Customer Reviews

The Hunger Games

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The 74th Annual Hunger Games are soon to begin. The Hunger Games are a fight to the death. In the new country of Panem, in the ruins of North America, each year as punishment for a rebellion and as a control mechanism, the Capitol forces each of the 12 provinces to draw names of a male and female tribute. The tributes are drawn from all people between the ages of 12 and 18. They receive training, are assessed by the game masters and then the betting begins. The games will be televised and are required viewing for the whole nation.

The draws are not exactly even though. You can choose to enter your name extra times, for yourself and for family members to receive a terse, a grain and oil supplement from the government. Thus enters our heroine Katniss Everdeen. She is entered this year 20 times as she is 16 and taken the terse every year, for herself, her sister and her mother. Her close friend Gale has his name in 42 times, but this is the last year he is eligible. Then Katniss has the worst fear hit - her younger sister Prim (short for Primrose) is drawn with her 1st and only ballot. Katniss then does the unthinkable; she volunteers to take Prim's place.

Katniss Everdeen knows that she has at least some chance of survival in the games. She has been secretly hunting in the woods and feeding her family since her father died years earlier. She hunts and gathers what she can with her friend and hunting partner Gale, in the woods beyond the fenced border of District 12. Yet even so, most believe she has just given up her life for her sisters.

Katniss and Peeta Mellark are the tributes from District 12 for the 74th annual hunger games. As they travel to the capitol they have two mentors - Haymitch Abernathy the only surviving Hunger Games winner from the district and Effie Trinket the Capitol's representative in the district. They will each in their own way try to help them to survive both the Capitol, to win favor with the citizens who can sponsor them in the games, and then the games themselves.

This book is very well written, the scenes sharp and crisp, the world believable and detailed. The characters become real as you read. You reach the end and are left hungry for more, which is what you will get as this is book one in a trilogy. The only drawback in my opinion is the lack of a map. I keep hoping for a map of Panem, with the 12 districts, the mysterious destroyed 13th district and the wilderness area's between them. Maybe it is just a guy thing, but I wanted a map. In this book Twenty-four are forced to enter the game zone but only the winner survives. You get a sample online. You can read chapter 1 online but it will only whet your appetite for more. There is also a video trailer for the book you can find online. This is a great Sci-fi book and would make an excellent movie.

(First Published in Imprint 2008-10-31.)

For a full day this book sucked me deep into it's incredible story... time passed and I didn't notice. I couldn't stop reading until I was done. Then on the last page I read, 'End of Book One' and my mouth fell open, my stomach dropped. I didn't get to know the end of the story. There's so much more to come... and another book to be released in Sept. I have another day off tomorrow and I'd really rather just have the next book now and spend another day in bed entranced by the next part of this amazing story.

I'm a teacher and I also work in a childrens book store. I read a review about this book and was intrigued. The description reminded me of a Japanese horror movie called "Battle Royale" which follows a similar storyline. That movie was great, but utterly disturbing and full of gore. So, I really wanted to read this book intended for youth, wondering how the author could have a similar story but not have it turn out as disturbing for the young readers. She succeeded. I'm still not even sure how, but she did it! Incredible.

I will be recommending this to friends my age, other book lovers, the book buyers at my store, teachers and youth (with a warning about the material as it still is about an upseting game/war). I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

Originally reviewed on my blog: [...]

I decided to read The Hunger Games for obvious reasons...because everyone else was doing it, of course! I wasn't really sure what to expect, but to my surprise I fell in love. I love love love this book. Yes, it's a young adult book and, yes, I am an adult. But I don't care! The novel is written maturely and in a way which any reader of any age can (and will) enjoy it. Although Collins clearly intended the book for young adult/teenage audiences, it is very enjoyable for any age and any gender. My fiancé (male) loved it, my mother (late 50s) loved it, my sister (mid-30s) loved it, and I loved it!

The novel is narrated by a 16-year-old girl named Katniss. Although she is only 16, Katniss is mature beyond her years. This maturity is a result of her father's death and her mother's inability to cope with the loss of her husband. Katniss, therefore, has no choice but to take on the motherly role in the household and take care of her mother, her younger sister Prim, and herself. Due to this role, Katniss becomes very protective of her sister, even so much so that Prim does not get the chance to mature as much as maybe she should in this distopian world. The children need to be prepared for the possibility of their name being drawn once every year, in which they begin the journey of the Hunger Games. The Games were created by the powerful Capitol as a reminder not to create an uprising and to just follow orders from the Capitol. In the Games, there is only one survivor out of 24 kids aged 11-18! Turns out that Prim is chosen this year, but Katniss (holy crap!) steps in as her replacement. The reader is then taken through the terrifying journey of Katniss to and inside the Games.

The novel is very creative and takes the reader on a journey through many emotions, including fear, depression, anxiety, happiness, hope, and anger.

I very much enjoyed the characters throughout the story. Katniss...oh, how I adore you! I admire this 16-year-old character for so many reasons. She is very courageous and so strong throughout all the horrible things she must go through in her journey. Peeta, of course, is endearing. Peeta is a 16-year-old boy who has also had his name drawn to compete in the Hunger Games this year. We discover that this boy is going to be challenging for Katniss to bring herself to eventually kill (if she is to survive) because he pretty much saved her life when they were younger. And Gale (an 18-year-old boy who is best friends with Katniss) is Katniss's rock, and how can you not love a rock? The love triangle, however, is a bit cliché for my liking.

I still have reservations about the fact that 13-year-old kids are reading this book in school. Kids reading about kids killing kids...strange...

Another element that I found interesting and pretty dead-on was Collins's underlying comments (or, at least, what I think she was commenting) on today's society. In today's popular culture, so many of us are enveloped in watching reality television shows of all different types and genres. So, if there was really a hunger games in real life, would people watch it and cheer for and sponsor certain tributes while others are dying? I think Collins is saying that we would, or at least that it's a possibility.

Enough babbling about this fantastic book. I recommend that anyone and everyone should READ THIS BOOK! I promise, you will not want to put it down once you pick it up! It is so wonderfully intense.

Anyone remember "The Running Man?" Here again we have a society where there is a huge discrepancy between the haves and have-nots, and watching people suffer on live tv is considered entertainment. But this story is more heartbreaking and engaging in its delivery. Here we have 12 districts under tyrannical rule of "The Capital," and as punishment for a rebellion 74 years ago each district has to send two children (one male, one female) between the ages 12 - 16 to fight to the death in an arena. This is The Hunger Games and there can only be one winner, so even allies will need to turn on each other eventually. Mandatory viewing for all of Panem, the districts watch helplessly as their children are forced to kill each other in order to survive. The winner is compensated with wealth, a new house, and fame. They also get to mentor the next year's 'lucky' contestants when it's time.

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are this year's lucky winners from District 12, and what begins as a tv romance to boost ratings turns into real feelings for them both. Peeta has liked Katniss since they were young, but Katniss is usually so focused on survival she doesn't examine her own feelings or notice how others feel about her. It turns out her best friend and hunting partner, Gale, also has feelings for her and there becomes a "Team Peeta" vs "Team Gale" debate within the reader.

Katniss outsmarts the game rules and as a result both her and Peeta are the winners of this year's Hunger Games. What she considered just trying to survive ignites and fuels the rebellion already brewing in many districts. Panem's president is not pleased, and we are left knowing that survival for Katniss will no longer be just about food.

I could not walk away from this story - not since Harry Potter has a story so captivated me. Maybe it's the horrible injustice, maybe it's the love triangle, maybe it's the story of how survival outweighs the consequences of society's rules - whatever it is, I couldn't wait to begin the next book.

The book carries the reader swiftly from the start to the end in a story that has a very personal feel within the framework of a very compelling adventure. It is told in the first person through the eyes of Katniss who gets embroiled in the Hunger Games, an event akin to the ancient Roman gladiator fights in the Coliseum. The arena even has the underground rooms and tunnels like the Coliseum. However, unlike ancient Rome the Hunger Games takes place in the framework of advanced technology with frequent technological surprises along the way. The story of Katniss's participation in the Games reveals the structure of an oppressive society where the aristocrats or oligarchs in the Capitol control those living in the 12 districts. Those in the Capitol hold all the wealth and power and privilege while those in the districts suffer in poverty and food shortages and oppression. Like a good adventure story there is plenty of action as well as a web of relationships and interpersonal stories. All these operate within the framework of a society that monitors and controls its citizens very closely.The Griffon Trilogy: Part I

The Hunger Games took hold of me and didn't let go. I blew through it in less than a week and I usually take between 1.5-2 weeks for a book this size. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about the characters anticipating my next opportunity to sit down and continue their story. This hasn't happened to me since The Game of Thrones.

Collins has done a very good job of creating likeable characters. I found myself caring about them and sharing in their pain, joy and anxiety. The setting of The Hunger Games is disturbing but the characters are inspirational. Twenty four teenagers are thrown into a contrived battle to the death. The concept of this type of game is unsettling but serves to create a great setting. Perfectly designed to create compelling drama. I was intrigued by each character's sometimes subtle contempt for their role in the Games.

This is a brilliant story with compelling characters that I could not help but like. Anyone who enjoys a good bit of fiction should enjoy this. It has drama, violence (not terribly graphic), good character development and a little romance. Once you read the first page you will not want to stop.

I was reluctant to read this at first because of the comparison people were making to twilight, which I thought was dreadful. However once I started the books I realized the two series were completely different. The hunger games were a riveting, action filled story that kept me up well into the night. I absolutely loved this series, the nest since Harry Potter in my opinion. Beyond the violence was the implications of the violence and destruction that humanity is capable of. There is a romantic element as well, which i enjoyed, though I didn't see it as the main point of the books. The books are targeted to teens however I am in my late 20's and have read them three times so far. Would recommend them to anyone.

Got the box set for Christmas and was urged to read the first book before the movie came out, so I did. The book lived up to its hype.
Katniss was a likable heroine and Collins' writing was solid. Though the climax of the book was tense, the ending itself was curious and since I haven't read the jackets for the next two books, I have no idea what they are about.

3.5 stars actually. I am not saying this was not good. I am just saying it was a bit lacking. The plot was great. Very "Running Man" ish. But I didn't connect with the characters. It felt a little shallow and I just didn't get a feel for the characters as much as I like to from the books I read. I wished for more darkness as well but that is just my personal taste so my 3.5 stars do not reflect that. I understand this is a young adult novel and I am 28, but even so, I expected a lot more.

Twenty-four children: twelve boys, twelve girls, tributes selected by random lottery every year and sent to the capitol city of Panem to compete in a brutal, bloodthirsty fight for survival, with the last participant standing declared champion.

Welcome to the Hunger Games, a grim reminder to those living in the twelve districts comprising what was once the United States of their place as virtual slaves to the gleaming Capitol at their center.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen is this year's female representative for District 12, having volunteered to take her younger sister Prim's place. Sent to the arena with the baker's son and classmate, Peeta Mellark -- a boy who, several years prior, saved Kat and her family from the ravages of starvation after her father's death in a coal mining accident -- neither competitor from the final district seem to be contenders.

But Peeta's good nature and Kat's small stature belie the former's cunning intelligence and the latter's experience as a hunter; while a revelation from Peeta during the introductory ceremonies sends Katniss into the first day of competition more than a little off-kilter.

The stage is set, the tributes have arrived, and the cameras are watching...let the games begin.

It is no exaggeration to call THE HUNGER GAMES a pulse-pounding page-turner. Collins grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. While Katniss isn't always the most likable character (in fact, there were plenty of times I much preferred the affable Peeta, or even sweet, birdlike little Ruth), she is always compelling, thanks to her rational approach to every challenge and her dogged determination.

While THE HUNGER GAMES is a plot-driven novel, the characters and their relationships are the heart of the story. Ms. Collins has created a dystopian tale of Orwellian caliber for young adults, giving any reader plenty to churn their minds between now and the next installment of this trilogy.

My only complaint is having to wait for the next installment.

Reviewed by: Cat