Suzanne Collins’ THE HUNGER GAMES
August 12, 2012 at 8:11 pm 9 comments
I am an idiot. I should have read this book four years ago. I didn’t. I remember ordering a copy in for my wife because she had loved Suzanne Collins’ Gregor series. She loved it. She told me to read it. I didn’t. Other people read it at our bookshop, loved it, raved about it. I didn’t read it. The trilogy went on to be absolutely huge. Bigger than Twilight (which I did read the first 3 and a half books). But I still didn’t read it. Because sometimes I’m an idiot. I did try listening to the audio but gave up very quickly. I felt like the narrator was talking down to me. So that was it. I pretty much figured I’d never read it. It wasn’t for me. Not my kind of book. It was YA, about a girl, definitely not for me. Wrong. I am an idiot.
I recently flew to New Zealand to attend the Booksellers NZ conference and on the flight over watched The Hunger Games film. Quickest flight ever. Was totally addicted straight away. Saw the errors of my ways immediately. This was what everyone was raving about. I had to read this.
There is so much going on in this book. It is political, it is current and it is futuristic. It is gripping, engaging and thought provoking. The action is incredible. The world Collins creates is breath taking and not at all far fetched. It is actually so close it is scary. No wonder so many younger readers are eating this up. It taps into to so much that is going on right now from the media to Government and how both manipulate each other and how the audience and participants are stuck in the middle, manipulated and manipulating. Collins deftly conveys cynicism without being cynical and romance without being overly romantic while also expertly capturing fear, courage and hope.
There is so much to love about this book and it characters. I maybe four years late to the party but the beauty of books is that doesn’t matter. I’ve already dived straight into Catching Fire and can’t wait to watch the film again. If you wavered about reading this book like I did or haven’t even considered it, do yourself a favour and grab a copy because this is something special that will be read for many, many years to come.
Entry filed under: Book Reviews. Tags: action, books, future, The Hunger Games.
1.
rigbyte | August 12, 2012 at 8:30 pm
I dislike the book. It doesn’t ‘ring true’. I accept that humans lack humanity if it suits them, but it was all too contrived. I think a return to the Roman system is more probable. I could never recommend it.
2.
Jon Page | August 12, 2012 at 8:35 pm
It rang true for me. Emotionally, physically. Though it was spot on
3.
Nicola Santilli (@nicolasantilli) | August 12, 2012 at 9:28 pm
You should watch/read Battle Royale (it is a film, novel, manga). One of my favourites. Similar plotwise to The Hunger Games so I haven’t picked up the latter yet.
4.
Jon Page | August 12, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Just read a synopsis. Sounds great but I think Hunger Games has some significant differences that would make it worth your while
5.
Nicola Santilli (@nicolasantilli) | August 13, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Will keep in mind. I promise I’ll read it one day!
6.
Carrie Slager | August 13, 2012 at 2:56 am
I was lucky enough to read The Hunger Games before it got famous, otherwise I would have been just like you! Personally, I think it’s a good book, but not a great one. However, it does get teens (especially boys) reading and thinking about what they’re reading. I wrote an article called ‘The Hunger Games and Ancient Rome’ in which I compared the books to ancient Rome and it’s one of my most-viewed articles. So not only are teens enjoying the books, they’re looking for less subtle themes and allusions.
7.
Suzanne Collins’ CATCHING FIRE « Bite The Book – Book Reviews and Industry Views | August 16, 2012 at 8:59 pm
[...] after not reading for 4 years I’ve gone back-to-back with the first two books in The Hunger Games trilogy. It was interesting to read an interview at the end of The Hunger Games with Suzanne Collins [...]
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Suzanne Collins’ MOCKINGJAY « Bite The Book – Book Reviews and Industry Views | August 20, 2012 at 9:12 pm
[...] enjoyed Mockingjay more than Catching Fire although The Hunger Games is the strongest of the three books. The third book is primarily about war and the media perception [...]
9.
Hugh Howey’s WOOL « Bite The Book – Book Reviews and Industry Views | October 4, 2012 at 8:42 pm
[...] are so many things to love about this book. It shares nothing in common with The Hungers Games, The Passage or The Matrix ( the first film not the dodgy sequels) but if you liked those stories [...]