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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

Aug 29, 2011 Jason Koivu rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

WARNING: Jennifer Lawrence is NOT in this book!

description

....Yah, I know, right?! What a rip-off! That delightfully precocious pixie of a full-grown girl who may not be the beauty of the world, but whose offbeat charm has vaulted her into the goddess stratosphere is missing and that's a crying shame.

description

"Pretty" is always nice, but give me the goofy girl every time!

Okay, let's move on from that barely-serious diatribe...

All the hoopla surrounding The Hunger Games had me expecting a reading experience so enthr ...more

64 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2011 Bee rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, pulp-scifi

This was better than expected. Definitely young adult reading, but entertaining and engaging. I'll watch the movie next, and will probably read the next one too. But don't expect deep or meaty or chewy or even Hans Solo ...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Dea rated it really liked it

Well the movie is coming out so of course I had to read the book. Honestly the more I read the books that have been made into movies the more I realize how shallow the movie medium is. I guess to me the story is not so much visual as it is psychological and emotional, and oh boy was this book emotional.

Before I start with the spoilers I will say that I read this book in 3 days. Yep all 300+ pages in 3 days staying up until 2 am and reading every free moment I could spare. So when I say you will Well the movie is coming out so of course I had to read the book. Honestly the more I read the books that have been made into movies the more I realize how shallow the movie medium is. I guess to me the story is not so much visual as it is psychological and emotional, and oh boy was this book emotional.

Before I start with the spoilers I will say that I read this book in 3 days. Yep all 300+ pages in 3 days staying up until 2 am and reading every free moment I could spare. So when I say you will enjoy reading this book I mean it. It is not an easy read, or at least it was a change of pace after pulling a marathon reading all seven books of Harry Potter series in two weeks. But you will not struggle with it and the smooth flow of narrative keeps you coming back. I did give it 4 out of 5 mainly because of a somewhat predictable plot. Of course it could be because I have read more than a fair share in my life and almost nothing seems new but I did keep coming back because while predictable the narrative kept me glued to the pages. Give the book a try, before you see the movie, you may enjoy the written word much more than the cinematic experience.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Coco Poley rated it really liked it

As I began The Hunger Games, I’ll admit I was unimpressed. The narrative felt complicated, disoriented and choppy. It was hard for me to catch up and the inward dialogue felt far too simple. I’ll admit, first person present is definitely hard to get into. Once we reached the Games in the story, however, my response as a reader was different. The narrative from Katniss was stunning as she observed a new world around her that she had never seen before. The story was engrossing to say the least. I As I began The Hunger Games, I’ll admit I was unimpressed. The narrative felt complicated, disoriented and choppy. It was hard for me to catch up and the inward dialogue felt far too simple. I’ll admit, first person present is definitely hard to get into. Once we reached the Games in the story, however, my response as a reader was different. The narrative from Katniss was stunning as she observed a new world around her that she had never seen before. The story was engrossing to say the least. I could closely identify with Katniss as an older sister. I have felt the same protective and urgent need to care for a sibling so much younger than I, that I felt as if my role were as parent. Katniss finds herself in this situation. Her mother is mentally absent, her father has passed away. She must be the provider and hunter, she must take on the role traditionally thought of as a man’s role. She is already in a tragic scenario, and yet is forced to deal with a situation even more dangerous: the Hunger Games.

One thing that stood out to me as I read the book was that there was a very strong female character in the lead role. This isn’t a common occurrence. Women in recent popular fantasy and fiction are weak, and perpetuate the idea that men must save them. For example (not to pick on a series that’s frequently picked on, but it truly is an excellent example) the Twilight series portrays the main female character as so weak she can barely control her own emotions. Unfortunately this is evident in many other recent tales of fiction. Women are either not portrayed as the stronger character, or else they are not the main character. Women-centric stories with strong main characters are hard to come by. Yet Katniss is a fighter, in spirit and in strength. She does not give up because she is ultimately driven by the necessity to provide for her family. Even when she is in the thick of things, and emotions are high, everything she does is for the Games. Every goal she makes is simply another step to get her back home, and get her sister and her mother into a safe place.

This kind of drive is so powerful in a main character. I think that is ultimately what attracted me to Katniss the most; she is not only a character I can identify with but also a character I want to emulate. I only wish that I had the bravery of this sixteen-year-old girl, able to think quickly and resourcefully to solve her family’s problems. The book is truly about her, and her strength of character. For that reason I most certainly recommend it, especially to young women ten and up. The Hunger Games appeals to our desire for strength of character, and should encourage us to be more than we are as people. Everyone struggles with their family and familial dynamics. Many of us struggle with the necessity to provide for our family units. The book addresses all of this with an urgent nothing else matters attitude that I can only wish the breadwinners of America would adopt.

Another element of the story that should be addressed is the violence. Often I have heard others complain about the fact that the Games are children attempting to murder one another. This is no easy thing to stomach, whether you watch the film or read the book. But I don’t think this is something to complain about. I think the author, Suzanne Collins, has done very well to create a real, terrifying scenario. She does not glorify the violence (and thankfully, neither does the film), she does not at any point make the Games appealing. There is nothing in the book that says, “Killing children is okay.” In fact, almost the entire citizenship in most of the Districts look down on the Games. Collins displays this kind of entertainment as tyrannical and useless. I think that rather than criticize Collins (or the movie) for the creation of a scenario where children are forced to kill one another, we should realize that everything in the book portrays this as despicable. The fight scenes in the movie are disjointed, choppy, and terrifying. Much like Katniss would experience them in real time (and in first person present), the fights and memories of the Games are fleeting and frightening. The film very accurately represented the book.

I most certainly recommend the Hunger Games. I’m excited to find a book written in the last year that encourages its readership to be disgusted by violence and depravity, care about one’s family to the point of volunteering to die for them, and be a brave and determined person. I’m waiting for my chance to read the next book, Catching Fire, since (of course) all the library’s copies are out. “May the odds be ever in your favor.” ...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Sgorman10 rated it liked it

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

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Apr 03, 2012 Vincent Darlage rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adventure, favorites, sci-fi

Wow... that was a heck of a page-turner!

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Feb 22, 2012 John rated it liked it · review of another edition

Without trying to sound backhanded this is about as good as young adult lit gets.
Katniss is a great hero... especially for young girls who in the past would have to settle for Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables or Little Women. Katniss is a female who licks butt, still is quite feminine and doesn't need anyone to save her.
...more

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