Have you read this book or saw the movie? If so, what are your thoughts about it?
I read this book because everybody keeps talking about it and now that the movie’s been released, they’re talking about it even more. This book was highly disturbing, but, I did think the story and the writing were amazing. The reason why the story was disturbing to me is because I could actually imagine this happening – the story was not that far-fetched.
North America is now divided into Twelve districts. Katniss, a female hunter who poaches game from a forbidden woods with her friend Gale, now finds herself having to play the Hunger Games. The world is different, much different, than the way we know it today. The government doesn’t care about the suffering of its’ people and when Katniss’s father dies, and her mother suffers from mental anxiety, she finds she must take her dad’s bow and arrow to hunt, or her family will starve to death. Starving is something that happens a lot in District 12.
The Hunger Games is a “sporting event” that the Capitol throws every year to keep their districts in line – to remind them of the Capitol’s power. Each district chooses one boy and one girl from a lottery and, the 24 subjects chosen from the 12 districts are forced to play a survival game in a large arena, killing one another in an effort to survive, the last person alive is the winner. This “game” is televised and most of the people in the 12 districts watch the event. When Katniss’s little sister’s name is drawn from the bowl, she snaps, volunteering to take her sister’s place. The boy chosen from District 12 is Peeta, a boy who has shown Katniss great kindness in the past. The age range of those chosen to play the Hunger Games are 12-18.
It’s troubling to see young people warring against one another on a televised event, however, the premise of the story is written in such a way that you want to finish the novel. When the kids are in the arena, there’s a host of things in the wild that can hurt them other than their competitors. Sometimes water is scarce, and there are wild animals in the forest, too. In the beginning, the tributes (people playing the Hunger Games) may pair up and work together for survival.
Another thing that bothered me was the age range and sex of the competitors – 12 – 18? Boys and girls? How can a small 12 year old girl fairly compete against a strapping 18 year old boy?
I did enjoy reading how Katniss travels to the Capitol for the Hunger Game event. She’s never been outside of District 12 and when she travels on the train and arrives to the Capitol, she’s treated like royalty. This is the first time she’s had enough food to eat, and she’s able to taste “delicacies” like, wine, orange juice, and lamb stew. A hot shower is something she’s never experienced before coming to the Capitol and she’s appalled about how some of the Capitol people are pudgy since most have had enough food to eat their entire lives. The glowing Capitol buildings are also a sight for her to see – the contrast in setting is stark and vivid – such a strange contrast to experience right before you’re thrown into an arena to fight for your life.
I plan on reading the other two book in the series, since I did enjoy reading this book because I wanted to see what happened, in spite of the dark subject matter.
Have you read this book or saw the movie? If so, what are your thoughts about it?
Hi hi,
I decided not to read “The Hunger Games” after reading all the reviews about it(which was really hard to do). I’ll agree with you that there is so much noise about it, Just like “The River of Time” series by Lisa T Bergren, which I ended up reading, like in my review on goodreads it was worth the noise.
I decided not to read it because all my christian friends (on goodreads) kept saying one thing, “it was dark or disturbing”, so I figured “why bother”. I may probably see the movie though.
Plus I got all your ‘heartsong presents’ books in the book store where I buy my books, the Love inspired are not so easy to find in this paths, but I’ll be on the look out.
I especially liked “Bittersweet Memory”.
oh… didn’t realise the comment was this long, *grin*
Ochanya, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! Also, thanks for your kind comments about my books! Where do you live? Where did you buy my books? I’m just wondering is all. I can understand some Christians not wanting to read The Hunger Games because of the dark content.
I live in FCT-Abuja (current capital of Nigeria). The christian book store where I buy my books have quiet a stock of Heart song presents. But I they stock books based on the demand of authors, So just the big names have made it hear and stayed.
Ochanya, thanks for letting me know! Makes me feel good knowing that my novels are available in Nigeria! I hope you have a blessed day!
I just finished the second book in the trilogy last night. I plan the read the third and see the movie(s). I agree with people who’ve spoken out against it that parents need to decide if their kids can handle the violence in the story, but I don’t understand the general outcry (among Christians mostly) over the series.
These kids are forced into the games. Most of them (except maybe the ‘Careers’) don’t want to be there. And the outcome of the game affects more than just the contestants. People need to consider both the external motivations and the thinking behind the actions of the characters in the book before denouncing it.
At the very least, the story is a great catalyst for moral, ethical, and political discussions. Many details are chillingly close to the way our society is headed.
Hi, Melissa. I’m glad you stopped by and left a comment. I think Christians might be opposing the series because, to me, it seems like a very God-less society that’s being portrayed. The kids, the adults, everybody, doesn’t seem to have knowledge of a higher power. It’s almost as if religion, as a whole, doesn’t exist in these 12 North American districts.
I’m 70% done with the second book now. By the end of the week, I’ll probably be done with the third. It’s an awesome, thought-provoking series, and I could actually see this happening in the future, which is kinda sad…
Cecelia, thanks for reviewing this book! I have gone back and forth about whether I want to read it, but now that my husband bought a copy, I probably will.
I think your point about the absence of religion in the novel is an EXCELLENT one. Lots of times, we don’t notice when religion has been erased from stories, but the fact is, most mainstream stories quite deliberately erase religion because editors worry that it will cut off part of the audience.
Rosslyn, I’m glad you dropped by and left a comment. The books are riveting and they’re written so that you’ll want to read them one after the other. I finished the second book in the series last night and will start the third one this evening.
I guess I’ve been so grounded in Christian fiction for so long that I didn’t even realize that books will erase religion. The absence of religion really bothers me about these stories, but, the books are great.
I’ll be posting a review about the second book probably later on today.
I haven’t read the Hunger Games. I don’t want to at this point, but I’m not saying that I never will. I’m not wild about the idea of a survival type game in which teens kill teens, especially in view of school shootings in the U.S. I hear adults who’ve either read the books or who have seen the movie say that there is a good point to it all. However, I’m not sure that teens always draw from things like that the point that we want them to get. I know as a young teen I sometimes walked away with a different idea of certain books and movies than I would have now. But, since I haven’t actually read the books, I’m not the best judge of them.
Elizabeth, I’m glad you stopped by to comment. I can understand why some would choose not to read these books.
I read the first one for much the same reason you did. I reviewed it on my blog: http://bookaholicconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/04/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html
I plan to read the other 2 to see what happens.
I read the first one for much the same reason you did. I reviewed it on my blog: http://bookaholicconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/04/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html
I plan to read the other 2 just to see where the author takes this. As much as I did not care for the subject matter, I was intrigued by it all.
I don’t see this as happening.. I cannot for the life of me seeing us getting to this state. Not because man isn’t so depraved, but because I cannot see the Lord allowing it to come to this.