A review for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Posted by Jessica

Published Date: October 1st, 2008
Read Date: March 24th, 2011
The Blurb: 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. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Review: Whoa! I'm at a loss for words, and I'm not sure I can put any coherent words into a review. I can't begin to describe how much I loved this book. Its a genre away from anything I've ever read before, and I wasn't sure about it at first, and I probably wouldn't have picked it up; but so many of my GR buddies recommended it to me, kept telling me I had to read this book, and you know what? I'm glad I did.

This is the first in a trilogy by Suzanne Collins set in post-apocalyptic North America in a country called Panem, that is made of 12 Districts, and each year two 'Tributes' from each Districts one boy and one girl from the ages of 12-18 are sent to the Capitol where they must partake in a grueling battle for survival called The Hunger Games. Each Tribute is trained privately and let loose in the 'Arena' where they must ultimately kill each other until only 1 tribute remains standing and pronounced the winner. We meet Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take part in The Hunger Games instead of her 12 year old sister Prim, who was originally chosen. Along with Katniss is boy tribute Peeta Mellark the bakers son. Both Katniss and Peeta head to the Capitol, where they realise that only one of them can survive.

When I first started reading this book I was so sickened by the idea of all these teenagers killing each other off, just for the entertainment of the residents of the Capitol. Ultimately this comes down to survival. I was on the edge of my seat when reading this book. I'm trying to grow my nails, so it was really hard to try not to bite them whilst reading this, safe to say the inside of my cheek has seen better days.

I loved our two main characters, Katniss with her strenght and will power, and knowledge of how to survive in the wild from hunting in the forest everyday back in District 12. Peeta, the bakers son who doesn't really have any kind of skill, except for camoflague (thanks to icing cakes) and his upper body strength, but ultimately this is a duo who are set on surviving the next ardious weeks of their young lives.

God this review sucks. Anyway, I think that's all I can say about this book. Except that I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, and I can't wait to continue with Catching Fire. Read it! :)

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Posted by Donna

Published Date: September 14th, 2008

Finished Date: June 11th, 2011

Source: RAK from Bella at Cheezy Feet Books

Format: Paperback

Pages: 384 Pages

The Blurb from Goodreads: 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. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Review: Wow! Why have I not started this series before now? Why? Well, I’ll tell you why…..it’s because I’m stupid! Lol. All I’ve had over the past 6 months is people recommending this series to me and I’ve put it for so long because I honestly thought I wouldn’t like it. Well, I was wrong! I don’t even think wrong covers it. I ended up loving this book and I think it’s one of my favourite read of 2011 so far.

The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl living in North America set in the future. Katniss lives in a hard world, one that is divided by districts, rich and poor. Twelve districts in total are run by the Capital and to keep them in line they created a yearly event in which 2 members from each districts will battle it out to the death, for sport on live TV.  When Katniss’s sister Prim is picked as a tribute, Katniss willingly takes her place in the games. She is teamed up with Peeta, the other member from District 12 and together they must become the last ones standing.

This is something completely new for me. This type of genre is 100% out of the norm but hey, with so many people recommending it, I had to see what all the fuss was about. And let me just say….amazing. Not only did this book keep me gripped to the edge of my seat but I was also quiet scared to continue reading. I’ve never been so frightened in my life not knowing what would happen next to the characters, not knowing how someone would die or who would die next and if our main characters survive the horrid games. Honestly, the idea of the book to start with was a little sickening but Suzanne Collins managed to capture the story and writes the deaths not to gruesome.  Not only does she write well but she managed to create a world that I couldn’t dream of living in, the idea of it scares the hell out of me but she also makes it completely imaginable.

The characters were well developed and strong. I’m so glad we had such a strong female heroine like Katniss. Katniss is probably the strongest character I’ve read about in a long time, she doesn’t sit around and cry, she determined, strong willed and dedicated to the job at hand even though she hates the thought of killing someone else…she knows she has no choice because in this world, its kill or be killed. Peeta is another great character. I can’t help feel a little bad for him because god does he take a beating during the games but I’m glad Katniss was there to nurse him back to health. Even though this book doesn’t centre around their romance, it is still there skimming the surface and I’m intrigued to find out what happens next. Oh and let’s not forget Prim, Cinna, Haymitch and Gale…..I do hope we get to see more them in the next book.

Overall, I’m already hooked into this series and I have another two books to go. So far I love it, I love the world Suzanne Collins has created and I can’t wait to read more.

A special Thank You to Bella who brought this book for me as a gift!