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

Feb 28, 2012 Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spring-2012, favorites, good-fiction, classics, sci-fi-fantasy, young-adult, permanent-library, sci-fi-dystopia

A Big 5 Stars

SUMMARY

In the ruins of what used to be America, post-apocalyptic Panam has emerged. To remind its people that going against the Capital as District 13 did, the remaining 12 Districts must have “volunteer” a boy and a girl tribute to play the Hunger Games. Only one will survive. Added to this sacrifice is the insult that everyone must watch the televised Games. As the residents of District 12 gather in the Town Square, Katniss Everdeen prays that her name is not called. It is no A Big 5 Stars

SUMMARY

In the ruins of what used to be America, post-apocalyptic Panam has emerged. To remind its people that going against the Capital as District 13 did, the remaining 12 Districts must have “volunteer” a boy and a girl tribute to play the Hunger Games. Only one will survive. Added to this sacrifice is the insult that everyone must watch the televised Games. As the residents of District 12 gather in the Town Square, Katniss Everdeen prays that her name is not called. It is not. The name is Primrose Everdeen. Making the ultimate sacrifice, Katniss volunteers to take her little sister’s place as tribute. To her dismay, the boy tribute is called: Peeta Mellark. How is she to kill the boy who gave her the bread after her father was killed in a Mine explosion? She must, if she is to survive. She can’t afford not to. Katniss can’t trust her mother after she fell into an immobilizing depression. Prim doesn’t have her cold and calculating temperament that is needed for hunting. Prim can’t go under the fence into the woods of what was Appalachia. With out her, the remnant Everdeen family will starve. Let the Games begin. The Huntress becomes the hunted.

MY THOUGHTS

1.) Katniss is a wonderful character. She is a survivor. She had to become the head of her family at a very young age. It is no wonder that she seems cold at the beginning of novel. She found out that she can’t trust anyone (with the exception of Gale) at the tender age of 11. She will never marry and sacrifice her children to the Hunger Games. She is wary of any kindness given to her. But she grows as demonstrated by her affection for Rue. My heart broke and tears ran down my cheek as Katniss sang the lullaby to the dying child and covered little Rue with flowers. The gift that Rue’s district gave Katniss and Thresh’s sparing of her life showed that character development. Her joy when it was announced that 2 tributes could survive if they were from the same district was genuine. She really did like Peeta and reflected a small amount of humanity that Peeta spoke of on the roof top in the Capitol. She did slightly disappoint me when she broke Peeta’s heart at the end. My heart ached for him. I thought Collins would have let Katniss explore her warm feelings toward him. Remember the warmth and butterflies she had when Peeta kissed her the first time when he wasn’t medicated or in pain? I enjoyed those scenes in the cave.

2.) I found it very interesting that the vanquished 13th District was the original 13 American Colonies where America declared her Independence from England to form a government of We the People. Panam’s Capitol is in the Rockies, not Washington, D.C. and Panam’s government is the opposite of the Founding Fathers: Totalitarianism. The tribute Games reminded me of an ultra-modern take on Shirley Jackson’s THE LOTTERY.

3.) The writing is exquisite. Collins use of the 1st person from Katniss’ POV worked and necessary. It is her story. The action is almost nonstop. The descriptive scenes at the Capital were amazing! I could see the “girl on fire” and her twirling in her gemstone gown and her amazement when Peeta declares he’s been in love with her since they were five. I loved Rue, respected Thresh, hated the Careers and the Capitol. I loved Cinna, too. I can understand the appeal this novel has; it is amazing!!!!! I loved, loved it.
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Mar 24, 2012 April rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, amazon-review-posted, audiobook, 2012, ya-books, sci-fi

Check out my other listens at Eargasms Audiobook Reviews

This was an amazing book. Held my attention from beginning to end. It had some really devastating moments where I had to take a break to compose myself.

it is the kind of book where you know people are going to die and try not to get attached to them, but in the end your heart breaks anyway. I am not sure I will be able to watch the movie cause it will be even worse!

I might need a day or two before I move on to the next book in the trilogy! ...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Moondance rated it liked it

Reality TV at its worst. Children killing children to atone for a rebellion. I think I may the last person to read this and now I need to read the others to see what happens. 3 stars

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May 17, 2012 Nancy Brady rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, ya

A well-written YA novel in a future society (Panem) where teens are sacrificed for the government's continued control. These selected teens fight to the death on a reality-based TV program. It sounds a bit gory, but was less than expected. ...more

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May 14, 2011 Roxann rated it really liked it

I liked this book. It was set in the future. Appeared to be a grim future with the government keeping people in line with fear and lack of food. Female lead is another likeable character-can be soft, but independent, tough.

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