I re-read this book for the first time in over a decade. The first time I read it, it was because of a required school assignment; the second time, it was because I’ve been watching the films, and decided I ought to revisit the series with a more mature perspective and give the series a fair shake. On my first read, I pretty much hated the book, particularly due to Katniss, so I never bothered with reading the sequels. I don’t think I even ventured beyond the first movie when it was released. All that is to say that I never really had a ‘Hunger Games’ era, so I’m starting it now.

On the re-read, I noticed that some of the same things bothered me as before, so perhaps it wasn’t just my teen self being overly combative or contrarian. For instance, Katniss’s narration is quite questionable; I’ve never been the biggest fan of first-person narratives, but even so, Katniss’s voice is barely convincing. Her thoughts sometimes made me wonder if she actually had brain cells to go along with that immense archery skill. Yet, other times, Katniss reveals to the reader some random bit of lore about Panem that she couldn’t possibly know—and of course, it is framed as something she learned in school, but I don’t buy that Katniss would know or even remember such a thing for a second. She’s off hunting game and struggling to survive, and I’m supposed to believe she’s paying attention in dull history lessons at school?

I did somewhat begrudgingly appreciate the classical references more this time around; I was aware of them on the first read too, but as a teen, my reaction to Collins’s appropriating ancient Roman names and aesthetic was one of derision—it felt diminutive of the originals. Now, as an adult, I am able to appreciate her inspired design for Panem, even if it is a bit overwrought at times. I also made a more conscious connection to the Cretan child sacrifices and other mythological elements. The hints of Collins’s intentions for the narrative and the major themes of the novel did strike me as being more prominent than I remembered; having the benefit of hindsight and age, I can appreciate certain themes and ideas a lot more now.

Yet, going back to the first-person voice, this is a major limitation for the novel—you can only explain so much of your worldbuilding when your only voice is that of a sixteen-year old girl who mainly cares about her family, hunting, and not much else. Being able to see other perspectives, for instance Peeta’s or even Haymitch’s, would’ve added a certain complexity to the narrative and much more detail to the world. We also get compelling backstories and sympathies for the side characters, but Katniss’s sob-backstory doesn’t help me sympathize with her much when she acts uncouth and boisterous. The love triangle angle also seems quite contrived at points.

Aside from all my complaints, it is really fascinating reading perhaps the book that started the YA dystopia craze, even if not for the first time. I have a better understanding of the context before and after this book came out. I also have seen at least three of the four currently released movies, so I have greater insight into and understanding of how Collins organizes the story in anticipation of its eventual end. This time, I’m going to make it through the series so that I can read the prequel, and I feel that this experience will give me the cohesion I need from this series. I really ought to give it credit though—silly love triangle shenanigans and odd narrative voice aside, The Hunger Games falls into that rare category of YA dystopian books that not only takes its message seriously, but is even still quite relevant.