The Hunger Games (1)
Genre(s): Dystopian, Young Adult
Published Sept 2008
Pages: 374
Published Sept 2008
Pages: 374
Publisher:Scholastic Press
Summary: :
"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."
Review:
Well this book lived up to a lot of the hype that surrounds it. While
the name and cover still do not grab my attention the story, once
started, did.
This book is written in first perspective, from the heroine's aspect. Her name is Katniss Everdeen. She starts off in her home, a simple, poor area of the land. She is the provider for her mother and sister with her hunting skills. To protect her younger sister, she is sent to the capitol, along with local boy Peeta, to 'participate' in the annual Hunger Games.
These 'games' are fights to the death, aired and shown to the capitol and all 12 districts under its control, in a survival arena of sorts. The book shows, throughout the story, a somewhat futuristic dystopia society. The tributes (Katniss, Peeta and others in the game) are given basic weapons (bows, spears, clubs) and the district where Katniss is from uses herbs and eats basic foods (squirrel, wild turkey, etc) but the capitol has voice command room service, automatic hair dryers, and a camera/screen set that tracks and shows the tributes (no matter where they go) to the viewers. It is an interesting combination.
There is a 'romantic' setting as well. Katniss and Peeta are to appear as a united team to the people. Peeta even admits to liking her during his interview. So a setting for 'star-crossed lovers' is created. However, Katniss has various feelings toward Peeta throughout the book and its very realistic and understandable, especially when there is possibly another guy back home.
Yet while there are time I can relate to her, at the same time several of her thoughts want to make my roll my eyes or drop my head onto a desk. While she is survival smart, she is not people smart. She can't socialize and cannot read people worth a darn. While it is annoying at times, it is also endearing and has created a unique character.
Overall, very good book. It is of constant pace of survival and action, with just the right touch of romantic possibilities.
This book is written in first perspective, from the heroine's aspect. Her name is Katniss Everdeen. She starts off in her home, a simple, poor area of the land. She is the provider for her mother and sister with her hunting skills. To protect her younger sister, she is sent to the capitol, along with local boy Peeta, to 'participate' in the annual Hunger Games.
These 'games' are fights to the death, aired and shown to the capitol and all 12 districts under its control, in a survival arena of sorts. The book shows, throughout the story, a somewhat futuristic dystopia society. The tributes (Katniss, Peeta and others in the game) are given basic weapons (bows, spears, clubs) and the district where Katniss is from uses herbs and eats basic foods (squirrel, wild turkey, etc) but the capitol has voice command room service, automatic hair dryers, and a camera/screen set that tracks and shows the tributes (no matter where they go) to the viewers. It is an interesting combination.
There is a 'romantic' setting as well. Katniss and Peeta are to appear as a united team to the people. Peeta even admits to liking her during his interview. So a setting for 'star-crossed lovers' is created. However, Katniss has various feelings toward Peeta throughout the book and its very realistic and understandable, especially when there is possibly another guy back home.
Yet while there are time I can relate to her, at the same time several of her thoughts want to make my roll my eyes or drop my head onto a desk. While she is survival smart, she is not people smart. She can't socialize and cannot read people worth a darn. While it is annoying at times, it is also endearing and has created a unique character.
Overall, very good book. It is of constant pace of survival and action, with just the right touch of romantic possibilities.
I agree! I'd give Hunger Games 4.5 also. I really liked the second one, and would score it 4.5 out of 5 as well. The third kind of drooped in comparison - and after the climax (which was ... meh...) took forever to wrap up.
ReplyDeletePretty much, yea. That is how I felt. Really liked the first 2, then the third book was just so-so.
DeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteI finished this book not long ago and also reviewd it on my blog. I also think that the romance is very well portrayed and doesn't overpower the rest of the story, which is great :)
Joana @ Joana In The Sky With Books
The romance in this one is perfect. Played just enough without letting it be the focus!
DeleteI really liked this review for Hunger Games, I felt that you pointed everything out very clearly and said a lot of things I was feeling while reading it, but couldn't clearly put into words! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you. So very glad you liked it. :)
DeleteHunger Games is one of my favorite dystopian book ever! And I love your review.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for Catching Fire the movie :)
Thanks! I look forward to it too this winter :)
DeleteI would love to read the Hunger Games but I am hesitant for some reason lol. I guess it doesn't hurt to give it a try :)
ReplyDeleteI avoided it for a long time but let me tell ya, this book sucks the reader right into this world.
DeleteI really loved this book, its utopian world with all its strangeness and even Katniss. I've read the first two books, but I'm waiting for the third until the movie comes out. What do you think of the movies?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the first movie. Even bought a copy of it. I didn't get a chance to see Catching Fire in the theaters so I have to wait until it comes out on dvd. Debating on just buying it or renting first. Many have said it is better than the first. Any opinions?
DeleteI loved this book so much and I'm glad that you liked it! Stay awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteI really loved this book and at the time that I read I thought that it was the best book ever, but now after I have read so many other dystopians, I don't really love this as much as I use to. I'm not a huge fan of Suzanne Collin's writing, but would still give this book four stars.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree. Now that I have read a few others. But since she ways my gateway she gets the extra credit there!
DeleteThe book was really good. I liked it better than the movie
ReplyDeleteI agree. I enjoyed the movie but the books was quite a bit better.
DeleteGreat review! This part certainly made me laugh and I completely agree with it haha :
ReplyDelete" While she is survival smart, she is not people smart. She can't socialize and cannot read people worth a darn. While it is annoying at times, it is also endearing and has created a unique character."
Hope you enjoy reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay as well :)
I did. Catching Fire was great although Mockingjay could have been better. Reviews to come!
DeleteGood Review. I really enjoyed reading the hunger games trilogy. The Hunger Games I first picked up when it first came out but only read first couple chapters borrowing from a friend. Had to stop because our study hall ended...I really enjoyed and was intrigued...I found a couple years later and loved it since.
ReplyDeleteThe Hunger Games is what helped me get back into YA novels (that and Vampire Academy). Glad you like this series!
DeleteGreat review! :D I loved this book very much and as of now still the best of the Dystopian books I read :)
ReplyDeleteLoved this book! still gotta read Mockingjay
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy it too.
DeleteI saw both movies(and even an amusing parody, The Starving Games) but I haven't read the books yet. I liked The Hunger Games better than Catching Fire.
ReplyDeleteI agree that neither the title nor the cover is very compelling.
I never did see the parody yet. The books are very worth reading, regardless of bad covering.
DeleteGreat review! I really liked the whole trilogy! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too. Although Mockingjay could have been better.
DeleteI had never really read a dystopian book until The Hunger Games and I really loved it and now dystopian is one of my favorite YA genres!! :)
ReplyDeleteSame here! Love the genre now!
DeleteI agree with you on how you view Katniss. She is super smart about survival, but she can't for the heck of it connect with people. That's what's Peeta's here for if you ask me. I loved reading the Hunger Games and Catching Fire too, whereas Mockingjay was a good book, but it got too depressing and dreadful.
ReplyDeleteOne thing the first movie lacked in my opinion was the portrayal of the mutts. I actually got chills and goosebumps all over my body when I read the last pages in the book. And in the movies the mutts are portrayed like some mutated bulldogs? Well something like that.
Kat @ Reading Owls
Yea the movie messed up on those. It was the creepiest part of the whole book and the movie just bowled over it.
DeleteGreat review. I remember when I read this and nobody heard of it yet. I knew it would be popular. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am glad I finally gave this a chance! Huge turning point in my reading!
DeleteI enjoyed the books immensely!
ReplyDeleteGreat!
DeleteI really love this book because I read this first before watching the movie AND THE BOOK IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN THE MOVIE. Like I could remember all the scenes that was in the book but didn't make the movie. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat review though! xx
I agree. The movie was good but the book so much better.
Deletegreat review, i loved the first book, when i read the second one i didn't like it that much, and then when i read the last one i was confused and sometimes bored, so my favorite one was the first :)
ReplyDeleteThat is how I am. The first was great, second was fairly good and the last was meh.
DeleteIt's been a while since I read this series, but I remember thinking that it was geared toward young adults, and was a quick read. I know that I liked the books, and thought that they would make an awesome movie. I agree that they were better in the beginning of the series. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was made into a movie.
Delete