The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Nov 04, 2010 Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-audio-books, books-read-2012, genre-young-adult

I'm just going to do a quick review for this because there are already so many great reviews out there but this book rocks! I was really not expecting to be wowed to the extent that I was. What with all the hype that this series got, that was definitely one of the reasons why I kept pushing it back on my reading schedule. Of course with the movie coming out, I had to read it.

My thoughts on how great it was can be summarized in one sentence: "This book took over my life until it literally hurt to ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 27, 2010 Cee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian, love-triangle

This book is as good as everyone tells you.

In a world where poverty and social depression widely spread is, Katniss grows up trying keep her little sister and mother from starving by hunting in the dangerous woods nearby. When her little sister is called to play in the Hunger Games, Katniss tries to protect her and goes in her place. Now she has to kill twenty-three kids in an arena before she can go home...

When The Hunger Games suddenly became extremely popular, I though to myself, this probabl This book is as good as everyone tells you.

In a world where poverty and social depression widely spread is, Katniss grows up trying keep her little sister and mother from starving by hunting in the dangerous woods nearby. When her little sister is called to play in the Hunger Games, Katniss tries to protect her and goes in her place. Now she has to kill twenty-three kids in an arena before she can go home...

When The Hunger Games suddenly became extremely popular, I though to myself, this probably is just another Twilight. Don't throw stones at me, but for me Twilight wasn't as absolutely awesome as everyone seemed to think. A nice read, but I could've lived without it. So I put off reading The Hunger Games, thinking it was nothing special really. Then one day an extremely kind person gifted this book to me.

And it turns out, The Hunger Games is so extremely awesome.

In my little bubble where I shun everything that is popular and trendy, I never even knew what this story was about. I didn't know this was about kids killing each other in an arena in order to survive. If I'd known that I would have picked this book up earlier!

The first thing I fell in love with is the world. I have a little soft spot in my heart for dark settings. For the hopelessness, the gritty life where you have to fight to stay alive, to even have enough food to get through the day. And I think that in The Hunger Games, this is portrayed beautifully. It feels realistic. Everyone in District 12 knows they are being wronged. Yet no one sits around wallowing in self-pity. They life their life as good as they can, quietly hoping one day things will change.

At first sight it might seem strange that teens of ages between twelve and eighteen are willing to kill each other. You have to take into account that they have a wholly different upbringing and live in a way more violent world than we do, though. They grow up seeing these Games on the TV, year after year. They see other children brutally killed, and see all these relentless killers crowned as heroes. I think this can turn innocent teens into monsters that will do everything to win The Hunger Games, and come home as victor. Tributes like Katniss, however, are completely different. She fights only to survive. Winning isn't really her goal. She just wants to be able to return to her sister and mother, so she can take care of them again.

Katniss is a great character. She is strong, smart, and independent. She is hardened by the circumstances she lives in day after day, yet she is compassionate towards the people she cares for. There was a beautiful moment when one certain person dies in the arena (telling you who would be a spoiler). At times I did want to scream at her for not seeing certain things. She's not that good in the romantic compartment. That does fit her though. She has never had the time to think about boys. I hope this changes throughout the next books. I would like to see her a bit more confident in that area.

What I did not like is that I'm seeing the start of a love triangle here. I seem to be the only person in the whole wide world that does not enjoy these horrible devises to create tension between the characters. Nine out of ten people I know just fall in love with one person, and stick to that person. In books it seems to be the rule to like two different guys at the same time, who are usually complete opposites of each other. I don't know, it doesn't seem that realistic to me. I'm sure it can happen. But not to every single girl/woman starring in a book with a romantic (sub)plot.

Anyway, I hope the rest of the trilogy doesn't heavily rely on the Gale/Peeta choice, because I think that would be a shame. The Hunger Games is wonderfully fast paced, with very well written action scenes, that are clear and easy to follow, while being thrilling at the same time.

I think it's a smart move to make a film adaptation of The Hunger Games, and not only because its popularity. The book is written for the white screen. It's fast paced enough, with a lot of action that works really well in a film. I'm especially looking forward to the film image of District 12 and the Capital. I would love to see how they portray these places.

In a way, The Hunger Games does resemble Twilight. It does to dystopian novels what Twilight did for paranormal romance books. It makes the genre accessible to the general public. I think we will see a lot of dystopian novels this year.

If you haven't read The Hunger Games, do it. This book is totally worth your time. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

May 09, 2010 cc rated it really liked it

Shelves: love-triangle-ugh, 2010-read, young-adult, heroine-kickass

O best seller altamente aclamado pela comunidade young adult e cujo tão aguardado desfecho já só está a sensivelmente um mês de distância (Mockingjay: 25 de Agosto, pre-ordered!:D) de seu título The Hunger Games, conta a história de Katniss Everdeen, uma jovem que como os seus verdes 16 anos é o elemento chave para a sobrevivência da sua família, e que certo dia para salvar a irmã bebé, vai-se ver na arena dos Hunger Games, uma espécie de Jogos Sem Fronteiras meets Big Brother, a Lotaria Naciona O best seller altamente aclamado pela comunidade young adult e cujo tão aguardado desfecho já só está a sensivelmente um mês de distância (Mockingjay: 25 de Agosto, pre-ordered!:D) de seu título The Hunger Games, conta a história de Katniss Everdeen, uma jovem que como os seus verdes 16 anos é o elemento chave para a sobrevivência da sua família, e que certo dia para salvar a irmã bebé, vai-se ver na arena dos Hunger Games, uma espécie de Jogos Sem Fronteiras meets Big Brother, a Lotaria Nacional e o filme O Quinto Elemento, com 24 participantes e cujo único vencedor será o último que ainda respire. Esta diversão bárbara, digna do tempo dos homens das cavernas, passa-se numa realidade futurista e pós-apocalíptica no local onde costumava estar os EUA, onde o governo -vou-lhe chamar assim- basicamente trata a população como escravos, e onde a causa maior de mortalidade é a fome; os “jogos” funcionam então como manobra de controlo/intimidação/bullying aos populares, para que fique claro quem é que manda, não interessando se é injusto, completamente descabido, ou desumano.

Eu gostei bastante da história, ou melhor dizendo, deste início da história, mesmo com tanta caça ao esquilo e ao coelhinho indefeso, seguida dos respectivos esventramentos e ávido consumo (não é o melhor livro para uma vegetariana xD). Um dos requisitos (quiçá o principal) para um livro do género me conquistar é ter uma protagonista que despolete a minha simpatia e a enorme vontade de a trazer para casa para tomar conta dela e a alimentar como deve ser, e a Katniss sem dúvida que se qualifica, ela consegue tocar o coração do leitor quer pela sua coragem e desenvoltura -que me fazem sempre sentir inútil e tão pequenina-, quer pelo seu altruísmo para com os outros que a fazem lançar-se cegamente aos desafios, de maneira a lutar pelo que está correcto. E se não me engano, este primeiro volume foi apenas o começo de algo muito maior, espero grandes feitos desta rapariga (não me desiludas Kat!).

E houve mais “romance” (entre aspas porque não é romance a sério se não é com o pretendente que se prefere :p) do que aquilo que eu estava à espera. Não que seja uma lamechice do princípio ao fim -nada que se pareça- mas aquela ideia de vamos dar ao público a fatalidade de um amor impossível ter acontecido nos Hunger Games para conseguirmos coisas e ter toda a gente a apoiar-nos apanhou-me desprevenida, não estou a dizer que foi mau, porque foi engraçado, e por causa disso nunca me foi tão difícil desprezar uma parte de um triângulo amoroso, na verdade, desprezar com aquela raiva doentia o personagem em questão não consigo…é batota por parte da autora, porque o moço é adorável, mas tomei um partido logo desde o início e já não há volta a dar, por isso resta-me dizer: GO TEAM GALE, GO!
Cuidado com o Dálmata - The Hunger Games ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 30, 2010 Amber rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, series, first-in-series, favorites, dystopian

What can I say other then WOW!!!!!!
If you haven't read this book then you are really missing out.
I Was a little hesitant when reading the first couple of chapters but, soooooooo glad I kept reading.
This book was very refreshing and different then what I've been reading so far and I can't wait to read the next two. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 Stacey rated it it was amazing

Not a particularly happy story, but riveting and impossible to put down. Bit of a change for me.

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2010 Patrick rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-series, reviewed

Much like its predecessors such as the Harry Potter books, The Twilight Saga, the Eragon series and many more, Hunger Games and its sequels have captured the attention and imagination of several readers. Since they are young adult books, they are rather easy to read. Hell, Hunger Games took me 2 or 3 days total to complete. That being said, it’s a very straight-forward read most likely meant for an audience younger than I am.

There isn’t much of a description of District 13 where Katniss lives, b Much like its predecessors such as the Harry Potter books, The Twilight Saga, the Eragon series and many more, Hunger Games and its sequels have captured the attention and imagination of several readers. Since they are young adult books, they are rather easy to read. Hell, Hunger Games took me 2 or 3 days total to complete. That being said, it’s a very straight-forward read most likely meant for an audience younger than I am.

There isn’t much of a description of District 13 where Katniss lives, but I imagined it to be somewhat akin to a poor run-down neighborhood. Here, they are ruled over by the evil and corrupt Capitol, a structure that will most likely be brought down by Katniss and friends in the end. I don’t know for sure, but that’s an assumption. The main storyline begins when Katniss volunteers to go in her sister’s stead into the Hunger Games. Normally, I’d provide an explanation, but I’m pretty sure everyone already knows it’s a fight to the death.

The story takes a while to set up and prepare for the actual games. While it is only marginally interesting in the beginning, it gets rather exciting when the games actually begin. Katniss is a warrior against the odds and I believe that Suzanne Collins actually writes a somewhat convincing story of how an underdog can win against trained warriors and professional fighters. Of course, these underdog stories are always a bit hard to believe since the odds are obviously not in her favor. There are a few moments of deus ex machinas, or in other words, convenient events that just happen to get our heroine out of an impossible situation. In fact, this happens multiple times.

The action is everywhere and when the games start, the book becomes very hard to put down. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering what was going to happen and how Katniss was going to survive each new dilemma she faced.

My main complaint is probably that it was too simple. I mean, I enjoy the action and everything else, but there was nothing in the story that really grabbed my attention or surprised me with its creativity. There was a pseudo-romantic subplot which I cared nothing for at all and there was a death of a character which I really admired. To me, it felt a bit like any action movie or show where the main plot is some sort of fighting tournament. Obviously, in these situations, you don’t need much room for character development or emotions, just a lot of action. However, The Hunger Games did manage to put in both of these in the story. But to me, it still felt rather plain.

I haven’t caught the Hunger Games fever like many else have, but I still admire the first installment in the series. I read the other two and was less than impressed, but as long as these books are encouraging people to read, who can complain?
...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 29, 2011 Steph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2011, kindle

I've picked up and put down this book for months, ever since it became quite big. I was never able to get past the first few pages as the first person present tense was jarring to what I was used to reading and I found it difficult to get into at first. I'm not sure what made me pick it up again but I'm really, really glad that I gave it another chance. I started reading on Monday night and have just finished it.

The story itself was... a shock in some ways. I knew the gist of what it was about ...more

Like · see review

Dec 16, 2010 Vivian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-in-series, read-2011

Do I really want to read a book about people who get kids all dolled up just to stick them in a pit to kill each other off and televise it for all to see?? That's all kinds of messed up!! But yes, I read it and yes, I thought it was amazing.

This book sucks you in from the get-go. In the first part of the book, we get the set-up of the 'hunger games', do the character building, all that jazz, and it's done well and suspensefully. When we finally get the whole history and rules of the reaping and ...more

Like · see review

Apr 23, 2010 Melanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, ya, romantic-fiction, spitfire-heroines, heroine-saves-hero, hero-in-love-first, survival, conflicted-feelings-leftover, dystopian

I put off reading this book for a while, because the storyline seemed cruel and violent to me... I finally got around to reading it, and although I was right about the violence and cruelty, I loved this book! Katniss was perfect as the "girl on fire", whose disgust for needless deaths reassured me (I was worried about a Lord of the Flies kind of frenzy..).. Peeta really balanced her out, and I would have liked her to end up with him, although I get the whole Gale thing... I guess that's what the ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2011 Michelle rated it really liked it

4.5 * Fantastic book. Thanks for the recommendatiion Cynthia!

Like · see review

Jul 10, 2010 Lili rated it it was amazing

It started a little slow, it was depressing to learn about Katniss and her life at Panem but then I couldn't put it down.
The plot was just amazing and it made me like the characters so much more, the twists and turns of the game kept me interested and I wasn't really sure what was going to happen.

I already ordered the rest of the books... I can't wait to read the next one! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2010 Sharon rated it it was amazing

Holy freaking cow! Everything you have heard about this book is true! That is pretty much all I have to say I guess . I have decided that YA is emotionally exhausting to read. And this book wore me out! (in a good way of course ) Can't wait to get the next one and I am sooooo torn between Peeta and Gale.... ...more

Like · see review

Aug 01, 2010 Diane ~Firefly~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya

I was surprised how much I liked this book. It has been one of the "it" books for a while and I usually avoid them as they don't live up to the hype. It is easy to root for Katniss, as she is an interesting character. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book. ...more

Like · see review