From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

Start date: December 1, 2010

Finish date: December 31, 2010

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: We voted and this one won for the category of YA.
[close] We voted and this one won for the category of YA.

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What Members Thought

Jun 30, 2010 Yz the Whyz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010-reads, suzanne-collins

Wow, what can I say? It definitely lives up to the hype.

After having been recommended by so many GR friends, I finally decided to pick this book up. I choose the audiobook format, something I usually do when its a first person narrative, and to my luck, the narrator gave a fabulous performance.

I was riveted as I followed Katniss' adventure, both scared and appalled at the things she had to go through in order to survive. I cried over Rue's death, and giggled at some of the silly banter she had w ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2011 Arthur rated it it was amazing

The most intense novel I've read in years. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 01, 2009 Emma rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, fiction

only one word describes this book...AMAZING! It action packed and you don't want to put it down. It took me a bit to get into it because the world Suzanne Collins created is so different and unique. I loved this book and only put it down to sleep (damn sleep getting in the way). It left me breathless in parts and of course I cried. I love these characters and can't wait to continue their story with CATCHING FIRE! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 17, 2011 Kirsten rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book is incredible! I highly recommend it whatever your age.

Katniss is an incredible character and an exceptionally strong female. A wonderful role model for any young girl. The setup this dystopia of a future America where children are put in arena to fight to the death. This book surprised me by making such a realistic world populated with memorable characters. It even moved me to tears at points.

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2011 Aymee rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fiction, action-adventure

This book has interested me since I first saw it sitting in the bookstore one day. After so many of my friends simply raved about how wonderful it was, I had to try it out for myself as well. When I discovered Amazon.com had the trilogy for the Kindle priced at $4.38, I jumped on it, figuring that if I only read the first of the three novels, I’d still come out ahead (the first book alone was priced over that for Kindle).

There is a lot to love about this book. The characters are refreshing and e This book has interested me since I first saw it sitting in the bookstore one day. After so many of my friends simply raved about how wonderful it was, I had to try it out for myself as well. When I discovered Amazon.com had the trilogy for the Kindle priced at $4.38, I jumped on it, figuring that if I only read the first of the three novels, I’d still come out ahead (the first book alone was priced over that for Kindle).

There is a lot to love about this book. The characters are refreshing and encouraging. Despite living in poverty, they take matters into their own hands and find a way to survive and even, possibly be happy. They don’t dwell too much on how awful their life is, although their hatred for the Capitol is vivid and understandable. The characters also evolve quite a bit during the span of the novel, which is a huge plus in my book.

However, there are a few issues as well. The resolution of several plot points was overly predictable and while not a wholly awful thing, sometimes that ending you expected is what you needed, in this situation, I think there could have been better resolution. Despite a bit of a shock at the ending, the ending itself left me a little wanting. My biggest issue, and this might just have been me and not the author’s writing, but I found two or three places where I was lost and wasn’t sure if Katniss was talking to the reader, or talking aloud to whomever she was with at the time. I found myself having to backtrack on a couple occasions and re-read a page or two to clear things up.

All in all, this was still a very good book and was well worth the time I spent reading it. It’s the kind of novel that makes you think and that can only lead to good things, right? I’m looking forward to reading the next in this series as well and have it waiting on my Kindle at home.

Warnings: If you are giving this to your teen to read, I’d definitely recommend it for older teens, fifteen and older maybe, because of the level and amount of violence involved. ...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Jen Ifer's Inklings rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-books, read-in-2011, library, dystopia, 5-star-reads, read-in-2019, popsugar-2019-reading-challenge

Decided to do a re-read of this series. I am in the mood for a "comfort book".

04/12/2019. Just finished my reread and I love it just as much. Definitely still a 5 star read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2009 Jen B rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010, 2013

Review 3/2013: hard to believe it has been 3 years since I first read this book, because I've actually thought about it quite a bit during that time. I reread this one again because I taught it to my group of 9th graders, many of whom have read the book multiple times over. maybe now I'm a little desensitized to the idea of kids killing kids just because I know the story, but I was able to actually appreciate the book more this time, and I enjoyed it much more. We had fun with this one -- it's a ...more

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Jan 01, 2010 Angie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2025-books, 2010-books, ya-books, favorites, audio-books, dystopia

I am in the middle of this, well, only listened to 2 of the 9 audio tapes and I am obsessed. Do not know how this happened. I think I never give stories enough credit, because I think this book started a little off and I was ready to put it down and now, bam - I am searching like a junky to find a paper copy to read.......UPDATE: I have finished this book. I love this book. The audio version was so excellent (Dr. Olivet from Law & Order narrates.) I stayed up most of the night last night listeni ...more

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May 22, 2011 Shawna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: teen, series

So horrifying and addictive. Couldn't put it down from the first page, and now I'm eagerly awaiting my hold on "Catching Fire." ...more

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Apr 17, 2009 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, read-in-2013, re-read

7/31/2009: Wow. I didn't expect to enjoy this one quite as much as I did. It was such an interesting story and I couldn't put the book down, eager to find out where it was going. Very compelling book! Definitely a page turner which kept me absorbed from the beginning to the end. I felt the end was abrupt but it helped to know that the sequel is within reach. I really liked Katniss & thought she was a kick butt main character that it was easy to relate to and enjoy reading about. Looking forward ...more

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