Product ReviewsThe Hunger Games Ser.: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008, Compact Disc, Unabridged edition)

READ the Hunger Games! Very unique

OMG READ THIS!

I picked it up when I found out it is currently Stephenie Meyer's (author of "Twilight" series) favorite read. (She loved it so much she reccomends it to complete strangers while out shopping...)

It is written in first-person present-tense (which at first I found weird reading) from the point of veiw of a 16-year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen who takes care of her mother and 12-year-old sister after their father dies in a mine explosion. When her 12-year-old sister gets chosen in a lottery to participate in the Hunger Games (a "Survivor" to the death) Katniss volunteers to take her place. The book them follows her preperation for the games and her fight for survival once the games begin. At one point durring interviews before the games Katniss learns the boy from her district that was also chosen to participate is in love with her. That knowledge adds a dynamic to the games that has never been known in their world, knowing that their will only be one winner.

Reading "The Hunger Games" was kind of like watching a season of a twisted version of "Survivor" where the opponents aren't voted out, but killed. Twenty-four kids (aged 12-18), one wide open space filled with booby-traps and wild animals, one winner. Luckily it wasn't overly gory. The deaths are mentioned, but only 2-4 are really slighly detailed. The story has moments of hard truths and raw emotions that actually brought tears to my eyes on a number of occasions. Overall I would reccomend this book to a LOT of people.Read full review...

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games takes place in a future time period after the destruction of North America, in Panem. Panem consists of a rich Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl from each district are selected by lottery and forced to participate in The Hunger Games, a televised event where the participants must fight to the death in a dangerous outdoor arena until only one remains. The story follows fatherless 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th Games in place of her younger sister, Prim. Also participating from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a boy whom Katniss knows from school and who once saved Katniss's life by giving her bread when her family was starving.

Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol, where they meet the other tributes and are publicly displayed to the Capitol audience. During this time, Peeta reveals on-air his long-time unrequited love for Katniss. Katniss believes this to be a ploy to gain audience support for the Games, which can be crucial for survival, as audience members are permitted to send gifts to favored tributes during the Games. The Games begin with 11 of the 24 tributes dying in the first day, while Katniss relies on her well-practiced hunting and outdoors skills to survive. As the Games continue, the tribute death toll increases, but both Katniss and Peeta are able to evade death.

Supposedly due to Katniss and Peeta's beloved image to the audience as "star-crossed lovers", a rule change is announced midway through the Games, stating that two tributes from the same district can win the Hunger Games as a pair. Upon hearing this, Katniss searches for Peeta and finds him wounded. She nurses him back to health and acts the part of a young girl falling in love to gain more favor with the audience and, consequently, gifts from her sponsors. When the couple manages to outlast all the other tributes the Gamemakers suddenly reverse the rule change and try to force them into a dramatic finale where one must kill the other to win. Instead, they both threaten suicide and are subsequently both declared winners.

Though she survives the ordeal in the arena and is treated to a hero's welcome in the Capitol, Katniss worries that she has now become a political target after having defied her society's authoritarian leaders so publicly. Her on-screen romance with Peeta also comes to a halt when he is heartbroken to learn that their relationship was at least partially a calculated ploy to garner sympathy from the audience, although Katniss herself remains unsure of her own feelings.Read full review...

Not Bad, Not Great – Overtly Simple, Yet Creative and Suspenseful.

DUNNO HOW THIS REVIEW GOT ATTACHED TO THE CD LISTING - BUT I READ THE BOOK...

Anyway, had never heard of this series/author before all the recent movie hype. Nonetheless, I wanted to explore the book(s) first, before seeing the movie.

This review is not intended to be a spoiler – I will try to generalize, but may give away a bit of the plot through my comments, so be warned.

First of all, let me say that this book is not complicated - no overt sexual overtones, explicitly graphic details, extensive literary vocabulary, or complex descriptions/adjectives – unfortunately.

With that being said, I found this characteristic to be somewhat disappointing. I wasn’t expecting Anne Rice or Charles Dickens, but was hoping for more – more romance, passion, evil, action – more details, more description, more situational and character development...

Even the main character, Katniss, is somewhat drab, dull, and boring – never concerned with her appearance, self-conscious/low self-esteem, and a tomboy to boot – with no mention of any cognizant sexual libido (I know she is a teenager, but really?). She never mentions any physical attraction to any member of the opposite sex, or development of sexual attraction – period.

Also, throughout the book, the character development, relationships between characters is often underdeveloped, awkward, and confusing. Most of Katniss’s relationships with others exclusively reside in her “head,” and are underexplored, unresolved, and undefined. Thus, based on the limited dialogue between her and others, I often found myself questioning why her sentiments or actual connections surrounding characters were important, or even valid.

In addition, some of Katniss’s own thoughts/statements often seemed contradicting to the storyline and her relationships unbelievable – e.g., why should she be concerned with Gale’s opinion of her - a person she loves like a brother? Why does she trust Cinna so much – one of Captial’s own citizens, that she despises/hates? Why, after being told to be herself, did Katniss make a bizarre remark about loving her dress during the interview, and spin? – she had never been appreciative of beauty (or her looks for that matter) before…

So, although reading a book written from a first person viewpoint can be interesting, it is also very limiting – the reader knows nothing of the thoughts of others, and therefore has to constantly guess/speculate at the purported relationships.

At any rate, the book is somewhat fun, interesting, and had some poignant/altruistic themes, e.g. – the underdog, government, life/death, romance, coming of age, friendship, integrity, courage, love, etc. Also, the author had some very suspenseful moments, and creative situations/resolutions to problems, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

What I found kind of ironic was the dichotomy of emotions I felt after reading the book. I despised the sadistic methodologies of the Captial, yet intrigued to vicariously experience the events of the games themselves, as any despicable Capital spectator would… hehe.

Indeed, this is definitely not a challenging book to read, probably geared for middle-school age. Don’t expect to be too shocked, scared, or enthralled – but do expect some creative situations/resolutions, a tiny bit of romance, some suspense, and some positive underlying themes. Check out “Battle Circle” by Piers Anthony instead (at least he is provocative).Read full review...

The Hunger Games

I bought this for my Wife who bought the paper back and has almost worn it out. She wanted the hard back to go with the other two hardcover books in the series. She loves the book and has saw the movie twice and our daughter got the movie on DVD for her on her birthday. According to her, our daughter and son-in-law the book is great. They highly recommend the book. I can't truly recommend the book since I have not read it. I did see the movie and thought it a little far fetched but all in all it was an exellent movie to see. Except for the killing of children for sport it was a nice clean film no foul language and even the killing of the children was not gross. I think the wife like the book a little better than the movie even with all the great actor in it Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic as well as Woody Harrelson etc.Read full review...

Better than the movies!

Wow this is a great story even though I’ve seen the movies the book is better. The narrator is great, Carolyn McCormick is an actress that I instantly recognized when she began reading and I think she does a great job with The Hunger Games. This will be a keeper audio book for me! Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: elitetoysandgames

Great book

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: sugarbelle83

Love the book!

Love the book! Engaging story, ends at a spot that has you wanting to read the second one. My sister had me read her copy a couple years ago. After buying the next two books in the series so I could finish the whole story, I had to have the first book to reread before the movie came out and have the complete series.Read full review...

Excellent book!

I love being able to have a good book read to me while I’m traveling

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

Couldn't Put It Down...

Suzanne Collins is a fabulous, creative writer who drags you into the story and then leaves you there to fend for yourself. I actually think I stopped breathing a few times.

The story was intense and excititing. This book was written for a teenager audience but its a great read for any age. It does tend to be a little on the violent side but definately intriguing. I couldn't put it down. I can hardly wait for book 2 "Catching Fire" due out 9/01/09.

Definately a "must read"!Read full review...

Bottom Line, Good for all ages.

I'll start with, "believe the hype". The book is good.

-Good-

-Very likeable characters
-Great story
-The setting is interesting
-Thought full, every piece is placed for a reason

-Bad-

-Has a few jarring plot flaws, but the flaws are only so jarring because the book is SO well written. When things are out of character or points are out of place, its huge. Which is just a testament to how greatly written it is.

-The text is kind of big.

-Verdict-

This is a great book for all ages. Well written and believable.Read full review...