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A review by tarynwanderer
The Panem Companion: An Unofficial Guide to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games, from Mellark Bakery to Mockingjays by V. Arrow
4.0
Certain popular books just cry out for deeper analysis. What does the United States’ obsession with the Twilight series mean for our perceptions of women and of healthy relationships, for example? Why have the Harry Potter books held such a grip on not just children, but adults, for literally a decade?
Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy is perfectly deserving of critical analysis–its statements on race, justice, economics, war, and media are thoughtful without being preachy. Written by V. Arrow, a Hunger Games superfan and critical reader, The Panem Companion is a great introduction to some of the deeper themes and sociopolitical commentary found in THG.
While other reviewers may have found this book dry, I went into it expecting a compelling critical analysis, and for the most part, that’s exactly what I got. I also thought that Arrow’s voice was wonderful: informative without being condescending, funny without needing to try too hard, sensitive without pandering. You can tell Arrow loves THG, yet is also willing to analyze and critique it, something that many fans aren’t necessarily able to do.
My favorite chapters had to do with the socioeconomic and racial demographics and histories of Panem. They were in-depth and well-thought out, yet also fairly readable for someone who is perhaps new to critical race theory. I thought the chapter that dealt with Katniss’s race was especially well-done. It acknowledges the “controversy” of Katniss potentially being a non-white heroine (though represented by Jennifer Lawrence, a white actress, in the movie version) with a level of nuance and understanding that I had not previously read. I loved the conclusion Arrow came to, as well–that while Katniss may very well be racially white, in the social and political structure of Panem, she is definitively ethnically non-white. It’s a fair way of using the information given to us by Collins, while still acknowledging current racial inequalities and disparities in a thoughtful and significant way. Kudos, V. Arrow, kudos!
To read the rest of this review, please visit Bookwanderer!
Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy is perfectly deserving of critical analysis–its statements on race, justice, economics, war, and media are thoughtful without being preachy. Written by V. Arrow, a Hunger Games superfan and critical reader, The Panem Companion is a great introduction to some of the deeper themes and sociopolitical commentary found in THG.
While other reviewers may have found this book dry, I went into it expecting a compelling critical analysis, and for the most part, that’s exactly what I got. I also thought that Arrow’s voice was wonderful: informative without being condescending, funny without needing to try too hard, sensitive without pandering. You can tell Arrow loves THG, yet is also willing to analyze and critique it, something that many fans aren’t necessarily able to do.
My favorite chapters had to do with the socioeconomic and racial demographics and histories of Panem. They were in-depth and well-thought out, yet also fairly readable for someone who is perhaps new to critical race theory. I thought the chapter that dealt with Katniss’s race was especially well-done. It acknowledges the “controversy” of Katniss potentially being a non-white heroine (though represented by Jennifer Lawrence, a white actress, in the movie version) with a level of nuance and understanding that I had not previously read. I loved the conclusion Arrow came to, as well–that while Katniss may very well be racially white, in the social and political structure of Panem, she is definitively ethnically non-white. It’s a fair way of using the information given to us by Collins, while still acknowledging current racial inequalities and disparities in a thoughtful and significant way. Kudos, V. Arrow, kudos!
To read the rest of this review, please visit Bookwanderer!