frenchcookie49 reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
13 years later Hunger Games is still relevant
4 stars
Finally read it!
Paperback, 374 pages
English language
Published May 28, 2012 by Scholastic.
The Hunger Games Movie Tie-In Edition
4 stars
(734 reviews)
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 is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead 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 weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
A fun read
4 stars
Engaging read, I enjoyed it quite a lot. It is a fairly basic, and despite all the twists and turns, in the main, a predictable plot. The main character, and others, have a really crappy and sad existence, but because of the style of the book, it doesn't really bring out any depth of feeling in the reader. It reminded me of an anecdote, whether true or not, about the making of the first Star Wars movie in 1977. Apparently, after the heroes were trapped in the trash compactor, Mark Hamill asked why, in the next scene, their hair wasn't wet. Harrison Ford apparently replied, "It ain't that kind of movie kid." Well The Hunger Games "ain't that kind of book", but it's well worth a read.
Jack 💜 reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A delightful revisit! I forgot how good this was. Collins has a real knack for world-building. It’s no wonder that this paved the way for dozens of imitators.
Listened to the audiobook by Carolyn McCormick, who might be one of my favorite narrators out there for her touch of gravitas and vocal range for character voices (that Hamish voice?? Brilliant)
ratfactor reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
As I suspected, this is a real page-turner. Well executed. On to the next one!
govmarley reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games Movie-Tie in-Edition [Paperback] [Nov 10, 2014] SUZANNE COLLINS' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I can't believe I have never reviewed this book. I've seriously read it like 10 times, and I've seen the movie probably 50 times. Let's just say I'm a fan of Katniss and Peeta.
Yes, Peeta. I never got on the Gale train, although he is quite handsome in the movies. But my heart belongs to Katniss and Peeta, the star-crossed lovers from District 12. Since everyone has seen this or read this, I will spare you the synopsis. But here is why I return to the book and movie over and over. Katniss is prickly on the outside, but she is a huge marshmallow inside. She sacrificed herself for her sister, for Peeta, for her district, for Rue, basically anyone but herself. And even though she's pretty selfless, she's still flawed, and I appreciate that. And Peeta. It's apparent that he's always seen her for HER, and has loved …
I can't believe I have never reviewed this book. I've seriously read it like 10 times, and I've seen the movie probably 50 times. Let's just say I'm a fan of Katniss and Peeta.
Yes, Peeta. I never got on the Gale train, although he is quite handsome in the movies. But my heart belongs to Katniss and Peeta, the star-crossed lovers from District 12. Since everyone has seen this or read this, I will spare you the synopsis. But here is why I return to the book and movie over and over. Katniss is prickly on the outside, but she is a huge marshmallow inside. She sacrificed herself for her sister, for Peeta, for her district, for Rue, basically anyone but herself. And even though she's pretty selfless, she's still flawed, and I appreciate that. And Peeta. It's apparent that he's always seen her for HER, and has loved her at a distance. And he is willing to give it all up for her, and that makes me love him all the more. Acts of service is my love language, yo. Peeta is my jam.
Favorite part? The cave. What? I'm a prickly marshmallow, too. Sue me. 4 stars.
Michael Goodine reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'GoodReads'
4 stars
Surprisingly grim for a young adult novel. I guess it is derivative of stuff like "Battle Royale," but I think that is totally okay in a young adult book.
The strength is the early world building which is surprisingly deep for a fairly short novel. The author creates an interesting picture of what appears to be a piece of a broken up United States somewhere in Appalachia. Her depictions of the how the capital works and how the districts are organized are all really compelling. The brief glimpses at the technological level of this society are intriguing, and I would love to see this explored more in the next two books. Hey, I love dystopias, and the author has succeeded in creating an interesting one.
The book can be a bit repetitive, though. There are a few too many scenes of the protagonist being put in costumes, and pretending to …
Surprisingly grim for a young adult novel. I guess it is derivative of stuff like "Battle Royale," but I think that is totally okay in a young adult book.
The strength is the early world building which is surprisingly deep for a fairly short novel. The author creates an interesting picture of what appears to be a piece of a broken up United States somewhere in Appalachia. Her depictions of the how the capital works and how the districts are organized are all really compelling. The brief glimpses at the technological level of this society are intriguing, and I would love to see this explored more in the next two books. Hey, I love dystopias, and the author has succeeded in creating an interesting one.
The book can be a bit repetitive, though. There are a few too many scenes of the protagonist being put in costumes, and pretending to be in love. I suppose that the latter is probably going to drive the plot of the rest of the series, but some of that time could have been used for other stuff.
doug reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games Movie-Tie in-Edition [Paperback] [Nov 10, 2014] SUZANNE COLLINS' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I read this after reading the atrocious Maze Runner, so maybe I think it's better than it actually is. I also saw the movie a few years ago, which I found quite boring and rather forgettable. The book was more interesting and it's surprisingly well written.
windchime reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Equally as compelling as the first book of the trilogy, perhaps even more so thanks to increased familiarity with many of the characters. Once again, I had that 'can't put it down' feeling. On with the final book!
windchime reviewed Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Review of 'Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I was a bit wary of this trilogy because of all the hype. Last time I read a book that had this much hype around it before I read it, it was The Da Vinci Code...
But anyway, I needn't have worried, because this book was GOOD. More than that, it grabbed me and refused to let go until I'd finished reading it - which I did in record time. I hadn't really noticed, but I guess it's been a while since I really had that 'can't put it down' feeling with a new book, even books I've enjoyed. Well, I had it in spades with this.
The setting is interesting and feels original, despite having familiar elements (yes, the concept has elements reminiscent of Battle Royale, but Suzanne Collins takes that concept and runs with it in whole new directions). You get a real sense of a fully-formed world …
I was a bit wary of this trilogy because of all the hype. Last time I read a book that had this much hype around it before I read it, it was The Da Vinci Code...
But anyway, I needn't have worried, because this book was GOOD. More than that, it grabbed me and refused to let go until I'd finished reading it - which I did in record time. I hadn't really noticed, but I guess it's been a while since I really had that 'can't put it down' feeling with a new book, even books I've enjoyed. Well, I had it in spades with this.
The setting is interesting and feels original, despite having familiar elements (yes, the concept has elements reminiscent of Battle Royale, but Suzanne Collins takes that concept and runs with it in whole new directions). You get a real sense of a fully-formed world here. The characters all feel like real people, flaws and all, and the plot takes twists and turns that I didn't see coming, even when I thought I was sure I had it all pegged. There's drama, trauma, and heartbreak galore, but also moments of unexpected (especially given the circumstances) sweetness. The writing is straightforward but engrossing and the pacing is brilliant, continually driving the plot, and the reader, forward. It is, as they say, a real page-turner.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone.
Review of 'The Hunger Games Movie Tie-In Edition' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Another trip into the arena with Katniss and Peeta. I can't help myself. I just love this trilogy. I can't wait for the final movie in a few weeks!
The Gnome King reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Man these books are so addictive. It took me about a 100 pages to get into the book, I don't like katniss or peeta much so I seem to have a little battle to get drawn in. The story is cleverly written again, it really gets you involved, fills you with blood-lust.
I now have one book left to go and I am looking forward to it with how this one ends. And then I can watch the films. Yay!
The Gnome King reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games Movie-Tie in-Edition [Paperback] [Nov 10, 2014] SUZANNE COLLINS' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Well that's the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy finished. Thoroughly enjoyed it, a pretty impressive ride and so much better than the movie, which for some reason I have watched, I've held off watching the next two movies until I have finished the books.
For a while I was impatient for the action to start and for the fighting to get going in the arena, but the way the book is written making the tension build up with boring run-of-mill interviews is very clever, by the time the trumpets sound and the games begin you find yourself on the edge of your seat.
For once one of these books people say "you have to read" is actually really good. yay!
vrtxd reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins by Suzanne Collins
Review of 'The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Having seen the movie before listening to this audiobook, I had to abandon any hopes of comparing my imagination with the film vision. Still, it was an interesting experience that made me think about audiobooks as a medium. The narrator could have whistled Rue's song, they could have had several narrators for all the characters, the book could have music and sound effects – but it didn't, yet it still delivered a rich world. Similarly, paperback books could have photographs, illustrations or varying typography, but they also work without these enrichment techniques. So why is it exactly that the film business keeps insisting a philosophy of "show, don't tell"? Just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should do it. Anyway, this was a good read. Or a good listen?
Pamalama22 reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
this was a really good book. I havent read these type of books before. Im heading onto the next book in the series. really enjoying them so far :)
jellybeyreads reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #1)
Review of 'The Hunger Games' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
First read (in one sitting) on November 22, 2011.
Reread May, 2014.
