From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

Start date: August 21, 2013

Finish date: September 22, 2013

Why we're reading this: September pick for the So Many Books, So Little Time book group.
[close] September pick for the So Many Books, So Little Time book group.

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May 21, 2012 Chris Blocker rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Yes, I am really reading this. Surprising, eh?
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720,000 ratings + 87,000 reviews = No chance anyone will ever see this review. Therefore, I must resort to drastic measures. Interspersed in this review are pictures of cute kittens. Like them, like my review. Meow.

I'm not one for trendy things, especially trendy reads. I've done my best to avoid the whole Harry Potter thing; I figure if people are still talking about him in another forty years, I may give in then. Twilight, no chance. But it ...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Jean Marshall rated it really liked it

Beware! Spoiler alerts!

I enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins very much even though I found it difficult going at first. It seemed as if I'd read this book before since tales of death matches set in futuristic dystopian societies are somewhat common in science fiction. But then I began to like Katniss, the main character. At sixteen, she supports her family by hunting and gathering food (both the male and female roles), and risks a prison sentence doing so. She is sturdy and brave, and r Beware! Spoiler alerts!

I enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins very much even though I found it difficult going at first. It seemed as if I'd read this book before since tales of death matches set in futuristic dystopian societies are somewhat common in science fiction. But then I began to like Katniss, the main character. At sixteen, she supports her family by hunting and gathering food (both the male and female roles), and risks a prison sentence doing so. She is sturdy and brave, and rarely smiles, and yet she is not always able to hide her strong emotions completely as we learn when she stands on stage having replaced her sister in the games. She keeps her chin up, but her expression is not impenetrable as worry briefly shadows her face. At the same time, I had to keep in mind that she is a character in a novel for young audiences, which means that she will be stronger than many of the adult characters, like her mother, for example. She appears mature next to her makeover team, stable compared to Haymitch, and more clever than the gamemakers, all of which is fine. She is the hero, after all. Don’t the police always show up after Scooby and the gang solves the mystery? And speaking of mysteries, why do the boys who make up her love triangle, Gale and Peeta, act like sixth graders when it comes to romance? They love her, but they stay in a nearly constant state of pouting with neither pursuing her, waiting for her to make the proclamation of love. As the leading male characters they come across as wet noodles, limp from rejection, which makes me hope someone else will earn her love in one of the sequels. I could understand one of them acting that way, but not both. I’m done with the three’s company scenario.
But the action is exciting. Collins moves the plot along pretty swiftly. And though her role as puppet master is heavy handed at times, I was frequently surprised by the story’s unexpected twists. Though I knew Katniss would survive the game, she is the narrator after all, I couldn’t imagine how that could happen since a true happy ending seemed out of reach. And most important, the game’s conclusion was surprising, dramatic, fulfilling, and above all believable. Collins earned this strong climax with her thorough back story of how the games operate and by playing on her audience’s understanding of the realities of reality TV. So if you haven’t read it yet, I recommend it even to those who doubt as I did.
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Dec 27, 2013 Laura rated it liked it

Flight read. Was fine. But disturbing.

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Jan 14, 2010 Lisa rated it it was amazing

The best book I've read this year! ...more

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Feb 01, 2010 Maribeth rated it it was amazing

Before I began this book, I felt that the overall premise would be to violent and gruesome. However, from page one I was hooked and I read this over a weekend. The storyline draws you in and because the story is told through the main character's (Katniss') point of view, it is easy to connect with her and appreciate her abbhorance to the reaping and the hunger games. Very good read! ...more

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Jan 28, 2009 Laurie(Time Stand Still) rated it it was amazing

Just as good the second time through. I thought I could just skim through it to get myself up to speed for the next book, but I was hanging on every suspense filled word. A must read.

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Jun 05, 2010 Tricia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012, 2018-the-great-american-read

A very entertaining read!

I would recommend this to anyone. It's a bit violent, but it sure makes you appreciate current society. Hopefully our future doesn't look like that! ...more

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