This paragraph will explain premise of the Hunger Games. If you consider that spoiler territory, skip to the next paragraph and feel confident that no further plot points will be discussed. In case you were curious what the Hunger Games actually are, it is an annual event where 24 minors from a dozen third-world districts are selected to battle to the death for the entertainment of the wealthy citizens of the Capitol. The fallen are a grim reminder of a decades old failed rebellion against the Capitol, the victors given wealth and celebrity status as a symbol of the Capitol's kindness.
Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy is not only a dark reflection of pop culture, but an examination of the modern world through the eyes of a teenage girl, Katniss Everdeen. The first book may function as a stand-alone adventure, a complete tale in its own right that does not require further reading, but the continuations are so worthwhile that the reader is truly missing out by ending it there.
In my opinion, Catching Fire (the second novel in the trilogy) is the weakest, but it answers some questions, fills in some gaps, explores the social and political ramifications of the events in the first book and establishes itself as profoundly important when reading the third and final novel, Mockingjay, which is possibly the strongest of the three. Mockingjay has one of the strongest conclusions I've ever read and provides a true sense of closure that could not have been reached any earlier in the saga, but more importantly, the follow-up novels feel like necessary additions rather than a cash-grab.
It is not a light-hearted story. The novels respectfully portray the effects of Post Traumatic Stress and the characters live in a cruel world. The themes explored in the Hunger Games get progressively darker and more complex, but never is the violence glorified. It may take a certain level of maturity to truly grasp the larger concepts at work, but the reader may become more mature for having read this. I consider that an achievement in of itself considering the target age group. The literary style is appropriate for younger readers but is thought-provoking enough to for adults to find themselves engrossed in.
Katniss Everdeen is a strong female lead, one whom is written so well that the book is almost gender-neutral--but there is a love triangle, for those who might care about that sort of thing. She is capable, yet flawed, and her awareness of her shortcomings makes her all the more human. For those who have watched the movies but have not yet read the book, departing from the third-person perspective of the films into the first-person point of view in the novels will complete one's understanding of the characters and the world they live in.
There is little that I would change in these novels had I any measure of creative control. The Hunger Games I leave in peace, Catching Fire took a little while for that sense of imminent danger to manifest, ends on a cliffhanger and Mockingjay began with a time-skip of a couple months which felt a little jarring. Also in Mockingjay a couple minor characters had conspicuous absences throughout the majority of the book, but all the important pieces were in play. These minor complaints are merely nitpicks, easily forgivable in this stellar series.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.Highlighted by 6,172 Kindle readers- Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true Here is the place where I love you.Highlighted by 5,745 Kindle readers
- At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it.Highlighted by 5,631 Kindle readers
- I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.Highlighted by 3,689 Kindle readers
- “As long as you can find yourself, you’ll never starve.”Highlighted by 3,502 Kindle readers
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
About the author
The Hype is Right
5/5 Stars for overall series, 5/5 for The Hunger Games, 5/5 for Catching Fire, 4/5 for Mockingjay. "Stupid people are dangerous." ~ Suzanne Collins I know, I know, I know. What rock have I been hiding under? To be honest, I hesitated to even post this review because … old news, seriously. However, I am a little lean on five star books these days (partly my fault for not making the time to read and partly a bit of a slump I think) and this series is really very good, so I wanted to post a Five Star Series Review. The thing that works the best for me about this series is the subtlety of the evolution of Katniss’s character. It’s like a slow burn character arc that by book three makes you feel completely wrung out, right along with Katniss. But it’s magical the way it works because it sneaks up on you so you don’t even really notice it’s happening. With all the violence in this book, the character arc is very light-handed. It works brilliantly which is good because honestly, with all the violence this series brings to it, if a single other thing was heavy handed, I don’t know that the series would be readable. In addition to the character arc of the whole series, The Hunger Games in particular, but also Catching Fire are brilliantly paced. I read them both in one day each because I could hardly put them down (even having watched the movies and therefore knowing what was coming). The world building is equally as interesting and dynamic, again, even having watched the movies. The contrast between the Districts, and the Capitol, and then the arena, is striking. I honestly wish we had a spinoff though that took me on a tour of some of the other Districts, particularly four and seven (Finnick and Johanna’s Districts). I guess this is what fanfiction is for! But everyone who follows this blog knows the final word on “good book” is whether you have a book hangover when it’s all said and done. And let me tell you, by the time I got to the end of Mockingjay I felt like I might not be in any shape to read for at least a week. It was SUCH an intense ride. And if a series can do that to you when you know how it all ends, then it’s definitely doing something right!
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2014
- Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2012
Top reviews from other countries
-
-
Cliente AmazonReviewed in Italy on August 30, 2015
Bellissima lettura (la versione originale in lingua inglese è meravigliosa!)
