I graduated with my masters in international relations and had just spent years reading political biographies, history, and political theory. I even read that stuff for fun that was unrelated to my degree. Once I got the degree I needed to unwind from it all and decided to give Hunger Games a shot when I found the trilogy in hardback at Costco for like $15. Turns out, they were exactly what I needed. Way below the reading level I was used to but good page turners that kept me engaged with the story. That was 10 years ago and I might actually go back and give them another read!

One time I was at a restaurant with a friend and this guy was there with a girl he was very much trying to impress. He kept talking about his love of German beer but the one he kept gushing about was Beck's...that's what all the Battle Royale comparisons sounded like to me. I like Battle Royale, but it's not even an original concept on its own!