The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Review by Lisa Norsworthy
The Hunger Games is a hugely popular triology that is written for young adults, but there is nothing childish about this story!
The first book, The Hunger Games, introduces us to Katniss Everdeen, a 17-year-old living in Panem a few hundred years in the future. Panem is what used to be the United States but is now divided into thirteen districts under the strict control of the Capitol. In the Capitol, conspicuous consumption abounds, but in the districts, citizens are kept on the brink of starvation and have very few modern conveniences. They have limited electricity and heat, no cars, and all media is strictly controlled by the Capitol.
Seventy-five years earlier, District thirteen rebelled, and after squelching the rebellion, the Capitol instituted the Hunger Games to punish and control the remaining districts. Annually, there is a lottery for all twelve to seventeen-year-olds where one boy and one girl are chosen from each district. These children are sent to fight to the death where everything is documented on a wildly popular “reality” series on television which every citizen of Panem is required to watch.
I don’t want to reveal too much, but this series is absolutely riveting. I was told it was dark, but that is too simple. It is a story of contrasts: evil and goodness, cruelty and kindness, and cowardice and courage in the hearts of humans. It is a warning of what can happen when we don’t appreciate and fight for liberty.
A word of advice: If you read book one, you won’t be able to stop, so make sure you have all the books available!
The Hunger Game Series at AMAZON
5 comments:
Oh, I so agree. Dark does not ever describe this series well. It is a very thoughtful series that had me thinking about it long after I put down the book(s). I like the questions the author asks us to ponder concerning freedom, friendship, love, government, and leaders. It is about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of horrible circumstances. Thank you, Lisa, for your review. :)
~Legume
Have you read Hunger Games? I'm talking to you, the reader passing by. If you have, I have a question for you. Do you think there was any growth in the main character? Does Katniss Everdeen learn anything? Did you learn anything from Katniss, as you read about her experience? Share your thoughts on The Hunger Games with us.
Warm Regards,
CFBR
Unless you consider going naked vulgarity. I listened to the audio books. They did a great job. The third one in the series didn't come up to the standard set by the first two though. I don't want to see the movie. I doubt it could live up to the story in the books.
I just finished reading The Hungar Games and could not put it down once I started reading. I read it in just over a day which is saying something for the book. It usually takes me a week or two to finish, but the minute I read the first chapter I was captured.
The book really does not have any religion basis to it other than the usual good vs bad, or in this case rich vs poor. It is about human struggle for survival and the human heart. Katniss, the main character from district 12 volunteers as tribute in order to save his younger sister who's name was drawn for the Hunger Games.
Katniss learns many lessons of humility, kindness, trust and friendship. Even though she thought she was alone in her district, she comes to realize how many people really care for her.
Katniss I think really finds who she is towards the end of the book. Even though she is thrust into the limelight regarding her male counterpart tribute by confessing his love for her. She manages to keep a level head for the most part and stay focused on staying alive. She is still growing as a person as the book ends, but who could blame the way she has acted given her circumstances. I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what else shakes loose as they say!
Thank you,
Steven Smith, book reviewer.
What do you think Christians can get out of the Hunger Games?
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