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The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

Start date: January 7, 2012

Finish date: January 31, 2012

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: January 2012 Group Read
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What Members Thought

Jan 20, 2013 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1audio, 3series, 2fiction, apocalyptic, ya-and-kids, scifi, action, romance

I've heard a lot about this & was pretty excited to find it on audio book. Maybe too excited because it was a bit of a let down. I saw the movie & it was OK The book was better in many ways, but suffered from 2 composition issues that were irritating; the reader, Carolyn McCormick, has too high of a voice for me, & the story is almost completely in first person present tense. McCormick's voice is well trained, the only saving grace, but it was like listening to one of the Chipmunks for hours on I've heard a lot about this & was pretty excited to find it on audio book. Maybe too excited because it was a bit of a let down. I saw the movie & it was OK The book was better in many ways, but suffered from 2 composition issues that were irritating; the reader, Carolyn McCormick, has too high of a voice for me, & the story is almost completely in first person present tense. McCormick's voice is well trained, the only saving grace, but it was like listening to one of the Chipmunks for hours on end.

I recently read an article where an author mentioned reading a manuscript that was all in the present tense ("I say" instead of "I said"). I believe the comment was that it was artsy, but wearing. I didn't really understand, until I listened to this & I agree completely. A friend suggested that it limited the character's, thus our understanding. We get the raw information before it has been processed. I think he's right, but it's not reason enough, IMO.

The world itself was simplified in an interesting way to break up civilization into districts that each performed one function. That wasn't too hard to swallow until (view spoiler) It forced me to realize that it was an artificial device rather than a realistic future. As it was, it focused my attention on the improbability & didn't do the story any favors, especially in light of the practically magical science that is displayed. (view spoiler) Practically magical, yet it played surprisingly well.

The main event are the children fighting to the death & that was very well done - 5 star material. The land was well used, the heroine well suited & believably trained. Her thought processes during the hunts & escapes were great. The author never crowded too much into the time or the characters. Everyone got tired, thirsty, & hungry. Their advantages & weaknesses were well used.

This is a YA book, so there was no sex, but hinged on romance, a very fine line to walk. Katniss was 16, a bit too old to believably pull this off. A year or two younger would have sat much better with me, especially given the complete lack of religion or any other moral structure within the book. That forces me to substitute my own & I can't imagine any 16 year old who (view spoiler) They're nothing like any teenager of that age that I've known & I raised 3 not terribly long ago. Still, this wasn't a terrible suspension of belief, but it did nag at me consistently.

However, the romance was one of the main, best, & most suspenseful pieces of the story. It also added a layer of complexity that was truly wonderful & gave the story far more latitude than it otherwise would have had. Excellently done!

I really enjoyed the book until the end. I'd guess that the author or the editor suddenly decided this shouldn't be a stand-alone, but a trilogy because the final twist felt tacked on & was unrealistic. It not only carries, but becomes the reason for the next novel where it felt so contrived that I couldn't continue. (view spoiler)

Anyway, the very end just hit me like a train wreck which was a shame. I'm going to give the next book, Catching Fire, a chance to wash away the bad taste. ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Mar 16, 2012 Tracey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, kindle, fantasy, apocalypse

I'm not sure what to say about The Hunger Games. I didn't really want to read it. Wasn't interested, and had no plans to look into it further: just because I don't much like children doesn't mean I want to read about them killing each other. And I cordially dislike dystopian novels. If I'd known before buying it that it was set in the present tense I'd never have gotten it.

Then my sister mentioned she was reading The Hunger Games, and it was amazing. She was surprised I hadn't planned to get in ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2015 Gaijinmama rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction

To be honest, I have sort of become tired of young adult books. I'll always be a huge Harry Potter fan, and some of the YA books I read in the 70's are classic (Judy Blume or Paula Danziger, anyone?) Nevertheless, I just can't bring myself to read Twilight or any of the other teen vampire or witch stories. Fans, please don't hurt me.

That said, The Hunger Games is really good and I recommend it to anyone age 12 and up. It has upsetting violent scenes which I don't think most younger kids are read ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2016 Kevis Hendrickson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, fantasy, novel, dystopian, young-adult, teen

As a rule of thumb, I don't watch film adaptations of books until I've read them first. Not if it can be helped. It's mainly because I feel, even when treated with care, movies ruin the books. Never was the point hammered home for me better than when I saw Peter Jackson's take on The Lord of the Rings. Although respectful of the source material and well-produced, Jackson's films lost a good bit of what made the books special. I was happy to have read the books first before Jackson had the chance ...more

2 likes · Like · see review