The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
Incredible book. I couldn't put it down. My one complaint, it's in first person. Ugh! That really bothers me.
The story is told from the point of view of a teenage girl who lives in District 12. It is a colony surrounded by an electric fence that is rarely electrified. It is a post-apocalyptic society that is ruled by the Capitol. As far as the history, there were 13 colonies who rose up against the Capitol and revolted. The revolution was squashed and the 13th colony obliterated. Every year, the Capitol has the Hunger Games to remind the remaining colonies of the futility of the past revolution and discourage any new ones. The reaping is when the colonies must draw two names, one male and one female between the ages of 12-18, to be sent to the Games. I read the famous short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson when I was in high school and the reaping is much like that. The two who are chosen are sent to the Hunger Games and must fight to the death against the other tributes drawn from the remaining Districts. Basically, twenty-four teens go into the arena and only one can leave alive. The whole thing is televised and every District is required to watch. The Capitol citizens find this yearly event entertaining, while the rest of the Districts brew in disgust and anger as they watch their young men and women slaughter each other.
Questions I would like an answer to and my thoughts about this book:
1. Will Katniss choose Gale or Peeta, her two love interests, or will she push them both away? From what I've read in The Hunger Games and I'm in the middle of the second book, Catching Fire, my opinion is I don't think she will go with either one. She firmly dislikes the idea of having kids and watching them face the same atrocities in the Hunger Games and this will keep her alone.
2. Katniss is the first female character in a long time that I find myself cheering for. (Not like Bella Swan. Read my blog about Twilight. However, she can't make up her mind about two guys, much like Bella.) She isn't helpless. She is masterful with a bow and arrow and could win on her own. There is really no reason for her to team up with anyone for her own survival, but she does because she doesn't want anyone to die.
3. Will the Districts revolt against the Capitol?
Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill one another while we watch-this is the Capitol's way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we would stand of surviving another rebellion. Whatever words they use, the real message is clear. "Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there's nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen."
I absolutely LOVE the Hunger Games! I am in the middle of Mockingjay, so I can't really do much to answer your questions. And a couple of them I don't know, even being in the middle of the third one. But I can say that I want Katniss with Gale so bad I can't stand it. Katniss is the first heroine since Elizabeth Bennett that I have actually cheered for..though she is stupid when it comes to boys.
ReplyDeleteSidenote: There is a movie in the works, set to come out in 2013. I just hope that they find a better Katniss than they did for Bella.
I hope they don't screw it up. I'll be so mad!
ReplyDeleteOk Keri, I finished the first and am in the middle of the second...in 3 days.
ReplyDelete1. I hoped Katniss would end up with Gale, but at the same time I think there is no one better than Peeta, like Haymitch points out.
2. I love her as a lead character. She does hold her own, but is so naive about boys and feelings. I hope by the end there is a revolt and she can choose one boy.
3. Like I said in 2, I hope there is a revolt.