Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Edition: 1st edition Hardcover: September 14, 2008
Back Cover Summary: Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Katniss' sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.
*******
When I finished reading Twilight, I was really starved for another book that would capture my interest. I had a long summer ahead on me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I like to fill it with lots of reading! Harry Potter had ended, I was waiting for Breaking Dawn, I had finally finished The Host, and none of my other favorite authors seemed to be producing anything. So, when Stephanie Meyer suggested The Hunger Games, saying she couldn't even put it down, I jumped. I wanted the book in my hands now!
*******
When I finished reading Twilight, I was really starved for another book that would capture my interest. I had a long summer ahead on me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I like to fill it with lots of reading! Harry Potter had ended, I was waiting for Breaking Dawn, I had finally finished The Host, and none of my other favorite authors seemed to be producing anything. So, when Stephanie Meyer suggested The Hunger Games, saying she couldn't even put it down, I jumped. I wanted the book in my hands now!
High Notes: Absolutely, one of the most interesting and well thought out dystopian novels I have ever read. Believable too! I loved all the characters. Everyone from Katnis, to Gale and Peeta, to Prim and Rue, to Haymitch, and all the funky people from the capitol. I loved the creation of this new world that had new rules, yet was dealing with the same timeless ordeals that any human must face, like love, sacrifice, pain, survival, etc.
The book truly dived into what you have to do when you feel helpless, when your entire family is depending on you, when you are forced to do things you don't want to do, and finding a way to stay true to yourself, to act both selfishly and selflessly at the same time.
Also, a major contributing factor to the novel's, and it's 2 sequels', success is its appeal to a wide audience. After discovering the book for myself and wanting to discuss the book with others, I found people as young as 12 or 13 reading it, and people as old as 60 reading it. I not only could chat with my friends, but my cousins, aunt, uncle, grandma, etc. It was very exciting.
Low Notes: The only low note for me was that I did not get to see enough of Gale!! Luckily, he is a continuing character that you get to see much more of, especially in Mockingjay, the 3rd installment.
Now, before this is over, for all of those who have read it and are girls! Peeta or Gale? I'm obviously partial to Gale. lol.
Ratings:The book truly dived into what you have to do when you feel helpless, when your entire family is depending on you, when you are forced to do things you don't want to do, and finding a way to stay true to yourself, to act both selfishly and selflessly at the same time.
Also, a major contributing factor to the novel's, and it's 2 sequels', success is its appeal to a wide audience. After discovering the book for myself and wanting to discuss the book with others, I found people as young as 12 or 13 reading it, and people as old as 60 reading it. I not only could chat with my friends, but my cousins, aunt, uncle, grandma, etc. It was very exciting.
Low Notes: The only low note for me was that I did not get to see enough of Gale!! Luckily, he is a continuing character that you get to see much more of, especially in Mockingjay, the 3rd installment.
Now, before this is over, for all of those who have read it and are girls! Peeta or Gale? I'm obviously partial to Gale. lol.
Character Development: 5/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Prose: 5/5
Believability: 5/5
Style and Grammar: 5/5
Entertainment Value: 5/5
Entertainment Value: 5/5
Overall Rating: 100% Yes, that's right! 100%
You can find the next two installments of The Hunger Games just about anywhere! In stores and online! Go and get them!
And don't forget about the movie that comes to theaters in March!!!
Who else is excited for that!??!
Funny, since you normally don't like book suggestions. :P
ReplyDeleteThat is true! lol. My mother suggested Harry Potter when it first came out and so I was turned off of it for years. And when I finally found it again all by myself, I loved it. Perhaps, I should start learning my lesson. I'm just a bit stubborn. I like to be the one to discover something.
DeleteDid you read these books?
DeleteNo, I haven't. I didn't know it was a book series until last week, it was mentioned to me and I remembered that I had seen the trailer for the film adaptation.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, you should consider taking people's suggestions to heart. Denying someone's recommendation is like denying the book's existence. Sure, it may end up being a poor read, but you've read some bad ones on your own, so what's the harm?
Hmmm. Well, they're good books.
DeleteAnd I will work on taking suggestions. I still enjoy finding something on my own better, though.
That's not to say that you couldn't find a happy medium between them. :) Good luck!
DeleteThanks.
DeleteI love Peeta :) I just love his absolute devotion to her. Gale gets a little too caught up in his ruthless "down with the Capitol" tirade. I get it. The capitol is evil. Is that all he thinks about??
ReplyDeleteI just liked his character a bit more. But I do agree that Peeta was probably what Katniss needed in the end. She was very much like Gale and just needed someone to help her calm.
DeleteExcellent review. You nailed it without giving anything away! We haven't had any decent female sci-fi or fantasy leads like Sara Connor, Morgan Adams and Charly Baltimore for some time so if will be interesting to see if the Katniss character can pick up where they left off. I don't think she will pull any bad punches ;)
ReplyDelete