The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Jan 08, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As I was saying above, that when the series was first released in 2008, I tried to read it and was unsuccessful, something in it just didn't click with me but this time around and I don't know if it's because I'm in a different frame of mind or the fact that I'm in a state of reading more and more dystopian novels but I loved it and this time round fell more in love with Peeta as when I first read it , I was a close shave between Peeta and Gale.
The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian world, that ...more

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Jan 20, 2010 Skip rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

A book set in the future where teenage contestants from each of 12 districts are compelled to battle to the death for entertainment of the Capital and all citizens. Through guile and some luck, Katniss Everdeen is able to prevail. Good young adult reading.

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Nov 15, 2011 Renee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Best dystopian ever

I loved rereading this book! Honesty, nothing has been as amazing for me to read since discovering this genius work many years ago. Truly a masterpiece. I can’t wait to start book two.

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Apr 26, 2011 Quantum Thief- Behind the Mask rated it it was amazing

love this book and the movie!

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Jun 07, 2010 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopian

So, of course, this is the dystopian series that started it all. The Hunger Games. The whole series has been sitting on my shelf for a while now, and when I found out I'd be taking two thirteen-hour flights, I figured it was time to buckle down and start this thing. And boy, am I glad I did. Let's start with how I was expecting it though (this is in no way a full review, but only my current thoughts, which admittedly are a bit scatter-brained):

I came in with pretty high expectations. They were m ...more

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Nov 07, 2010 Angela rated it it was amazing

Re-Read
First Read: December 22, 2010

The Hunger Games is book one in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, a YA science fiction novel.
I’m a PNR/UF/F fan and put this off as long as I could due to the sci-fi genre. Wow, that was a huge mistake. This series should be classified as Fantasy and the futuristic feel is forgotten almost immediately.

The hunger games takes place in the future, although that’s forgotten almost immediately, in a nation called Panem which was formerly known as North A Re-Read
First Read: December 22, 2010

The Hunger Games is book one in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, a YA science fiction novel.
I’m a PNR/UF/F fan and put this off as long as I could due to the sci-fi genre. Wow, that was a huge mistake. This series should be classified as Fantasy and the futuristic feel is forgotten almost immediately.

The hunger games takes place in the future, although that’s forgotten almost immediately, in a nation called Panem which was formerly known as North America. 74 years ago there were 13 districts and the Capitol in Panem. The 13th district was destroyed during a rebellion against the Capitol and as a reminder, The Hunger Games are held each year. (I hope I explained that right.) One boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen randomly from each district. These children are called tributes and are paraded, interviewed, challenged on television, like heros and heroines. The tributes are then dropped into an outdoor ‘arena’ where they hunt one another, battle for survival, and find means of food and shelter. Food, Medicine, and other necessities can be dropped in by sponsors who are routeing for their favourites.

Our main characters come from district 12, where the men over 18 work in coal mines to provide for their families. There isn’t another option, because each district works to provide the Capitol with its necessities. The Capitol is fat and wealthy where the districts are rewarded with poverty, famine, and death.

Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen year old girl who provides for her family by hunting and trading goods. She lives with her mother and little sister, Primrose.
Katniss’ best friend is Gayl, an 18 year old boy who taught her to hunt after the loss of her father. Gayl recently discovered he has feelings for Katniss, although she’s more interested in providing for her family and being friends with Gayl.

Its time to choose the tributes and Prim is the first chosen. Katniss immediately steps into Prim’s place. The boy is selected and this is where we meet our male lead, Peeta Mellark. We discover through he book that Peeta and Katniss have a brief history. Peeta fell in love with Katniss when they were five years old in school and was never brave enough to talk to her. Katniss remembers a time when her family was starving and Peeta gave her a loaf of bread. It wasn’t just a loaf of bread. As the son of a baker, he had to burn the bread and take the beating for it.

Katniss and Peeta are made pretty for the televised parade, interview, and games. We also meet Hamich, a washed-up, drunken, former district 12 winner. Hamich helps Peeta and Katniss with training and how to win over sponsors. He also chooses when and what to send our couple during the game. During the interviews, Peeta confesses his love for Katniss and the audience begins their love fest for the young tragic couple. Peeta saves Katniss’ life, she saves his life, and then they decide to team up and work together. Katniss pretends to love Peeta to score sponsors, which send food and medicine in times of need. Peeta returns her love, although he doesn’t realize its an act. 24 tributes counts down until the final two wounded lovers remain. Rather than kill one another, they threaten to take poisonous berries in a joint suicide. The Game Maker ends the match and both Katniss and Peeta are chosen as winners. The couple takes their bows and Katniss lets reveals her love was an act, assuming Peeta was doing the same thing. Poor Peeta. Katniss and Peeta return home as victors but unfortunately are now targets of the Capitol’s President Snow.

We end with Peeta’s heart being broken, Gayl feeling betrayed, and Katniss confused.

I started reading this book at bedtime and continued reading until it was over. It’s too close to Christmas to get sucked into two more books, so I’ll wait until January to start the next ones.
Now onto lighter reading.
...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Zey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, kick-ass-heroine, dystopia, post-apocalyptic, sweet-hero, why-the-hype, action-packed, just-ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well, it's a shame, with all its hype and its movie version being blockbuster and all (I didn't watch it, though); I've just finished reading this book, literally! as in 10 minutes ago. I really don't know why I never felt the urge to read this book even if all my friends were crazy about it. I guess I just didn't want to jump in on its popularity band wagon and felt obliged to gush over it just because it was the coolest thing at the moment.

So finally, after years of ignoring this series, I sta Well, it's a shame, with all its hype and its movie version being blockbuster and all (I didn't watch it, though); I've just finished reading this book, literally! as in 10 minutes ago. I really don't know why I never felt the urge to read this book even if all my friends were crazy about it. I guess I just didn't want to jump in on its popularity band wagon and felt obliged to gush over it just because it was the coolest thing at the moment.

So finally, after years of ignoring this series, I started reading the Hunger Games today, at around 3 in the morning (Yeah, damn insomnia!), it's almost 12 in the afternoon now. So, I can safely conclude that, yeah, maybe I love this book. I wouldn't deprived myself of sleep and risk looking like a zombie and scaring people away the other day if I didn't right?

However, I was debating with my myself whether I should give this book a 4 star or a 3 star (I know, I know, debating with yourself sounds crazy, you might think I'm a complete lunatic right now, but I told you, I haven't slept for hours!). Don't get me wrong, this book is amazing. The Hunger Games is one of those books that demands to be finished in just one sitting. You should see my eyebags right now for proof. I guess it deserves the hype.

It is exciting, fast paced and action packed. The main character, Katniss, is very likeable and relatable. She's smart and cunning and strong willed and definitely a kick-ass heroine (a rare quality in female protagonists in YA books nowadays, if you ask me). And then there's our loverboy, Peeta, who is sweet and romantic and definitely a breath of fresh air from the mysterious assholes love interests who are sprouting like mushrooms in YA genre. Even the minor characters are interesting and unforgettable. However, for me, the strength of this book lies in its solid world building. It's amazing how Suzanne managed to let her readers get a clear idea of the society without describing it in precise details. The society is always at the sidelines, not really mentioned but still, you can feel the vibe of Katnis' dystopian world. I know I'm not making any sense, maybe I should get some sleep now.

But see, I've read Divergent first, and I'm huge fan of it. (I guess I'm doing things in reverse here). I can't believe I'm going to say this, but for me, Divergent is more thought provoking and deeper than The Hunger Games. Of course, Divergent's society doesn't make any sense at all and utterly unbelievable, hell, I can't even decide whether I like Tris or not until now. THG is so much better in many technical aspects; However, I am talking about that feeling we, readers, feel after reading a book. Divergent made me question things, especially Tris' decisions and her actions, it made me feel conflicted about the morality of killing out of self defense, it made me think of the logic behind the factions, it made me feel the deapth of being a human, that all of us has a good and bad side. In short, the book affected me, emotionally. I don't feel the same way about The Hunger Games, though. It's just that, Katnis is so perfect. She always do the right thing. All the situation she's in shows how bad ass she is and put her always in the good light. It's a surprise really, given the circumstances she's in, that I was never moved by her. I expected this novel to touch on more sensitive issues, but it never came.

BUT, I love this book. I really do. Because after all, it all depends on whether you enjoyed reading the book or not. And I enjoyed reading THG so much that I forgot I have an important report at the office later, so much that instead of preparing for my report, here I am, writing this review.

So after a long argument with myself, I decided to give this book a 4 star. Because of that, I'm not in speaking terms with the other part of myself right now. ...more

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Oct 12, 2008 A rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, young-adult, sci-fi-fantasy, top-10-of-2008, romance, series, tearjerker, page-turner, fiction, what-a-twist

Wow. I almost didn't believe... wow. Amazing book.

For people who hated Twilight, and for people who didn't quite get Poison Study, hold out some hope--this is the book for you! Action, adventure, kickassery, and a little bit of romance thrown in. Katniss will keep you rooting for her victory.

Folks looking for summer-reading-type contemporary novels, books that can generate discussion and examination--look no further. Librarians, teachers, parents, take heed. You may love this book as well as you ...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Carrie Ardoin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, dystopia

I read this when it first came out, but I decided to do a re-read before the movie because I could not recall some of the finer details.

I'm so glad I did. This book is perfect. I literally could not find one thing to criticize. I am so much more excited for the movie now, and I am just hoping it will be a hugely faithful adaptation. ...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Ayumi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

I was a bit intrigued by the book and I have no clue of the story since I haven't read the synopsis and didn't read any reviews for this but I was lucky that I loved it. When I read the book I was thinking that this would be good in a movie and shortly after that the movie came and I loved it as well. ...more

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