BR - The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins




Pub. Date: October 2008 Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Format: Hardcover, 374pp 
Age Range: Young Adult Source: Library
  
Rating;     


My Thoughts -  Katniss  faces things that we as human beings couldn't even comprehend, ever since the death of her father she’s took it upon herself to look after her ill - helpless mother and her younger sister prim.

They are literally fighting for survival. She has one person in her life that she can turn to who understands her, Gale. Facing the same harshness that is reality they find a comfort and a safe haven beside each other as they understand what the other is going through. However Reaping day is coming nearby. For most it is the most horrific and dreaded day that is held once a year, for the fighters and those who crave blood it is welcomed. Reaping day selects two people from the twelve districts to enter in just that... a game, a deadly game that one will survive. As they say; the motto is survival of the fittest.

You have scarce help as any weapons, food etc is spread all over the arena and from the word go the battle begins, although this is a young adult book I don't think I was prepared for the Hunger games. I remember when I first finished reading it, I was in such awe that I couldn't quite believe I had stumbled across such a treasure.

 I did not give this book a near perfect rating without reason. Katniss is street smart as can be as she has lived in hunger all her life, and has done everything in her power to keep her family alive. The author does not hold back when it comes to detail, you will see things through her eyes that are horrifying and those that stay with you after you have finished the book. It makes you think, is it really so hard to create such a world if the government wishes? I don't really think so. Could we really turn on each other so quickly and be so eager to kill if the day came? I don't doubt that either, people will do anything to survive, it is human nature, this book shows just that In its rawest form.  

When the dreaded day arrives and her younger sister prim is chosen, without doubt Katniss chooses herself instead.

You really connect with the characters even those that aren't so good because you realise they are all after the same thing may it be freedom, or money. They are all in the same position, they are all starving and they are doing this to feed their families. Some who enter are friends and that doesn't even seem to matter in the end because only one person gets to live, so friends or not you still have to kill each other. At times it’s heartbreaking to see the pain and their suffering.

At times I hated that such a game existed, how people bought into it and accepted the manipulation through the games.

Through the games Katniss will meet Peeta sealing her fate. You now have the team Peeta and team Gale thing going on. I think they both have their flaws and strengths; Gale represents her past, the one who knows her inside out, he is also her best friend, and then you have Peeta - the present. The person who is facing The Hunger Games with her. How can she ignore a person who is going through such a experience alongside her? It’s not exaggerating to say that person becomes a part of your life, because only Peeta understands and him alone what she is going through in the games. Although I prefer Peeta to Gale I'm not really team either. 

I think they are both manipulated by Katniss which I wasn't so happy about. Instead of focusing on Katniss who seemed the only one in this situation with some sense they should have been paying more attention on keeping their families alive. How much time do you really have for a girl when you are literally struggling for a simple piece of bread? I also felt Katniss strung them along and took advantage of them which was just wrong, but then again it was both of the boys fault for falling into it blindly, so no, I am  not “team “ of either because they simply don't deserve it.

The ending leaves a lot left for sequel which was fantastic. With The Hunger Games I found a female MC who I could actually admire, and look up to, which is rare nowadays. She is not your typical girl who is feeling sorry for herself, or moping at every given situation. She’s tough, determined, caring and ruthless mixed into one. Basically the girl in all her badass self is a force to be reckoned with. I have a feeling  after reading this book that  we have stumbled across some very special and unique. I certainly look forward to more from the author!



"You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope." 

Posted by Blueicegal ♥ at 02:24
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