Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Published Date: 2008
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Synopsis from Back of Book:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.
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My Take:
Every once in a while, there comes a time when we read or watch something that we expect one thing and the opposite thing occurs. I must say--that happened to me with The Hunger Games. I only read it because I had about four different people breathing down my neck to read it....it certainly did not even like them, let alone enjoy them...but enjoy it I did. I could hardly put the book down.
It really is a gripping, entertaining story. Though there are enough dystopian elements to make you ponder if such a world would indeed exist. You very quickly get drawn into the plot of Katniss, who is participating in the Hunger Games instead of her sister. You meet Peeta, who is also representing district 12 in the Hunger Games; there is a history between Katniss and Peeta that creates a very interesting dynamic. I read this book on Christmas Eve. IN the midst of making dinner, I was reading as many chapters as I could. I wanted to see how the book unfolded.
It isn't a feel good book. People die, it is as simple as that. It's also slightly violent; some of the "battles" involve strange elements.....but for this Jane Austen girl, I really didn't mind them. I guess The Hunger Games is to Pride and Prejudice as Castle is to Downton Abbey. It is the more "feisty" part in me coming out. =) Did I cry like most people? I teared up, but I never did outright bawl.
Yes, I have gotten on the band wagon. Book 2 is on hold for me at the library and if I had people to go with, I would go see the film when it hits theatres. And should my job do anything in the teen department related to said books, I have already volunteered to assist ;-)
So.....what is y'alls opinion on the latest phenomenon that has hit?
4 comments:
So... you got in on this latest craze too, Ella!?? Huh! I have been seeing this EVERYWHERE (as a result of the film) but until news of the movie adaptation came out, I'd not even heard of it. =D
I read all three (and the wait on the books was up to 40 after I had read the first I think...actually I got it, let my sister read it, took it back, waited for it again, and then read it). I got hooked for part of the book then skipped through the rest, left the book for a while, and then finished it and got hooked to the next two. I enjoyed them certainly, but I cannot say much good about the writing quality. I even found out through a magazine article about the movie that the main plot (teens fighting to the death in a totalitarian world) was not original to Collins. I "reviewed" the books on my blog, but it might give away parts. I keep wanting to say to much here. It is definitely a thought provoking series, and I feel that it is aimed at the wrong age group (at work I heard a dad tell his preteen that her mom wanted her to get the book-I laughed to myself for two reasons-first of all it would not be there-it won't be able to be on the shelves for a very long time, and second of all it is way above the heads of most kids). One of my friend/acquaintances (a writer) adores the book (I have not asked her if she has yet read them all-she had not the last I knew), and another friend hates them, so there are definitely fun debates ahead! I am interested to know what you think of the rest. I love books that people can argue over and discuss.
I really want to read this (finally) since the movie release is almost here!
Yeah! You're on the bandwagon! I'm thrilled, actually. My library had "The Hunger Games" as our All Pikes Peak Read last year, so I had no choice in reading it since I work there. It turned out to be much better than I had imagined. I think what pleased me was the imperfect personalities of the characters. Gale isn't perfect and neither is Peeta and certainly not Katniss. They're all relateable, in one way or another, wrapped up in an intriguing and suspenseful plot. it's the type of series I would never have read on my own, but now that I have, it's become one of my favorite series.
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