The Hunger Games

This is absolutely the best book EVER. After I finished the book, I was sitting on the chair, almost crying because the book was over. I'm so happy with the fact, there are three books! In a month The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn is in theatres, and I was very nervous. But this book make me totally forget about it. At the moment the only thing I can think about is The Hunger Games movie and books! It my favourite book and I don't think there is another book that can beats it!show more

Originally posted on my blog, the Vintage Bookworm. When I first got this in the mail about a year or two ago, I quickly set it aside after seeing the not very alluring cover. After days went by I finally decided to try and look past the cover and see what it was about. So I did, and was still not very into wanting it on my reading list. It sounded a bit interesting, but not enough to really draw me in. But now, lately, I've seen this book and it's series around everywhere. I couldn't shake this series. I started reading reviews on it and all of them have been great reviews. I have not seen one bad review so far! Basically all of them are five or four stars. So I finally decided to sit down and try and read it. I told myself that I would read the first 10 pages before I went to bed and if it didn't catch my attention and if I didn't remember what I had read the next day, then I would set it aside again and try and read it at a later time when I was more in the mood for it. The next day came and I remember everything and was more interested in reading it! And I'm so glad that it caught my attention because this is one GREAT book. I can see what all the hype is about it now and why I see "Team Peeta" and "Team Gail" around everywhere! Which, by the way, I am completely "Team Peeta". Not that there is anything wrong with Gail, he's a nice character. But Peeta has me completely won over! I can see the meaning of the cover now and it fits with the book well. It may not be one of my favorite covers, but I appreciate it a bit more now after reading the book. Collins' world building is prodigious, but scary! I can't imagine being able to live in Panem. The world is already upsetting enough, but not as upsetting as her world would be. Can you imagine being forced to sit down and watch twelve through eighteen year olds fight to the death as entertainment? I couldn't! The characters in this book were real and believable. I couldn't help but want to know more about the other tributes as they were killed off, one by one. Each one had their own personality and it was sad to see them killed. Katniss was the perfect heroine. She was strong, and selfless, and intelligent and her family was her top priority, which is highly admirable. Collins' left nothing out, you read from Katniss point-of-view at all times as though you were really in her mind, watching everything she sees and does. Even though the chapters leaves off in amazing cliff hangers, she starts right back up from where it left off. Which I really liked. Her writing style kept you reading and at the edge of your seat. This review is really hard for me to write because this book completely blew me away and I can't type fast enough to even begin to tell you everything about what is going on in my mind about this book. I highly appreciate the honesty that Collins' put into this book, no matter how disturbing her world was, and I can't wait to continue the series and see what else she has install for us. I recommend this to anyone who would love to be put into a world different, but somewhat the same, as our own. Also, even if the book doesn't sound appealing to you, please try and at least give it a chance and read a chapter of two before you completely dismiss the book. You will be missing out on a wonderful book that I can see as a classic one day.show more

I only finished reading this book less than 5 minutes ago and was so intrigued to come here and write a review to tell everyone just how awesome this book is. I heard a lot of good stuff about this book, but i was hesitant to pick it up since i wasn't sure if i was going it like this genre. I am more of a paranormal romance kinda gal. But this book proved me wrong, because it was nothing what i had expected. It blew away my expectations and made me soo glad that i went against my judgments and picked up this book. I just wish i had purchased it instead of borrowing from the library, since i plan on reading it over and over again. This story is about North America in the future run by a gov't called "capitol". The capitol controls EVERYTHING(similar to communism). So, due to a break out rebellion in the past against the capitol, they have devised the annual Hunger Games to remind everyone who is in control. In The Hunger Games, a boy and a girl from each 12 districts are thrown in a nature-driven(forest, mountains,lake)arena where all the participants must fight to death and finish each other off. The last remaining participant is the winner of the Hunger Games. This story deals with Katniss(main character) and how she rebels against the capitol forcing them to alter their own rules. For the first time in the history of all the hunger games, there is romance IN the hunger games(making the story even better). There was not a dull moment in this book. Very fast paced and made you question your own ways of life. When i wasn't reading it, i was thinking about it ALL THE TIME. Yes! its THAT good. Its science fiction blended with war/gov't and romance. I loved how the author told such a fascinating story about boring topics like government, war, etc,. and intertwined romance in such a way where you had many "awe" moments. Sweet Love story!! The characters were well-developed and believable. I am sooo glad its being turned into a movie. I can guarantee its going to be a block buster hit. Good thing i started this trilogy when ALL the books will be released, because the wait would've killed me for sure. SO, when u read The Hunger Games, make sure you got all 3 books in hand if you dont wanna go insane guessing the next part of the story. One story/plot is carried throughout the three books so its best to read all three back to back. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!.....for people of all ages, gender and taste.show more

When I did learn the meaning of the "Hunger Games" I was appalled. Ms. Collins brought the incomprehensible to life. This novel was high on the list at goodreads.com as one book people would like to see made into a movie. I could see why. Yet it didn't take me long to realize I don't want to see this made into a movie. The book was just too touching...heart-wrenching to cheapen it on the screens. I spent a lot of time blinking back tears. I've heard a lot of critters say to lay off the back story. It's a rule Ms. Collins did not follow, and I'm glad for it. Each bit of back story was a treasure, rich in a way which added depth to her characters. I savored every moment. I thought the novel was very age appropriate. It's a novel I'd let my daughters read. Though there was a lot of violence, each choice had real consequences, and decisions were not made lightly. It broke my heart Katniss' world wasn't one of innocence. For the tributes, it was as if every small kindness was the greatest miracle.show more

Sometimes when I approach a book for the second time I pause for a moment and wonder, "What if I don't like it as much this time?" THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins was no exception - but within the first few pages that feeling was immediately squashed and, once again, I found myself swept away by the story. Knowing what was going to happen in the book did not dull the message much at all for me. I remember being horrified my first time through the story and that horror was still there, but a bit muted. I still cried; when Katniss does the unthinkable for love of family, when Rue cries out for help, when Peeta learns of Katniss' true feelings. I'm not really much of a Team Girl - but I've always learned a little more toward Gale. I like strong characters (and Katniss is a female character I've begun to compare all YA females to). Peeta still comes off as weak to me, helpless. This time I read through the story and found myself wondering what Gale would have done, were he in the same situations. Would he have survived? Suzanne Collins is very talented. She can take a 350+ page book and make it feel like it barely is 100 pages with her ability to create momentum, suspense, a fantastic world that you are able, almost immediately, to grasp. Her descriptions of the food in the Capital had me drooling and I'm not even close to being in the same boat as these teens from District 12. The imagination behind Cinna and the costumes; the strategy of the games - everything is put together so well that, once started, I can't imagine anyone putting this book down. This book goes on the yearly re-read list for me. It's one of those stories that will make your imagination jump around like a 5 year old who has eaten too much sugar.show more

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.show more