Cover of The Hunger Games
Summary:
North America is no longer as we know it. The survivors of the ruins live in the nation of Panem ruled by the elite of the Capitol. Outside the Capitol lay 12 districts, each responsible for production of some necessary thing: coal, agriculture, etc. The districts are poor and enslaved by the Capitol— they fought back once but lost. The consequence? The annual Hunger Games, where each district must send two children to the Capitol to fight to the death in a vast, elaborate arena of the Capitol’s creation. The story follows a 16-year-old girl through the Hunger Games. The reader receives insight into the way one teenager must justify the unfairness of her harsh reality. The general theme of the story? Survival.
Comments:
I picked up this book NOT because it was on the Top lists everywhere, but instead because my blogger buddy Kerri over at “Write. Eat. Repeat.” recommended it. You can check out her review here. Anyway, I have to agree with Kerri on one thing: at first I was not really into the story. It was dark, drab, and the reader doesn’t get any relief from the cheerlessness. There is not even a bit of dry humor to really break up the lackluster monotony. But then you’ve got to think, this world sucks. Of course there’s no humor. So what do we have instead? We have love of family and friends— these concepts, at least, have survived the wicked Capitol. And we have one very resourceful girl who, despite all odds, is determined to survive. Like Kerri, I kept reading, and I’m glad I did. About a third of the way into the book I realized I was unusually invested in the main character’s future. It takes a little while, but the book will hook you, and in the end, you’ll be glad it did (so there’s a reason this trilogy is a hot topic, after all!) Soon I’ll be ordering the next one in the trilogy, Catching Fire.
The Point:
It’s worth a read. I’m not totally crazy with impatience and excitement to read the next one, but I am anticipating it. There’s no way I could forgo the rest of the trilogy now!
UPDATE: Check out my reviews for the rest of the trilogy:
Related articles
- The Hunger Games (twogirlsandtenmillionbooks.com)
- The Hunger Games trilogy (pageflirt.wordpress.com)
You nailed the review perfectly my friend! LOVING the new blog, I can’t wait to read more reviews
Thanks, Kerri!
I really need to read this. The main problem is that I’m now embarking on a rewrite of my WIP which is also somewhat post-apocalyptic (though differently post-apocalyptic) and has a (somewhat younger) female protag. I will probably dip my toe in anyway.
Well it’s an easy read. Not very long, either. So you could probably dip into it and finish it without letting it distract you too much.
You’ve talked me into it. (Plus it’s under $5 for the Kindle
I know! It was under $5 for the paperback, too. The next one is only in hardback and Kindle, though— but still it’s not expensive at all.
First off, thanks so much for linking to my review here! I’m very honored!
I’m glad to see so many readers enjoying the books as much as I did. I had a slightly different experience with the drab, cheerlessness of the book. It actually made me want to read more and see what was happening with such a dark plot; I was instantly hooked, you could say. It’s an almost complete 180 degree turn from other young adult fiction and I just adored it! Maybe that says something about me as a reader?
Enjoy the rest of the series! I’ll definitely come back here to see what you thought of them.
I agree that it’s completely out of the ordinary for young adult fiction. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that it was young adult fiction while I was reading it.
After I got into it, I appreciated its darkness. It just took a few extra pages to convince me.
Thanks for stopping by!
I also recently reviewed Hunger Games on my blog and just about slapped myself in the face right now. I was so into what was happening and willing Katniss to survive that I really didn’t think about how the language was effecting my emotion. The dark and ominous tone of the book, I think, is what kept me reading but I definitely didn’t attribute that to how North America is in the book while I was reading. Good mention.
Thanks Kay. I found myself willing her to survive, too. It’s easy to like her from the moment she steps in for her little sister, but I didn’t realize how much I liked her until I realized I was reading like an addict… which I only do when the book rocks.
I’m on my way to check out your review now.