The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Nov 30, 2011 Melissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Pretty sure I'm Team Not-a-Clue. Messed up and addicting. ...more

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Oct 02, 2025 DeAnn rated it really liked it

Still 4 stars on my second read 14 years later.

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Sep 07, 2011 Jeff Scott rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, overdrive-library, audiobooks, science-fiction, bleak, post-apocalpytic, young-adult

Great Science Fiction tale that combines many of my favorite works in the genre. It takes part of The Lottery, The Running Man, Lord of the Flies, and even a little of the Island of Dr. Moreau and weaves the tale of a young girl struggling against overwhelming odds.

All that is left of the United States is the small country of Panam. Fires, riots, and ill-described disasters have decimated the world into this tiny space. All that is left is The Capitol and 12 districts. The oppression of The Cap Great Science Fiction tale that combines many of my favorite works in the genre. It takes part of The Lottery, The Running Man, Lord of the Flies, and even a little of the Island of Dr. Moreau and weaves the tale of a young girl struggling against overwhelming odds.

All that is left of the United States is the small country of Panam. Fires, riots, and ill-described disasters have decimated the world into this tiny space. All that is left is The Capitol and 12 districts. The oppression of The Capitol led the districts to rebel at some point. Once this rebellion is crushed, a punishment, known as the Hunger Games is created. Two children, 12-18, are selected by lottery every year to kill each other in battle on live television.

Katniss is a 15 year old girl, relied on by her family to be the breadwinner, she poaches in a forbidden forest to supplement her family’s meager ration of grain. Katniss has had to enter her name, like all children in the districts, into the lottery of the Hunger Games. Her younger sister Prim has had to enter her name for the first time. What happens at the lottery will change their lives and put Katniss to the ultimate test, to kill or be killed.

It’s difficult to write a review without spoilers. Generally, it’s a ripping good science fiction/adventure story, but I would have liked to have seen more character development. Katniss is a cold character. It’s no wonder as she doesn’t see a future for herself, but it doesn’t really come off so clearly in the story. She has as lot of internal dilemma, but in some cases the amount of time given to these thoughts far outweighs the moment. It doesn’t seem to add to the plot, or describe her more fully. It’s just a lot of text with no payoff.

Everything is geared towards the action in the Hunger Games. The plotting in the games is great, but I felt there was opportunities for development that stop short. There are some REALLY big shockers and heartbreaking losses, but there doesn’t seem to be any reaction. As a reader, it seemed to affect me more than Katniss. There is a lot of emotion in the scene in the description, but none from the character. I think that may have been the point of the character, as is better revealed in the end, but it takes a long time to get there. I felt if there was more of what happened in the end between Katniss and Peeta was littered in the book a bit more, her character would have been a bit stronger. It’s supposed to be a mixed-up 15 year old fighting for her life in an already awkward age so it makes sense. The result is just a bit mixed.
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Mar 16, 2012 Cathy rated it it was amazing

I resisted this whole phenomenon for a long time but once I gave in I couldn't put the series down. Devoured all three books in two days. Loved the story and the detail and the loyalty sustained through such brutality. Brings the notion of reality tv and society and government to a whole new level. Kinda of like a mishmash of 1984, the Olympics, Fox news and love story(s) viewed through a very Saturday Night Live-esque circus viewfinder. Can't wait for the movie. ...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Melissa Wiebe rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, favorites, young-adult, fantasy, dystopia, 2012

Rated this 4.5

Originally reviewed at Jayne's Books.

Really quite enjoyed the book and exploring her thoughts as she competes. Its almost like she can't exist without being in the woods with Gale, hunting for food and her family's survival. And she also can't exist without being around her family, which consist of her mother and her younger sister, Prim; they are her world and the reason she participates in the Games and her thoughts are never far from them.

While the book didn't exactly paint how ...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Allie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-sff, audience-ya, audience-adults, fiction, dystopia-utopia

I haven't been this excited about reading a book in ages. I picked it up at the library last night and after study circle I read until 12:45. I woke up at seven and kept reading until I had to go to work. I totally flipped my bean. I have it for 3 more weeks and I will definitely read it again before I have to return it. ...more

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May 29, 2012 Deb rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

I didn't want to like this book. When something is this popular, I'm just looking for reasons not to like it. But I couldn't help myself.

The plot is equal parts American Idol, Survivor, and Roman gladiators. What's not to love? It's fascinating. And I ate it right up. ...more

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