(The Hunger Games, #1)
By: Suzanne Collins
Release Date: September 14th, 2008
Published by: Scholastic
Genre(s): YA Fantasy/Dystopia
My Review: (4.5/5 stars*)
Firstly I'm probably the only person to never read The Hunger Games as soon as I heard it was amazing. I took my time getting to this book and I should have listened to everyone else and raced to it, but I'm stubborn! Pushing that aside the Hunger Games is uniquely constructed, and has an extraordinarily built world that's vividly detailed. The characters are remarkable, each with a surprising amount of depth, and easy-to-like or easy-to-hate personalities. From the beginning you'll have your mind made up on whose good and whose bad—that will change. The heroine Katniss Everdeen is flawed yet has a lot of strength and courage. Right off the bat I really admired her for stepping up to protect her little sister Prim from the Games by taking her place. Her bravery is impressive but aside from that she's also a wood's warrior; she can climb trees, has deadly accuracy with a bow, and can hunt like nobody's business. Then there's Peeta - the bread making boy from her district whose also chosen for the arena. He's the epitome of all that is good, kind-hearted, self-sacrificing, and loyal to no end. His stability and confidence is unbelievably charming. His relationship with Katniss is complicated and beautiful—you'll be rooting for them throughout the entire story!
I loved almost everything about The Hunger Games the only disappointment I had was that we rarely got to see much of Peeta as he and Katniss are often separated. Gale whom is Katniss' bestfriend from the district is mentioned frequently but we never really get to know him except through what we hear about him. Excluding those facts I enjoyed the camaraderie between the formed alliances, but was seriously devastated at the hopelessness of the situations all the characters find themselves in. Haymitch—Katniss and Peeta's mentor—is perhaps underrated but astronomically important in trying to help them succeed and stay alive. I feel that more credit is due to him as a past survivor of the Hunger Games, I loved that even though he's strange and irreparably damaged he gives them the tools necessary to have a good chance at beating the odds. He has such a darkly humorous outlook and it was refreshing of his character not to sugarcoat the very likelihood of death. I don't think many YA authors take such matters seriously enough and portrays important issues appropriately, but Suzanne Collins gets it and does it right. Those expecting romance will be satisfied and yet still want more. The Hunger Games is conceptually clever and extremely gripping. I was near tears during some of the scenes as they struck a chord inside that appeals to everyone's humanity. The world built and weaved into words is dark, seemingly despaired, and unjust but riveting nevertheless. The realness of it will chill your blood because the situations are pretty believable. Children and teens fight for their survival and are pitted against each other for the entertainment of the Capitol and the last one standing wins. It's beyond twisted, crosses many moral lines, but you won't be able to stop reading once you start. I'd strongly recommend for teens over the age of 14 due to violence, and human cruelty.
Located in the ruins of North America lies 12 districts in a nation called Panem with a government-like society dead center named, The Capitol. You have to follow each and every rule because if you don't punishment is swift and deadly. Every year The Capitol holds and celebrates the biggest event—the Hunger Games. Children and teens are randomly selected and forced to participate in a life or death battle arena where only one victor can emerge. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen isn't looking forward to the reaping process this year particularly since she's got numerous chances of being selected. She's both horrified and shocked when her younger, and only sister Prim is chosen as the contender. She does the only thing that can save her—she offers to take her place. With this almost guaranteed death sentence Katniss must make some of the most difficult decisions that goes against her morals to make it out alive—and may the odds be ever in her favor—or not.
The Hunger Games is wildly engaging and shockingly amusing. It's easy to lose track of time, minutes will turn into hours so beware of the addicting nature of this novel. It's a blend of science fiction, dystopia, with realistic conditions and futuristic-like advancements. If ever there was a trilogy worth reading it would be this one. It has a universal appeal, it can most definitely be enjoyed by both teens and adults. The Hunger Games is suspenseful, emotional, and a must-read. Collins has written a powerful story with authentic characters, and creates an unbelievably astonishing, and gritty world.
Firstly I'm probably the only person to never read The Hunger Games as soon as I heard it was amazing. I took my time getting to this book and I should have listened to everyone else and raced to it, but I'm stubborn! Pushing that aside the Hunger Games is uniquely constructed, and has an extraordinarily built world that's vividly detailed. The characters are remarkable, each with a surprising amount of depth, and easy-to-like or easy-to-hate personalities. From the beginning you'll have your mind made up on whose good and whose bad—that will change. The heroine Katniss Everdeen is flawed yet has a lot of strength and courage. Right off the bat I really admired her for stepping up to protect her little sister Prim from the Games by taking her place. Her bravery is impressive but aside from that she's also a wood's warrior; she can climb trees, has deadly accuracy with a bow, and can hunt like nobody's business. Then there's Peeta - the bread making boy from her district whose also chosen for the arena. He's the epitome of all that is good, kind-hearted, self-sacrificing, and loyal to no end. His stability and confidence is unbelievably charming. His relationship with Katniss is complicated and beautiful—you'll be rooting for them throughout the entire story!
I loved almost everything about The Hunger Games the only disappointment I had was that we rarely got to see much of Peeta as he and Katniss are often separated. Gale whom is Katniss' bestfriend from the district is mentioned frequently but we never really get to know him except through what we hear about him. Excluding those facts I enjoyed the camaraderie between the formed alliances, but was seriously devastated at the hopelessness of the situations all the characters find themselves in. Haymitch—Katniss and Peeta's mentor—is perhaps underrated but astronomically important in trying to help them succeed and stay alive. I feel that more credit is due to him as a past survivor of the Hunger Games, I loved that even though he's strange and irreparably damaged he gives them the tools necessary to have a good chance at beating the odds. He has such a darkly humorous outlook and it was refreshing of his character not to sugarcoat the very likelihood of death. I don't think many YA authors take such matters seriously enough and portrays important issues appropriately, but Suzanne Collins gets it and does it right. Those expecting romance will be satisfied and yet still want more. The Hunger Games is conceptually clever and extremely gripping. I was near tears during some of the scenes as they struck a chord inside that appeals to everyone's humanity. The world built and weaved into words is dark, seemingly despaired, and unjust but riveting nevertheless. The realness of it will chill your blood because the situations are pretty believable. Children and teens fight for their survival and are pitted against each other for the entertainment of the Capitol and the last one standing wins. It's beyond twisted, crosses many moral lines, but you won't be able to stop reading once you start. I'd strongly recommend for teens over the age of 14 due to violence, and human cruelty.
Located in the ruins of North America lies 12 districts in a nation called Panem with a government-like society dead center named, The Capitol. You have to follow each and every rule because if you don't punishment is swift and deadly. Every year The Capitol holds and celebrates the biggest event—the Hunger Games. Children and teens are randomly selected and forced to participate in a life or death battle arena where only one victor can emerge. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen isn't looking forward to the reaping process this year particularly since she's got numerous chances of being selected. She's both horrified and shocked when her younger, and only sister Prim is chosen as the contender. She does the only thing that can save her—she offers to take her place. With this almost guaranteed death sentence Katniss must make some of the most difficult decisions that goes against her morals to make it out alive—and may the odds be ever in her favor—or not.
The Hunger Games is wildly engaging and shockingly amusing. It's easy to lose track of time, minutes will turn into hours so beware of the addicting nature of this novel. It's a blend of science fiction, dystopia, with realistic conditions and futuristic-like advancements. If ever there was a trilogy worth reading it would be this one. It has a universal appeal, it can most definitely be enjoyed by both teens and adults. The Hunger Games is suspenseful, emotional, and a must-read. Collins has written a powerful story with authentic characters, and creates an unbelievably astonishing, and gritty world.
Synopsis:
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual 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 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.
If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual 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 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.
If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love
At least you finally got around to reading it! :) The Hunger Games is my all time favorite book; it's great! :) Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYes and I'm so glad I did!! It's now one of my favorites as well :) Thanks Krystianna for reading my review, I appreciate it.
DeleteHappy reading!
-Seirra
Great review. I have such a hard time expressing myself in words how much I like books like the Hunger Games. Their awesomeness cannot be contained within a couple paragraphs! Okay, anyway. Love the review. Love the book.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lizzy :) I know exactly how you feel! It took me awhile to express my feelings about the Hunger Games, and I'm sure I could have added so much more. I spent days with an empty notepad, but eventually it ended up writing itself. I didn't over-think it, and I'm happy I was able to form a complete thought and share it. Often I don't write reviews for books I love because my words would just be babbling and I may overlook the faults because of it. But I gave it a try :)
DeleteThanks Lizzy for checking out my review and sharing your thoughts!
-Seirra