Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The first book of The Hunger Games trilogy is set to become a film in 2012, so perhaps I’m late to the party. Nevertheless, I have just read The Hunger Games for the first time, and I am (if you’ll excuse the pun) hungry for more.

I have not yet read the second and third book of the series — I most definitely want to, but for now my efforts must be aimed at the autobiographies of my non-fiction class, and the remaining novels in my unit of Children’s Literature; The Hunger Games shall be my reward after a long semester of study! — but the first book was sufficient in drawing me head-first into the story.

The books are set in a futuristic, dystopian society where, every year, a contest is held in which a boy and a girl from each of the Twelve Districts must fight to the death; there can be only one survivor. Grim, certainly; but the story has a consistent tone of tension, drama and action. Though the term may be clichéd, The Hunger Games is a page-turner.

The series is aimed at young adults, and so, as one might expect, amongst the violence and suspense is a love story. Katniss volunteers to be one of the ‘tributes’ for the Games, to go in the place of her twelve year-old sister. Alongside her is Peeta, whom Katniss knew only as ‘the boy with the bread’ — a child who offered her food when she and her family were starving. As she and Peeta prepare to depart for the Capitol, where the Games are held, Katniss must farewell her trusted friend and hunting partner, Gale. As you can see, Suzanne Collins has all the right ingredients for a delicious love triangle.

I’ve yet to read on, but I am anxious to see how this story ends — and if that isn’t the mark of a good story, I don’t know what is!

- Love The Bad Guy

DAY 28: Last Book You Read

I’ve been trying to lessen my current mountain of unread books during the holidays; after all, once I get back into the swing of uni, it is difficult to find the time to curl up with a good book and simply read, you know? (“The horror!”, indeed.) Instead of reading what I want to read, I find myself scrolling through e-reserves and flipping through text-books. I must also read the prescribed texts for my English classes, but those can be hit-and-miss; will they be good books, or won’t they? (This semester, I’m taking a Children’s Literature and Fantasy course, so the books should be rather pleasant! Hooray!)

My point is, dear reader, that with all the books I’ve been reading… I actually can’t remember what the last book was. They’ve all blurred together so much that it’s like I read all of them at the same time (…wish I could do that. That’d be sweeeeet!).

But I think the last book I read was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I’ve been trying to broaden my knowledge of “the classics” during the last few months, and seeing as I loved watching Muppet Treasure Island as a child, I figured I’d give Stevenson’s novel a whirl.

And you know what?

…I think the Muppets did it better. Sorry, Robbo, but they did. Case in point:

- Love The Bad Guy

DAY 27: Favourite Fiction Book

Do you ever have deja vu? Because I can’t help but feel that I’ve already answered questions about my favourite fiction book. After all, there was “My Favourite Book” and “My Favourite Young Adult Book” and the “Book By My Favourite Author“… I shan’t complain though, as it allows me to showcase more than one of my favourites (honestly, who has only one favourite book?!).

So today, my answer is Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore.

 

This series (which is soon to be followed by a third book, Bitterblue) is set in an incredible world where gracelings — people gifted with ‘grace’ or a special ability of some sort — fight for survival amongst corrupt humans and those who use their gifts for evil. Graceling follows this universe with a story of adventure, fantasy and romance. Fire, it sequel/prequel, explores an area beyond an impossible mountain range mentioned briefly in the first book, where Monsters roam the earth. Monsters are brilliantly coloured versions of regular animals, but have the ability to captivate and seduce others. Fire is a rare and beautiful human-Monster, who must try and prove to the world that her species does not define who she is.

Lovers of fantasy (Ooh! Ooh! I’m a lover of fantasy! Me! Me!) will surely adore these books as much as I did.

Now, if only she’d hurry up with that third book…

- Love The Bad Guy