Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
The Hunger Games (Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins
ebook, 267 pages
Published 2008 by Scholastic
REVIEW:
There is so much hype about the Hunger Games and they turn into a movie as well. It's wow how everyone loves them that much. So i really wanted to try them before the movie comes out and because i wanted to have an opinion about them after all.
Firstly, i need to say it's the first dystopian book i read so i can't compare it with something like it. It took me some time to get used to both the writing and that kind of world. The writing reminded me more of a diary than the usual first person POV where the person says what it feels and sees. And as for the world, it's not easy to imagine our own world destroyed and in such a bad situation. Anyway, after the first 3-4 chapters i got the handle of it.
The book is written in parts. First part, is everything that happens before Katniss get picked for the Hunger Games and the whole preparasion after she is picked (interviews, training,etc) - which is almost half the book. So you get to see both how she lived and how she was when everything changed.I have to say that was the worst part of the book for me. I got really bored with what i was reading. Mostly cause of two things: 1. We get many flashbacks. And those flashbacks are between scenes and i don't like have scenes stopped for flashbacks. 2. I do not care how all those dresses were, how they made her looks different and small scenes like that which were many.
Then we have the Hunger Games part which is the most enjoyable part of the book. I have to admit i didn't expect so much violence and action. It was fantastic and you finally see what kind of person Katniss is. Strong, loyal, clever, risky. The excitement and the anxiety i felt for the players was like wow. It had some really clever traps around and if you weren't a good hunter there no way to survive (also not afraid to kill others).
As for the romance of the book, i was expecting to have bigger part at the story from what i was seeing around. And i can't say it was something special, neither can see how they will make more "important" in the movie.None of the boys, Gale or Peeta caught my attention and i did find Peeta annoying and TOO good at times. And you don't really get to see much of Gale anyway.
Did Hunger Games was what i waiting for? No. It was better. And i totally recommend it at least to anyone who plans to watch the movie next year.
Now, i need to say something else too. If you are new to the series i think you should not read the next books. I will review them later but i can say now that they are not that good. The only question the 1st book leaves is who Katniss choose (Gale or Peeta) which i don't see it as that important. At least, i know i wish i had stopped.
Wow, we're surprised to hear you don't like the rest of the series. As a whole, the trilogy is meant to make readers think about war -- its impacts and consequences. That's a very tough theme, and not very fun, but also quite important.
ReplyDeleteCatching Fire was actually Kristan's favorite book. Mockingjay was, we all agree, the most important book, but also the least enjoyable. For us the story was never about romance -- it was about Katniss trying to stay alive and protect that which she loved most.
.....love triangle again?
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this ladies but quite frankly i cant read about those because i find girls (and men dont get me wrong) that play that sort of game as bitches (and dicks for males). I was interested in the book up till i read the love triangle part.
Wow, I'm surprised that you didn't enjoy the rest of the series. As for the romance, it was never supposed to be the main premise of the book. The Hunger Games is supposed to reflect on the hardship and suffering in times of war, the romance was just a little extra used to pull female YA readers in.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the fence about reading this one. It's not only time but also, as you said, not my type of book. However I've been hearing some many good things about it I'm really tilting towards reading it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ManOfLaBook.com
I think you should read The Girl Who Was On Fire. It really gets into detail about some of the things you disliked in these books and shows them in a new light. I was pretty impressed with the insight in the book and I think it might change your mind on some of the details. You are definitely right about some of the books flaws, but over all I really do love this series. I am glad that you liked book 1 at least, it is by far the best.
ReplyDelete@We Heart YA: I can't say i connected that much with the book to understand those things. It was more of one more story with some really bad things happening like most of YA or Fantasy out there.
ReplyDelete@Johnny-@Carina: You don't really get to notice the romance. It's not that annoying. I just mentioned because i always saw online Katniss-Gale or Katniss-Peeta thing when it's not that important in it.
@Man of LA Book: It's a good and different book. I read it mostly, cause i wanted to see why there was all this hype around it.
@TheGirlOnFire: That's like a discussion of authors on the book right? The thing is, why do i need an extra book to understand what really the author means. It supposed you could see those things through the story. Maybe i didn't cause it's not exactly my kind of thing but still i'm not exactly fan of those "documentary" books. I've never read any.
Yes, the 1st book was really nice. I'm happy i got it:)
It is a compilation of essays some authors takes on the books. I get the not wanting to read and extra book if all it did was clear some things up, but I felt like it was much more than that. It was like getting a new take on the way I understood some parts of the book. It is the first book like this that I have read but I really thought it was worth it.
ReplyDeleteI think one aspect many people miss about this book is the political aspect. Does anyone not see a startling resemblance in the oppressive government portrayed in this book and the government today? No matter which side you are on in the political battle, it is clear that the jurisdiction and the confusing red tape adhered to any sort of capitalistic action one attempts to preform are doing nothing but bringing this country down. The book scared me, because the capital populus's obsession with the games can be compared to our obsession with reality tv shows such as "Jersey Shore" and "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." Also, some problems you have with the book are, "1. We get many flashbacks. And those flashbacks are between scenes and i don't like have scenes stopped for flashbacks." It kind of confused me that the complaint was about scenes being stopped for flashbacks, but the flashbacks were cited as occuring between scenes, therefore requiring no interruption of one particular scene..... Anyways, the second complaint was, "2. I do not care how all those dresses were, how they made her looks different and small scenes like that which were many." The dresses were actually a very pivotal point in the book that described how the audience perceived Katniss, and without them some symbolism in the book would be lost. Also, I do not understand the suggestion to ignore the rest of the books. Is the reader expected to be satisfied with such and open and inconclusive ending? I think if you dislike the other books that is fine, but fans should still read them if they like the series. I found the other books to be quite fascinating.
ReplyDelete@justareader1229: I see what you mean about the political aspect but i can't say i really notice all those things while reading. Yes, now that you mentioned i see them but they didn't really come to mind at that point. I'm not to change my reviews, because that's the feeling the book left to me.
ReplyDeleteAs for the comment (1), that's just personal opinion. I just don't like when flashbacks appear in a book in a not so clear way. And for (2) I think the description of dresses and stuff was overdone. I liked them more in the 2nd book. They weren't "too much". When i'm anxious on what will happen i really don't care what part of Katniss were shaved to look beautiful. Once again it's what i like and i thought to mention it.
If you read some more of our reviews, you will see that we write in a free style and we mostly say things we would tell to our friends. I've read the 2nd and tried to read the 3rd too. And i didn't like them. And i wouldn't recommend the rest books to a friend. I can't say the book left any questions for me. Call me shallow if you want, but that's what i felt from it. So as i wouldn't say to a friend don't buy it, that's what i write here too.
And of course i didn't say anyone who like the series to stop reading. That would be stupid. If you like something go on! I read many things other people don't like. But for someone who is not sure, that advise might be useful.
Please. You's are all on craic. The books were off the hook
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: thanks for spending some time reading our review :)
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