Monday, April 16, 2012

Book Club Mondays: The Hunger Games


Okay, I did it. I kept hearing about it, and hearing about it, and hearing about it, and I finally decided to see what all the fuss with The Hunger Games was about, since hearing all about the movie's upcoming release. I was absolutely not disappointed.

I was enticed by the promise of a story, that, for once, featured a strong woman. No sparkly vampires or emotional abuse in teenage relationships, just the story of a young girl forced to make difficult decisions by the world around her.

Katniss Everdeen is a talented hunter and archer, and is forced into competing in the yearly Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a fight to the death between two tributes (one boy, one girl) from each district in futuristic Panem, with Katniss coming from District 12 (of 12 total districts). When the name of Katniss' younger sister, Primrose, is pulled at The Reaping, it does not take long for Katniss to volunteer herself as tribute so her sister does not need to feel the carnage that is The Games. Along with baker's son Peeta Mellark, the two go into the arena for the 74th Annual Hunger Games. The cast of characters surrounding them (eccentric emcee Effie Trinket, mentor Haymitch Abernathy and stylist Cinna, to name a few) bring a certain humanity to the story that I'm not certain would have been there without them.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me just say that if you've been thinking whatsoever about checking out either the books or the film - definitely do it. The Hunger Games is definitely worth your time - I started Catching Fire as soon as I could after finishing it!

2 comments:

Cosmia, Inflammatory Knit said...

I just finished reading the trilogy! I'm glad I read the book before seeing the movie. I enjoyed them all but I did find the third dragged a little.

Unknown said...

I figured the only one that was important to read before seeing the movie was (obviously) the first one. I'm about midway through Catching Fire right now, and just wish I could find the time to finish it up since I have so many other things to read coming up!

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