The Hunger Games Trilogy
Ratings4
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings4
Average rating4.5
The Hunger Games takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as 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 between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are forced to participate in The Hunger Games, a televised event where the participants, or 'tributes', must fight to the death in a large outdoor arena until only one remains. The story follows fatherless 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the Games in place of her younger sister, Prim.
Reviews with the most likes.
After a long, slow start, The Hunger Games really pays off. I had some niggling issues with the oversimplification of the various districts, though the big creepy thing that happen at the end of the book show that the tech sophistication is high enough to force an unnatural focus onto the districts. I really liked the strength of the various characterizations.
I can't say this without some story specific spoilers, so... forewarned.
I didn't like the pretend love triangle angle to the story. When one of the boys is first introduced, it seemed pretty clear to me that he was in the big brother role. Either Kat displayed no romantic feelings toward Gale or I just completely missed it. Either way, I feel like story of Kat and Gale is boring and that Kat and Peeta make a much more interesting and emotionally charged story. I mean that in the sense that, if these characters were actual real life people, I expect that the two hunters would fall together naturally. They are already too compatible to push each other to new levels of growth, while Peeta is SO different from Kat, his source of strength comes from a totally different font, that the two of them would really be intense.
One last thing, and I'm not sure if this is a good thing, a bad thing, or just a thing. When I finished the book, I was done. I'm not left with a feeling of itching longing to find out what happens next to Kat. The story is done and I am satisfied. I don't know if I am ever going to make the effort to continue the rest of the trilogy because I am all set. That can't be a good thing for the first book, right?
