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bubblecheeks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
susanneverreads's review against another edition
5.0
This book!
I'm pretty sure I read this when the movies first came out but I honestly can't remember. I know I started it but I'm not sure I finished it. Between starting this book before and the movies, I knew most of what happened. Even so, I was constantly wanting to know what happened next. I cannot wait to finish reading this series!
I'm pretty sure I read this when the movies first came out but I honestly can't remember. I know I started it but I'm not sure I finished it. Between starting this book before and the movies, I knew most of what happened. Even so, I was constantly wanting to know what happened next. I cannot wait to finish reading this series!
kyleenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
novabird's review against another edition
4.0
“The most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin.”
When I finally gave in and read The Hunger Games, after my vow to avoid reading anything without substance, to my thrilled surprise, what I found was substantial treasure which I read twice! What first appeared to me to be written solely for mass consumption has undeniable important contemporary content.
Not only is The Hunger Games a new model of female power, but it also has a strong message about political power, feasible futures and realistic dsytopia.
THG is about a young woman, Katniss, awakening to her own sense of power in a world that has deprived her of any real power and dealing quite objectively with her fellow Tribute, Peeta's love for her. It stands reality TV on its head by depicting a first hand perspective of survival in a futuristic reality TV production, where the reality TV portion of it is tertiary to the overall drive of the main characters.
THG equally brings home that which is familiar, those that have and those that do not; those who starve in increasing number and those who grow ever more affluent. It brings to life the overall world picture concisely, from first world people to third world people, from the rich to the poor in an ever widening gap in a worldview dominated by media.
Yet Collins delivers this message in a very readable, plot-driven way, that effectively balances futuristic fantasy with streamlined realism. Because it is a quick read, it’s easy to miss out on deeper meanings, hidden among the action and very tightly controlled descriptions of violence or grossness.
The first person POV is an excellent choice as it so utterly immerses and engages the reader. So much so, that we can closely watch for any character changes within Katniss, over the brief span of approx. a month’s time.
One of the strongest developments Katniss experiences as her character deepens, is her increasing political awareness. Katniss at first does not sympathize with Gale’s rants about government, because he too has a family he has to feed. Now it has to be said that after the Districts have endured 3 generations of being ruled by starvation, the citizens’ whole focus would be on how to keep their families simply alive and not necessarily on rallying the forces to fight back, (they have THG themselves as a warning against rebellion). Despite this, Katniss at a very young age questioned authority and only deliberately stopped when her little sister came into the picture. So, as to not draw negative attention to her sister and family, she had chosen to turn a blind eye to the political reality.
Collins does a superb job of providing just the right amount of back-story without slowing down the pace.
As the author herself was one of the executive producers of the movie, I can see what she chose to keep and what to not include. What she included was the actual dialogue of Gale’s rant about the government and Peeta’s statement that he did not want them (the Capitol) to change him; that even if he did have to kill, that the rulers did not own him; and he wanted to somehow show them that he was still himself.
I guess Collins decided that Katniss’ interior dialogue against the government could only be conveyed in a direct format via film.
In the movie, Katniss gives kiss salutes to the audience as a whole, which was an invention of the script writing team, twice used. Once during Katniss’ actual volunteering within the book:
The other time is when she kiss salutes the viewing audience immediately after her symbolic burial ritual of a Tribute. This incites a riot in District 11, which was not included in the book. This kiss salute is the symbol of a unifying spirit among the Districts.
Collins very deftly displaces the central interest of the book about Katniss’ survival, because this is a 1st person POV that normally guarantees her winning. But with exceptional writing style, Collins very effectively creates such vivid scenes, that we question whether or not Katniss will really survive entirely intact.
I found I was gripping the book during the “muttation,” scene.
Instead the pivotal point in the book is during the symbolic burial of a Tribute, which initiates Katniss’ move away from her hatred of another Tribute that had propelled her desire to kill them;
“I find I’m actually anticipating the moment with pleasure.”
Instead she moves towards her true object of hate;
“It’s the Capitol I hate for doing this to all of us.”
Near the end of THG, Haymitch warns her that the Capitol is not happy. Collins has Katniss’ interior dialogue express the risk involved in her subversive action by saying:
“The most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin.”
This also tells us that Katniss is now politically aware, as it underlines that the larger concern now extends past Katniss’ survival, to also include her family and her District – her political arena has now expanded beyond just herself. Katniss now has agency, because she can recognize that which is political and she can further develop her ability to invoke change.
A very good book in all accounts. I could write so much more about THG, but then again there's, "Catching Fire," to look forward to.
I don't think that this book needs any wider audience, yet still I wish for those people who believe it's not within their genre - to do a little genre-busting and try something new with an open mind and you too might discover that you really like THG a helluva lot more than you thought you would.
When I finally gave in and read The Hunger Games, after my vow to avoid reading anything without substance, to my thrilled surprise, what I found was substantial treasure which I read twice! What first appeared to me to be written solely for mass consumption has undeniable important contemporary content.
Not only is The Hunger Games a new model of female power, but it also has a strong message about political power, feasible futures and realistic dsytopia.
THG is about a young woman, Katniss, awakening to her own sense of power in a world that has deprived her of any real power and dealing quite objectively with her fellow Tribute, Peeta's love for her. It stands reality TV on its head by depicting a first hand perspective of survival in a futuristic reality TV production, where the reality TV portion of it is tertiary to the overall drive of the main characters.
THG equally brings home that which is familiar, those that have and those that do not; those who starve in increasing number and those who grow ever more affluent. It brings to life the overall world picture concisely, from first world people to third world people, from the rich to the poor in an ever widening gap in a worldview dominated by media.
Yet Collins delivers this message in a very readable, plot-driven way, that effectively balances futuristic fantasy with streamlined realism. Because it is a quick read, it’s easy to miss out on deeper meanings, hidden among the action and very tightly controlled descriptions of violence or grossness.
The first person POV is an excellent choice as it so utterly immerses and engages the reader. So much so, that we can closely watch for any character changes within Katniss, over the brief span of approx. a month’s time.
One of the strongest developments Katniss experiences as her character deepens, is her increasing political awareness. Katniss at first does not sympathize with Gale’s rants about government, because he too has a family he has to feed. Now it has to be said that after the Districts have endured 3 generations of being ruled by starvation, the citizens’ whole focus would be on how to keep their families simply alive and not necessarily on rallying the forces to fight back, (they have THG themselves as a warning against rebellion). Despite this, Katniss at a very young age questioned authority and only deliberately stopped when her little sister came into the picture. So, as to not draw negative attention to her sister and family, she had chosen to turn a blind eye to the political reality.
Collins does a superb job of providing just the right amount of back-story without slowing down the pace.
As the author herself was one of the executive producers of the movie, I can see what she chose to keep and what to not include. What she included was the actual dialogue of Gale’s rant about the government and Peeta’s statement that he did not want them (the Capitol) to change him; that even if he did have to kill, that the rulers did not own him; and he wanted to somehow show them that he was still himself.
I guess Collins decided that Katniss’ interior dialogue against the government could only be conveyed in a direct format via film.
In the movie, Katniss gives kiss salutes to the audience as a whole, which was an invention of the script writing team, twice used. Once during Katniss’ actual volunteering within the book:
p. 24
“I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong.”
The other time is when she kiss salutes the viewing audience immediately after her symbolic burial ritual of a Tribute. This incites a riot in District 11, which was not included in the book. This kiss salute is the symbol of a unifying spirit among the Districts.
Collins very deftly displaces the central interest of the book about Katniss’ survival, because this is a 1st person POV that normally guarantees her winning. But with exceptional writing style, Collins very effectively creates such vivid scenes, that we question whether or not Katniss will really survive entirely intact.
I found I was gripping the book during the “muttation,” scene.
Instead the pivotal point in the book is during the symbolic burial of a Tribute, which initiates Katniss’ move away from her hatred of another Tribute that had propelled her desire to kill them;
“I find I’m actually anticipating the moment with pleasure.”
Instead she moves towards her true object of hate;
“It’s the Capitol I hate for doing this to all of us.”
Near the end of THG, Haymitch warns her that the Capitol is not happy. Collins has Katniss’ interior dialogue express the risk involved in her subversive action by saying:
“The most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin.”
This also tells us that Katniss is now politically aware, as it underlines that the larger concern now extends past Katniss’ survival, to also include her family and her District – her political arena has now expanded beyond just herself. Katniss now has agency, because she can recognize that which is political and she can further develop her ability to invoke change.
A very good book in all accounts. I could write so much more about THG, but then again there's, "Catching Fire," to look forward to.
I don't think that this book needs any wider audience, yet still I wish for those people who believe it's not within their genre - to do a little genre-busting and try something new with an open mind and you too might discover that you really like THG a helluva lot more than you thought you would.
kjgeiger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sheisinquisitive's review against another edition
5.0
Even after all of these years, on my fifth reread, this remains as my favourite book. It is absolutely perfect and I will hear nothing otherwise.
boglord's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Grief, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Addiction, Alcohol, Violence, Child abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body horror, Slavery, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
bekarebeka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0