Did anyone get annoyed with the comparisons?

[[deleted user]]

When I first read this book, the reviews on the cover said that it was like a mix between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor. I can see how it's like the bachelor, but not The Hunger Games. Besides people entering into a "random" draw to get into a competition, there were no similarities with The Hunger Games and The Selection. Did anyone else find that annoying?

[Brittany]

I didn't necessarily find it annoying, but I found it unfair to the book as a whole. If people were going into this book expecting it to be like The Hunger Games, they would probably be disappointed and unfairly judge the book. If the rebel involvement would have played a bigger role in the book, The Hunger Games would be a more understandable comparison. Although yes, I do agree with the comparison to The Baachelor. That is a much better description of the book than The Hunger Games!

[Katlyn]

Rebels play a MUCH bigger role in book 3, however.
I cannot say I was annoyed by the comparisons.

[[deleted user]]

Yeah, I really agree that it was unfair to compare it to something it's not. I also didn't like how they said it was a dystopia. A dystopia is a society that tries to be perfect but backfires. The Selection was more like a look into what the future could be.

[Koleen]

June 7, 20014

To whom may concern:
I hate comparing. but I do find my self comparing because in college and school basic tell you what you suppose to companion. I do think some comparing is good when buy a produce like make up. but I am against slam a produce like how some book have hater group that go around hate anyone whom enjoy the book and called anyone whom is a fan of the produce and the creator stupid and bashing them that what I don't like. and I really don't like some mainly of us brush it off and not fix a big problem about spreading hatred in the world right now. I think we cant tolerate hatred in the book world. or cant we learn new knowledge and new thought idea. we be stuck in your own fear. we miss something wonderful.
Best regards

[Ali]

I think the comparisons were of the districts that people lived in decided their jobs in the Hunger Games and the number the people lived by in The Selection Series also determined their job selections. Both books show government set up to keep the rich richer and the poor poorer. This would make this comparison more accurate.

[Jacque]

Britt wrote: "I didn't necessarily find it annoying, but I found it unfair to the book as a whole. If people were going into this book expecting it to be like The Hunger Games, they would probably be disappointe..."

I agree. I still enjoyed the book, but was disappointed to find dystopian bachelor as opposed to the Hunger Games.

[scrump]

I understood the connections to both because both The Selection and The Hunger Games had castes/districts, girls competing to be Queen/people fighting to the death, main character coming form a lower caste, a slightly corrupt leader (king/President Snow), and a reformed government after previously failed America. I also understand the Bachelor, but this is the first I've heard that comparison.

[Kristen]

It didn't really annoy me, but the comparisons don't fit at all.

I've never watched the Bachelor (I have absolutely no desire to), but the only similarities between this book and the show are the basic premise of a guy looking for a wife among a certain number of contestants, and the fact that television is involved.
From what I've seen (which isn't very much - just commercials and stuff), a whole lot of stuff is televised in the Bachelor - dates, commentary, etc. In the Selection, it's only little glimpses once a week to see how things are progressing.

The Hunger Games comparison is outrageous because literally the only thing that is similar is the aspect of things being televised in some way. Not even the genre is similar because this book barely qualifies as Dystopian.


Why must every book be like something else? Although, I guess it's progress that every single book isn't the next Twilight any more...
Honestly, the Bachelor comparison is what put me off to the story for so long. I was surprised when I actually enjoyed the story.

[Ilana]

i hate when books are compared off the bat to other series - because it makes you really start to intentionally draw conclusions. In this instance - i'm with everyone who agrees on the notion of similarities between the Bachelor - but THG? not so much. i feel like it's a very different thing unless you're trying too hard to make the caste system like the districts.

[Sophia]

I don't mind the comparisons at all, even though they are pretty inaccurate. It's a sales presentation/elevator pitch! They’re just trying to get people to become interested in the book itself and sell it. If you watch Shark Tank, you know you have to use whatever you have to sell something to people. The author knows that readers will make the comparisons themselves, so it’s like she did it before anyone else could do it.