I have a little Tuesday afternoon story for you. It goes something like this:

Once upon a time, about three (or so) years ago, my sweet next door neighbor (a young mom like me) came a-knockin’ on my door. There she stood with an excited, yet urgent, smile on her face and a black book  in her hand. I greeted her warmly before she presented the book to me and said, “You have to read this! You have three weeks until it is due back at the library-that’s until the 18th of the month!”

“Ha!” I laughed in her face (but in a friendly way). “I don’t have time to read! I have two young children, things to do and a job at night…no can do, but thanks!”

This rejection of mine evidently was not enough to ward off her persistence.

“Just keep it,” she urged me. “Promise me you will read the first four pages and then make your decision.”

“Uh, OK, sure friend, I will.” That’s what I told her, but I’m sure you can guess that I wasn’t convincing either her or me that this book, which was now in my hands, would be read.

The Hunger Games. That was the title that I read on the cover, then set it down on the coffee table and walked away. I walked away from it every day for 17 days, during which time my neighbor left me many-a-friendly reminder message to start reading the book and that it was due back at the library soon!

On the 17th day, I picked it up. I thought I at least needed to be able to tell her that I gave it a shot and then all involved wouldn’t feel so bad about the whole thing. Well, let me tell you, I became a bad mom after that. For the next week I couldn’t put the book down. Every waking moment, ok, not waking, but every “free” moment I had that book in my hands, telling my children things like, “Just one more page, kids…” “Can’t you play one more round of roll-the-ball?” (I’m kidding, that wasn’t likely one of the games, but I am exaggerating my point here to illustrate how desperate I was for just a little bit more…).

Then I finished The Hunger Games and I was like the girl on fire (book reference if you haven’t read it), and then I realized I had to wait while Suzanne Collins (the author) finished book two? Oh how I Rue the day I realized that I had to wait!

So, here we are, now. I’ve read the trilogy, I own the trilogy, and I have lent it (one book at a time) out to different friends at least six times. And, the moment we have been waiting for is finally upon us. No more waiting on subsequent publishing of books, the movie has arrived…well, just about! The moment when we will finally get to see on the big screen the epic – ness of this story! I personally cannot wait! I will be seeing it with my sister in Los Angeles on opening night. My husband will be seeing it here, with our friends, on opening night.

I would really love to know when (or if) you will be seeing it! So, what better question to place on this week’s poll than that?  And, by the way, if you also have a fun story of how you got hooked on The Hunger Games, do tell me in the comments! Thanks! In honor of the release of The Hunger Games movie, I give you this week’s poll question!