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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Are you Hungry for the Hunger Games? You Should Be

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
HUNGER GAMES   CATCHING FIRE     MOCKINGJAY
The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Series #1) by Suzanne Collins: Book CoverCatching Fire (Hunger Games Series #2) by Suzanne Collins: Book CoverMockingjay (Hunger Games Series #3) by Suzanne Collins: Book Cover

Blogger...
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the first book I've read on our new Nook. I had been steering clear of the e-readers, but we took the plunge and got one.

Ok, so "Hunger Games." This is a science fiction book with a different take on a post apocalyptic United States. In the country of Panem (old United States) the Capitol rules the people with an iron fist. The country is divided up into 12 districts, though prior to some earlier rebellion there were 13. Every year, as a show of the Capitol's power, each district is forced to send 2 of their children, ages 12-18, to compete in the Hunger Games. Think TV's "Survivor" but instead of voting each other off the island, they end up killing each other. When 16 year old Katniss Everdeen's younger sister is selected to compete, Katniss volunteers in her place. Now, she's off to the arena to face 23 other "tributes" from around the district.

I liked "Hunger Games" but I'm not sure I loved it. The concept is an interesting one, and it certainly was an exciting read. What is throwing me off a little is there is slightly more teenage angst going on then I would really like to read about. However, I did like the story enough that I plan to read the other 2 books in the series, "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay," though I predict some depressing things ahead.

I don't want to give too much away. My wife recommended I read this book, and I do like it...she's really good at picking books for me. I wouldn't recommend "Hunger Games" for anyone under about 16 years old...it's somewhat intense at times.

Booker...
I LOVED Hunger Games.  Our store got an advanced reader copy and I think I was the second person in our store to read this book.  Erica and I were trying to get everyone to read this book.  (One of our managers discovered Twilight and it was a huge hit in our store before it ever reached the conscience of mainstream America!)  I was having some trouble convincing people because it just sounds weird when you say, "You've got to read this awesome book!  It's about a distopian America where one boy and one girl age 12-17 from each district have to go to a battle to the death."  Sounds good, huh?  But it is.  I don't think it's nearly as gory as it sounds, and the strategy and government politics are extremely intriguing.  There is also an innocent love triangle to add to suspense.

Blogger...
"Catching Fire": This was my favorite book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. "Catching Fire" was a great bridge between "Hunger Games" and "Mockingjay". This book was longer than "Hunger Games" and I appreciated the extra detail. We learn much more about our heroes, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, and we meet some fun new characters, including my personal favorite, Finnick O'Dair. Overall, this was a really good book, but be sure you have access to "Mockingjay" right away because there is quite the cliffhanger.

Mockingjay": After reading "Catching Fire" I was a little disappointed with "Mockingjay", the conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy. It's not that "Mockingjay" was a bad book, it just didn't live up to the quality of "Catching Fire". I felt like some of the momentum was lost and the story was a little disjointed. I did enjoy the end of the book though, I just wish Suzanne Collins would have gotten us to that ending a little differently.

Overall, I did enjoy the Hunger Games trilogy. I think it's an appropriate series for teenagers on up. If you like post apocalyptic style stories, give these books a shot. I'd really like to discuss them with someone else who has read them.

Booker...
I liked Cathching Fire and Mockingjay.  I knew Katniss would be in trouble with the government at the end of Book 1, but what happened in Catching Fire took me completely by surprise.  I couldn't believe it!!  I didn't find anything wrong with Mockingjay like Blogger did.  I found it interesting and I feel it flowed very well.

This trilogy is a great read.  There's lots of action and suspense, political intrigue, an innocent love, and hope in the face of catastrophe.  I loved this series! 

2 comments:

  1. I'm curious about these... the first book sounds like it might compare somewhat to the excitement of Battle School in Ender's Game. How do they compare? I'm still debating reading them, and Ender's Game was one of my all-time favorites.

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  2. Good question. I think the second and third book would actually be more similar to Ender's Game because you get into the polictal strategies and manuvering. The first book might be more comparable to a survival of individual/team book like Lord of the Flies. I'd love for you to read them, Nuke, because I'd be very interesting to hear what you think..even to hear some of the your thoughts as you're going through the books. Though Blogger liked them, I defintely liked them more. I guess I didn't mind the romance dilemma in the series, I guess. Thanks for reading our blog.

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