of “Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins. Her strong ties to “The Hunger Games” and deep love for the story of Katniss are evident in this beautiful book.
“The Hunger Games The Official Illustrated Movie Companion” retraces the history of the Hunger Games, and shows you the journey this best-selling book took to make it to the big screen. There are interviews with cast and crew members, inside info and set secrets.
The book is packed with movie stills, behind-the-scenes photographs, artistic renditions, concept art, Capitol fashion and more. It’s a must-read for every Hunger Games fan. You will love seeing how devoted the film crew was to staying true to the spirit of Hunger Games and how dedicated they were to recreating the little details that will make Panem come alive onscreen.
The book won’t spoil the movie for you—it will make you even more excited to grab that bucket of popcorn and sink into that cinema seat.
The Hunger Games Tribute Guide
By Emily Seife
P325, available At National Book Store
Think of the Tribute Guide as the BOP and “Tiger Beat” of Hunger Games fans. We can totally see this book being distributed in the Capitol, approved by President Snow and written for people who only see the games as entertainment and not the oppressive bloodbath that it is.
As perky as your typical fan magazine, “The Hunger Games Tribute Guide” gives you a history of the games, the background of districts one to 12, and information on what goes on before the actual games begin.
If you’re expecting to find out more about the lives of the 24 tributes pre-reaping, you will be disappointed. But there are other reasons to pick up this book—the inside look at how the young tributes prepare for the deadly arena and the haunting images of the 24 participants of the 74th Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games 01: Collector’s Edition
By Suzanne Collins
P1,199, available at Fully Booked
Scholastic has released a collector’s edition of “The Hunger Games,” and boy is it pretty. It features a new Mockingay artwork and a cloth cover with foil stamping. The book also comes with a special slipcase to keep your precious book protected. The book is gorgeous—so gorgeous we’re picking up copies even though we already have the old “Hunger Games” hardcover.
