Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book Description:

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

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.

Source: Personal Copy

My Thoughts:

Collins has successfully created a story world like no other, with its continuous suspense and sense of danger. The strictness of the Capitol balances the twelve districts, the same way that the sun is making sure that the planets are obediently revolving around it. Superior technology and surgery for the sake of fashion has never scared me until I read this book. Vanity will always find a way to sustain itself and through the years it has always succeeded. In the Capitol, the intense demand for beauty and the preservation of image has altered people beyond the borders of normality. I found it distracting.

The smoothest plot I’ve read so far. It was so skilfully done. My fingers could feel the strain and the eagerness as the tension escalated with every chapter. We get to see into the lives of the characters. We get to see their faces, their hearts and their pasts. I liked how the Hunger Games made us see the true color of the tributes. It was not just a controlled environment that brought out the savage part, the instinctual part out of the tributes. It also brought out the highest level of potential in every aspect of their beings. The distinct threat of death and harm caused bloodbath, betrayal and entertainment. Aside from this, it also started alliances, friendships and relationships that could or could not be broken by the never-ending strain given by the Gamemakers and demand of the audience.

Katniss, a survivor back in her home, has experienced the worst. Denied of all the luxuries of life, she has learned how to come by, how to live in the most dreadful conditions. In the arena, she has assumed a new character – a girl that will try her best to survive, to be the last one standing, to be able to go home, even if it means getting her hands dirty with blood. She was incredibly wise and efficient. I loved Katniss Everdeen. Another character that I loved was Peeta Mellark, the boy tribute from District 12. He has the face of an innocent, a body of the fortunate and a heart that holds secrets. As of now, I am proudly a part of Team Peeta. It was impossible for me to not like him.

Addicting, heart-pounding and suspenseful, The Hunger Games is surely my favourite dystopian read. This is the next big thing after Twilight. I can imagine how people will go insane for this series once this becomes a movie.

Rating:



2 comments:

  1. my fave dystopian series too, next to the uglies by scott westerfeld ;-D

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  2. I am so happy I managed to get a paperback copy because I just could not wait more to read it. It sounds extremely fantastic! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! :-)

    From CEP

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