The Hunger Games (a book review)
Published August 20, 2010
Also known as “the best book I read last year.”
North America is gone, her remaining inhabitants collected into 12 Districts—all impoverished, all separated from each other, all fighting for bare existence, and all serving the lavish Capitol whose wealth and technology provide its residents with perfect health and pleasure while the Districts starve. Rebellion is not an option–not with the high fences, and merciless guards and guns, and the yearly Hunger Games to keep people in line.
For the Districts, everything comes down to Survival: The only technique the citizens know and the one relentless weapon the Capitol uses for control both in daily life and in the Games–a once a year lottery where two kids are taken from each district and placed into a massive arena to fight to the death.
24 kids.
One winner.
Think American Idol meets Gladiator…for youth.
In District 12, this year’s lottery falls to the baker’s son, Peeta, and by proxy to Katniss who volunteers to substitute herself in place of her 12-year-old sister…something that hasn’t been done in their District for decades. But Katniss is small in size and not likely to survive. And if she does? Peeta and Katniss have become friends–perhaps even more than friends—and how do you team up together in an effort to outlive everyone else, just to turn and kill each other. And how do you destroy the one person willing to lay down his life for you?
What I liked: EVERYTHING.
- Okay, seriously. The plot. FABULOUS idea, Suzanne Collins. Do you hear me? Fabulous.
- The characters. Flavorful and rich. Especially for a young adult novel.
- The first person, present tense writing. Which, I should say, I normally detest with a sick passion. Basically, it’s hard enough to write in first person without your main character sounding self-obsessed and whiny, but it’s that much harder to put her in present tense. Normally, it comes out sounding something like, “I am breathing my own breath at this moment. Now I stand and walk to the mirror, and I am looking in it, wondering how so many guys can be in love with me when my eyes are the color of storm clouds and my hair like a silky raven. I take another breath and turn away. There is a knock on the door. It’s Alfonso. I can see him through the pane and he is as beautiful as me.” Yeah. Pretty much. Mercifully for us all, Ms. Collins’ writing does NOT sound like this. Instead, her mastery of it pulls the reader into the lovely, sweat-soaked, bloody face of the story as an active participant.
- The fighting. Full of tension and detail.
- The fact that I had tears streaming down my face both times I read it. And I threw the book across the room when I was finished.
- Peeta. Always and forever.
What annoyed me: Nothing. Except people who don’t like this book. Although, in all fairness, I’ve never met any.
What’s the mood noise of the moment? Silversun Pickups
Tags: author Suzanne Collins, best book ever, book review, Katniss and Peeta's love, The Hunger Games trilogy
08.20.2010 / 4:33 pm
Love it – I need to read it again. Now.
08.20.2010 / 5:15 pm
I grabbed a tattoo for you, Lori
. You can wear it proud while you read Mockingjay.
08.20.2010 / 7:14 pm
Pre-ordering my copy of Mockingjay tomorrow!! I honestly don’t think I’ve flown through a book that fast since… I don’t know. Fan-flipping-tastic writing. And at the end? I described it to Anthony as a Jack Bauer, 24-clock-ticking-up-to-midnight thing, where you scream “WHAT??!!! YOU CAN’T STOP WRITING NOW!!!!??? Brilliant. And awesome.
Mary, can you send me an extra tattoo?
08.20.2010 / 7:15 pm
Oh yeah, the only thing that annoyed me is that I really wanted to know a lot more about Gale. He sounds really cool, but I wanted his character to be more well-developed.
08.20.2010 / 8:18 pm
Send me your mailing address and I’ll send you a tattoo
. Seriously.
Also, I’m all in for Peeta so I have no interest in Gale. If I know more about him, I might like him more…and that would betray my affections for Peeta. Yeah…it’s a vicious cycle.
08.21.2010 / 9:33 am
sounds like we need some team peeta and team gale shirts… and i will so rock that tatoo. I was thinking it is time to get another
08.21.2010 / 10:49 pm
Sounds exciting!
08.22.2010 / 10:02 am
Girls reading books? How can we survive as nation? Another one of those female fantasy novels I’ll have to refuse to read.
08.22.2010 / 8:45 pm
Word to my husband: Don’t think I haven’t noticed you “borrowing” my copy of Hunger Games…. Like this morning when you were hiding it next to the bed
. Yeah…I saw.
08.23.2010 / 8:48 am
OK. I just read your review and I totally agree….except… Peeta is the bakers son and I always picture the fat blond German kid on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or the Pillsbury dough boy. Couldn’t get it out of my mind. WHY??
08.23.2010 / 8:52 am
Hahahaha…oh goodness, Jodi. I confess I’ve never pictured him that way. Hmm…that disturbs me now
.
08.23.2010 / 10:21 am
I really really want to read the books! I have ordered them and waiting like forever. Mockigjay is going to be published tomorrow and I dont even read the first book yet! Yikes!
08.23.2010 / 11:09 am
Reading the first two again in the next 2 days so I can be fresh for the third when you are done…. so good.
08.24.2010 / 3:33 am
Believe it or not, I have this book & Catching Fire on my shelf but I haven’t even touch them yet. Geez, I don’t know what’s the problem with me there! I guess that I wanted to let all these excitement about Mockingjay died down before starting reading cause I’m afraid to be let down *blush* But in order to avoid spoiler, I guess it is wise to avoid reading Twitter feed & also reading any Mockingjay-related-review!
08.24.2010 / 8:30 am
Darlyn, I really, really want you to like them
!
Lori, I’ve just done the same (and Peter was up late last night tearing through Catching Fire–yes, I’ve been mocking him for his above comments…heheheheheh).
Shy, thanks for the blog visit! I promise not to give too much away in my Mockingjay review
. I think I feel the same way–”no one tell me anything until I’ve finished the book!”
And everyone else, this is Shy. She blogs about books at http://bibliophiles-journal.blogspot.com/. You should check it out! And Darlyn’s got an author guest post up at hers: http://darlynandbooks.blogspot.com/.
08.24.2010 / 8:36 am
It’s Tuesday, guys. You know what that means? I’ve got a date at Borders at 9am!!! Anyone else excited? Because I am. Kids, school’s out for the day. Mamma’s got a brand new book to read. =D
08.24.2010 / 11:47 am
Staring at (more like drooling over) mine as I type
. But, yes, I will finish my work emails before I open it. I will finish them. I will finish them…
Such restraint, I know.
08.24.2010 / 2:52 pm
Can’t wait to hear your initial thoughts… I should call you and see if you answer
09.10.2010 / 9:02 am
i am so excited, i just bought this book yesterday…….cant wait to read it!!!
11.10.2010 / 8:25 am
Just want to chime in (yes, I know it’s been two months since this buzz ended) but I have my reasons (excuses) for not having read this review/chat on Hunger Games until now. The main one being I just finished the book!
Brilliant.
Mary described it as American Idol meets Gladiator. A good metaphor. I had even more comparisons running through my mind as I read–nods to Golding’s Lord of the Flies…our Olympic Games…and to life in Stalinist Russia.
I can’t say I cried or threw the book across the room. The editor side of me (and…the knowledge that the book is in a trilogy) recognized the “to be continued” plot line early on. Nevertheless….kudos to Suzanne Collins for her page-turning craft. Never a dull moment. Not a one. Can’t wait to start book 2.
02.5.2012 / 11:49 pm
I completely agree only thing wrong with this book/trilogy are ppl that don’t like it *cough* my hubby *cough*