The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Sep 10, 2012 Chaitra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: part-of-a-series, child-or-teenage-protagonist, fantasy, adventure, science-fiction, romance, dystopia, young-adult, made-into-a-movie, post-apocalyptic

I was all YA-d out when this series came out. I almost picked it up before watching the movie earlier this year, but didn't. I wasn't so impressed with the film, so I thought the book could wait. Until of course, my two darling sisters gave me a chewing out for not having read it yet. I picked it up today as I took a small break from a particularly awful book I need to return to the library, with no intention of finishing. I read it through in one sitting.

The storyline is this. There was war, a I was all YA-d out when this series came out. I almost picked it up before watching the movie earlier this year, but didn't. I wasn't so impressed with the film, so I thought the book could wait. Until of course, my two darling sisters gave me a chewing out for not having read it yet. I picked it up today as I took a small break from a particularly awful book I need to return to the library, with no intention of finishing. I read it through in one sitting.

The storyline is this. There was war, and then there was a sort of lop-sided peace with the Capitol being the power hub, and thirteen districts breaking their backs providing for the Capitol. They should have sensed there was something ominous with the number, and sure enough the districts rise up in mutiny. The Capitol stamps them down, and obliterates District 13. For the others, they devise a nice little torture mechanism called "The Hunger Games". Just as the name suggests, two kids ranging from 12-18 years old from each district battle to death in a carefully controlled environment televised for the viewing pleasure of the Capitol. We follow a young girl called Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to be elected in place of her little sister Primrose, as she tries to survive the seventy fourth Hunger Games. She forms a number of alliances, none more than with the boy who's selected from her district - Peeta Mellark. Peeta and Katniss (oh dear, whatever is their fan fiction ship called? Katpee? Peeniss? lol) go a ways back. She owes him her life and he loves her. Or is he just making that up to survive in the games? Whatever it is, Katniss does not fail to take advantage of it, and milks it for all it's worth. Of course, we never doubt for a minute who will survive the Games, it's just a matter of how it all falls into place.

Collins writes a solid character in Katniss. She's arrogant, angry, selfish, calculating, doesn't trust easily and completely oblivious to poor Peeta and it's easy to come to the conclusion that she's a bitch. But, Collins makes us (or at least, me) care for this girl, because beyond all her faults she's written as a confused but determined girl, doing her best to survive. And she's never sly. That's a great character to invest three books in. I was pleasantly surprised with Peeta's character, especially since I saw the movie first and I wondered why such a waste of character would be put on screen. I'm happy to know that it's the movie's fault. Peeta in the book is sincere and true to Katniss, even when she doesn't believe him. Plus, he carries his own weight and is genuinely likable. I know that his character changes midway through the second (or third?) book, but so far I can take him as a perfect foil to Katniss' brashness. There are other colorful characters as well, Haymitch Abernathy - the duo's drunk mentor, Effie Trinket - the flighty manager of the District 12 team, Cinna - Katniss' stylist. And Rue - a little wisp of a girl who's another district's tribute and with whom Katniss forms an alliance. On a side note: I counted three separate mentions of Rue being brown skinned which just proves to me that racists are ignorant people who cannot read. (They made a huge hue and cry in social media that they couldn't get invested in her character in the movie because she was played by an African American - never mind that that little one was the one perfect casting).

It's an impressive enough premise (even though it's supposedly lifted from Battle Royale) if we don't mind some mind-boggling errors in judgment by the powers that be. They're vicious and ruthless, the Gamemakers who design the Games and the Capitol that sanctions it. But, they let these little kids battle it out to the death by throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them, under horrible conditions, creating equally vicious creatures who will stop at nothing to survive. We can let this pass, as they'll kill each other, there's only one victor. And what can one person do - right? Wrong. The wealthier districts make this a sort of a prestige issue. They have kids, called Careers, that specifically train for this from a very young age, they're better at almost everything than the poorer districts. Why would the Capitol allow this? After all, we have to suppose there are more of these super soldiers back in their districts, and many more in the making. Why would the Capitol not suppose that they may have a revolt on their hands again if they make one bad move?

But anyhow, this is a minor quibble for me as I'm sure the Capitol gets it handed to them in the next books. The clever construct is flexible enough that nothing seems too out there. The book reads extremely well, and the love story is not at all mushy. (Well Peeta is pure mush, but he's Peeta, so all is forgiven). The read strength of the books are the characters - I can relate to them, sympathize with their plight, and definitely want to know where they're heading. It's not a perfect book by any means, but the five star rating is because it's the most fun I've had reading a book in quite a while now. I can't wait to read Mockingjay, I just have to make sure not to start it when I have 3 humongous library books to return the next day. *Groan*

*** Edited to Add: The whole pretending to be in love to attract sponsors reminded me very strongly of They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. I haven't read the book, only watched the movie with Jane Fonda & the creepy guy from Slaughterhouse Five. But, it's a very similar concept, with a remarkable amount of brutality for a dance contest. Collins just took reality TV to its logical conclusion. ...more

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