The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Apr 13, 2011 Tamara Rose Blodgett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopian

Collins reels us in like struggling fish on the hook, as a post-apocalyptic United States battles to carve out an existence. Sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen fights for food, fights for warmth, fights for all the things that we take for granted. The Capital, a city which rules over twelve “districts,” enforces an annually brutal game in which each district advances one boy and one girl, pitted against one another until they are all dead, save one. The games were implemented as a penalty for ear Collins reels us in like struggling fish on the hook, as a post-apocalyptic United States battles to carve out an existence. Sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen fights for food, fights for warmth, fights for all the things that we take for granted. The Capital, a city which rules over twelve “districts,” enforces an annually brutal game in which each district advances one boy and one girl, pitted against one another until they are all dead, save one. The games were implemented as a penalty for earlier rebellion...a reminder of the iron-clad control the Capitol has over the districts' people.

Katniss's sister is chosen for the games in a lottery-style drawing where she makes the startling choice to go in her stead. Her journey into the games spirals into a miserable choice of who must die first. Peeta Mellark, a boy two years older also from her district, goes along with a scheme to insure their mutual survival; star-crossed lovers. The hitch is his feelings for her and her feelings for Gale Hawthorne, a boy who became her constant companion after their fathers were killed in a tragic mining accident. Although the love triangle may seem cliché, it is well-done by Collins in that she holds the feelings of all the characters in check, allowing their miserable circumstances to speak about the luxury of planning for a future where children may later be chosen. How can we allow ourselves to love when it can lead to more loss(?). Another breath of fresh air is the typical teen-click scene just isn't here; they're simply fighting so hard for survival there's not enough time for pettiness. (Readers won't miss that.)

Collins is an additively clever writer, the book is great for all ages, but billed as Young Adult. The Young Adult genre is gaining speed and acceptance as these authors have the latitude to write stories that would be considered too “far out” for adult readership.

Set in the future with a Science Fiction bent, this novel will appeal to those that like gladiatorial-style fighting.

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May 13, 2011 Julie Witt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

OK! I get it! I finally get what all the hype is about! Why did it take me so long to read The Hunger Games? Something all readers have experienced: Too many books, too little time! But I finally started this book, and I couldn't put it down! I've never read anything like it, that's for sure. I'm sure I don't have to describe the plot, because I'll bet everybody has heard of it in one form or another. There's the book and the movie being made, so that info is readily available. I will just talk ...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Sonia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Recensione completa: http://awesomebookshelf.altervista.or...

Ho scoperto questo libro nascosto in una scaffale nell’enorme biblioteca del mio piccolo paesello, appena ho visto gli occhi della copertina ho capito che DOVEVO leggerlo.
Mi aspettavo una storia completamente diversa, allora non sapevo neanche che cosa volesse dire distopico ed ero appena entrata nel mondo dei YA grazie a Twilight. Una volta iniziato però non sono più riusciuta a mollarlo, mi sono fermata solo per mangiare e in meno di Recensione completa: http://awesomebookshelf.altervista.or...

Ho scoperto questo libro nascosto in una scaffale nell’enorme biblioteca del mio piccolo paesello, appena ho visto gli occhi della copertina ho capito che DOVEVO leggerlo.
Mi aspettavo una storia completamente diversa, allora non sapevo neanche che cosa volesse dire distopico ed ero appena entrata nel mondo dei YA grazie a Twilight. Una volta iniziato però non sono più riusciuta a mollarlo, mi sono fermata solo per mangiare e in meno di una giornata l’ho finito.

Ho amato tutto di Hunger Games: i personaggi, le ambientazioni, l’intero mondo immaginato dalla geniale Collins.
Mi sono ritrovata catapultata in questa crudele società, dove ogni anno ventiquattro ragazzini strappati alle loro famiglie si uccidono a vicenda rinchiusi in arena per divertire gli abitanti di Capitol City.
Gli Hunger Games sono anche un avvertimento, servono a ricordare che nessuno all’interno dei Dodici Distretti può ribellarsi al volere della ricca Capitale.

Gran parte del romanzo è incentrato sulla protagonista Katniss, una delle mie preferite di sempre, ma nonostante questo anche chi appare solo una volta nella storia ti resta impresso. Qua sta la bravura della Collins, che tra le altre cose è riuscita a rendere credibili persino i personaggi più assurdi.

Peeta ha conquistato subito il mio cuoricino, non si può far altro che amarlo incodizionatamente. Cinna è l’essere più awesome che sia mai apparso in un libro e meriterebbe un libro tutto per sè, proprio come Haymitch. [Suzanne, se non hai niente da fare potresti pure a tempo perso scriverci altri due o tre romanzi, eh!]

Riguardo al tanto discusso triangolo amoroso Gale – Katniss – Peeta non dirò molto, perchè c’è davvero ben poco da raccontare. Se cercate una storia romantica, zuccherosa e con tanta romance, smettete di leggere questa recensione e cercate un altro libro.
Hunger Games parla di sopravvivenza, di amore per la vita e la propria famiglia, e di libertà. Qua il bacio è un apostrofo rosso sangue tra le parole: t’ammazzo. - lo so frase infelice ma voleva usarle da una vita XD -
Team Gale e Team Peeta, hanno poco a che fare con l’intera storia, sono solo frutto della mente perverse di certe fan, me in primis.

Se non avete ancora letto Hunger Games correte a comprarlo, soprattutto se avete intenzione di vedere il film. Sono sicura che una volta fatto, amerete ancora di più l’ottimo lavoro che è stato fatto da Gary Ross & Company. ...more

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Feb 15, 2011 Christine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 27, 2011 Rie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Cue the gushing.

OMG! I freaking loved this book. It’s already one of those books that mean so much to me. Like a good friend.

I don’t cry at books, very often. Reading the first fifty pages of this I cried the entire time. Not sobbing tears like in book five of Harry Potter, but those tears you don’t even know are there until you taste salt in your mouth. She is an amazingly strong young girl with a tale that distinguishes her from most of YA.

She loves her family in such a deep way that she has ...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Marrion James (The Book Associate) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, bought

I have checked this book at Goodreads and obviously most or I should probably say all of the people provided a review about this one really loved it. All of it gave it a 5 star. So I am not surprised because now I am one of them. lol!

If it weren't for my friend who happens to won this book and she let me borrows it, maybe today, I am totally clueless on how amazing this book is. Let's get started shall we?

The Plot. To be honest, I don't get it at first on why on earth it is called The Hunger Gam I have checked this book at Goodreads and obviously most or I should probably say all of the people provided a review about this one really loved it. All of it gave it a 5 star. So I am not surprised because now I am one of them. lol!

If it weren't for my friend who happens to won this book and she let me borrows it, maybe today, I am totally clueless on how amazing this book is. Let's get started shall we?

The Plot. To be honest, I don't get it at first on why on earth it is called The Hunger Games. Only one thing to find out, right? I am not too surprised when I finally knew what it means. It became very common to me but in a different situation. What do I mean? Well, I have watched a movie something alike. Do you know the Japanese movie, Battle Royale? It is a very controversial novel published on 1999 called Batoru Rowaiaru written by Koushun Takami. I wanted you to see guys how slightly similar this book to the other. [see its movie trailer here]

Let's get back to The Hunger Games. The storyline was different, of course. Though the words rings into me similarly. "Kill to survive". I loved it! Though I was expecting more violence and gore here. It has a minimal gore on my opinion though I like how this book is written.

It amazes me on how the book really drives me wide-eyed. It was simply downright brilliant! It applies only an amount of violence in action. Still, there is violence. The fact that I truly adore reading and watching those kind of things. It makes my blood rush in excitement.

There are not much of surprises here but I don't bother to regard it because this book is all about killing and surviving. It really helps you on how to survive in the wild. Its awesome!

The Characters. Katniss. I was a very uncommon name. Very original. I really liked her when she is completely blind on what really Peeta feels about her. I would gladly slap her head on how stupid she is. lol! And I am impressed on how her life in the forest was, when the Games started. Its unlike some characters in a movie or in another book, this one really suffers intensely bad injuries. I feel bad about her though she suppressed the pain and go on. I admire her courage and strength. Collins made her vulnerable but with strong will and spirit.

Peeta. Ohhh... He is interesting. I really liked him for Katniss instead of Gale. Obviously, he is the male MC here. I really thought Gale would be in the focus but it's not. Maybe he will take part on the next two books. I don't know and I wanted to find out. *laughs*

Effie, Haymitch and Cinna are awesome too! I love them taking part on the book. They really bring out some of the amazing things out here.

Tiny Flaw. I hate to admit but there is for me. I was not satisfied on the very ending. Literally, I was not. I paused for awhile and confused when I finished reading it. However, there is still an after-shock of amazement and brilliance on the book. It helped it go back to the top.

I really highly recommend this book to the people who loves some intense violence action. I do suggest, to take a precaution to our very young readers out there. I am definitely going to read the next two book and hopefully get one of my copies! A big salute for Ms. Suzanne Collins for creating such an amazing book! :]

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Apr 05, 2011 Bookwormlaura rated it it was amazing

I didn't want to read this book at first because I don't like to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to reading. After I read the first chapter, I was hooked.

I enjoy reading books that have strong female characters. Katniss was right up my alley. She went against the norm and broke the rules. Katniss knew that there was more than what the cards delt.

I was hooked from page one and it didn't take me long to finish. I liked the way the story kept changing. Collins had me crying, laughing, and yell ...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Heather rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, all-time-favourites, books-so-amazing-i-re-read

Well, i liked this book, a lot. I had heard about it from a lot of people so thought id read it to see what all the fuss was about and now? Im completely hooked and waiting for the second book to arrive! I really liked the main charecter Katniss Evergreen and thought she was a easy charecter to connect to as well which made me connect with her more. The main boy, Peeta, wasn't too bad either. He wasn't a natural survivor like Katniss but he adapts well. My favourite charecter in the book though, ...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Lisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm always skeptical about books that are widely popular (perhaps I'm afraid of being disappointed?). I can confirm that this novel did not disappoint! If you haven't read yet (even though I may be one of the last...) pick it up now and start, you won't regret! ...more

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