{Review} The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Pages: 374
Release Date: September 14, 2008
by Scholastic

Goodreads / Purchase

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. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.
If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

This is the second time I’ve read this book, and the second time I’ve reviewed it.  But, honestly, no matter how many times I read it and write down my thoughts, my opinion of this book will never change.  It’s amazing.  So. Freaking. Amazing.  The writing, I will admit, isn’t perfect, but there is just something about this book that I can’t put my finger on that just makes me keep reading.  The idea is very good and imaginative, and the exectuation is very well done.  The world building was absolutely amazing, which is sometimes rare in dystopian books.  You get the whole backstory of Panem and Katniss pretty much right away.  The story line and staging was asoltuely amazing, as was the action.  I got so invested in the world and the situation that I didn’t want to put this book down.

Katniss is one of my all-time favorite main characters.  She ranks up there with Yelena from Poison Study and, as you guys may or may not know, she is my all-time favorite main character.  I loved how Katniss was strong, defiant, mature, and could take care of herself.  She was selfless, kick-butt, and just down-right awesome.  There’s really no words to describe her completely, if I’m honest.   Peeta was pretty good too.  I really enjoyed the romance and the conflict, and Peeta was a strong character and love interest.

This book is definitely one I’ll read again and again, and the whole series even.  It’s such an epic, interesting, and engaging story and idea that it will never, ever get old.

1 million trillion pink flowers

Quotes:

Bright and bubbly as ever, Effie Trinket trots to the podium and gives her signature, “Happy Hunger Games!  And may the odds be ever in your favor!”

“I volunteer!” I gasp.  “I volunteer as tribute!”

At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the trhree middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me.  It is an old and rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally seen at funerals.  It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.

No, the odds are not in my favor today.

Family devotion only goes so far for most people on reaping day.  What I did was a radical thing.

Before I can stop myself, I call out Peeta’s name.

I do not want to lose the boy with the bread.

For the first time, I allow myself to truly think about the possibility that I might make it home.