Title: The Hunger GamesAuthor: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 14, 2008
Genre: YA/Dystopian/Sci-Fi
Source: Easons
Amazon Easons
In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.
- Goodreads
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.
- Goodreads
Hey guys!
I wasn't exactly sure of what to write about for today's post, so I remembered 'when in doubt, talk about The Hunger Games'.. that is a thing right? Well it is now! Haha
'The Hunger Games', personally, was an introduction into the world of Young Adult Dystopia, and man, what an introduction it was!
The book begins on the day of the 'reaping', the day after which, the lives of two young people from each district, will change. Collins wastes no time with unnecessary introduction, immediately throwing reader into the world of Panem. If the opening to this book wasn't engaging, then I've lost definition of the word, because, even from the start, I was enthralled by the story, the concept on offer.
Katniss describes the reaping and subsequently, the shameful event, that is the actual hunger games, and from the beginning, we feel the need to read on and quench our curiosity.
Characterisation was definitely big in this book. Protagonist, Katniss, is clearly a very well-developed individual, and the accumulating layers to her personality is even clearer, what with her assuming the leadership role after her Father's death, her frequent hunting trips with Gale in the forest, her selflessly volunteering to participate in the games, in place of her little sister, Prim, and the list is endless.
Suzanne Collins triumphs in her constructing a very likable and admirable main character, and as a result, empathising with Katniss after all she goes through in the course of the book, is made so much easier. I don't think I have to explain the fact that, were Katniss not an appealing character, most readers wouldn't have praised her taking care of Prim, wouldn't have sympathised when she lost Rue, nor would they have cared whether she won the games altogether. And that is why Collins' success in good characterisation was essential, to say the least.
Others such as Peeta, the boy with the bread, Gale, and Haymitch were also well fleshed out.
The world of Panem, second to the wizarding world of 'Harry Potter', is perhaps my favourite, in terms of intricate descriptions. The job of a dystopian author, or even just an author who creates another world, is to make it believable. We, as the readers, are well aware of the world's credibility, but still must be made think that the existence of said world is believable.
Details such as each district's industry, to the Capitol's zany fashion sense, to the electric current running the length of barbed wires around district 12, is the sort of thing that makes Panem so amazing. So believable.
Finally, I want to commend Collins on her unique writing style! Never before, had I finished a series of books, as fast as I did this one. The pace of the story is just perfect! Also, embedded cleverly into the story, with the use of the author's unique writing style, are various, very significant themes, but I won't go too into those, because it would take me a while to put into words, what I think about them.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. My high expectations were met, and even surpassed!
See you guys tomorrow with Day 22!
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