==== ==== Get The Hunger Games Trilogy here : http://vurl.bz/Hollis/The-Hunger-Games-Trilogy/ ==== ==== The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins One of those books that was originally written for a Young Adult audience but crossed over into the waiting hands of adults. There is something so powerful about a well told story that transcends the intended age group and draws in readers of all ages. It has often been said that some of the best books for adults are found between the covers of young adult fiction. And so it proved with The Hunger Games. Released in 2008, the first book in an eventual trilogy was so beautifully written that it garnered praise from all corners of the literary globe. Critics, fellow authors and readers were taken by the journey of Katniss Evergreen and her role as a sacrificial warrior, manipulated by the state to perform in brutal gladiatorial style games between children that could have only one victor. Collins managed to infuse this brutal dystopian future with moments of pure beauty that rival any in modern fiction. Written in first person, readers journeyed with Katniss as she is chosen, prepares for battle before the eyes of a viewing nation, sees the larger hands at work and finally realises her place in the world as she begins to fight for her life against other children bent on their own survival in the arena. Despite a rather inconclusive ending that placed The Hunger Games as only a small part of a larger story arc, the book was embraced. The second book, Catching Fire, continued the story but invariably added little to Katniss' story as the setting again became the arena and survival the goal. Mockingjay, the final book of the trilogy was released in August 2010 and for many was an unsatisfying conclusion to what could have been a truly memorable series. Collins places Katniss again in the hands of others and much of the story is told as she is manipulated into different situations and reacts accordingly. The Hunger Games remains a book full of beauty and horror and a story that is worth telling. For the other two books in the series they are great lessons on writing and how to give your character focus amongst the events of plot.
I will be honest. I came across this book on many review blogs but I never gave it any thought. The cover did not attract me and I could barely understand the plot. However with time there was a huge buzz surrounding this trilogy. And so I decided to give the book a try. And am I glad I did!?! I loved The Hunger Games. This is one of those books that reached great heights of popularity and is extremely different from other books out there. The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future. It is written wonderfully well
and has a killer plot. How do you think the world will be in a century or so? Suzanne Collins has portrayed a very accurate if brutal view of what she thinks America will be in the future. The rich have grown richer. Poor have grown poorer. And reality TV Show has taken over the form of entertainment. Suzanne Collins also seems to be inspired by Greek Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur and the Iraq War. The post-apocalyptic world she has created with Panem is rich and exciting. It's amazing how different life in the Capitol is from life in the various districts. Now The Hunger Games are a little like Survivor except the contestants ( here Tributes) must kill each other off instead of being voted off. The Game is brutal and savage and yet extremely addicting. I loved each part of the game and how it was detailed.The protagonist even carried out a fake relationship to attract sponsors. The protagonist sixteen-year old Katniss Everdeen is startlingly different from other female protagonists in young adult fiction. She is calculating and shrewd. She is strong and independent and far from the damsel in distress. She kills and barely feels the remorse. I was shocked by her at times and yet I could not have loved her more. The supporting characters were interesting and well developed. I am especially in love with Peeta Mellark who also goes to The Hunger Games with Katniss. There is some romance there. For those worried about the violence I must say this book does not have that much of gore and there was nothing shocking there. ( But then again I love Dexter so maybe I am just underestimating it ). It's one of the best books I have ever read and I recommend it highly to everyone. One thing about waiting too long to read a book so deliriously talked about by most people is that you get to read more about the reviews and how everyone is raving about it, and so you set your expectations much too high. Catching Fire is the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy, and almost 6 months after I read the first book, I get to read the sequel. I voluntarily restrained myself (with much effort, of course) from buying the last two books because of a self-imposed book challenge (where I'm miserably failing, as of the moment) I set at the beginning of the year. Catching Fire begins with Katniss Everdeen back at District 12 preparing for the Victory Tour. Now and then, she sneaks into the woods and meets up with her bestfriend Gale as she usually did before the Games. Katniss is beginning to finally enjoy her victory from the Games - a new and much comfortable house, plenty of food on the table, and an opportunity to help some of her neighbors. But things are starting to change in her District - the activation of the electric fence surrounding the District, the appointment of a new Head Peacemaker, the demolition of the hob. Katniss then gets a visit from President Snow himself, who directly threatened her if she does not act according to the wishes of the Capitol. Rumors of uprising in the surrounding districts are heard and Katniss is caught in the midst of a rebellion she has not planned to get involved in. So, as I've said, before I got to read Catching Fire, I already have high expectations about it. Who will not, when almost all ratings I see in Goodreads are 5 stars. Sad to say, though, I do not share the same elation. Catching Fire does not have the same fast-paced action and suspense as The Hunger Games. I find the first half of the book dragging and boring, and this is where I start to get annoyed with Katniss. She just cannot make up her mind. Though, I must concede, she's been through a lot, not
to discount the fact that she has been through near-death experiences in the Games. Still, a 17year old can make decisions for herself, right? Like when she decided to take the place of Prim during the reaping, or when she decided to eat those berries towards the end of the Games. Why then can't she make up her mind what she feels towards Peeta? Or to Gale? Then again, that really happens. Being torn between two lovers. Haha. But still, I expect a wiser and more determined Katniss, after all that she went through while she was fighting for her life at the arena. And all that kissing. I may be a little prudish here, but a 17 year-old girl who goes about kissing a guy she says she does not have any romantic feelings for, is for me, a little overboard. Katniss may have been doing it for the cameras, but I think Suzanne Collins here is trying to force the romance angle for more publicity. If I can divide and rate the book in two parts, I give 2 stars to the first part - before the Quarter Quell, and 4 stars to the second part - the Quarter Quell itself. I love the genius idea of a game that simulates a clock. I love the action and the suspense and how you cannot know who are the enemies and who are the allies. There are characters too from the first book that I have grown more fond of like Cinna and Haymitch and President Snow. I love that President Snow has more appearances here than in the first book. His character is very interesting. Catching Fire, despite its seemingly stagnant pace, gives a lot of promise. It provides just the right amount of suspense - teasers - to urge me to immediately read the last book in the trilogy. I am willing to overlook the apparent (and probably, intended) lull in the pace of the story and find out whether Suzanne Collins can actually deliver the perfect conclusion to this amazing saga.
Mockingjay is the third and final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy, following Hunger Games and Catching Fire. If you haven't read these books, I would highly recommend them. They aren't uplifting, humorous, or light but a good read still. At the beginning of Mockingjay, Katniss is in the hands of the rebels in District 13 while Peeta is in the hands of the Capital and President Snow. The rebels want Katniss to be their symbol of hope, their "leader" in a propaganda sort of way. When people see her, they will want to fight. Wherever Katniss goes, a TV crew is right along her side, and they are able to infiltrate the Capital's system and show her on TV around the different districts & capital, hoping to stir up the rebellion. What I like about Katniss's character is she isn't a good actress - but what she does is because of her own decisions, and instincts. She is a fighter, she feels sorrow & pain, and she feels confusion. The Capital brings Peeta on the TV, begging Katniss & the rebels not to start a war - that too many people will be killed and no one will be left. He begs her to stop, but Katniss does what she feels is right. War is inevitable - the Districts are tired of being under the control of the Capital, but is the new rebellion government what they need? The story itself is rather dark and dreary - it is a war book. People die, you get frustrated with the rebels, you are enlightened about other Hunger Game victims, and confused by what is right. Katniss isn't the perfect character, but what human is? Do things get resolved in this book? Yes. Is it a happily-ever-after book? No. How could it be? Katniss has experienced having to kill people, having her friends killed, the Capital poisoning the minds of her friends, toying with her mind, the loss of her home, etc? What kind of person would you be after experiencing all that?
This series is depressing, but engaging. I couldn't put down any of the books, and am relieved that the series is finished. No more waiting!
==== ==== Get The Hunger Games Trilogy here : http://vurl.bz/Hollis/The-Hunger-Games-Trilogy/ ==== ====