by Suzanne Collins.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlaying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one girl and one boy 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 is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has also resolved to outwit the creators of the games. To do that she will have to be the last person standing at the end of the deadly ordeal, and that will take every ounce of strength and cunning she has.
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When I first read about this book and author, I was really excited by the apocalyptic setting. But I have to say that the characters in this story are what made me buy all three books and then buy copies for my friends’ kids for Christmas this year.
*Warning: I discuss all three novels, and I give away some important ending details. Don’t read my critique if you haven’t read the entire trilogy.
The Hunger Games started off slow, but as soon as I got to the reaping, I was sucked in for the rest of the trilogy. The characters are believable and likable, even though it can be frustrating to wait and wait and wait for Katniss to decide between Gale and Peeta. Maybe that is hypocritical of me, because I couldn’t really decide between them either. They are drastic opposites when it comes to their view of the rebellion. Peeta is kind and gentle, calling for a cease-fire, wanting to preserve his humanity, voting no on making a vengeful Hunger Games for Capital children. Gale is strong and determined, thinking like his enemy, never afraid to be as ruthless as his enemy. By the end, I liked Peeta better. Gale is just a little too blood-thirsty and unforgiving.
The games themselves are terrifying, and they only get more haunting with each book. After Catching Fire, I only got two hours of sleep, and I get waking up feeling like my husband was bleeding to death from his leg like Peeta. What makes the games so terrifying is how believable the actions of the characters are, how easy it is for them to kill each other. I kept feeling like surely they would stop at any moment, all decide together not to fight. Then the Capitol would just have them all shot on the spot, so they fight instead. The only thing I don’t like about the games, is all the almost magical ways that the gamemakers can control the arena. I know it is a sci-fi novel, and they always contain technology beyond our current understanding, but I still would have appreciated more explanations.
More than anything, I want a happier ending for this trilogy. I wanted her, Gale, Peeta, and Finnick to storm the mansion and take down Snow after a satisfyingly witty exchange of words. I wanted Katniss and Peeta to be crowned King and Queen, able to make all new laws. I wanted her final conversation with Gale to give me more closure. She is unfair to him, never being able to think the bomb that killed Prim was anything but his design. It would be understandable if she had some proof, but she doesn’t. I wanted an explanation from Coin or Haymitch or Plutarch about why those parachutes ever dropped those bombs. The fact is, she could have loved him, she even decided that in the second novel, but she just lets him go instead, wanting to call after him that she’ll find away to make peace with it, but she remains silent. Gale deserves more than that. He was always there for her. Still, Gale should have done his own investigation into the matter. He should have figured it all out and came back with the truth to win her over, but I think he gives up on winning her over after he sees how tortured Peeta was for Katniss’s sake. He even says to her something along the lines of, “I’ll never be able to compete with that. He gave up everything for you.”
The last thing about the ending that I don’t like is how she gets with Peeta. I wanted her to be by his side every minute of his recovery from the torture, to be kind and ease him back into reality. I wanted her to stay by his side durring the capital mission, for them to win one last game together. I wanted her to acknowledge her love for him and beg him to take care of her long before he shows up to do just that. The only hint we get that she is thinking of him during her depression is when she says she hasn’t killed herself because she is still waiting for something. I’m pretty sure that something is Peeta. Gale is spot on when he says Katniss will choose the one she can’t survive without. Even though Gale is a better soldier and hunter, even though he can watch her back better than Peeta, Katniss doesn’t really need someone protecting her life. She can do that on her own. It is her emotional survival that she struggles with, and Peeta can help with.
p.s. I completely agree with Lisa. The characters make the trilogy.
Rachel, I agree with you. It is frustrating watching her go back and forth. I think one of the salient points of her character is that she is fighting against hope. She doesn’t really believe they can make a difference. Peeta respresents hope (the boy with the bread). He is life and Gale is death. She has to learn, in every one of the games, to choose life.
Now, how’s that for overthinking it?
The Hunger Game by Suzanne Collins is a must read for any age bracket. I must admit that this is not a book that I would have normally read; but I am really glad I did. I was a little skeptical for the first few pages because it started slow. Then it picked up and kept my interest making me want to learn more about the characters Katniss, Gale, and Peeta. It is definitely a page-turner to say the least.
Katniss was an extraordinary young woman from taking care of her family through difficult times, forming an alliance with Gale, and too the game with Peeta. The other characters were just interesting and quirky in their own special way. The Capitol was so different from the districts. I did not like the way the Capitol treated the people in the other districts. The preparation before the game occurred was so vivid an intense that I thought I was a part of it. The game had me on edge the entire time I was reading. The character Rue captured my heart to the very end because of her youth and innocence. When Peeta and Katniss finally were together during the game, I felt so relieved but sad because I thought I knew the outcome. I was so wrong. When the announcement was made, I was ecstatic. Once they were at the end of the game and the rules changed, I was very upset. I was happy when Peeta and Katniss made the choice at the end. I want give the secret away.
This book kept me on edge the entire time because it was about pure young, innocence love, and survivor. The suspense of the story was incredible. After reading the book, I felt like I knew each character personally. I liked it so much I purchased the rest of the trilogy because I cannot wait to see whom Katniss will give her heart to and what the Capitol have in store for the two.