Summary: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl 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 steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.- Goodreads
Review: I put off reading this foorrreevveerrr. Mostly because of the hype, I never really thought it would be able to live up to what I was hearing about it. I just thought hearing so much about it before hand would taint my reading it, so I waited. I’m not sure if it was worth waiting or if I was only depriving myself of an obviously fantastic read. Modern dystopia at its best.
The twists and turns were unbelieveable. It’s in the description so I guess this isn’t a spoiler, but when I was first hooked was when Katniss’s sisters name was called for the hunger games. I had just never considered it, and while I knew Katniss was going to be selected, it still managed to throw me for a loop. The whole book is like that, you just don’t see it coming, and it’s brilliant.
The world, a future version of our own is bleak and well imagined. Nothing is easy for the people in the districts, while the people of Capitol get to live the life of luxury, killing children every year for their entertainment. It’s brutal and sickening and a frightening idea of the future of reality TV. Right away, you know that this is a world in desperate need of change and revolution.
The story centers around Katniss Everdeen, a girl from a poor district of coal miners. Katniss has lead a hard life and it shows in every aspect of her personality, but somehow she still manages to come across as likeable, or at least understandable. The people closest to her are also well fleshed out and each play an important role in shaping who Katniss is as the story moves forward. Peeta is likeable right from the get go and you can’t help but love Katniss’s delicate little sister, Prim. A lot of the names are rather odd, but it does help to make Panem seem like a distinct place, different from North America. (Note to future authors: Guys names ending in A are confusing. I was sure Seneca Crane was a woman forever).
This book is well thought out, a non stop adventure, dark and yet, still hopeful. I regret putting off reading it for as long as I have… so if you haven’t picked this one up yet, do yourself a favor and get on that. Definitely a must read.
Rating
Second Opinions
@ Dear Author
@ Walker of Worlds
@ Buzz Sugar
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As per usual, this discussion post contains SPOILERS. I will be posting spoiler free reviews on all the Hunger Games books later on, but for now… I have a bone to pick with how Mockingjay ended… and really, that’s what blogs are for.
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Michael Young was kind enough to answer a few questions about his writing process and his new book ‘The Last Archangel’. Here. We. Go.
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ReaWrite– If you could try any profession (besides a writer), what would you choose?
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