Helpful Score: 30
This is the first book in a young adult series (and I think it shows!) about a dystopic world where the United States is now known as Panem. Divided into twelve distinct districts that each have their own industrial focus, Panem is ruled from the Capitol with an iron fist. To help keep the people in linewhich is very necessary considering everyone is kept on the brink of starvationthe Capitol requires each district to send two tributes (a boy and girl) to The Hunger Games each year. A country-wide televised event, The Hunger Games changes each year, with a special arena being constructed for each game. What doesn't change is the basic rule: all tributes must either kill or be killed, and only one tribute can be left standing at the end.
The concept of having young people being thrown together in an arena and being forced to fight to the death sounds horribleand it is, but it also makes for exciting reading. The story is told from the point-of-view of Katnissa 16-year-old girl from District 12 (the coal mining district in what used to be Appalachia). Katniss is not your average girl by today's standards. She's a rule-breaker (leaving the fenced district to hunt for food in the woods) and a skilled hunter, especially with bows and arrows. When her beloved younger sister Prim is selected as a tribute for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. As she enters the flamboyant, anything goes world of the Capitol, we learn more about the Games and her fellow tributePeeta, a good-looking son of a baker who showed kindness to Katniss years ago. When they are thrust into the arena, all bets are off as Katniss struggles to survive and be the last tribute standing. But Peeta throws a wrench into the mix and changes Katniss's game plan, leading to an ending that is sure to cause problems for everyone involved.
In the second book, Catching Fire, (and I doubt if you read the first book you won't continue on with the series), we get to find out what happens after the Hunger Games described in the first book. Once again, Collins sets up a cliffhanger ending that will probably ensure that the third installment will shoot straight to the top of the best-seller lists.
I'm not going to talk too much about these books as they've probably been discussed to death already. My guess is if the concept of the books appeals to you, you're going to read this series and will be pretty satisfied with them. I didn't think the writing was stellar and I had some issues with Katniss being unaware of what is going on around her (especially in the second book), but these books are meant to be fast exciting reads and they don't disappoint. Frankly, I felt Collins could have dropped the whole "love triangle" subplot and had a better book, but perhaps that is just me.
The Bottom Line: 4 stars for concept and 3.5 stars for execution. Perfect for young adults and anyone seeking a fast-moving dystopian tale that doesn't make you think too much. I read both books in a day. These books are the equivalent of eating a candy bara candy bar with spikes in itbut a candy bar nonetheless.
The concept of having young people being thrown together in an arena and being forced to fight to the death sounds horribleand it is, but it also makes for exciting reading. The story is told from the point-of-view of Katnissa 16-year-old girl from District 12 (the coal mining district in what used to be Appalachia). Katniss is not your average girl by today's standards. She's a rule-breaker (leaving the fenced district to hunt for food in the woods) and a skilled hunter, especially with bows and arrows. When her beloved younger sister Prim is selected as a tribute for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. As she enters the flamboyant, anything goes world of the Capitol, we learn more about the Games and her fellow tributePeeta, a good-looking son of a baker who showed kindness to Katniss years ago. When they are thrust into the arena, all bets are off as Katniss struggles to survive and be the last tribute standing. But Peeta throws a wrench into the mix and changes Katniss's game plan, leading to an ending that is sure to cause problems for everyone involved.
In the second book, Catching Fire, (and I doubt if you read the first book you won't continue on with the series), we get to find out what happens after the Hunger Games described in the first book. Once again, Collins sets up a cliffhanger ending that will probably ensure that the third installment will shoot straight to the top of the best-seller lists.
I'm not going to talk too much about these books as they've probably been discussed to death already. My guess is if the concept of the books appeals to you, you're going to read this series and will be pretty satisfied with them. I didn't think the writing was stellar and I had some issues with Katniss being unaware of what is going on around her (especially in the second book), but these books are meant to be fast exciting reads and they don't disappoint. Frankly, I felt Collins could have dropped the whole "love triangle" subplot and had a better book, but perhaps that is just me.
The Bottom Line: 4 stars for concept and 3.5 stars for execution. Perfect for young adults and anyone seeking a fast-moving dystopian tale that doesn't make you think too much. I read both books in a day. These books are the equivalent of eating a candy bara candy bar with spikes in itbut a candy bar nonetheless.
Helpful Score: 16
Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com
Twenty-four children: twelve boys, twelve girls, tributes selected by random lottery every year and sent to the capitol city of Panem to compete in a brutal, bloodthirsty fight for survival, with the last participant standing declared champion.
Welcome to the Hunger Games, a grim reminder to those living in the twelve districts comprising what was once the United States of their place as virtual slaves to the gleaming Capitol at their center.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen is this year's female representative for District 12, having volunteered to take her younger sister Prim's place. Sent to the arena with the baker's son and classmate, Peeta Mellark -- a boy who, several years prior, saved Kat and her family from the ravages of starvation after her father's death in a coal mining accident -- neither competitor from the final district seem to be contenders.
But Peeta's good nature and Kat's small stature belie the former's cunning intelligence and the latter's experience as a hunter; while a revelation from Peeta during the introductory ceremonies sends Katniss into the first day of competition more than a little off-kilter.
The stage is set, the tributes have arrived, and the cameras are watching...let the games begin.
It is no exaggeration to call THE HUNGER GAMES a pulse-pounding page-turner. Collins grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. While Katniss isn't always the most likable character (in fact, there were plenty of times I much preferred the affable Peeta, or even sweet, birdlike little Ruth), she is always compelling, thanks to her rational approach to every challenge and her dogged determination.
While THE HUNGER GAMES is a plot-driven novel, the characters and their relationships are the heart of the story. Ms. Collins has created a dystopian tale of Orwellian caliber for young adults, giving any reader plenty to churn their minds between now and the next installment of this trilogy.
My only complaint is having to wait for the next installment.
Twenty-four children: twelve boys, twelve girls, tributes selected by random lottery every year and sent to the capitol city of Panem to compete in a brutal, bloodthirsty fight for survival, with the last participant standing declared champion.
Welcome to the Hunger Games, a grim reminder to those living in the twelve districts comprising what was once the United States of their place as virtual slaves to the gleaming Capitol at their center.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen is this year's female representative for District 12, having volunteered to take her younger sister Prim's place. Sent to the arena with the baker's son and classmate, Peeta Mellark -- a boy who, several years prior, saved Kat and her family from the ravages of starvation after her father's death in a coal mining accident -- neither competitor from the final district seem to be contenders.
But Peeta's good nature and Kat's small stature belie the former's cunning intelligence and the latter's experience as a hunter; while a revelation from Peeta during the introductory ceremonies sends Katniss into the first day of competition more than a little off-kilter.
The stage is set, the tributes have arrived, and the cameras are watching...let the games begin.
It is no exaggeration to call THE HUNGER GAMES a pulse-pounding page-turner. Collins grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. While Katniss isn't always the most likable character (in fact, there were plenty of times I much preferred the affable Peeta, or even sweet, birdlike little Ruth), she is always compelling, thanks to her rational approach to every challenge and her dogged determination.
While THE HUNGER GAMES is a plot-driven novel, the characters and their relationships are the heart of the story. Ms. Collins has created a dystopian tale of Orwellian caliber for young adults, giving any reader plenty to churn their minds between now and the next installment of this trilogy.
My only complaint is having to wait for the next installment.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 10
THE HUNGER GAMES is without doubt one of the best books I have ever read. 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen lives with her family and friends in what used to be North America. Now, it's divided up into 12 impoverished fenced-in Districts and ruled by the faraway Capitol of Panem. The Capitol keeps all the Districts in line by hosting the annual Hunger Games. One boy and one girl--called "tributes"--are randomly selected to fight all the other tributes to the death on live TV.
Katniss frantically volunteers in place of her beloved and delicate young sister, Prim, when Prim is chosen. While Prim would not have stood a chance, Katniss is strong and resourceful. Often she has hunted illegally in the woods outside of their district to provide food for her family.
She is joined in the Hunger Games by Peeta Mellark, the baker's son. Katniss is a coal miner's daughters and thus their socioeconomically different lives have never crossed, except once when Peeta basically saved her life. But now she knows that they must kill each other if they want to get out of the Hunger Games alive...even if they may or may not have feelings for each other.
THE HUNGER GAMES is suspenseful, action-packed, and well-written, with an endearing love story. Suzanne Collins spins a terrifying dystopian world for readers. I was only sad when the book ended too soon and left some important issues--will anything be done about the totalitarian government?--unanswered. However, the ending seems to promise a sequel, which I will anxiously await.
Katniss frantically volunteers in place of her beloved and delicate young sister, Prim, when Prim is chosen. While Prim would not have stood a chance, Katniss is strong and resourceful. Often she has hunted illegally in the woods outside of their district to provide food for her family.
She is joined in the Hunger Games by Peeta Mellark, the baker's son. Katniss is a coal miner's daughters and thus their socioeconomically different lives have never crossed, except once when Peeta basically saved her life. But now she knows that they must kill each other if they want to get out of the Hunger Games alive...even if they may or may not have feelings for each other.
THE HUNGER GAMES is suspenseful, action-packed, and well-written, with an endearing love story. Suzanne Collins spins a terrifying dystopian world for readers. I was only sad when the book ended too soon and left some important issues--will anything be done about the totalitarian government?--unanswered. However, the ending seems to promise a sequel, which I will anxiously await.
Helpful Score: 8
Young adult novels have always had a dark side, so to speak; a sub-genre that eschews peer pressure and turbulent relationships for death, despair, and destruction. This is not a recent trend. For every Death Note you find today, you can find an equally disturbing Z for Zachariah. While much of todays dark teen novels lean towards the supernatural, you will occasionally find one that ventures into more classical science fiction territory. Suzanne Collins newest YA novel, The Hunger Games, does so quite successfully. The setting is grim and oppressive, the characters are desperate and hopeless, and the specter of death hangs over every page. And every page will drag the reader eagerly to the next.
Strong and positive female leads are important in young adult novels, and The Hunger Games has the perfect hero in Katniss Everdeen. She is tough, resolute, intelligent, and able. Yet, she still struggles with the same confused feelings and emotions that young girls need to cope with, even when not fighting to the death in a government sponsored reality show/snuff film. As she struggles to survive the deadly prime-time death match she has been unfairly thrust into, she deal not only with these typical teenage dilemmas, but also greater issues concerning government, society, morality, and honor.
All of this might seem like a lot for one book to handle, but Hunger Games manages to do so without coming off too preachy or instructional. Granted, the Hunger Games themselves (which are very reminiscent of previous books like Stephen Kings Running Man, or Koushun Takamis manga series Battle Royale), as well as the post-apocalyptic dictatorship Panem that holds the event, might not hold up under the scrutiny that hardcore science-fiction novels sometimes demand. But for a young adult science-fantasy novel like this, demanding one-hundred-percent social-political realism seems a tad unfair. What matters is that the characters and setting support the characters and subject matter, and manage to do so with the captivating suspense of any mainstream paperback thriller.
Strong and positive female leads are important in young adult novels, and The Hunger Games has the perfect hero in Katniss Everdeen. She is tough, resolute, intelligent, and able. Yet, she still struggles with the same confused feelings and emotions that young girls need to cope with, even when not fighting to the death in a government sponsored reality show/snuff film. As she struggles to survive the deadly prime-time death match she has been unfairly thrust into, she deal not only with these typical teenage dilemmas, but also greater issues concerning government, society, morality, and honor.
All of this might seem like a lot for one book to handle, but Hunger Games manages to do so without coming off too preachy or instructional. Granted, the Hunger Games themselves (which are very reminiscent of previous books like Stephen Kings Running Man, or Koushun Takamis manga series Battle Royale), as well as the post-apocalyptic dictatorship Panem that holds the event, might not hold up under the scrutiny that hardcore science-fiction novels sometimes demand. But for a young adult science-fantasy novel like this, demanding one-hundred-percent social-political realism seems a tad unfair. What matters is that the characters and setting support the characters and subject matter, and manage to do so with the captivating suspense of any mainstream paperback thriller.
Helpful Score: 4
This is a fantastic book, and series in general (although the first book was better than the second). I have never read Harry Potter or Twilight or any other "teen series" book that everyone is obsessed with, but after reading this book I can understand the hysteria. The characters are very well developed, easy to relate to, and interesting. The plot is unique, intriguing, horrifying, and entertaining all at once. It is a quick read and I suggest buying both books at the same time - you won't want any lag time between continuing the story!
Helpful Score: 4
Whew...Suzanne Collins sure can spin a yarn!!! I've seen good reviews and bad reviews...But all of my reading type friends pretty much backed me into a corner and forced me to start this book...I owe them all a dozen cookies...I flippin' LOVE this story...I rarely run into a book that makes me want to reread it or even give it a passing thought during the day...I find myself thinking about Katniss' world quite often during the day...The world is such a fickle place that this could be based on reality...It didn't really have the feel of a sci-fi book...I could feel the emotion...I could smell the moss in the air and I could see the faces of the tributes as they went about trying to survive the games...Times are difficult for so many right now and I could feel the emotion in Katniss as she struggled to provide for Prim and her Mother...I will say this about the book...It seems to me that most young adult authors are using the same template for their novels...Girl torn between two loves...It works in this book...Katniss does not come off as a whiney teenager but a girl who struggles to make the best of what has been handed to her...I am devouring Catching Fire right now and cannot wait until I can start Mockingjay...I am also looking forward to the movie adaptation in March...I hope they do the book justice...There are many who have this on their wish list but a word to the wise...Go buy it...The paperback is only around $7.00 right now and it is worth EVERY penny...I can't let go of my copy...This book is a keeper!!!
Helpful Score: 3
From the cover:
"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV."
I loved this book! The book tells of brutal survival and yet the characters remain human. I can't wait until the next book comes out.
"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV."
I loved this book! The book tells of brutal survival and yet the characters remain human. I can't wait until the next book comes out.
Helpful Score: 3
Futuristic/ Urban Fantasy by Suzanne Collins, and first of a trilogy. In this reality, the former United States, now Panem is divided up into 12 districts. As a reminder to all citizens of the horrors they've survived, each district must send a teen age boy and girl to the Hunger Games, every year. The 24 teens are prepared, and placed into an arena, to fight to the death. The whole thing is televised for the entertainment pleasure of the masses. The winner and the district they represent will be heavily rewarded. Our heroine, Katniss volunteers, when her beloved younger sister is named for the game. Katniss doesn't want to get close to her District Partner Peeta, knowing she may have to kill him. This is a great book, in an exciting, horrifying way. Like the other readers, I'm going to have to go out today and get the second and third books. I have to know what happens next. They didn't write books like this, when I was a teen.
Helpful Score: 3
I read this because I heard my granddaughter's teacher was reading it in the classroom. I had heard it was about a futuristic fight to the death. I read all three books in a weeks time. I do not like to read sci-fi or anything that's murder and mayhem much less watch anything like that. I will admit I couldn't put them down hence reading them all in one week and staying up to 1 or 2 am and having to work the next day. I did find that Suzanne Collins did not go in to great depth explaining the murders but you still know that's what's going on. Yet I still walked away thinking this is being read to impressionable young people... I felt the book kept me interested and wondering what was going to happen next. There is a part of me that still thinks it's junk marketed at a vulnerable age group and for them it's mind trash. Let's fill our kids thoughts with good and positive things. I let someone at work read it too and she thought it also was not a good book for middle school children. The unusual thing is that one grandchild is interested in the Civil War. He re-enacts it at school/home and makes a "pretend" gun out of anything he can get his hands on-they discourage historical re-enactment yet read young people murdering one another for survival and it's glorified. Considering the recent murders in our state you think the "educators" would reconsider what they are placing in the minds of children.
Helpful Score: 3
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. It's a good story about freedom, humanity and the ability to make choices even when circumstances are beyond your control.
Helpful Score: 3
The Hunger Games, is exciting page-turner you can't set down. When first reading you get hooked on the first page. The plot is flawless, and writing intelligently done. The sequel is much anticipated.
Helpful Score: 3
Excellent! This isn't my normal read, but I happened upon an excerpt; intrigued, I checked it out of the library and liked it so much I bought the book for my 16 yr old son. He loved it also. The sequel "Catching Fire" came out 9-1-09. Of course I bought that one. The other reviews give you an idea what the book is about, so I'll just say, the subject matter is handled well. It's a page-turning, good read.
Helpful Score: 3
If I had to pick just one book that I most enjoyed in 2008, this would probably be it. Now, I have to add the caveat that I read lots of series this year, and it seemed unfair to try to pick one book from a series like Meyers' Twilight books or Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse saga. So Hunger Games did get a little help in that department. But even with that said.... wow. This is just a great book.
In The Hunger Games, Collins creates another one of those dystopian societies that I love so much. In her world, America is no longer. There's been some kind of a big life-changing event that has reduced the nation into 12 disticts, all under totalitarian rule by the Capital. In this world, the people are starving and once a year, young people ages 12-18 are forced to enter their names into a drawing to participate in The Hunger Games, a life-or-death reality show from hell in which the victors are treated to a life of luxury while all the other competitors perish.
Yes, the story is a little familiar. It's reminiscent of The Long Walk or The Running Man by Stephen King, and there's a little bit of Lord of the Flies in here, too. But the characters are well developed and likeable. The dialogue is great. And -- here's the best part -- its only the first book. The story ends with a major cliffhanger that drove me to immediately visit Amazon to figure out how long I had to wait for the next installment.
In The Hunger Games, Collins creates another one of those dystopian societies that I love so much. In her world, America is no longer. There's been some kind of a big life-changing event that has reduced the nation into 12 disticts, all under totalitarian rule by the Capital. In this world, the people are starving and once a year, young people ages 12-18 are forced to enter their names into a drawing to participate in The Hunger Games, a life-or-death reality show from hell in which the victors are treated to a life of luxury while all the other competitors perish.
Yes, the story is a little familiar. It's reminiscent of The Long Walk or The Running Man by Stephen King, and there's a little bit of Lord of the Flies in here, too. But the characters are well developed and likeable. The dialogue is great. And -- here's the best part -- its only the first book. The story ends with a major cliffhanger that drove me to immediately visit Amazon to figure out how long I had to wait for the next installment.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book so much that I went straight out and bought sequel. I liked the sequel so much, that I went and pre-ordered the third. A truly enjoyable book. This first one was not that orignal in its concept, but its execution was perfect.
Helpful Score: 2
Finally a book that lives up to its hype! I only read this after my daughter insisted. She's not a big fan of reading so when she tells me to read something I listen up. I may write a more coherent review when I feel better (caught the crud from the kid) but then again I may remain lazy. For now I'll just say I loved the concept, the grittiness and the unexpected turns of the plot. A recommend for anyone looking for a gripping and grueling and totally involving book.
Helpful Score: 2
Started out a little bit slow, but once I got hooked...I WAS HOOKED!! Heard about it and my son wanted to read it so I wanted to do a quick read of it before handing it off ot him. Looking forward to reading Bk 2!!
Helpful Score: 2
Great book! Definitely kept my attention. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Helpful Score: 2
First and foremost, Suzanne Collins had me crying on the F in NYC during the first chapter. If that isn't enough to get you hooked into the book, than I don't know what is!
The Hunger Games itself hooks you in because naturally you want to know whether or not Katniss and/or Peeta will survive. Within this plot is the thought: How will this all work out with Gale?
So, in a nutshell you already have a list of concepts to think upon: Death, Violence, Fairness or Equality, Justice and Romance. (Can we even go so far as to think love triangle?)
The Hunger Games itself hooks you in because naturally you want to know whether or not Katniss and/or Peeta will survive. Within this plot is the thought: How will this all work out with Gale?
So, in a nutshell you already have a list of concepts to think upon: Death, Violence, Fairness or Equality, Justice and Romance. (Can we even go so far as to think love triangle?)
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Helpful Score: 2
I love this book! It is a very intense story that kept me completely absorbed and turning pages to the end! It is unique and harsh, but moving and beautiful at times, too. It wraps up well enough that it is not urgent to read the next, but I am glad I can jump right in to the next one and keep going. Great book!
After hearing from so many people that I would love The Hunger Games, I was really expecting to be disappointed. As evident from my rating, I was not - Suzanne Collins seems to take from the best parts of the dystopian novels we grew up with (1984, Brave New World, The Giver), the history of gladiator games, the story of Romeo and Juliet, and this country's current obsession with reality TV, and blended them into a gripping and horrifying tale of power, survival, and the many kinds of relationships that develop throughout it all.
I found I could relate to the main character's emotions and motives, and was ecstatic to find Katniss a complete person with thoughts and goals wholly unrelated to finding a man, a rarity for female characters. And though I could see a few things coming, most of the twists caught me completely off-guard and I found my hands shaking as I turned each page.
I read this entire book while waiting for a delayed flight back home, and the story induced gasps and shudders in the bustling terminal, as well as giggles and tears in the crowded airplane, next to a girl who must have thought I was insane. It is by far one of the best books I have read in years, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
I found I could relate to the main character's emotions and motives, and was ecstatic to find Katniss a complete person with thoughts and goals wholly unrelated to finding a man, a rarity for female characters. And though I could see a few things coming, most of the twists caught me completely off-guard and I found my hands shaking as I turned each page.
I read this entire book while waiting for a delayed flight back home, and the story induced gasps and shudders in the bustling terminal, as well as giggles and tears in the crowded airplane, next to a girl who must have thought I was insane. It is by far one of the best books I have read in years, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
Helpful Score: 2
This book had me hooked from the first page. I like reading about Katniss and her survival but how she becomes a woman while doing it. Totally disturbing but very well written and well paced too.
Helpful Score: 2
I was horrified, intriqued and I couldn't put this down. I keep reminding myself that this is a Young Adult genre, and am surprised that such an intense and violent (fight to the death) story is so popular with the kids. It was a good read, great ride, and oh yes, I'll be reading the rest of the series.
Helpful Score: 1
Slow start with setting up the story but picks up when the games begin. I didn't care for the ending but I guess that's because she sets the story up for her next book.
Helpful Score: 1
There's not a whole lot I can say about this book that hasn't been said already, but I just could not put it down. Katniss is selfless, independent, and in many ways hardened, but extremely likeable. She is the reason you will love this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Liked this book alot. Thought it was young adult, but glad I read it. Can't wait for the other two. Quick read, really is a page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
A compelling read. The setup puts me strongly in mind of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, but this goes beyond that, following the lottery winners through a game of life and death, reminiscent of the roman Coliseum, where there can be only one winner. Except the boy and girl from area 12 are in love. Or so they're proclaiming to try to win the support of the masses.
This tension filled story is marketed for Young Adults (it's published by Scholastic Press) but the story's appeal is much broader than that.
It tickles me as well that this is going to be a big hit for Scholastic Press (yes, the ones who brought us Harry Potter.) What the heck are the big publishing houses thinking that they've let another book of this caliber slip through their fingers?
This tension filled story is marketed for Young Adults (it's published by Scholastic Press) but the story's appeal is much broader than that.
It tickles me as well that this is going to be a big hit for Scholastic Press (yes, the ones who brought us Harry Potter.) What the heck are the big publishing houses thinking that they've let another book of this caliber slip through their fingers?
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this entire series, totally lives up to the hype! In a post apocalyptic world, the differing manufacturers/laborers have been divided into districts, with only the first two districts being wealthy and living comfortably. Each year, as punishment for their revolt, the districts must send one boy and one girl to fight to the death in a prearranged arena. This is the story of an ordinary girl from a poverty-stricken district and how she started a revolution.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books i have ever read. It is a must read!!!!!!!! Love it!
Helpful Score: 1
Teen Science Fiction. ** ½*. Sometime in the future, 24 young people are chosen from a lottery pool and forced into an annual televised show called The Hunger Games, a battle to the death with only one possible winner.
It's Stephen King's The Long Walk meets The Truman Show. While the premise sounds exciting, the book lacks proper editing, meandering at times, and not really developing certain characters or relationships meant to add suspense at key moments.
It's Stephen King's The Long Walk meets The Truman Show. While the premise sounds exciting, the book lacks proper editing, meandering at times, and not really developing certain characters or relationships meant to add suspense at key moments.
Helpful Score: 1
I may be the last person in the world to read this. It has been on my bookshelf forever and I never felt the need to read it. I finally read it after seeing the movie. The premise is disturbing: children killing children. It kept my attention and I read it in one sitting. Now i need to read the rest of the series just to see how it ends. 3 stars
Helpful Score: 1
I was expecting something entirely different.
I felt as if I could relate to Katniss in some aspects. Reading the back cover had me intrigued. As I read I felt slightly less intrigued, but continued to read knowing that sometimes it takes about 100 pages to get into a book. The more I continued to read the more I found myself feeling for Katniss and all the hardships she must face during The Hunger Games. I felt myself tear up a couple of times. As a reader one gets to understand Katniss.
If you're interested in a corrupt and brutal government, this is the book to read.
I felt as if I could relate to Katniss in some aspects. Reading the back cover had me intrigued. As I read I felt slightly less intrigued, but continued to read knowing that sometimes it takes about 100 pages to get into a book. The more I continued to read the more I found myself feeling for Katniss and all the hardships she must face during The Hunger Games. I felt myself tear up a couple of times. As a reader one gets to understand Katniss.
If you're interested in a corrupt and brutal government, this is the book to read.
Helpful Score: 1
I broke down and read the series to see what all the hubbub was about. I got burned so bad with the Twilight series that I held out for quite a while, but I wish I hadn't. I truly enjoyed these books - every last one. Yes, they're written for a younger crowd - but they are written well enough that I devoured them.
Helpful Score: 1
I don't think I would have read this book if not for my boyfriend purchasing it based on the hype alone. I picked it up before he did, and I read it all in 2 days. DO NOT be swayed by the fact that it is in the Junior's book section. This book was so graphic and horrifying based on the age of those involved, it is truly for adults, and will keep you RAPT until the final page and beyond. The characters are superbly fleshed out, and you absolutely end up caring about them. Many times, a main character becomes annoying or whiny, but Katniss is everything she is supposed to be- strong, independent and fearless. The love story is suspenseful and different, not at all what I was expecting.
Once you start the Hunger Games, you will not be able to stop until you are through all three, and you will STILL be begging for more! Such a great easy read.
Once you start the Hunger Games, you will not be able to stop until you are through all three, and you will STILL be begging for more! Such a great easy read.
Helpful Score: 1
Finally decided to check this one out. I saw the movie with my husband and everyone just keeps talking about the books. It seemed to me that the movie was right on with the book. There were something's that were added to the movie, like seeing bits of what was going on outside of the Games that made it more whole.
I feel like the book was not as bloody as some other reviews have made it sound. Don't get me wrong I don't think that's a bad thing, it is a YA book after all. As for if it is or isn't realistic, I could very easily see us getting to a "show" like this with the crap they put on TV these days.
I felt like I got to know the main character in her time in the Games. Her choice to volunteer in the first place and then her relationship with Rue. I also have a younger sister and understand the drive to protect family. The "relationship" with Peeta, who by the way I could easily see was not pretending about his feelings.
I will be reading the other two books and actually am excited to see what happens!
I feel like the book was not as bloody as some other reviews have made it sound. Don't get me wrong I don't think that's a bad thing, it is a YA book after all. As for if it is or isn't realistic, I could very easily see us getting to a "show" like this with the crap they put on TV these days.
I felt like I got to know the main character in her time in the Games. Her choice to volunteer in the first place and then her relationship with Rue. I also have a younger sister and understand the drive to protect family. The "relationship" with Peeta, who by the way I could easily see was not pretending about his feelings.
I will be reading the other two books and actually am excited to see what happens!
Helpful Score: 1
I took my girlfriends son and his friend to the movies, wasn't sure what to expect, and after watching the movie I instantly wanted to read the book. To my surprise I loved the book that was really intended for young adults, but what the heck I am young at heart. To this point I have read the second in the series, and now reading the last. I am 55 and have a friend that I work with that is a little older than me and him and his wife have also read the series. So don't make the mistake of thinking the series is just for the younger generation, the older crowd can enjoy too!
Helpful Score: 1
I avoided reading "The Hunger Games" for the longest time because it just didn't sound like anything I would enjoy reading. Children fighting to the death? No thanks. After all the hype with the movie I decided to give the book a try. (Even though after seeing previews I still didn't think the book was gonna be any good.)
I realize I began this book with really low expectations. I think the author did an excellent job of keeping it on a youth/young adult level. I would let my kids read this. I was quickly sucked into the book. The characters are very easy to like and the book was an easy read. The ending was kind of an obvious happy ending and the book is definitely nothing in depth. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
I realize I began this book with really low expectations. I think the author did an excellent job of keeping it on a youth/young adult level. I would let my kids read this. I was quickly sucked into the book. The characters are very easy to like and the book was an easy read. The ending was kind of an obvious happy ending and the book is definitely nothing in depth. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Helpful Score: 1
I was not expecting the story line to be so graphic and at first thought I would not like the book but found myself getting engrossed in the story and could not put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
For awhile now I have been avoiding this series, even as it became huge. I didn't really want to read it because it is not my style. I tend to not like books regarding the future or of an apocalyptic setting. I read this because a few family members asked me to and bought me the book. I wish now that I would have read it sooner. I loved this book. Its such a fresh new plot and is surprising. If you have any expectations about this book I'm sure they will change after you read it. Don't put it off any longer, just read it already!
Helpful Score: 1
I know it sounds very sci-fi and an intriguing concept but not very entertaining. Maybe a little too weird? It took me a long time to give it a chance and I wasn't too excited about starting it. But trust me once you get a couple chapters in, you won't be able to put it down. Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. There is so much going on and it is not at a slow pace. The "games" are so unimaginable, but I kept imagining what this would look like in the world I live in today. You are constantly trying to guess the characters motives and where the story is going to go. And of course what would a young adult novel be without some love drama thrown in??
Go now. Run. Get the books. All three. And enjoy devouring them!
Go now. Run. Get the books. All three. And enjoy devouring them!
Helpful Score: 1
This is an interesting book, quite a fast read, and very engaging. But make no mistake, this is chick-lit - if chick-lit were violent.
All of the action is filtered through the POV of the main character's first-person voice, and this teenage girl has a teenage girl's perspective of the world. The story is generally appealing, and the setting certainly has promise, but the execution leaves most male readers out in the cold with its focus on the emotions and feelings of the protagonist in place of more attention to action and detail. The book suffers from the absence of a strong male lead, presenting Katniss as the perfect balance between the violent hunter who was her friend back home, and the sensitive baker who becomes her partner in the Hunger Games. Girls looking for sci-fi and action will love this material. Boys are likely to be disappointed and feel the story to be lacking substance.
All of the action is filtered through the POV of the main character's first-person voice, and this teenage girl has a teenage girl's perspective of the world. The story is generally appealing, and the setting certainly has promise, but the execution leaves most male readers out in the cold with its focus on the emotions and feelings of the protagonist in place of more attention to action and detail. The book suffers from the absence of a strong male lead, presenting Katniss as the perfect balance between the violent hunter who was her friend back home, and the sensitive baker who becomes her partner in the Hunger Games. Girls looking for sci-fi and action will love this material. Boys are likely to be disappointed and feel the story to be lacking substance.
Helpful Score: 1
Awesome read!I couldn't put it down.I've also read the rest of the series. They are all page turners. Suzanne Collins will keep you coming back for more!
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Bk 1) on + 1726 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book rocks! Grabs you from the very first chapter and keeps the story going until the end of book three. Great characters and dilemas that she has to face. Enjoyed the realness of the book and how that could really happen. Makes you think, wonder and pray that is doesn't come to that.
Helpful Score: 1
As a young fan of dystopian, meaning I have only read 3 dystopians, I am still hesitant to read the genre, even though I have loved each and everyone I have read. After the hype died down for this series, I decided it was time for me to bite the bullet and try out the first in the series. So thankful I did!
A story that centers around a young girl who is thrown into a do or die situation that is televised around her country. She encounters love, evil and is torn between fighting for what is right and saving one's own self. I was enveloped into a new world that was easily explained. It was interesting to read about this made up country and find the similarities in the country we are currently living in.
With the movie on its way to theaters, I was torn as to knowing who they had cast for the characters and visualizing them myself. I did cheat a little and check out the main characters and I guess I can't give an unbiased opinion about the cast because I read the book with the cast already in my mind, so they work for me!
A story that you just can't put down once you are half way through because you must see it to the bitter end. I will be definitely picking up the next two in this series to see where Katniss ends up and where this country goes from here. I would recommend this book to those who haven't read a dystopian for a little glimpse into the genre and to those who are definite dystopian fans.
A story that centers around a young girl who is thrown into a do or die situation that is televised around her country. She encounters love, evil and is torn between fighting for what is right and saving one's own self. I was enveloped into a new world that was easily explained. It was interesting to read about this made up country and find the similarities in the country we are currently living in.
With the movie on its way to theaters, I was torn as to knowing who they had cast for the characters and visualizing them myself. I did cheat a little and check out the main characters and I guess I can't give an unbiased opinion about the cast because I read the book with the cast already in my mind, so they work for me!
A story that you just can't put down once you are half way through because you must see it to the bitter end. I will be definitely picking up the next two in this series to see where Katniss ends up and where this country goes from here. I would recommend this book to those who haven't read a dystopian for a little glimpse into the genre and to those who are definite dystopian fans.
Helpful Score: 1
I don't really know what else to say, that hasn't already been said. So I'll make this reveiw short and to the point. I finally did it. I read "The Hunger Games" and now I can finally watch the movie! It was an amazing and well written story of political injustice and love of all varieties. The whole book was refreshingly unpredictable. Not sure how anyone could read this book and not love it!!! Must Read!!!
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite books i read this year. It was savage, sweet, innocent, and joyful all at the same time. Catnis and Petta are great characters who's lives have not been that great already. Then they are thrown into the hunger games and there lives go from bad to Hell in the matter of minutes. Its was an excellent read.
Helpful Score: 1
I absolutely loved this book and it was a fast read for me I need to get out and buy the others so I can finish the series. I can't wait to see what the movie will look like but I'm hoping they get it as close to the book as possible.
Helpful Score: 1
Started and finished reading "The Hunger Games" today. First book in a while that I've wanted to keep reading, and reading, and reading. Had to go pre-order book 2 from amazon.com.
Young Adult fiction....? It is not only for young adults. Adults will enjoy this as well.
If you like this book, you may also enjoy "The Long Walk" by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) and vice versa.
Young Adult fiction....? It is not only for young adults. Adults will enjoy this as well.
If you like this book, you may also enjoy "The Long Walk" by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) and vice versa.
Helpful Score: 1
I love the book. Very different enjoyable
I really like this book. NO wait I loved it. Right now I'm tring to get number 2. What i loved about this book was it was all new. It was a new goverment, cites, new rules. This was a whole new idea and i love it. If i had to say one thing bad about it is it was love story at the end.
Helpful Score: 1
Even if young adult books are not your cup of tea, you might like this one!
The book is set in a futuristic America, which has been divided into 13 districts. Each year, each district is required to send a girl and a by to The Hunger Games--a survival of the fittest game televised throughout the country. Katniss, a poacher from District 12, and Peeta, a baker's son, are thrust into the arena with only their wits to survive.
I don't want to give away any of the story, so I will stop there. Suffice it to say that I found the book entertaining, compelling, and readable. Not to bash Twilight, but I think this book is a far superior Young Adult book. There is something for everyone: adventure, suspense, and romance.
I am ordering the next in the series tomorrow. This book would make a great movie!
The book is set in a futuristic America, which has been divided into 13 districts. Each year, each district is required to send a girl and a by to The Hunger Games--a survival of the fittest game televised throughout the country. Katniss, a poacher from District 12, and Peeta, a baker's son, are thrust into the arena with only their wits to survive.
I don't want to give away any of the story, so I will stop there. Suffice it to say that I found the book entertaining, compelling, and readable. Not to bash Twilight, but I think this book is a far superior Young Adult book. There is something for everyone: adventure, suspense, and romance.
I am ordering the next in the series tomorrow. This book would make a great movie!
Helpful Score: 1
I had long put off reading this, because all the hype made me wary. But review after review kept singing its praises so I finally became interested enough to put it on my TBR. I must say I was pleasantly surprised.
In Collins's post-apocalyptic world, the nation of Panem has risen from the ashes of North America. The central Capitol controls 12 surrounding Districts, where life is hand-to-mouth harsh with the ever-present threat of starvation. One of the Capitol's ways of controlling the Districts is the annual Hunger Games, the ultimate reality show where a boy and girl from each district is chosen by lottery to compete in a fight to the death, the winner guaranteed a life of luxury. This year one unfortunate name chosen for District 12 is 12-year-old Primrose Everdeen. Horrified for her beloved younger sister, 16-year-old Katniss, on whose scavenging and hunting skills her mother and sister depend for survival, volunteers to take her place. Now if she wants to stay alive, she must not only fight but kill while the whole world watches.
From the opening, the book captured and held my attention. Collins's writing style is smooth and compelling, the pace perfectly maintained, the suspense riveting, the world very believable, the characters easy for the reader to get emotionally invested in, the ending a climax that does not disappoint after an intense buildup. The book truly deserves the accolades heaped on it. And yet - my actual rating is 4.75 stars. Rounded up to 5, yes, but while I thoroughly enjoyed this, it fell short of a sledgehammer effect on me. Still, I definitely recommend it!
In Collins's post-apocalyptic world, the nation of Panem has risen from the ashes of North America. The central Capitol controls 12 surrounding Districts, where life is hand-to-mouth harsh with the ever-present threat of starvation. One of the Capitol's ways of controlling the Districts is the annual Hunger Games, the ultimate reality show where a boy and girl from each district is chosen by lottery to compete in a fight to the death, the winner guaranteed a life of luxury. This year one unfortunate name chosen for District 12 is 12-year-old Primrose Everdeen. Horrified for her beloved younger sister, 16-year-old Katniss, on whose scavenging and hunting skills her mother and sister depend for survival, volunteers to take her place. Now if she wants to stay alive, she must not only fight but kill while the whole world watches.
From the opening, the book captured and held my attention. Collins's writing style is smooth and compelling, the pace perfectly maintained, the suspense riveting, the world very believable, the characters easy for the reader to get emotionally invested in, the ending a climax that does not disappoint after an intense buildup. The book truly deserves the accolades heaped on it. And yet - my actual rating is 4.75 stars. Rounded up to 5, yes, but while I thoroughly enjoyed this, it fell short of a sledgehammer effect on me. Still, I definitely recommend it!
Helpful Score: 1
I haven't finished it yet. It's a quick read but I'm having trouble getting through it because it's dark and somewhat depressing.
(later) finished it and I have to stick by what I originally thought. This is a very depressing book. The characters are predictable and robotic. You already know what they will do before they do it. Overall, the story is cliche. I did see the movie after the reading the book and didn't like the movie, either.
(later) finished it and I have to stick by what I originally thought. This is a very depressing book. The characters are predictable and robotic. You already know what they will do before they do it. Overall, the story is cliche. I did see the movie after the reading the book and didn't like the movie, either.
Helpful Score: 1
I read The Hunger Games because I wanted to know what the hype was all about. Talk about underwhelmed. The character development is shallow, with the focus being on graphic violence. I can understand, and have even occasionally liked, other novels of the dystopian genre...but The Hunger Games just seemed sensationalistic. As if Collins set out to deliberately make millions from a book (and movies) about kids killing kids. How sick is that. When I think what I was reading at age 14, it really saddens me to see trash like Hunger Games be so mega-popular. I read the sequels too, (I'm a glutton for punishment I guess) and believe it or not, Hunger Games is the best of the 3. I have to say I am awfully glad not to be a parent and have my kids reading this stuff.
Helpful Score: 1
Pre-read this before allowing my son to read it, based on hearing it was overly graphic. I found it to be graphic, and yes, it is teen on teen violence, so maybe not suited to tweens or younger teens. However, it is not as graphically violent as I was led to believe. Interesting premise.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I started it on a Saturday afternoon and stayed up all night to finish it. Everytime I told myself one more chapter something would happen and I had to see if it was resolved. I just ordered the second and third books online and can't wait for them to come so I can continue reading about this increadible world.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is extremely dark and twisted.... but an amazingly good read... I cannot wait for the release of the sequel this September... definitely one you will be thinking about LONG after you have finished it...
Helpful Score: 1
Loved the whole series, but especially the first one!
Sabrina (glassbutterfly) -
Helpful Score: 1
Wow, this book was amazing! I was pulled in from start to finish! I'm going to start on the next right away becuase I can't wait to know what's going to happen to Katniss Everdeen the main character in the story!
the ruins of what was once North America,is now the nation of Panem a capital city which is surrounded by, and harshly rules over 12 different districts. It is in district 12 where Katniss lives with her mother and sister. Fenced in their district they are forbidden to step outside of their district into the surrounding woods, and forbidden to make contact with other districts. Here people are starving, so Katniss and her best friend do all that they can to put some food on the table for their families, even breaking the law to do it, which is very dangerous.
As if all this is not bad enough there is something more to fear than starving to death. Every year the districts gather in their city squares for what is called the reaping. The reaping is when two names are drawn from each district, one boy and one girl, to fight in an arena til the death. Only one person can be victorious.
I feel like I have given away enough of the story already so I will leave it at that. This is an awesome book that you don't want to miss!
the ruins of what was once North America,is now the nation of Panem a capital city which is surrounded by, and harshly rules over 12 different districts. It is in district 12 where Katniss lives with her mother and sister. Fenced in their district they are forbidden to step outside of their district into the surrounding woods, and forbidden to make contact with other districts. Here people are starving, so Katniss and her best friend do all that they can to put some food on the table for their families, even breaking the law to do it, which is very dangerous.
As if all this is not bad enough there is something more to fear than starving to death. Every year the districts gather in their city squares for what is called the reaping. The reaping is when two names are drawn from each district, one boy and one girl, to fight in an arena til the death. Only one person can be victorious.
I feel like I have given away enough of the story already so I will leave it at that. This is an awesome book that you don't want to miss!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this futuristic story. It was a quick read and it held my interst.
Helpful Score: 1
My son read this book, and my husband picked it up and read it too, so I had put it aside to read. It only took a weekend to finish because I could not put it down! The book has a wonderfully crafted plot. Because there is a sequel, the reader knows that the end of the book will result somehow in the survival of the protagonist, but the author keeps your complete interest in how she will get you to that point. I would compare the author to Hieronymus Bosch; she creates unique and fantastic creatures (the mockingjay and trackerjacks) and with a few words, she manages to create all types of settings (the Capitol, the Seam, the Arena). Don't underestimate this book because it is young adult fiction.
Helpful Score: 1
I know everyone always says the book is so much better than the movie, but I have to say it as well. I watched the movie , then read the book, and relived every amazing moment of this story, I couldn't put it down, and when I had to attend to real life matters, all I wanted to do was go back to the hunger games...
Helpful Score: 1
this senion citizen, loved this book ! addicted to the series now.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was so good I ended up buying the other two in the trilogy because I couldn't wait to see what happened next to these people. Neither this one nor the others disappointed.
Charlotte K. (diamondsae82) -
Helpful Score: 1
What can I say about this book? The first thing that comes to mind is WOW! this is an amazing book. I have been wanting to read this book for awhile now and all I can say is that it definitely lives up to the hype. I was hooked from the first page. The author does a beautiful job of laying out the imagery of the story and you can't help but feel emotionally attached from the start.
The story of the world of Panem is heart wrenching. How awful to live in a world where your every word and move is under constant scrutiny, where the rulers live in luxury while the rest struggle to just survive. The Capitol is a disgusting reminder of what a government with too much power is capable of doing. The Hunger Games is an even more frightening thought. It was hard not to become emotionally attached to the characters, especially when you know only one can come out alive.
The characters in this story are amazing. It is hard not to like them all mostly due to the fact that it isn't their fault that they are in the games. I would say my favorite was Katniss. She is hardcore and I found her easy to relate to. Peeta is sweet and smart. The emotional connection that develops between them is evident from the start and plays out beautifully.
There are many twists in this story which keep the pages turning quickly. Just when you think everything is okay, here comes something else. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved this book and am anxious to finish the rest of the series. Every page keeps you wanting more and more.
The story of the world of Panem is heart wrenching. How awful to live in a world where your every word and move is under constant scrutiny, where the rulers live in luxury while the rest struggle to just survive. The Capitol is a disgusting reminder of what a government with too much power is capable of doing. The Hunger Games is an even more frightening thought. It was hard not to become emotionally attached to the characters, especially when you know only one can come out alive.
The characters in this story are amazing. It is hard not to like them all mostly due to the fact that it isn't their fault that they are in the games. I would say my favorite was Katniss. She is hardcore and I found her easy to relate to. Peeta is sweet and smart. The emotional connection that develops between them is evident from the start and plays out beautifully.
There are many twists in this story which keep the pages turning quickly. Just when you think everything is okay, here comes something else. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved this book and am anxious to finish the rest of the series. Every page keeps you wanting more and more.
Helpful Score: 1
first thing on my mind after closing the book was that this story has a lot of substance when it comes to love, sacrifice, hope and courage. i feel the "you and me" against the world, post-apocalyptic, rebellious theme.
i've enjoyed reading it so much! took me 2 days to finish the book and it would've taken me lesser time (probably a few hours of non-stop reading) had i not have any other things to do. i was already hooked the first few pages of the story. i can vividly picture in my mind everything happening in the book like i'm actually there with the characters. can you imagine 12-18 year olds battling, trying to kill and out-smart each other to survive because they were forced to do so, as a sick way of reminding its people not to go against their government?
i love the plot and the clever way the author played the characters around and the situations. i highly recommend it.
i've enjoyed reading it so much! took me 2 days to finish the book and it would've taken me lesser time (probably a few hours of non-stop reading) had i not have any other things to do. i was already hooked the first few pages of the story. i can vividly picture in my mind everything happening in the book like i'm actually there with the characters. can you imagine 12-18 year olds battling, trying to kill and out-smart each other to survive because they were forced to do so, as a sick way of reminding its people not to go against their government?
i love the plot and the clever way the author played the characters around and the situations. i highly recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
I don't think my review is going to agree with the popular opinion about this story. It is incredibly action-packed, full of suspense, and I couldn't put it down because I needed to know what happens next. However, call me old-school, but I am not okay with this kind of violence in a story that is designed for youth to read. I get that kids read stuff about vampires and all kinds of violence every day, but when the plot is about killing 24 adolescents in the most brutal way possible to win a game, I am really not okay with that. I do get that the point is that the political power shows itself through "The Hunger Games" (a blood bath of 24 randomly chosen adolescents), and likely by the end of the whole series the main characters will likely fight and succeed for the Hunger Games to end altogether (just my guess). Overall, I am not comfortable with filling my kids' minds with adolescents trying to figure out how to kill each other in order to survive a game. The majority of the plot is focused on the actual battle. I might surprise myself and like it if I read all three books, but I am choosing to stop reading after the first book. I suppose I have worked with too many kids that have experienced enough trauma in various ways in their lives, part of me feels that the constant fear of being chased, caught, and brutally murdered could trigger emotional stress. If you love this series - sorry, I just have a different perspective.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved it. Part horror, part science fiction, part Survivor, part gamesmanship. Collins draws you in with the perfect balance of an alternate universe and present day parallels. Very reminiscent of Stephen King's The Long Walk.
4.5 stars out of 5
4.5 stars out of 5
I know it is a YA book but I loved it--a great story with a wonderful heroine, I look forward t reading the rest of the series.
Great book! I started the series after watching the first two movies. I wish I would have read the books first, now I want to re-watch the movies. Really enjoyed it.
Amazing! I couldn't put this book down, I read it in one day. I am so glad that I finally decided to read it. I'd seen it several times at the store and would pick it up, think about it but never get it. Now I'm telling all my family and friends to read it!
Riveting! A white knuckle read!
My husband and I loved this book, as did our 2 children. I recommend it for anyone 12 and over.
I had to get thru the first chapter to figure out where the book was taking place and what time period it was in. After that first chapter though I couldn't put the book down. It's very fast paced with nail biting suspence as well as a heartbreaking love story. I couldn't wait for books 2 and 3!
In a world full of unthinkable choices this book has good characters, a moving story line and makes you want to read more when it closes. Can't beat that!
Incredible book - the whole series is great, actually. Great story line and the characters are so easy to relate to. Highly recommend it to anyone.
I didn't *hate* Twilight, but this series gives modern girls a better feminist figure to follow. I'm a huge fan of dystopian fiction and think Collins does it well (no YA/teen author can beat The Giver).
The second and third books seem to have too much crammed into them, but this one is well paced and fun. Looking forward to the movie!
The second and third books seem to have too much crammed into them, but this one is well paced and fun. Looking forward to the movie!
Great story; very well done.
For starters, what a great freaking book! I'll admit that I am very late in joining the "Hunger Games" bandwagon, mainly due to the completely erroneous assumption that I would not enjoy it simply because it was categorized as a "Young Adult" book. I'm really not sure why I felt this way (since I'm 30 and generally act like I'm 16) but after reading one too many good reviews and receiving an abundance of suggestions from my real life and cyber friends I decided to give it a chance.
By now you should be familiar with the storyline (this is the 25,601st review after all) so I'll spare you the monotony of reading through yet another synopsis. I've always been a big fan of dystopic fiction and was pleasantly surprised by how intriguing this book was. Maybe I'm a sick and twisted individual but I couldn't get enough of the fight to the death battles that ensued once the Hunger Games began. Hell, if I was a citizen of Panem I'd be glued to the TV throughout the entire duration of the games, even if the Capitol didn't mandate the population to watch it.
Filled with great characters, a twisted storyline, and a ruling government that makes the George Bush era seem like a walk in the park, I found myself devouring the pages. This is an incredibly quick read and is a great start to what promises to be a really solid trilogy. I'd be really surprised if we do not see this made into a movie in the near future. Hopefully Hollywood doesn't F it up.
By now you should be familiar with the storyline (this is the 25,601st review after all) so I'll spare you the monotony of reading through yet another synopsis. I've always been a big fan of dystopic fiction and was pleasantly surprised by how intriguing this book was. Maybe I'm a sick and twisted individual but I couldn't get enough of the fight to the death battles that ensued once the Hunger Games began. Hell, if I was a citizen of Panem I'd be glued to the TV throughout the entire duration of the games, even if the Capitol didn't mandate the population to watch it.
Filled with great characters, a twisted storyline, and a ruling government that makes the George Bush era seem like a walk in the park, I found myself devouring the pages. This is an incredibly quick read and is a great start to what promises to be a really solid trilogy. I'd be really surprised if we do not see this made into a movie in the near future. Hopefully Hollywood doesn't F it up.
I absolutely loved reading The Hunger Games! The story is so exciting and interesting that I couldnt help but read it at every opportunity. I sped through the book and I cannot wait to get my hands on book two, Catching Fire.
Katniss, the heroine, is a strong, independent character. Her world revolves around survival, and luckily that skill is a necessity to her when she finds herself as a contender in The Hunger Games. The society in the story holds annual Hunger Games and representatives from every district are expected to fight to the death in these games. The last contestant standing is the victor, but the competition is fierce, and a diverse skill set is needed to survive.
Ive heard The Hunger Games series compared with the Twilight saga and Harry Potter series. I agree with the comparison to action-packed, fantastical, young adult fiction. However, The Hunger Games lacked all the negative aspects I found when reading the others. Theres no room for a whining inner dialogue here. No part of the book felt long, or drawn out. With every turn of the page the plot unfolded and became more engrossing.
Katniss, the heroine, is a strong, independent character. Her world revolves around survival, and luckily that skill is a necessity to her when she finds herself as a contender in The Hunger Games. The society in the story holds annual Hunger Games and representatives from every district are expected to fight to the death in these games. The last contestant standing is the victor, but the competition is fierce, and a diverse skill set is needed to survive.
Ive heard The Hunger Games series compared with the Twilight saga and Harry Potter series. I agree with the comparison to action-packed, fantastical, young adult fiction. However, The Hunger Games lacked all the negative aspects I found when reading the others. Theres no room for a whining inner dialogue here. No part of the book felt long, or drawn out. With every turn of the page the plot unfolded and became more engrossing.
I was not interested in reading this book. Am not into futuristic novels and I didn't like the premise. My daughter and niece both loved it and then someone at book club highly recommended it so I decided to give it a whirl. I was very pleasantly surprised. It was an easy read and quite a page turner. I generally don't read series but I just may have to read the next one to find out what happens with Katniss, Peeta and Gale. Good read even for those who prefer historic novels like me. Recommended.
Excellent excellent excellent!
I know a lot of people love this series but have no desire to continue with the whole series. The book is written well, it is suspenseful, and I wanted to finish just to see how it turned out, but I found it too disturbing to continue the series.
I decided to read this based on the hype. Yeah, I know I shouldn't have. Turns out it was a very entertaining book. Haven't seen the movie so I can't compare that but living in a society like the one in this book is indeed frightening. Katniss is the heroine who replaces her sister as part of that years Hunger Games for her district. She turns out to be pretty bad ass. I would recommend it if your dedicated enough to follow up with the other 2 books.
This was one of the books I never intended to read, but after so much hype I decided to check it out. Suzanne Collins has a way of creating a world that draws you in from page one. The story line can get a bit gory but its never extreme or upsetting. It suits the story perfectly. You become emotionally involved with the characters and have to see them through to the end.
I read this book in 2 days. Anxiously awaiting the 2nd in the series.
I read this book in 2 days. Anxiously awaiting the 2nd in the series.
Reviewed by http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
My Granddaughter told me about the Hunger Games series about 2 years ago I have read the series three times since then. Suzanne Collins has done such a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life you are ready to fight the rebellion right along side them.
I LOVE this book! Absolutely amazing! When I tell my friends what it's about, they're shocked that I would enjoy this book as much as I truly have. But Suzanne Collins wrote this beautifully!
Highly, highly recommend this book. I plan on purchasing the 2 following stories... today!
Highly, highly recommend this book. I plan on purchasing the 2 following stories... today!
Loved it! Didn't want to put it down. Reminiscent of sick society of ancient Rome when the masses were entertained by gladiators battling it out to the bloody death. Also of the book 1984 when Big Brother was always watching. To make a story, a few main characters maintain their humanity.
Truly one the best books I've ever read. I read in bed and found it very difficult to put the book down, turn off the light, and get some sleep.
I loved it. Promptly put in a request for the second book.
I loved it. Promptly put in a request for the second book.
A great start to the Trilogy. There are more details in the book than the movie. I understood the movie better having read this book first. Katniss is a brave and caring heroine.
Let me start by saying that this book has been sitting on my currently reading and to read shelves for far too long. I learned about this series from the movies and I loved the movies. I am ashamed that I did not really sit down and start this series sooner. It took me far too long to sit down and read this, but it was well worth the read!
The book is written in first person. In Katniss' point of view to be exact. I would say that the movie does follow it pretty well for the most part, but this gives a much better insight into Katniss, her choices, her behavior, and her mindset. The story was very well written and while I did feel that there were a few times were I didn't think the author was very clear on things, it was otherwise a very good read. I like how if you know the series, you can see there the author hints to future events in this book. I don't want to give anything away though, so I'll leave it at that.
I feel that my biggest complaint about the book was the ending. I felt like it just dropped off, but at the same time, I get why it was done that way. There's a second book, obviously. Still, I just wish that the ending or closure of this book hadn't just been so cut off to leave us hanging.
In general, the book was excellent! It was a great read and I blew through this quite quickly and ended up reading it twice in a row just because I enjoyed it so much. The chapters aren't overly long or drawn out so if you're a before bed reader or someone who reads on the go, this fits perfectly into such a schedule. It was very well written, descriptive, and the plot is very unique. I felt that the movie did do the book justice as well, but they were two very different points of view. The movie also took away from her trauma caused by the games. The book definitely touches on that more, which I thought was important.
I did enjoy how it went more into Katniss and Peeta's feelings and the real start of their relationship. It shows the blossoming of their relationship and her feelings. Where it started really. I didn't feel that the movie touched this enough or went into enough detail but the book most certainly does. It's sweet in that part!
I will say that if you don't like gore, then you're good. While some parts are a little eh, it's not at all gory or anything. Maybe it was just me, but given the nature of the plot, I was expecting more gore but I was relieved and thankful to find it wasn't like that at all.
In closing, I've aklready started the second book in this series. I'm excited to continue with the series!
The book is written in first person. In Katniss' point of view to be exact. I would say that the movie does follow it pretty well for the most part, but this gives a much better insight into Katniss, her choices, her behavior, and her mindset. The story was very well written and while I did feel that there were a few times were I didn't think the author was very clear on things, it was otherwise a very good read. I like how if you know the series, you can see there the author hints to future events in this book. I don't want to give anything away though, so I'll leave it at that.
I feel that my biggest complaint about the book was the ending. I felt like it just dropped off, but at the same time, I get why it was done that way. There's a second book, obviously. Still, I just wish that the ending or closure of this book hadn't just been so cut off to leave us hanging.
In general, the book was excellent! It was a great read and I blew through this quite quickly and ended up reading it twice in a row just because I enjoyed it so much. The chapters aren't overly long or drawn out so if you're a before bed reader or someone who reads on the go, this fits perfectly into such a schedule. It was very well written, descriptive, and the plot is very unique. I felt that the movie did do the book justice as well, but they were two very different points of view. The movie also took away from her trauma caused by the games. The book definitely touches on that more, which I thought was important.
I did enjoy how it went more into Katniss and Peeta's feelings and the real start of their relationship. It shows the blossoming of their relationship and her feelings. Where it started really. I didn't feel that the movie touched this enough or went into enough detail but the book most certainly does. It's sweet in that part!
I will say that if you don't like gore, then you're good. While some parts are a little eh, it's not at all gory or anything. Maybe it was just me, but given the nature of the plot, I was expecting more gore but I was relieved and thankful to find it wasn't like that at all.
In closing, I've aklready started the second book in this series. I'm excited to continue with the series!
Good old fashioned rage-against-authority thriller. It's a better love story than a post-apocolyptic treatise, and it also seems made to be made into a movie, the sequel is just waiting to be made (I guess it has already been written).
Content was presented well. I wasn't real excited about reading it given the summary, but it was well done and a good read.
This book lived up to the hype. I am looking forward to reading the other installments and finally watch the movie!
Love this book.
The Hunger Games is an excellent and fast-paced read. You'll enjoy it from beginning to end in Katniss Everdeen's first person view of the world around her in this dystopian setting. You'll experience the injustice of the poor and labor-intensive districts and the much privileged and controlling Capitol with the tyrannical President Snow. Katniss acts as a symbol of power and resilience after she is forced to enter the Hunger Games arena and survive with the other tributes on her tail. It's intense and will have you on the edge of every page until the climactic ending.
Enjoyed the book very much. Good Teen fiction with a strong female protagonist. Nice twist at the end, but somewhat predictable.
I don't remember what made me decide to read this book, but I am delighted I did. It pulled me into the world of Panem immediately, and I was in tears and laughing and already ordering the next two books before I was even halfway through this one! Incredible story with heartfelt, powerful writing, and the characters are some of the best I have ever encountered. Katniss and Peeta will be with me for a long, long time, accompanied by Rue and Primrose and many, many others.
I had to read this prior to being dragged to the movie by friends. And I am so glad that I did. It falls into one of the favorites for a post-apocolyptic world story. The characters are multi-layered and easy to care about; and the world Suzanne Collins creates has a colorful edge. I really enjoyed this series.
Wasn't sure if I'd like this book or not and I have to say once I started reading it I could not put it down. Can't wait to start book #2!
I am obsessed with the Hunger Games! I was first introduced to the YA dystopia with the Divergent Series which is amazing as well. After reading that I was on the hunt for another amazing dystopian novel. After a few series I finally decided to pick up the Hunger Games. It is such an amazing book and the books to follow only get better and better!
Katniss is what every girl wants to be, tough, with strong family values, and striking. Katniss struggles with her emotions and deciding what the Capital's intentions actually are as she enters the Hunger Games. Be prepared to be glued to the book. I love the movies as well!
Katniss is what every girl wants to be, tough, with strong family values, and striking. Katniss struggles with her emotions and deciding what the Capital's intentions actually are as she enters the Hunger Games. Be prepared to be glued to the book. I love the movies as well!
Let me start by saying that this book has been sitting on my currently reading and to read shelves for far too long. I learned about this series from the movies and I loved the movies. I am ashamed that I did not really sit down and start this series sooner. It took me far too long to sit down and read this, but it was well worth the read!
The book is written in first person. In Katniss' point of view to be exact. I would say that the movie does follow it pretty well for the most part, but this gives a much better insight into Katniss, her choices, her behavior, and her mindset. The story was very well written and while I did feel that there were a few times were I didn't think the author was very clear on things, it was otherwise a very good read. I like how if you know the series, you can see there the author hints to future events in this book. I don't want to give anything away though, so I'll leave it at that.
I feel that my biggest complaint about the book was the ending. I felt like it just dropped off, but at the same time, I get why it was done that way. There's a second book, obviously. Still, I just wish that the ending or closure of this book hadn't just been so cut off to leave us hanging.
In general, the book was excellent! It was a great read and I blew through this quite quickly and ended up reading it twice in a row just because I enjoyed it so much. The chapters aren't overly long or drawn out so if you're a before bed reader or someone who reads on the go, this fits perfectly into such a schedule. It was very well written, descriptive, and the plot is very unique. I felt that the movie did do the book justice as well, but they were two very different points of view. The movie also took away from her trauma caused by the games. The book definitely touches on that more, which I thought was important.
I did enjoy how it went more into Katniss and Peeta's feelings and the real start of their relationship. It shows the blossoming of their relationship and her feelings. Where it started really. I didn't feel that the movie touched this enough or went into enough detail but the book most certainly does. It's sweet in that part!
I will say that if you don't like gore, then you're good. While some parts are a little eh, it's not at all gory or anything. Maybe it was just me, but given the nature of the plot, I was expecting more gore but I was relieved and thankful to find it wasn't like that at all.
In closing, I've aklready started the second book in this series. I'm excited to continue with the series!
The book is written in first person. In Katniss' point of view to be exact. I would say that the movie does follow it pretty well for the most part, but this gives a much better insight into Katniss, her choices, her behavior, and her mindset. The story was very well written and while I did feel that there were a few times were I didn't think the author was very clear on things, it was otherwise a very good read. I like how if you know the series, you can see there the author hints to future events in this book. I don't want to give anything away though, so I'll leave it at that.
I feel that my biggest complaint about the book was the ending. I felt like it just dropped off, but at the same time, I get why it was done that way. There's a second book, obviously. Still, I just wish that the ending or closure of this book hadn't just been so cut off to leave us hanging.
In general, the book was excellent! It was a great read and I blew through this quite quickly and ended up reading it twice in a row just because I enjoyed it so much. The chapters aren't overly long or drawn out so if you're a before bed reader or someone who reads on the go, this fits perfectly into such a schedule. It was very well written, descriptive, and the plot is very unique. I felt that the movie did do the book justice as well, but they were two very different points of view. The movie also took away from her trauma caused by the games. The book definitely touches on that more, which I thought was important.
I did enjoy how it went more into Katniss and Peeta's feelings and the real start of their relationship. It shows the blossoming of their relationship and her feelings. Where it started really. I didn't feel that the movie touched this enough or went into enough detail but the book most certainly does. It's sweet in that part!
I will say that if you don't like gore, then you're good. While some parts are a little eh, it's not at all gory or anything. Maybe it was just me, but given the nature of the plot, I was expecting more gore but I was relieved and thankful to find it wasn't like that at all.
In closing, I've aklready started the second book in this series. I'm excited to continue with the series!
Reviewed by http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
This book immediately takes you and keeps you in the action. All too soon, it is ending which makes it imperative to get the next book. Katniss is the perfect heroine.
I'd been meaning to read this book for a while, but put it off til I saw the movie so I could enjoy the book more.
When I read the book I was not disappointed however, as I was instantly pulled into the plot. I could relate very well to Katniss and Peeta both, and can't wait to read the next two. I must find out what happens! :D
When I read the book I was not disappointed however, as I was instantly pulled into the plot. I could relate very well to Katniss and Peeta both, and can't wait to read the next two. I must find out what happens! :D
I really enjoyed this book. Once you really get going its one of those I want to read this in one night books.
Very easy read and written well. You truly care about the main charactors and their situation.
I could not put this book down!
Either you will love this book or you will hate it. I loved it! It was so refreshing to read a young adult novel where the main character isnt in love with/ secretly a vampire, werewolf, witch or an angel. This book really did herald the beginning of the dystopian era in young adult fiction; and it was done with intrigue, violence, love, and passion. The characters are imaginative, the plot is original, and the writing sucks you in. Whether you end up loving it or hating it, The Hunger Games is not one to be missed.
I'm sure this is one of the best books I've read. I picked it up because a co worker is my "book guru", and boy she had it right. Although it's considered a "teen" novel in some book stores, I believe its fun for everyone. Collins does an amazing job of storytelling. Right from the git-go you find yourself wanting to keep going and going. I finished this book in one sitting (mid-length train ride).
This book was truly amazing:)
I had to check out this book - I'd heard way too much about the series to ignore it any longer. ...and am I glad I did!
This is a totally engrossing, page turner of a book. It may be geared toward teens / young adults, but it kept this 30-something mom on the edge of my seat. I may have ignored my darling children for a few hours while I DEVOURED this book in less than a day.
Needless to say, I can't wait to read the two sequels and see what Collins does with Katniss, Peeta & Gale.
This is a totally engrossing, page turner of a book. It may be geared toward teens / young adults, but it kept this 30-something mom on the edge of my seat. I may have ignored my darling children for a few hours while I DEVOURED this book in less than a day.
Needless to say, I can't wait to read the two sequels and see what Collins does with Katniss, Peeta & Gale.
Amazing storyline - keeps you hanging on every word! Loved every minute of the day and a half it took to read. Can't wait for the movie in March 2012.
Awesome read! Never leaves you hanging... until the end and then it really leaves you hanging. HAVE to read the 2nd one.
This was a great book! Easy to read and very imaginative. I'm not usually into futuristic books but this was a gem! I also saw the movie and I'm happy to say that the movie was as good as the book! Happy Reading:)
Victoria T. (justicepirate) reviewed The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Bk 1) on + 350 more book reviews
I didn't truly know what this book was going to be about, but it was bought for me and I read it. I loved the amount of descriptions in it that really sucked me into the story, wanting to read what happened next. It is a story about a girl named Katniss who lives in District 12, a coal miner part of the country. Each year there are games between the districts where kids between 12-18 are chosen to fight each other to the death. Katniss will be entering these games along with Peeta, a fellow student who is a baker's son. Throughout the book we learn a lot about survival and love. It is quite interesting!
It took a few friends recommending this book before I picked it up, but once I did I could not put it down! This was a great read, the story flows easily, with twists and turns. 5 stars!!!
I loved this book and now I've read all the books in the series. I could never put them down and read all three books in less than a week. I would recommend this whole series to anyone, young and old, to read it and read the signs of the times that we live in while you're reading them. Great book!
FASCINATING account of a post-apocolyptic world with a truly evil capital city. It is the story of reality TV gone lethal and one young girl's resistance to evil.
Twelve districts must surrender a boy and a girl tribute to The Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death.
Read this before the movie comes out in March 2012.
All three books (Catching Fire, Mockingjay) are phenomenal (I read the entire series in 10 days). I am suprised by the Young Adult category though - The books deal with political angst, evil deeds, and adult overtones.
Twelve districts must surrender a boy and a girl tribute to The Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death.
Read this before the movie comes out in March 2012.
All three books (Catching Fire, Mockingjay) are phenomenal (I read the entire series in 10 days). I am suprised by the Young Adult category though - The books deal with political angst, evil deeds, and adult overtones.
Amazing book! Best YA fiction I've read in years. I am a middle school librarian, and I could never have enough of these to meet the huge demand, even though I bought seven copies! It is great for lessons on political science, plant biology, Greek and Roman mythology and history. After reading them in English, I reread them all in Spanish. I started a Spanish/English book club and the kids were so excited about reading it; many were reluctant readers.I was very lucky to be invited to a breakfast with Suzanne Collins in which she read from the book.
This book was fantastic! I could not put it down! I read over half of the book in one day. It was so good!
I have never cried so much or become so attached to the characters of a book as I did with the Hunger Games. It took me a long time to decide to read this, but once I did, I was not disappointed. The Hunger Games books are some of the best I have ever read. Period. To read my full review, please visit my blog: http://www.petiemariespost.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-hunger-games.html
The premise is horrific and the idea that kids are placed in an arena with 23 other kids and forced to murder them in order to survive, is just disgraceful. To make matters worse, the kids go through training to be more violent, interviews to impress the audience because the games are televised, and makeup and costume to give a good impression. Are you kidding me! No wonder Katniss has such an attitude. It all just seems so pointless. And if all that isn't enough to turn your stomach, if you somehow win, you are then expected to train the future "tributes". The nightmare never ends.
All the reviews scream how wonderful this book is. If you can get past the concept of the book, the storyline is fascinating and the growth of the characters is amazing. Katniss and Peeta conquer adversity and survive with their honor and loyalty intact which is truly amazing given the circumstances. Of course, the books ends with Katniss and Peeta fighting but how else is the author going to get you to pickup book number two and read more of this tragedy?
I'm glad I finished this book but it is not a series I would continue reading.
All the reviews scream how wonderful this book is. If you can get past the concept of the book, the storyline is fascinating and the growth of the characters is amazing. Katniss and Peeta conquer adversity and survive with their honor and loyalty intact which is truly amazing given the circumstances. Of course, the books ends with Katniss and Peeta fighting but how else is the author going to get you to pickup book number two and read more of this tragedy?
I'm glad I finished this book but it is not a series I would continue reading.
This book surprised me because it is normally not a genre I read, however a PBS buddy that has similar tastes gave it very high reviews, so I said what the heck! I am often turned off about sci fi/futuristic books because they seem to have their own language that makes them difficult to read, (IMHO) however this one is well developed, flows well, and somehow the new language seems appropriate and natural. I like that the female characters are not automatically considered weak, but rather all have their own abilities.
All characters are multi dimensional; you end up liking the ones you did not care for earlier in the book. Like real life, there are two sides to every story and various dimensions to a character. Very refreshing, I am looking forward to the sequel.
All characters are multi dimensional; you end up liking the ones you did not care for earlier in the book. Like real life, there are two sides to every story and various dimensions to a character. Very refreshing, I am looking forward to the sequel.
Angela P. (thirstyvampire82) -
When I saw the preview for the movie, I just had to see it. So after I saw the movie, I just had to read the book! I was truly happy with the book. I actually have the second one and I'm starting it now. It was a very easy read, however, but nonetheless, kept me intrigued the whole time. :) I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. :)
Very entertaining and engaging.
Melissa B. (dragoneyes) -
What an awesome book. It's been a while since I've read a book that I lost sleep over. I couldn't put this book down. The way Suzanne Collins wrote just kept you in suspense. There was no time to dawdle just read, read, read.
It is set in the future in the US. The earth was nearly destroyed. The US was rebuilt into districts plus a capitol. It started off with 13 districts but they went together and rebelled against the capitol. The capitol won and district 13 was totally destroyed. So now there are 12 districts that live in fear of the capitol. Each district supplies the capitol with what it needs. One way the capitol keeps everyone in line is by having the Hunger Games. This is a game were a boy and a girl from each district between the ages of 12-18 is put in a arena and made to battle each other until there is only one living child left. That child is the victor and their district is supplemented a little better.
The book starts off in District 12 where the supply there is coal. There are many mining accidents and people often starve to death. There we also meet Katniss. She has learned to survive after her father died in a mining accident and her mother went into a great depression. She had to survive because the only person she truly loved was her little sister Prim and if Katniss didn't bring food to the table, it is possible no one would.
The day of the Reaping comes. This is where names are drawn from the districts on who would go fight. It turns out to be Katniss's sister Prim for the girl. Katniss has to protect her. How??? Read the book to find out!
I know some people are sensitive to children killing children and if you are one of those, you shouldn't read this book. The book did remind me a little of the Running Man and Lord of the Flies but I felt this story held it's own. I highly recommend this book.
It is set in the future in the US. The earth was nearly destroyed. The US was rebuilt into districts plus a capitol. It started off with 13 districts but they went together and rebelled against the capitol. The capitol won and district 13 was totally destroyed. So now there are 12 districts that live in fear of the capitol. Each district supplies the capitol with what it needs. One way the capitol keeps everyone in line is by having the Hunger Games. This is a game were a boy and a girl from each district between the ages of 12-18 is put in a arena and made to battle each other until there is only one living child left. That child is the victor and their district is supplemented a little better.
The book starts off in District 12 where the supply there is coal. There are many mining accidents and people often starve to death. There we also meet Katniss. She has learned to survive after her father died in a mining accident and her mother went into a great depression. She had to survive because the only person she truly loved was her little sister Prim and if Katniss didn't bring food to the table, it is possible no one would.
The day of the Reaping comes. This is where names are drawn from the districts on who would go fight. It turns out to be Katniss's sister Prim for the girl. Katniss has to protect her. How??? Read the book to find out!
I know some people are sensitive to children killing children and if you are one of those, you shouldn't read this book. The book did remind me a little of the Running Man and Lord of the Flies but I felt this story held it's own. I highly recommend this book.
Hands down, one of my new favorite series. I was literally addicted to these books!! I couldn't wait to sit down and read and find out what happened next to Katniss and Peeta. I'm ready to read them a second time!! I cant wait til the movie is out, I really hope its just as good as the book is!!
Written for young adults, simplistic, somewhat enjoyable. The first one in the series, the storyline is so violent. I wonder if the next two move on from that.
Kristin M. (MissKristin66) - , reviewed The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Bk 1) on + 80 more book reviews
This book is better than the movie, and I loved the movie! A truly thrilling futuristic tale of survival, justice and oppression. Katniss and Peeta are memorable characters for the ages.
Excellent story! It really holds your interest. As an adult with my 14 year old also reading the book, I did struggle with the author's subject matter for teens. This book is written as a teen book. It is just that in the story they had to fight to the death and I don't think the author made the horrible deaths very real to teens. She just brushes over them killings very lightly, but would I want teens reading the violence that is actually happening, no. So, the story is compelling, I highly recommend it for adults and for teens reading it, please remember that in reality the main character would be so traumatized from this forced experience that she would be broken and most likely in therapy for years. So, not at all realistic, but a compelling story.
The 74th Annual Hunger Games are soon to begin. The Hunger Games are a fight to the death. In the new country of Panem, in the ruins of North America, each year as punishment for a rebellion and as a control mechanism, the Capitol forces each of the 12 provinces to draw names of a male and female tribute. The tributes are drawn from all people between the ages of 12 and 18. They receive training, are assessed by the game masters and then the betting begins. The games will be televised and are required viewing for the whole nation.
The draws are not exactly even though. You can choose to enter your name extra times, for yourself and for family members to receive a terse, a grain and oil supplement from the government. Thus enters our heroine Katniss Everdeen. She is entered this year 20 times as she is 16 and taken the terse every year, for herself, her sister and her mother. Her close friend Gale has his name in 42 times, but this is the last year he is eligible. Then Katniss has the worst fear hit - her younger sister Prim (short for Primrose) is drawn with her 1st and only ballot. Katniss then does the unthinkable; she volunteers to take Prim's place.
Katniss Everdeen knows that she has at least some chance of survival in the games. She has been secretly hunting in the woods and feeding her family since her father died years earlier. She hunts and gathers what she can with her friend and hunting partner Gale, in the woods beyond the fenced border of District 12. Yet even so, most believe she has just given up her life for her sisters.
Katniss and Peeta Mellark are the tributes from District 12 for the 74th annual hunger games. As they travel to the capitol they have two mentors - Haymitch Abernathy the only surviving Hunger Games winner from the district and Effie Trinket the Capitol's representative in the district. They will each in their own way try to help them to survive both the Capitol, to win favor with the citizens who can sponsor them in the games, and then the games themselves.
This book is very well written, the scenes sharp and crisp, the world believable and detailed. The characters become real as you read. You reach the end and are left hungry for more, which is what you will get as this is book one in a trilogy. The only drawback in my opinion is the lack of a map. I keep hoping for a map of Panem, with the 12 districts, the mysterious destroyed 13th district and the wilderness area's between them. Maybe it is just a guy thing, but I wanted a map. In this book Twenty-four are forced to enter the game zone but only the winner survives. You get a sample online. You can read chapter 1 online but it will only whet your appetite for more. There is also a video trailer for the book you can find online. This is a great Sci-fi book and will be an excellent movie.
The draws are not exactly even though. You can choose to enter your name extra times, for yourself and for family members to receive a terse, a grain and oil supplement from the government. Thus enters our heroine Katniss Everdeen. She is entered this year 20 times as she is 16 and taken the terse every year, for herself, her sister and her mother. Her close friend Gale has his name in 42 times, but this is the last year he is eligible. Then Katniss has the worst fear hit - her younger sister Prim (short for Primrose) is drawn with her 1st and only ballot. Katniss then does the unthinkable; she volunteers to take Prim's place.
Katniss Everdeen knows that she has at least some chance of survival in the games. She has been secretly hunting in the woods and feeding her family since her father died years earlier. She hunts and gathers what she can with her friend and hunting partner Gale, in the woods beyond the fenced border of District 12. Yet even so, most believe she has just given up her life for her sisters.
Katniss and Peeta Mellark are the tributes from District 12 for the 74th annual hunger games. As they travel to the capitol they have two mentors - Haymitch Abernathy the only surviving Hunger Games winner from the district and Effie Trinket the Capitol's representative in the district. They will each in their own way try to help them to survive both the Capitol, to win favor with the citizens who can sponsor them in the games, and then the games themselves.
This book is very well written, the scenes sharp and crisp, the world believable and detailed. The characters become real as you read. You reach the end and are left hungry for more, which is what you will get as this is book one in a trilogy. The only drawback in my opinion is the lack of a map. I keep hoping for a map of Panem, with the 12 districts, the mysterious destroyed 13th district and the wilderness area's between them. Maybe it is just a guy thing, but I wanted a map. In this book Twenty-four are forced to enter the game zone but only the winner survives. You get a sample online. You can read chapter 1 online but it will only whet your appetite for more. There is also a video trailer for the book you can find online. This is a great Sci-fi book and will be an excellent movie.
This wasnt anything like I expected. I didnt expect to even like it, but was amazingly impressed and almost immediately pulled into the story. When government anarchy reigns, the consequences of righteousness are unbelievably horrible. This is one such story, perhaps written in the extreme, but the point is well taken and presented in such a way that the reader cannot turn his back on it. I can hardly wait to read the second book and watch the author start to turn the tables on evil.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. 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," a fight to the death on live TV.
Read this and get hooked to read the next 2 books.
Read this and get hooked to read the next 2 books.
Good book. Interesting view on humanity. Fascinating set up and surroundings. Good.
I liked this book but not as much as most people. It is a quick read that kept my attention and I will definitely move on to the second one but I still have this feeling of "What the heck?..." I think it's because the concept is really far fetched to me. But it's worth reading and I'm curious to see how the movies turn out.
I wasn't sure about this book as futuristic stories aren't my thing. I decided to read it because all the kids were reading it and even some of my fellow senior adults had read it and recommended it. It was easy to get into the story and I was surprised to find how well the main character, Katniss, was developed. The story is told through her narration of the events that occur to her when she replaces her little sister, Prim, when Prim is chosen as one of the children chosen from their area to go to fight to the death while the world watches. Besides it being a great story, I can see how there area analogies to this story to many other eras in world history when civilizations decline. For instance, there is the time in the Roman Empire when people from either the slave classes or other hated people (Christians) are put in the arena to fight to the death while people who are so removed from the lives of the ones chosen to fight that they do not even think of them as human with feelings. As others have said the story is written for young adults and it shows, and the author could have used a good English editor as there are some grammatical errors (misplaced participles, etc.), but that is not a distraction. Be prepared, though, it is not a book of humor.
Like millions of others, really liked this book!
Dystopian society, tough but tender heroine, a fight to the death, a little love triangle. It's a formula that's been done before, but Collins does it well and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. I couldn't help but the think about the 99 percent as I read it. The elite in the capital live exaggeratedly frivolous lives, but aren't too far off from reality.
Ashley B. (daredevilgirl013) reviewed The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Bk 1) on + 746 more book reviews
Read this book rather quickly as it was hard to put down once the games started. I thought this book was well written and kept me right in there with the action. Just like it says in the book, when things get boring, the gamemakers do what they can to make it interesting again, and that's what the author did. She made it so this book stayed interesting. I know some people are going, well this book is about kids killing kids. Yes it is. But there is a story and a reason behind it. It isn't because its for "fun" it's because all the citizens have to be reminded of something from long ago (won't spoil it). As for that affecting our kids today and this being a "bad" book for them to read.....I've seen worse stuff on TV and in real life.
Loved it! One of my favorites :) I was surprised at how much I liked this story and how easy it was to get lost in this world. Super easy read that went too fast ;)
In a post-apocalyptic world, North America is a new nation called Panem and society is split up into twelve districts. In remembrance of the disaster, and as a show of power, the Capitol holds an annual Hunger Games, a tournament where the sole victor is also the sole survivor. From each of the twelve districts, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 must be selected by lottery to participate in the games. The games, like a futuristic reality show, are televised, and when play becomes slow, real dangers are scripted in.
Resources are scarce but Katniss Everdeen, a skilled archer, is the sole bread winner for her family. To protect her little sister Prim, she ends up volunteering for the games. The male candidate selected for her district is the bakers son, someone who years before had saved her from the brink of death. Her district hasnt had a winner in years.
With her familys survival in doubt, will Katniss command her emotions to become a stone hearted killer? Or will she find the sweet spot, a compromise between survival and morality? http://venusvignettes.com/vv-book-reviews/the-hunger-games/
Resources are scarce but Katniss Everdeen, a skilled archer, is the sole bread winner for her family. To protect her little sister Prim, she ends up volunteering for the games. The male candidate selected for her district is the bakers son, someone who years before had saved her from the brink of death. Her district hasnt had a winner in years.
With her familys survival in doubt, will Katniss command her emotions to become a stone hearted killer? Or will she find the sweet spot, a compromise between survival and morality? http://venusvignettes.com/vv-book-reviews/the-hunger-games/
Great Book. This one is a stay on the shelf and reread again and again.
I read this book in one night! All I could say afterwords was "Wow!" The book caught me and drug me along for a great ride! The premise of the book makes me stop and think, what would it take for our world to get to this point? Very good book, much more than my normal mindless entertainment!
The Hunger Games could be the "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" for the younger generation. Although too violent for young readers, older readers and adults will be riveted.
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2012/01/hunger-games.html
The Hunger Games is the first book in the much talked about trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It sets up a dystopian society of twelve districts controlled by the Capitol. As a constant reminder to the districts of the control they are under, the Capitol instated the Hunger Games - a barbaric competition in which two children - one male and one female - from each district compete to survive in an arena designed particularly for the event.
The games begins with 24 "tributes" or players. The games are supposed to end when only one remains alive. The sole survivor is the supposed winner of the games. This book follows the story of Katniss, the female "tribute" from District 12. The book begins with the "reaping" or selection of the competitors and follows through to the conclusion of the games.
The book and the story is a completely riveting one. I stayed up all night finishing it because I wanted to find out what happens. I felt for the characters and cringed at the horror that comprises these games. The book brings in moments in which friendship and love flourish even under these circumstances. Perhaps, as a reminder that no matter what the circumstances, there is an innermost piece of of ourselves that is untouchable.
I can't wait to read the other two books! I am not sure if I want to see the movie, however. I don't know the changes the movie would entail to keep it at the PG-13 rating for its target audience. The book tells a dark and dangerous story. I am not sure a PG-13 movie could do the book justice.
The Hunger Games is the first book in the much talked about trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It sets up a dystopian society of twelve districts controlled by the Capitol. As a constant reminder to the districts of the control they are under, the Capitol instated the Hunger Games - a barbaric competition in which two children - one male and one female - from each district compete to survive in an arena designed particularly for the event.
The games begins with 24 "tributes" or players. The games are supposed to end when only one remains alive. The sole survivor is the supposed winner of the games. This book follows the story of Katniss, the female "tribute" from District 12. The book begins with the "reaping" or selection of the competitors and follows through to the conclusion of the games.
The book and the story is a completely riveting one. I stayed up all night finishing it because I wanted to find out what happens. I felt for the characters and cringed at the horror that comprises these games. The book brings in moments in which friendship and love flourish even under these circumstances. Perhaps, as a reminder that no matter what the circumstances, there is an innermost piece of of ourselves that is untouchable.
I can't wait to read the other two books! I am not sure if I want to see the movie, however. I don't know the changes the movie would entail to keep it at the PG-13 rating for its target audience. The book tells a dark and dangerous story. I am not sure a PG-13 movie could do the book justice.
Absolutely fantastic.
Whoosh! A real thrill-ride of a book, with an unexpected plot, a captivating anti-heroine, well-developed characters (even minor characters!), and an ending that leaves one wanting more! Read it almost in one fell swoop, up til 3 am Fri night and right back at the novel the next morning. Ha! I LOVE it when a book surprises me and sweeps me away like Hunger Games did!
Linda A. (Springfieldreader) reviewed The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Bk 1) on + 458 more book reviews
I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I did not know it was considered a "young person's" book when I bought it, but I am now glad I did not. Otherwise I would have missed out on an excellent story. I will now start reading the next in the series; "Catching Fire". Cannot wait!
Great book :) found I could not put it down and was put right into the story. Not just a young reader book. I'm glad I read it.
A great read for teens and adults - exciting, surprising and a good story that gets you involved from the very first page. I finished this and its sequel in 2 days!
This is my mid-teen daughter's absolutely favorite book, and series. We've had to get a second copy because the first got passed around many, many times and then disappeared.
A pulse-pounding, dystopian thriller for young adults about a 16 year old girl named Katniss who is selected to participate in a fight to the death televised on national television, called The Hunger Games. The author is really adept at keeping the tension taut all the way through the last page. I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to read the next in the series.
I loved it. My kids loved it. Great book.
Excellent Story and a definite page-turner!
I saw the film first, and I got into it more than I did the book. While I found Katniss' narration intriguing at first, it wasn't long before I started wishing I wasn't limited to her point-of-view the entire book. I wanted to get into some of the other characters' heads, like Peeta, Gale, Cinna, Haymitch, etc.
And although it was easy to read, the concept of making adolescents and teenagers kill each other off for sport didn't really come across the page as all that believable to me. It felt more like a forced, gimmicky dystopian society, rather than something you could actually see happening at some point in the future.
Overall, I give THE HUNGER GAMES a C. It's no doubt much more suited for its intended teenaged audience, the gore and death being right on par with a lot of the video games they've been playing for years! LOL
And although it was easy to read, the concept of making adolescents and teenagers kill each other off for sport didn't really come across the page as all that believable to me. It felt more like a forced, gimmicky dystopian society, rather than something you could actually see happening at some point in the future.
Overall, I give THE HUNGER GAMES a C. It's no doubt much more suited for its intended teenaged audience, the gore and death being right on par with a lot of the video games they've been playing for years! LOL
Tiffany K. (tiffanyak) -
I tried resisting the "fad", since I really don't like getting into things only because they're "popular", but the more I heard about this book the more I felt as though it really was something I would probably like. So, finally, I had to read it, especially in light of the upcoming movie. It turns out that it really is quite exciting and a fun read. Perhaps not very original (the core story idea dates all the way back to Greek mythology, and has been recycled many times since), but reused in a new way so you don't feel as though you really know the story already. It's a very entertaining book that kept me riveted throughout, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy right away. If you like Young Adult fantasy/action/post-apocalyptic fiction, then you'll really enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it.
I loved it!!! It was so entertaining, I read it in 2 days.
Marilyn M. (IndulgeYourself) -
I LOVED this book - it reminded me of Lord of the Flies which I had to read during my high school years. It's disturbing, exciting, easy-to-read (it's considered Young Adult) and I can't believe the cliff-hanger ending. I can't wait until the sequal comes out later this year as I'm dying to find out what happens with the main characters. This might not be for everyone as it is a bit gorey, but many times I was on the edge of my seat. The last half especially, I could not put it down. I give this one 4.5 stars out of 5.
Reviewed by http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
This is one awesome non-stop adventure! America is no more. Ruined by a war within itself, it's now called Panem; where government rules and the common folk struggle just to feed their family. What's worse, each of the 12 remaining districts is forced to watch 1 boy and 1 girl from each district fight til the death, until only 1 victor remains in The Hunger Games. It's only the beginning of the governments control over the people. The story line of 16 yr old Katniss will grab you from the start and not let go. Hang on for a rollercoaster ride 'cause this one will take you from shock to horror, to sadness, to cheering and end with an OMG! This book is truly one of the best books I have ever read, EVER!
The Hunger Games is is a competition to die for. Volunteering to save her beloved sister, Prim, Karniss becomes the female representative of her district, District 12. The trainers pair her with Peeta Mallark, the baker's son who saved her, Prim and her mother from starvation when they had no food after her father died. Karissa and Peeta train together, paired as sweethearts but the test comes when one must kill the other. The competition becomes intense as district representative after district representative meet their ends. A well written story, Karness and Peeta become a team to try to defeat the others. Can they do it? Can they kill each other when the time comes? The story ends, leaving a wonderful opening for the second in the series.
I'm not a big fan of young adult books, but The Hunger Games was exceptional.i enjoyed every word of it. There are so many facets to this story. It's a story of survival. It's a story of the effects of a brutal dictorial government. It's a story of humanity lost. It's a story of excess and poverty. Its a story about individual rights. Its a story of violence. It's a story of love.
You won't be disappointed in this read. Also, surprisingly, Catching Fire is even better.
You won't be disappointed in this read. Also, surprisingly, Catching Fire is even better.
both action and emotions--keeps you reading
It's amazing how real it feels.
We can't help but root for Katniss.
We can't help but root for Katniss.
This amusing and entertaining book is intended for young readers, but as an adult I relished this one day read like a true teen.
This was one of our book club selections and I was not looking forward to reading it. While on one hand it sounded intriguing and I had already heard good things about it, the subject matter wasn't such a lure for me. In the future nation of Panem, a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen are drawn in a lottery to be participants in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is an annual competition which takes place in the capitol of the twelve existing districts. The twist is that the kids must fight to the death. There is only one survivor.
To my great surprise though, I loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins! It was interesting, suspenseful, imaginative, sad, a real yank at the heart. The book was an action-packed whirlwind from the beginning scenes of life in the village, to the lottery drawing, to the physical and mental preparation, and to the actual game itself. The game takes place in a controlled environment, a bubble of sorts, where the coordinators can manipulate the physical surroundings to influence participant action. I was on the edge of my seat as Katniss and Peeta pitted against each other fought for survival, then were urged on as a team, then to the surprise twist.
And at the emotional end I was ready for the second installment, Catching Fire, and finally the third, Mockingjay. Because the books were short and easy, geared toward a young adult audience, I wasn't annoyed in continuing on (since I'm not a big fan of series). In fact, I was very enthusiastic. In the end I urged my husband and son to read the series, and no surprise, they both liked them, too. Read other book reviews at readinginthegarden.blogspot.com
To my great surprise though, I loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins! It was interesting, suspenseful, imaginative, sad, a real yank at the heart. The book was an action-packed whirlwind from the beginning scenes of life in the village, to the lottery drawing, to the physical and mental preparation, and to the actual game itself. The game takes place in a controlled environment, a bubble of sorts, where the coordinators can manipulate the physical surroundings to influence participant action. I was on the edge of my seat as Katniss and Peeta pitted against each other fought for survival, then were urged on as a team, then to the surprise twist.
And at the emotional end I was ready for the second installment, Catching Fire, and finally the third, Mockingjay. Because the books were short and easy, geared toward a young adult audience, I wasn't annoyed in continuing on (since I'm not a big fan of series). In fact, I was very enthusiastic. In the end I urged my husband and son to read the series, and no surprise, they both liked them, too. Read other book reviews at readinginthegarden.blogspot.com
For a while now people have been telling me that I had to read Suzanne Collins's best-selling trilogy but I resisted. The hype was too much and when the movie came out it only became worse. I told my friends I'd read it "one of these days". Finally one of them just handed me the book and told me to ask for the next one when I was done. It lay on top of the pile for a few weeks until I started feeling bad for keeping it for so long. So I picked it up and... couldn't put it down, breaking only to do the necessary things, such as eat, sleep and go to work.
Collins's ability to keep a breakneck pace even with the unhurried scenes helped with that of course, but her storytelling and masterful world building played a tremendous role as well. The only thing that irked me was the fact that everybody had their "eyes trained" on something or someone all the time, but that wasn't too hard to get past.
I've heard so much talk about Katniss being a strong character because she doesn't need a guy, or anybody else for that matter, to take care of her that I couldn't help but ask myself whether I agreed with that claim throughout the book and again when I finished reading it. The answer was invariably "no". Now, now, hold the booing and the stomping, there is a method to my madness. Katniss is skilled at providing for and defending herself and her family, she's deadly even, but to me that's not strength, that's resilience, adaptability, will to survive, doing what needs to be done, so she is tough, sure, but strong? No so much, because toughness is not the same thing as strength to me. I don't see wanting/needing love, affection, another person's company, support or help as a weakness. To me not wanting that is a handicap. I think she's been so hurt that she has adopted an exoskeleton of sorts that prevents her from feeling some things, protects her from getting hurt, and when Prim was reaped the violent emotions cracked the shell and she's begun to come alive in a way. After all, in all of this book the only person I felt she really loved was Prim. I think Katniss has potential to become truly strong, but she is not there yet.
I'm a big fan of action and adventure, which this book has plenty of, but I'm also a fan of interesting characters and there's no shortage of those here either. I liked that every new person introduced was flawed somehow, had a story full of demons, even the ones who at first seemed like there wasn't much of a story to them, like Peeta. Having Katniss as the first-person narrator helped with the suspense because quite frankly the girl is not much of a great thinker or strategist. It's just as well though - sometimes it took her a while to figure things out and in the process more of the background story could be told.
Considering that we know that there are three books in the series and that there is a love triangle conflict it wasn't much of a mystery that both Katniss and Peeta would survive, but I was looking forward to finding out what would happen to make books 2 and 3 necessary. In observance of the no-spoiler policy for the sake of possibly a handful of people who have not yet read the books or seen the movie I won't go into detail, but let me tell you, it was good. I didn't expect it to happen quite as it did so after a relatively predictable novel a surprise ending was welcome.
By the end of this book it was obvious that the real story was only beginning and although Hunger Games didn't exactly meet my exalted expectations it promised more and I began Catching Fire without even a day's delay. Fortunately my friend had the book ready for me before I asked for it. Come back next week to find out what I thought!
Collins's ability to keep a breakneck pace even with the unhurried scenes helped with that of course, but her storytelling and masterful world building played a tremendous role as well. The only thing that irked me was the fact that everybody had their "eyes trained" on something or someone all the time, but that wasn't too hard to get past.
I've heard so much talk about Katniss being a strong character because she doesn't need a guy, or anybody else for that matter, to take care of her that I couldn't help but ask myself whether I agreed with that claim throughout the book and again when I finished reading it. The answer was invariably "no". Now, now, hold the booing and the stomping, there is a method to my madness. Katniss is skilled at providing for and defending herself and her family, she's deadly even, but to me that's not strength, that's resilience, adaptability, will to survive, doing what needs to be done, so she is tough, sure, but strong? No so much, because toughness is not the same thing as strength to me. I don't see wanting/needing love, affection, another person's company, support or help as a weakness. To me not wanting that is a handicap. I think she's been so hurt that she has adopted an exoskeleton of sorts that prevents her from feeling some things, protects her from getting hurt, and when Prim was reaped the violent emotions cracked the shell and she's begun to come alive in a way. After all, in all of this book the only person I felt she really loved was Prim. I think Katniss has potential to become truly strong, but she is not there yet.
I'm a big fan of action and adventure, which this book has plenty of, but I'm also a fan of interesting characters and there's no shortage of those here either. I liked that every new person introduced was flawed somehow, had a story full of demons, even the ones who at first seemed like there wasn't much of a story to them, like Peeta. Having Katniss as the first-person narrator helped with the suspense because quite frankly the girl is not much of a great thinker or strategist. It's just as well though - sometimes it took her a while to figure things out and in the process more of the background story could be told.
Considering that we know that there are three books in the series and that there is a love triangle conflict it wasn't much of a mystery that both Katniss and Peeta would survive, but I was looking forward to finding out what would happen to make books 2 and 3 necessary. In observance of the no-spoiler policy for the sake of possibly a handful of people who have not yet read the books or seen the movie I won't go into detail, but let me tell you, it was good. I didn't expect it to happen quite as it did so after a relatively predictable novel a surprise ending was welcome.
By the end of this book it was obvious that the real story was only beginning and although Hunger Games didn't exactly meet my exalted expectations it promised more and I began Catching Fire without even a day's delay. Fortunately my friend had the book ready for me before I asked for it. Come back next week to find out what I thought!
Well what can I say about The Hunger Games that hasn't been said already. This book has been on my TBR pile for awhile now and thanks to Adam @ Roof Beam Reader I finally put it on my list to get read this year (plus the movie is coming out and I didn't want to see that before I read the book).
Almost everyone knows what the plot is to The Hunger Games. It is set in a dystopian world that for fun (like the Romans and the Colosseum) like to pit children from different Districts against each other in a battle to the death. Now each District has certain advantages depending on what their District is noted for. Katniss and Peeta are from District 12, one of the poorest of the Districts. Katniss originally is not drawn but instead her sister, Prim, is. Katniss knows that Prim would not stand a chance if she goes, so Katniss volunteers to go.
Right away, Katniss and Peeta's sponsors know that they have to be very creative so they play the forlorn lovers angle. Katniss, whose best friend Gale (love triangle alert) is watching back home is forced to go along (or is she?). Katniss and Peeta really compliment each other. Peeta has the strength and Katniss has the brains.
I did enjoy Collin's dystopian world. There is a lot that I know is going to happen in the next two books that I look forward to reading. A caution to all YA readers is that some parts are quite violent but what would you expect when you are fighting to the death. Great read and I think it will be a hit when the movie comes out. Collin's writing is quite visual and I could see some of these scenes play out on the big screen.
Almost everyone knows what the plot is to The Hunger Games. It is set in a dystopian world that for fun (like the Romans and the Colosseum) like to pit children from different Districts against each other in a battle to the death. Now each District has certain advantages depending on what their District is noted for. Katniss and Peeta are from District 12, one of the poorest of the Districts. Katniss originally is not drawn but instead her sister, Prim, is. Katniss knows that Prim would not stand a chance if she goes, so Katniss volunteers to go.
Right away, Katniss and Peeta's sponsors know that they have to be very creative so they play the forlorn lovers angle. Katniss, whose best friend Gale (love triangle alert) is watching back home is forced to go along (or is she?). Katniss and Peeta really compliment each other. Peeta has the strength and Katniss has the brains.
I did enjoy Collin's dystopian world. There is a lot that I know is going to happen in the next two books that I look forward to reading. A caution to all YA readers is that some parts are quite violent but what would you expect when you are fighting to the death. Great read and I think it will be a hit when the movie comes out. Collin's writing is quite visual and I could see some of these scenes play out on the big screen.
I had resisted reading this book, not entirely sure why. I knew it was about young adults and had some killing in it. That didn't sit well with me, but everyone I talked to said it was really good, so finally tried it. It was engaging, and the killing/dying of the characters in the book was done in a way that wasn't meaningless. Good story, and of course it is set in the future. Can't wait to read the next in the series!
Excellent book! Must read.
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of the fastest books I've ever read. It only takes a couple pages to get into and then a day later you're scouring the library to find the second one.
A quick read, mostly because I had a hard time putting it down. This is a very well written YA book. The characters kept me coming back for more because I cared what was going to happen to them. Highly recommended.
I know this is a children's book, but I loved it! In fact, it was hard to put down and I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series.
Twenty Four teenagers forced to fight to the death in an arena manipulated by those who control the deadly contest. Welcome to the world of the Hunger Games. North America as we know it is gone, in its place is Panem, a cruel,totalitarian society where the Hunger Games serve the same purpose as the Colisseum did in the Roman Empire (keep the people distracted and at the same time remind them that the government holds the power of life and death).
There are those who have remarked that the writing in the Hunger Games was lackluster or that the setting was not developed well enough. In my mind there was enough to the story to set the background and there was enough left out to let my imagination fill the gaps; this left me wanting more. I wanted to know more about the Capitol and its stranglehold over the people of Panem. I wanted to know more about the rebellion against the Capitol that was so brutally crushed. Were there times when I questioned the feasibility of the author's ideas? Absolutely. However, I never stopped wanting to know what was going to happen next. Additionally, I don't hold a book initially aimed at teenagers to the same standards I would hold a book aimed at adults. That being said, it was an excellent read and I am on to the next book.....
There are those who have remarked that the writing in the Hunger Games was lackluster or that the setting was not developed well enough. In my mind there was enough to the story to set the background and there was enough left out to let my imagination fill the gaps; this left me wanting more. I wanted to know more about the Capitol and its stranglehold over the people of Panem. I wanted to know more about the rebellion against the Capitol that was so brutally crushed. Were there times when I questioned the feasibility of the author's ideas? Absolutely. However, I never stopped wanting to know what was going to happen next. Additionally, I don't hold a book initially aimed at teenagers to the same standards I would hold a book aimed at adults. That being said, it was an excellent read and I am on to the next book.....
Gripping story of survivor-style games with a political twist. Main character Katniss is plucky and likable, her choices amazingly difficult. I was so hooked by the end of this first volume that I had to download the next two in the series because I just had to know what happened next!
Steven C. (SteveTheDM) -
The Hunger Games has been on my shelf a while, and what with the movie adaptation coming out soon, I figured it was finally time to give it a read. My 13-year-old son had already read the book, and proclaimed it wonderful, and my younger-than-me cousins have also told me that its a book definitely worth reading.
So. Ok. Its a good book. Its a quick book. And for what its worth, the story and plotting are tight enough that its hard to put down. (It took me a whole two days to read.) And Ill definitely pick up the sequels, and Im going to enjoy the movie as well.
But it still lacks some emotional depth, and the world-building feels like its full of holes.
And when I compare it to the manga called Battle Royale (which came out a decade ago), The Hunger Games falls short in every aspect.
So a very mixed review. It was a fun read, really! But it left me with far less than it should have, given its subject matter.
4 of 5 stars.
So. Ok. Its a good book. Its a quick book. And for what its worth, the story and plotting are tight enough that its hard to put down. (It took me a whole two days to read.) And Ill definitely pick up the sequels, and Im going to enjoy the movie as well.
But it still lacks some emotional depth, and the world-building feels like its full of holes.
And when I compare it to the manga called Battle Royale (which came out a decade ago), The Hunger Games falls short in every aspect.
So a very mixed review. It was a fun read, really! But it left me with far less than it should have, given its subject matter.
4 of 5 stars.
I was reluctant to read this series, but a friend offered it to me, so I decided to read it without any expectations. I was clearly wrong - it grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't stop reading. The characters were developed very well and the premise of the book is well, gruesome and awesome at the same time. It's very straight forward and descriptive, without any flowery prose. The author seldom used metaphors, but they weren't needed.
SEMI-SPOILERS CONTAINED HEREIN! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
This is the story of Katniss Everdeen. She lives in a new world called Panem that was created from the ashes of the former continent of North America. Due to a rebellion that once happened in Panem, the country's government has decided to punish the people by forcing the 12 remaining districts to offer up "tribute" one male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 for the annual "Hunger Games" which is an arena battle to the death. The boy tribute from District 12 is Peeta Mellark.
At the very beginning of the story, Katniss was not supposed to be tribute. Her sister, who is in the drawing for the first time, with only one slip in there gets picked. Katniss, who cannot bear to see her sister go, volunteers as tribute. The rest of the story follows the journey to the Hunger Games, and the Hunger Games themselves.
A romance seems to begin to blossom between Peeta and Katniss, and the Gamemakers even announce that a new rule was introduced, and that if the male and female pair from any give district is still in the games, they will both be able to be crowned Victors. At the end however, the Gamemakers renounce this rule, hoping for a massively amazing ending. Katniss comes up with a plan to thwart them however, and therefore she and Peeta are both named Victor.
Now there is massive danger for Katniss and Peeta since the government is not happy with this fit of rebellion. Katniss is going to have to start watching her every move and thought and word in hopes that she does not provoke the government into taking action against her. This is where book one leaves off, and I almost screamed in frustration. I will not be able to get book two for a little while, and I'm itching to read it.
All in all this book is amazing. It was super hard to put down, and I hung on to every word. It's packed with action, and a little bit of romance, and it's just an all around amazing book. I think that everyone needs to read this book at least once in their lives, and it will in truth teach you a little bit about yourself that you may have not known.
This is the story of Katniss Everdeen. She lives in a new world called Panem that was created from the ashes of the former continent of North America. Due to a rebellion that once happened in Panem, the country's government has decided to punish the people by forcing the 12 remaining districts to offer up "tribute" one male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 for the annual "Hunger Games" which is an arena battle to the death. The boy tribute from District 12 is Peeta Mellark.
At the very beginning of the story, Katniss was not supposed to be tribute. Her sister, who is in the drawing for the first time, with only one slip in there gets picked. Katniss, who cannot bear to see her sister go, volunteers as tribute. The rest of the story follows the journey to the Hunger Games, and the Hunger Games themselves.
A romance seems to begin to blossom between Peeta and Katniss, and the Gamemakers even announce that a new rule was introduced, and that if the male and female pair from any give district is still in the games, they will both be able to be crowned Victors. At the end however, the Gamemakers renounce this rule, hoping for a massively amazing ending. Katniss comes up with a plan to thwart them however, and therefore she and Peeta are both named Victor.
Now there is massive danger for Katniss and Peeta since the government is not happy with this fit of rebellion. Katniss is going to have to start watching her every move and thought and word in hopes that she does not provoke the government into taking action against her. This is where book one leaves off, and I almost screamed in frustration. I will not be able to get book two for a little while, and I'm itching to read it.
All in all this book is amazing. It was super hard to put down, and I hung on to every word. It's packed with action, and a little bit of romance, and it's just an all around amazing book. I think that everyone needs to read this book at least once in their lives, and it will in truth teach you a little bit about yourself that you may have not known.
Ashley (ashleyhoffenberg) -
Meet Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year-old female who lives with her younger sister, Prim, and their mother. Katniss has had an unfortunately difficult life but she has made the best of it. She lives in District 12, the final district of Panem. It is the Coal producing district, and she lost her father, a coal miner, in a mine disaster, years earlier. Panem arose out of what remained of North America after natural and man-made disasters destroyed it. As with many post-apocalyptic tales, rebellions occurred against the powers-that-be, otherwise known as the Capitol. During the uprisings, District 12 was defeated and District 13 was destroyed.
In order for the 12 districts to always remember who holds the power, the Capitol began an annual event called The Hunger Games. Every year, each district produces one girl and one boy (ages 12 through 18, randomly drawn) to fight in the Games. The 24 tributes are taken to the Capitol and enjoy a short week of simple training, eating like kings, and attending events and interviews. Then, they are thrown into the vast outdoor arena to fight for their lives, as the Hunger Games has only one winner.
As you can probably guess, Katniss is the tribute for District 12, along with Peeta Mellark, the town baker's son. They are whisked away to the Capitol and treated like royalty. It becomes apparent that Katniss may stand a chance in the Games when she proves to the Gamemasters that she possesses great hunting skills. After all, she has been keeping her family from starvation for years by killing game and gathering vegetation (illegally) in the Seam of District 12.
While Katniss and Peeta are from the same District, it is no secret that they will eventually face one another as enemies. Peeta is very kind, but Katniss vows not to allow him to weasel his way into her heart. Peeta surprises her though, on many levels and in many ways, throughout the book. Does he eventually weasel his way in? Can he be trusted in such a dire situation?
The characters in this novel are very realistic as they sympathize with others and form alliances and friendships even though they face overwhelming odds. All 24 tributes have some sort of page time, some way more than others. The plot is high intensity, very dramatic, deeply emotional and completely engrossing! Katniss is courageous, intelligent, skilled, wily, and compassionate. Peeta is kind, loyal, and brave, but is not on an equal playing field with Katniss' skills. Peeta grew on me. I didn't have much draw towards him through much of the book, but he won me over at the #7 quote below.
The mutations of animals that you come across in this world are interesting, freaky and vile! The Capitol bio-engineered certain species for their own purposes - spying, physical damage, etc - and they play serious roles in this story. The mutants at the end of the book completely horrified me and I wonder if we will learn more about them.
There are a few twists at certain times in the books. One is very obvious, in my opinion, but the one at the end snuck up on me! It is an ugly twist that will make you gasp, and the outcome of that event sends us flying into the second book, Catching Fire.
Conclusion: 5 WHOLE STARS! What an entertaining and simultaneously disturbing novel! While the plot has been done before (The Game, Battle Royale), it does not take away from the emotional intensity you will find yourself feeling page after page! It is nothing short of fantastic. I have yet to speak to a book blogger who did not rave about this trilogy.
In order for the 12 districts to always remember who holds the power, the Capitol began an annual event called The Hunger Games. Every year, each district produces one girl and one boy (ages 12 through 18, randomly drawn) to fight in the Games. The 24 tributes are taken to the Capitol and enjoy a short week of simple training, eating like kings, and attending events and interviews. Then, they are thrown into the vast outdoor arena to fight for their lives, as the Hunger Games has only one winner.
As you can probably guess, Katniss is the tribute for District 12, along with Peeta Mellark, the town baker's son. They are whisked away to the Capitol and treated like royalty. It becomes apparent that Katniss may stand a chance in the Games when she proves to the Gamemasters that she possesses great hunting skills. After all, she has been keeping her family from starvation for years by killing game and gathering vegetation (illegally) in the Seam of District 12.
While Katniss and Peeta are from the same District, it is no secret that they will eventually face one another as enemies. Peeta is very kind, but Katniss vows not to allow him to weasel his way into her heart. Peeta surprises her though, on many levels and in many ways, throughout the book. Does he eventually weasel his way in? Can he be trusted in such a dire situation?
The characters in this novel are very realistic as they sympathize with others and form alliances and friendships even though they face overwhelming odds. All 24 tributes have some sort of page time, some way more than others. The plot is high intensity, very dramatic, deeply emotional and completely engrossing! Katniss is courageous, intelligent, skilled, wily, and compassionate. Peeta is kind, loyal, and brave, but is not on an equal playing field with Katniss' skills. Peeta grew on me. I didn't have much draw towards him through much of the book, but he won me over at the #7 quote below.
The mutations of animals that you come across in this world are interesting, freaky and vile! The Capitol bio-engineered certain species for their own purposes - spying, physical damage, etc - and they play serious roles in this story. The mutants at the end of the book completely horrified me and I wonder if we will learn more about them.
There are a few twists at certain times in the books. One is very obvious, in my opinion, but the one at the end snuck up on me! It is an ugly twist that will make you gasp, and the outcome of that event sends us flying into the second book, Catching Fire.
Conclusion: 5 WHOLE STARS! What an entertaining and simultaneously disturbing novel! While the plot has been done before (The Game, Battle Royale), it does not take away from the emotional intensity you will find yourself feeling page after page! It is nothing short of fantastic. I have yet to speak to a book blogger who did not rave about this trilogy.
Vicki S. (curledupwithabook) -
A co-worker returned from vacation raving about this book. He'd borrowed it from another co-worker. While genuinely surprised to find it was a young adult book, he was, nevertheless, looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series.
I, too, found the book enjoyable. The feeling is definitely "post-apocalyptic", but it has a fantasy feel about it, too. Sort of, Harry Potter meets Mad Max. While some may have concerns about the gruesome deaths of children, in context it can be a very empowering book for the pre-teen and early teen group. From an adult's perspective, it is imaginative enough to capture your interest and even keep you up in the wee hours to finish it off. It's a quick read, too, for those of you who want something entertaining to read on a flight.
I, too, found the book enjoyable. The feeling is definitely "post-apocalyptic", but it has a fantasy feel about it, too. Sort of, Harry Potter meets Mad Max. While some may have concerns about the gruesome deaths of children, in context it can be a very empowering book for the pre-teen and early teen group. From an adult's perspective, it is imaginative enough to capture your interest and even keep you up in the wee hours to finish it off. It's a quick read, too, for those of you who want something entertaining to read on a flight.
Heather T. (BluesCrewPaintball) reviewed The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
This is probably the best book that I have read in the past year, at least. This book has everything-- action, romance, epic battles, heart wrenching scenes; everything. I suggest this book (and it's sequels) to everyone!
After many students suggested that I read this book, I finally gave in and picked it up. I must admit up front that I had a very hard time reading this book. I am a teacher, and the ideas behind this book was hard for me to swallow. However, this was a very good book once you just allowed it to set in.
Basically, the world has changed. Katniss lives in the poorest district of Panem. She learns to hunt beyond the fence (an illegal activity) in order to provide for her mother and sister after the death of her father. However, the day that we begin brings us to reaping day. On this day, two contestants from each district, one boy and one girl, are chosen to go to the capital to fight to the death in The Hunger Games. Each child from the ages of 12-18 have their name in a lottery. At 12, the child has one entry and then it goes up as the age goes up. Katniss is worried about herself, but she doesn't think her sister would have a chance of being called, until of course, that happens. The moment her sisters name is called, Katniss decides to take her sister's place. Katniss volunteers to go to the slaughter so that her sister can stay behind. Her fellow competitor from her district ends up being Peeta, a baker's boy. The two are taken to the capital together. They are styled and shown off for the entertainment of the rich all the while getting ready to be killed in the arena. Once in the arena, the children are supposed to kill one another until the last child is standing. Who will survive?
It's hard not to get caught up into this adventure and survival story. Katniss is an intricate character that grows on you almost immediately. I loved the interactions between her and Peeta. It was an interesting relationship to watch grow. The action keeps you drawn in and this book is extremely difficult to put down. As I mentioned before, I had a hard time with the premise. My life is dedicated to protecting and encouraging children. I find it hard to imagine children killing one another, or even being put into that situation. That premise might have been one of the reasons why I put off reading this book for so long. It is a brutal tale and some of the scenes are difficult to swallow. It is not for the faint of heart or for younger readers. As a teacher, I would judge the students maturity level before I turned this book over to them, and if I was a parent, I would read it first.
5/5 stars and I can't wait until I get a chance to read the second and third books.
Basically, the world has changed. Katniss lives in the poorest district of Panem. She learns to hunt beyond the fence (an illegal activity) in order to provide for her mother and sister after the death of her father. However, the day that we begin brings us to reaping day. On this day, two contestants from each district, one boy and one girl, are chosen to go to the capital to fight to the death in The Hunger Games. Each child from the ages of 12-18 have their name in a lottery. At 12, the child has one entry and then it goes up as the age goes up. Katniss is worried about herself, but she doesn't think her sister would have a chance of being called, until of course, that happens. The moment her sisters name is called, Katniss decides to take her sister's place. Katniss volunteers to go to the slaughter so that her sister can stay behind. Her fellow competitor from her district ends up being Peeta, a baker's boy. The two are taken to the capital together. They are styled and shown off for the entertainment of the rich all the while getting ready to be killed in the arena. Once in the arena, the children are supposed to kill one another until the last child is standing. Who will survive?
It's hard not to get caught up into this adventure and survival story. Katniss is an intricate character that grows on you almost immediately. I loved the interactions between her and Peeta. It was an interesting relationship to watch grow. The action keeps you drawn in and this book is extremely difficult to put down. As I mentioned before, I had a hard time with the premise. My life is dedicated to protecting and encouraging children. I find it hard to imagine children killing one another, or even being put into that situation. That premise might have been one of the reasons why I put off reading this book for so long. It is a brutal tale and some of the scenes are difficult to swallow. It is not for the faint of heart or for younger readers. As a teacher, I would judge the students maturity level before I turned this book over to them, and if I was a parent, I would read it first.
5/5 stars and I can't wait until I get a chance to read the second and third books.
This is a book you'll want to start reading on a night you can stay up late. The pages seem to turn themselves. It's set in a future North American society, but not so different that you cannot recognize it. The main character, Kitness, is a bit wishy-washy at times, but she is a 16-year-old girl who discovers she may have more talent than she has given herself credit for. Have the rest of the trilogy on hand to continue the story. (This is something I wish I had done after reading this book!) This is a young adult series, but one that adults of all ages will enjoy.
This is a hard book to put down. It's also hard to explain exactly why I enjoyed it. The subject matter is not happy; however, the main character is a fighter and it's easy to root for her.
My son (18) read this book series and told me I should read it.. I was hooked. Unusual story and incredibly gripping. I couldn't put it down and it spread like wildfire throughout my family. Loved it!!! Just hope movie does it justice!
LOVED it!
Awesome book! I loved this one as well as the second and third!
Reviewed by http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
This story is very much like The Running Man by Stephen King. It pits people against each other for public entertainment, except they are teenagers. The author pulls the story off very well however. Katniss is the main provider for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. When the time of the reaping comes, the selection of names for the Hunger Games, she never imagines her 12 year old sisters name will be pulled, but it is. We already started out with the strong character of Katiss, but she grows even more as she takes her sisters place as a tribute. Along with her is a boy that showed her kindness as a young child. The relationship between them goes back and forth between strained and comfortable. The description of the games and the trials Katniss faces is very well written. You really felt pulled in with the character and nervous to turn the next page because you don't know what is coming! A very good read, and leaves you excited for the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.
I don't get what all the fuss is about. I can see how this might make an interesting movie plot, but I found the writing totally pedestrian, I didn't really care about the main characters, who are all very two-dimensional. Maybe if I was a teenager I would have found it more interesting!
I was surprised at how much I would like this book. It's pretty much about survival in a messed up society beyond belief in an almost dictator kind of way. The world is broken down into what they call 12 districts and each year they (the Capitol, or mayor's of each district) pick a young girl and boy between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district to compete for wealth and survival. When they hit 12 the name of the child gets placed on a piece of paper for each year until they are 19. For extra grain and oil which can last a year their names go into the pot on several more slips of paper.
It's as if they've taken a step backward as opposed to forward in this futuristic book. First they have a fashion show with interviews as if they are major stars and have a huge feasting in what they call the Capitol. The 24 children are treated like royalty before they are sent to fight to the death. Their living conditions prior to that depending on where they live are horrible, people starve to death have crappy jobs that don't pay them near enough to survive on. They are provided medieval weapons in which they have to fight for to obtain once they are in an arena that is being filmed live. When things get "boring" and the ratings start to drop the ones controlling these "hunger games" as they care called, can control the environment that the children are in by placing wild animals, throw bombs at them etc to flush them out so that they are face to face with each other to fight.
Katniss is one of the main characters of the book and she takes her younger sisters place as she has just turned 12. Never did she think that on her first year her sister would be called to fight. It is also the first time someone has volunteered to be a replacement. She leaves behind her mother, sister and best friend Gale that she met when she found a way out of their district to hunt for food in an area that was forbidden. The book is interesting and can be read in a day, I am looking forward to the next book.
It's as if they've taken a step backward as opposed to forward in this futuristic book. First they have a fashion show with interviews as if they are major stars and have a huge feasting in what they call the Capitol. The 24 children are treated like royalty before they are sent to fight to the death. Their living conditions prior to that depending on where they live are horrible, people starve to death have crappy jobs that don't pay them near enough to survive on. They are provided medieval weapons in which they have to fight for to obtain once they are in an arena that is being filmed live. When things get "boring" and the ratings start to drop the ones controlling these "hunger games" as they care called, can control the environment that the children are in by placing wild animals, throw bombs at them etc to flush them out so that they are face to face with each other to fight.
Katniss is one of the main characters of the book and she takes her younger sisters place as she has just turned 12. Never did she think that on her first year her sister would be called to fight. It is also the first time someone has volunteered to be a replacement. She leaves behind her mother, sister and best friend Gale that she met when she found a way out of their district to hunt for food in an area that was forbidden. The book is interesting and can be read in a day, I am looking forward to the next book.
Ive been aware of The Hunger Games for awhile, but I kept putting it off for a variety of reasons, one of which being I wasnt sure if I wanted to get myself into another YA dystopian series. However, after I saw the trailers for the movie, it looked so amazing that I knew I wanted some experience with the material before seeing it.
A theme that I enjoy in the new dystopian series Ive read over the past year or so is the necessity of having strong characters. The future in these worlds sucks, someone has to do something about it, and I really appreciate when those people are female. Katniss is a strong character who is used to fending for both herself and her family in an unfair world where she has no choice they will all surely die without her efforts.
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=3402
A theme that I enjoy in the new dystopian series Ive read over the past year or so is the necessity of having strong characters. The future in these worlds sucks, someone has to do something about it, and I really appreciate when those people are female. Katniss is a strong character who is used to fending for both herself and her family in an unfair world where she has no choice they will all surely die without her efforts.
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=3402
Fabulous!
I would have never chosen to read this book of my own accord. As a member of a book club I had to. Hunger Games took over my every spare moment until the spellbinding end. I'm currently finishing the 2cnd & have already purchased the 3rd. A must read.
I was "late to the party" reading this book--friends who raved about it did so a number of years ago. So I opened it in much anticipation--only to be slowly, but utterly, disappointed. I tried to like it, I really did.
The concept was interesting--twenty four kids (ages 12-18) thrown into a televised arena-like setting to endure a battle to the death with only one victor in the end. But the unfolding of the events didn't capture me at all: stylists and sponsors and mentors and pretty dresses and fingernails and all that. By the time it got to the action of The Game, I was both bored and turned off.
I also found the writing style too simple and quite juvenile. I have read much YA fiction and the good ones don't pander down to the audience. I felt this one did.
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: But the worst offense was a "twist" in The Games that just threw away all intrigue for me. The part of the premise that first piqued my interest was found in the official rules of The Hungar Games themselves. These were formal, well-known, decades-held and firmly established rules set down by the Capitol, involving that two kids from each of 12 districts are always chosen to participate--and, since there can be only be one winner, it was therefore a given that it would not necessarily be just strangers killing strangers; it must come down, eventually, to neighbor killing neighbor. That the heroine of the book would eventually HAVE to face her neighbor in combat, was the hook that kept me interested!! Would she have the bravery, the steel nerves, the skill? So, when late in the book this conflict was abruptly yanked away by a ridiculous (cheap! contrived! groan-worthy!) twist... well, I almost threw the book across the room. And for me there was no recovery after that.
* 1/2 One and a half stars.
The concept was interesting--twenty four kids (ages 12-18) thrown into a televised arena-like setting to endure a battle to the death with only one victor in the end. But the unfolding of the events didn't capture me at all: stylists and sponsors and mentors and pretty dresses and fingernails and all that. By the time it got to the action of The Game, I was both bored and turned off.
I also found the writing style too simple and quite juvenile. I have read much YA fiction and the good ones don't pander down to the audience. I felt this one did.
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: But the worst offense was a "twist" in The Games that just threw away all intrigue for me. The part of the premise that first piqued my interest was found in the official rules of The Hungar Games themselves. These were formal, well-known, decades-held and firmly established rules set down by the Capitol, involving that two kids from each of 12 districts are always chosen to participate--and, since there can be only be one winner, it was therefore a given that it would not necessarily be just strangers killing strangers; it must come down, eventually, to neighbor killing neighbor. That the heroine of the book would eventually HAVE to face her neighbor in combat, was the hook that kept me interested!! Would she have the bravery, the steel nerves, the skill? So, when late in the book this conflict was abruptly yanked away by a ridiculous (cheap! contrived! groan-worthy!) twist... well, I almost threw the book across the room. And for me there was no recovery after that.
* 1/2 One and a half stars.
Disturbing. Upsetting. Nauseating. Terrifying
I loved it.
I loved it.
Loved it. Once someone starts reading it, it will catch on like wildfire. I never watch reality shows but I enjoyed this book so much and intend to read the whole series. Great characters.
Awesome Series!!
Michael Araujo (antoniomeks) -
As a child, it is safe to assume, we all loved games. And even today we still do. But every child in Panem fears the very word games. They fear The Hunger Games.
Panem is what North America was. What were the 50 states are now 13 Districts. That is, until District 13 decided to turn against the Capitol and was destroyed. As a result The Hunger Games was created to show the remaining 12 how the Capitol is no one who should be taken lightly.
Every year, one boy and one girl from each District from the ages of twelve to eighteen are chosen to participate in the game. They are put into an arena that varies each year and are forced to fight to the death until only one person is left standing. The winner brings eternal glory, fame and fortune to their District. That is, until next year when it begins all over again.
The whole process it takes to get into the games when chosen is so ridiculous. First they give you a whole make-over as if you are going to enter a beauty contest. They then parade you down in outfits that represent your district for the country to see. They next interview you and make it seem as if it normal. To them it is, but to us, all we can think is that the Capitol are sick bastards who need to die.
Most people might think that this is just a book and that it can't really phase someone. But if you have the imagination that I have, you can see, smell and hear everything that happens. You can see the sadness and panic that lay on these kids faces. The chaos that they go through in the beginning, seeing someone die right in front of you. Sometimes just that one moment where they freeze can be their last.
And it might seem a bit childish, but nightmares also came. Imagining myself and a friend in the game, both of us dying and waking up thankful that it's just, after all, a story and nothing else. But reading about a girl getting stabbed through her stomach by a spear does things to your mind. It makes you feel pity and sorrow for everyone.
The novel goes through many things; survival, love, action, drama, life and death. You get to experience it as if you were also in there. Some might find this book too much to read, but it is safe to say that this novel will teach you many things. One of them being that people are smart and will try to control you.
Only thing you need to do, is outsmart them.
Welcome to the seventy-fourth hunger game, kids.
Panem is what North America was. What were the 50 states are now 13 Districts. That is, until District 13 decided to turn against the Capitol and was destroyed. As a result The Hunger Games was created to show the remaining 12 how the Capitol is no one who should be taken lightly.
Every year, one boy and one girl from each District from the ages of twelve to eighteen are chosen to participate in the game. They are put into an arena that varies each year and are forced to fight to the death until only one person is left standing. The winner brings eternal glory, fame and fortune to their District. That is, until next year when it begins all over again.
The whole process it takes to get into the games when chosen is so ridiculous. First they give you a whole make-over as if you are going to enter a beauty contest. They then parade you down in outfits that represent your district for the country to see. They next interview you and make it seem as if it normal. To them it is, but to us, all we can think is that the Capitol are sick bastards who need to die.
Most people might think that this is just a book and that it can't really phase someone. But if you have the imagination that I have, you can see, smell and hear everything that happens. You can see the sadness and panic that lay on these kids faces. The chaos that they go through in the beginning, seeing someone die right in front of you. Sometimes just that one moment where they freeze can be their last.
And it might seem a bit childish, but nightmares also came. Imagining myself and a friend in the game, both of us dying and waking up thankful that it's just, after all, a story and nothing else. But reading about a girl getting stabbed through her stomach by a spear does things to your mind. It makes you feel pity and sorrow for everyone.
The novel goes through many things; survival, love, action, drama, life and death. You get to experience it as if you were also in there. Some might find this book too much to read, but it is safe to say that this novel will teach you many things. One of them being that people are smart and will try to control you.
Only thing you need to do, is outsmart them.
Welcome to the seventy-fourth hunger game, kids.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This is definitely a PG13 due to the violence but what a riveting storyline. It's set in the future where food is a treasured commodity - that's not much different from many parts of the world today. The twist is the role the young people play in what was once North America and how their fight for survival is much like a reality show. I'm eager for the next book!
I'm always late to the literary party. Even when I have it together enough to buy a hot new book, I usually toss it into my giant queue of books I want to read, and I still don't get to it for a couple of years. This book, for example, was published four years ago and even the even movie has come and gone. As a fad, it is over. And still the only reason I got to it was that a friend put a copy in my hands and told me to OMG just read it already.
As an adult, I almost never read YA novels. Not as a policy, but out of taste. I broke that rule with Twilight and regretted it (how could you make a vampire book unfun? Oh, I see now). In fact, I disliked Twilight so much that I didn't even want to read The Hunger Games. But, at the insistence of my friend, I gave it a try. Needless to say, I was immediately hooked. I love that sensation of being only a few pages in and knowing you're not going to fall asleep on time until the whole thing is finished, and being happy because it is still all ahead of you.
I really liked Katniss. I liked that she was a little grumpy and withdrawn, and stubborn, and that she made mistakes, and I think liking her that much was the difference between liking the book 3 stars and liking it 4 stars. Most of what I saw as flaws with the book, like the dark and very unlikely gladiator games plot device, or the sort of uninspired prose, are probably necessities of the young adult genre. If this book were written for adults, I would expect it to be very different. So I'm not going to complain that the televised Hunger Games as an institution would never happen in real life, and that it's too heavy-handed a metaphor for social cruelty, because: young adult. If this book is too unsophisticated for you, you're reading the wrong genre.
That said, I absolutely would recommend it to teenage readers, and I kind of wish I could have read it in my youth too, so I could have been more swept away by it. But even as a jaded adult, I found myself a little inspired at the end. I may not be able to kill a squirrel for dinner, but I could stand to be a little tougher. Wow, did I just admit that a YA novel changed my life? I really liked this book.
As an adult, I almost never read YA novels. Not as a policy, but out of taste. I broke that rule with Twilight and regretted it (how could you make a vampire book unfun? Oh, I see now). In fact, I disliked Twilight so much that I didn't even want to read The Hunger Games. But, at the insistence of my friend, I gave it a try. Needless to say, I was immediately hooked. I love that sensation of being only a few pages in and knowing you're not going to fall asleep on time until the whole thing is finished, and being happy because it is still all ahead of you.
I really liked Katniss. I liked that she was a little grumpy and withdrawn, and stubborn, and that she made mistakes, and I think liking her that much was the difference between liking the book 3 stars and liking it 4 stars. Most of what I saw as flaws with the book, like the dark and very unlikely gladiator games plot device, or the sort of uninspired prose, are probably necessities of the young adult genre. If this book were written for adults, I would expect it to be very different. So I'm not going to complain that the televised Hunger Games as an institution would never happen in real life, and that it's too heavy-handed a metaphor for social cruelty, because: young adult. If this book is too unsophisticated for you, you're reading the wrong genre.
That said, I absolutely would recommend it to teenage readers, and I kind of wish I could have read it in my youth too, so I could have been more swept away by it. But even as a jaded adult, I found myself a little inspired at the end. I may not be able to kill a squirrel for dinner, but I could stand to be a little tougher. Wow, did I just admit that a YA novel changed my life? I really liked this book.
Suspenseful and exciting. Go, Katniss!
The BEST book I have read in a really long time! I could hardly put it down!
Enjoyed this book a lot.
Great series!!! A definite must read!!
My sixth grade students were going crazy over this series all last year, so I had to add it to my summer reading list. I have to admit, it took a bit for me to get into it, but I can easily see why it is so popular. The pace of the plot rolls along quickly, and the action really heats up halfway through making it hard to put down. I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 11. There is a morbid undertone and the theme of survival of the fittest and death may be hard for younger readers to deal with.
Great book.
Excellent book. Good start to a 3 book series. Would be just a little graphic if you have a really sensitive preteen but still has a good story.
When my friend tried to tell me about this book, I could not get excited about it. A Hunger Game? Children and teens killing each other for the sport of others? What about that could possibly hold my interest?
But once I got into it, I was mesmorized, I could not put the book down. The story is compelling. The reader follows Katniss (primarily) and Peeta (secondarily) through their journey to and through the hunger game. A journey that leaves them questioning themselves, their humanity, and who or what they love.
The writing is excellent. Suzanne Collins keeps the story moving quickly. No words are wasted. No part of the story feels like fluff or filler.
Suzanne Collins answers enough questions for this book to feel like a full book within itself but leaves enough questions unanswered that I can't wait to get started on Book 2 (Catching Fire).
But once I got into it, I was mesmorized, I could not put the book down. The story is compelling. The reader follows Katniss (primarily) and Peeta (secondarily) through their journey to and through the hunger game. A journey that leaves them questioning themselves, their humanity, and who or what they love.
The writing is excellent. Suzanne Collins keeps the story moving quickly. No words are wasted. No part of the story feels like fluff or filler.
Suzanne Collins answers enough questions for this book to feel like a full book within itself but leaves enough questions unanswered that I can't wait to get started on Book 2 (Catching Fire).
Enticing, engaging, and simply fantastic!
Fan-freakin-tastic!!!
I can't wait to read the rest of the books. A scary look into a potential dystopian future. This book is sort of like a cross between TRON meets Survivor.
This book is quite gory at times, but not much more than kissing and holding hands. The book is violent.
Two-thumbs up and a 5-star review!
I can't wait to read the rest of the books. A scary look into a potential dystopian future. This book is sort of like a cross between TRON meets Survivor.
This book is quite gory at times, but not much more than kissing and holding hands. The book is violent.
Two-thumbs up and a 5-star review!
Definitely watch the movie after reading the book!!!!!
Wow. When you talk about not judging a book by it's cover, you are talking about this book specifically. A friend gave me this book with not so much of a hint as to what it was about and I literally found my mouth hanging open at several spots while reading. The story itself is horrific, but somehow, I was utterly unable to put it down. My friend (luckily) left the second book with me as well and I breezed through that one in a day as well. I can't wait to see what happens in book three, but as I said, the topic is totally not one that I would have chosen on my own. It's pretty sad and downright gory. . . but so engaging.
Because I got this book with no previous biast, I am going to do that courtesy for everyone else. I think it makes it all the better.
Because I got this book with no previous biast, I am going to do that courtesy for everyone else. I think it makes it all the better.
Excellent book. I can see how Libertarians and Progressives both claim the book.
Fast read. Very interesting. I felt for the characters and what they were going through.
"Gripping. Relentless. An undeniable page-turner." You see adjectives like these thrown around on book jackets everywhere by publishers and marketers. Yet, some of these books aren't even good!
Yet these adjectives truly describe one book better than almost any other. And the book that these words describe so well is none other than Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy.
Collins' book is - to say the least - simply superb. It goes above and beyond in every area of literature. The premise is one of the most creative I've seen in years, the characters are well fleshed-out and have such depth to them, and the writing is simply stunning beyond measure.
The story-line is one of the most original and creative plots I've read in a long time! Collins truly has a vivid imagination and it's such a joy to watch her use her talents!
Once there was war. Terrible war. The people of Panem rose against the Capitol; against their country. Soon nothing remained. In punishment for what the people of Panem had done, the goverment creates a deal with the citizens of Panem. Their deal: THE HUNGER GAMES.
One thing that stands out to me about The Hunger Games is how there is no "filter." There are no unnecessary scenes, characters, or even paragraphs in this story - and I really enjoyed that. Each chapter ends with either an unpredictable plot twist (of which there are many!) or an emotional BANG! - all which caused me to think to myself:
And the characters? They're superb! They have such depth and personality that they felt like real people to me! I enjoyed how each character not only had depth but that Suzanne gave them a backstory to explain why they are who they are. It was really interesting to read about their pre-book lives!
Katniss was a great protagonist and role model for the story! She was totally kick-butt! But more than that. She was determined, loyal to those she loved, resourceful, skilled, and talented. She's not afraid to speak her mind. Yet, she's not perfect - and, to me, this makes her so real; so relatable. And I loved her!
Even the supporting characters had such depth! Even though they weren't the highlights of the story, they were still respectable and well-developed. I've never been able to emotionally connect to supporting characters in books - but, once again, The Hunger Games surprised me by going above and beyond. I ended up liking such supporting characters as Rue, Peeta, Gale, Prim, Foxface, Cato, Clove, and Glimmer.
This is truly a special book. It has captured my heart and the hearts of so many others. It truly is a special book to capture the interest of so many people - even those who typically despise reading. And the hype it's gotten? I say that it truly deserves every bit of it!
I cannot recommend this book enough. Everyone - even those who typically despise reading - should read this book at least once. Fans of Divergent and Percy Jackson will especially enjoy this Newberry-worthy book.
Yet these adjectives truly describe one book better than almost any other. And the book that these words describe so well is none other than Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy.
Collins' book is - to say the least - simply superb. It goes above and beyond in every area of literature. The premise is one of the most creative I've seen in years, the characters are well fleshed-out and have such depth to them, and the writing is simply stunning beyond measure.
The story-line is one of the most original and creative plots I've read in a long time! Collins truly has a vivid imagination and it's such a joy to watch her use her talents!
Once there was war. Terrible war. The people of Panem rose against the Capitol; against their country. Soon nothing remained. In punishment for what the people of Panem had done, the goverment creates a deal with the citizens of Panem. Their deal: THE HUNGER GAMES.
THE HUNGER GAMES: a televised event where one girl and one boy from each of the twelve districts of Panem compete to the death. The Games end when only one "Tribute" is still alive.Our story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in District 12. When Katniss' younger sister, Prim, is picked as a contestant for the Games, Katniss - a renowned archer - bravely volunteers to take her place in the Games.
One thing that stands out to me about The Hunger Games is how there is no "filter." There are no unnecessary scenes, characters, or even paragraphs in this story - and I really enjoyed that. Each chapter ends with either an unpredictable plot twist (of which there are many!) or an emotional BANG! - all which caused me to think to myself:
And the characters? They're superb! They have such depth and personality that they felt like real people to me! I enjoyed how each character not only had depth but that Suzanne gave them a backstory to explain why they are who they are. It was really interesting to read about their pre-book lives!
Katniss was a great protagonist and role model for the story! She was totally kick-butt! But more than that. She was determined, loyal to those she loved, resourceful, skilled, and talented. She's not afraid to speak her mind. Yet, she's not perfect - and, to me, this makes her so real; so relatable. And I loved her!
Even the supporting characters had such depth! Even though they weren't the highlights of the story, they were still respectable and well-developed. I've never been able to emotionally connect to supporting characters in books - but, once again, The Hunger Games surprised me by going above and beyond. I ended up liking such supporting characters as Rue, Peeta, Gale, Prim, Foxface, Cato, Clove, and Glimmer.
This is truly a special book. It has captured my heart and the hearts of so many others. It truly is a special book to capture the interest of so many people - even those who typically despise reading. And the hype it's gotten? I say that it truly deserves every bit of it!
I cannot recommend this book enough. Everyone - even those who typically despise reading - should read this book at least once. Fans of Divergent and Percy Jackson will especially enjoy this Newberry-worthy book.
Good read, I'd recommend this to others.
Very good series. Couldn't put them down.
Everyone seems to love it, but I think it is junk. The post-apocalypse setting is made out of cardboard, the plot is cliche, the narrative voice is unbelievable, the overall book is manipulative rubbish. This is nothing more than a crass attempt by Scholastic to maintain public mindshare now that the Harry Potter cow is running out of milk.
