Wednesday, June 12, 2013

{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.

6 comments:

  1. Never a bad time to re-read The Hunger Games; I've read it twice myself. Glad to see you still love it! I adore Yelena's character, too. I've also re-read Poison Study. :)

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  2. Aww I love this book! Obviously.
    It's the first dystopian YA I read, and they've been my favourite YA genre since.
    So is this your second review of it?? Or your first? Lol.
    Basma @ My Bookish Thoughts

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  3. I love this series!! It is just so amazing!! As my girlfriend and I were saying the other night, Suzanne Collins really should have written more books!!!!

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  4. I wish I had the same love you do for The Hunger Games. I had high hopes for the first book and a set of expectations, that I don't want to say it didn't meet, but it was just different than I thought it would be. Reading the second book, I completely fell head over heels for the story and it's characters. I haven't yet read the third book (don't throw rocks at me please!), but I'm really excited to finally get to it! I've thought about re-reading The Hunger Games, and seeing if my opinion will change. Thanks for the awesome review!

    Lisa
    www.turningpages94.blogspot.com

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  5. I picked this up when my son was reading it for school. I barely put it down over the next few days. I had already seen the movie, but reading the book was awesome - getting to see what was going on in their minds. Loved it and starting the next.
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  6. I highly recommend this book for kids from 12 up. The ending leads me to believe that this will be a series. I imagine I will be pre-ordering as soon as it's available. Congratulation Ms. Collins!!

    Marlene
    Get Best Info Surprise Moving Companies

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