The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Published: October 1, 2008

5 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis: “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 weigh survival against humanity and life against love.”

The Hunger Games Trilogy is my favorite trilogy out there right now. I absolutely love, love, love these books. More importantly, I love the first book The Hunger Games. It is like being submerged into this dystopian society where people are starving, working hard just to get a meal at the end of the day, there is so much turmoil it’s almost hard to believe. Collins really shows how the characters in the book don’t take for granted the little joys in life, even a hot meal is the best news in the world. The portrayal of the society the characters live in is so heart breaking but when I read it, I didn’t feel the heart break. I felt the determination the characters had to survive, to stay alive, to love, and be true to who they are.

Katniss is the classic tomboy who basically provides for her family in every way, even when her sister Prim is chosen for The Hunger Games, she steps up and takes her place. Katniss is just this brave, solid, determined, beautiful, character who is incredibly taken over by how all the districts live that when she starts a revolution she doesn’t even know it until much later. And of course with all my favorite books there is a love triangle with Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. Peeta who was also thrown in The Hunger Games basically admits to loving Katniss since the first time he saw her. Katniss however, thinks that it is just an act and that Peeta like herself is just trying to survive. Gale, the best friend, acts like there maybe something more between him and Katniss but he never really admits it in this book. The Hunger Games itself was truly torture for all those involved and the families at home who had to watch their sons or daughters die, just to be reminded of The Capitol’s power.

The Hunger Games is easily 5 smirks, because it is so intense and heart breaking, and uplifting all at the same time that as a reader you just want to cry and sometimes smack the main characters for being so stupid. I also really admire how Suzanne Collins ends these books, with an extreme cliff hanger. I mean not just a cliff hanger; she leaves you in the middle of the most anticipated scene with only allowing you a glimpse of it. Should you read The Hunger Games? Duh, don’t be an idiot. Is The Hunger Games Trilogy worth paying $18 each for? Yes, yes, yes, and hell yes. If you do not like dystopian society should you read this book? Yes, originally I was not a fan of this type of genre because it never ends happily but like I said before this is my favorite trilogy out there as of now. So do get off the couch, drive to local bookstore, purchase the first two books of the trilogy, read them, and then go back in August for the last book.