Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Could You Survive the Hunger Games?

Can you imagine living in a future world where everything is different?  Katniss Everdeen and her family live in an area called District 12, one of 12 livable areas in Panem, formally known as the United States.  Food is scarce and life is hard.  Still, Katniss enjoys hunting with her best friend, Gale, and she feels a sense of pride at being able to supply her family with food and a little money from the meat that she sells. Once a year, the annual Hunger Games are held and each district must send in two tributes, a male and female, to participate. Being a tribute may sound fun, but it isn’t! Tributes must get together for a televised game of survival where they fight to stay alive, and there can only be one winner. The tributes are picked by a lottery. The number of times your name is entered varies based on a handful of factors. When Katniss’s younger sister’s name is pulled out, Katniss is shocked and devastated. So, she does the only thing she can to save her sister, she throws herself into the Hunger Games. Does Katniss have what it takes to survive? Will she be able to handle the pressure inside the arena? With so many people fighting to stay alive and win the game, how will she know who she can and cannot trust? You must read this book to find out how everything plays out!
I got The Hunger Games as a gift, but I resisted reading it because the cover didn’t appeal to me and I thought the plot sounded like something I would hate. Boy, was I wrong! I absolutely loved this book and devoured it as soon as I started reading. Suzanne Collins creates a futuristic world with enough elements of our own world that I could easily relate to it, but it was different enough to capture my interest. I think the plot was fast-paced and riveting. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next and even tried to bring it out to dinner with my dad and read it under the table (it didn’t work). The main character, Katniss, is someone I would be friends with because she is strong, brave, and loyal. All important qualities!  I loved trying to imagine what I would do in each situation as I read the book. I think this story will appeal to boys and girls from the ages of 12 up. There is some violence in the book, which is obvious because of the concept of the Hunger Games themselves. I think children as young as fifth grade could enjoy the book, depending on their reading level and if their parents think it is okay. I have read a lot of spooky books, so this book didn’t bother me, but I can see how some kids might get freaked out. The best part- this is just the first in a trilogy! I must say I already finished them all. Once I started- I couldn’t stop until I knew how everything turned out.
Has anyone else read The Hunger Games?  Or read another book by Suzanne Collins? 
Happy Reading! ~L

32 comments:

  1. I honestly would HATE if we were in a position to be in The Hunger Games. I would most likely try to hide underground until I was 18!
    IF put in the position I would do my very best to survive. I would have no other choice.
    I loved the series too.Have you read the other 2 books?
    I got a few cool Hunger Games books to review, one is a book all about the Tributes. The other was a movie tie in, showed scenes of the movie, told about how they created certain things for the movie, etc.
    I am planning on doing a little Hunger Games event before the movie opens in March.
    Have a giveaway of all 3 books in the series or one of the special movie tie ins or something really cool thats Hunger Games related. IDK yet.
    Are you going to the Book Expo in NYC in June?
    Great post. Love stopping by & saying hi :)

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    1. Hi! I have read the series, and think it's amazing. I can relate so well to Katniss. The imagery in the books is absolutely spectacular and so original. I loved all three, but especially Catching Fire. Awesome that you are giving away the books, I will definitely check out your event. Yes! I believe we will be going to the Book Expo in June! Always wonderful to hear from you : ) Thanks for popping over! ~ F

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  2. I could not put this book down! I have my sister, my mother and several of my friends hooked on this series as we speak! I wasn't sure I was going to like it either at first, but considering the fact that I read all three in a week and a half....I think it is safe to say that I was absolutely incorrect! Suzanne Collins did a phenomenal job...and that is an understatement by far. I think I would survive....because I think I am invincible most of the time. I hope to never prove THAT wrong! I am following your blog now! Stop by and check out mine at http://dogearrinit.blogspot.com. It's a baby blog...really new. So any advice is welcome!

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    1. It's such a great story- it has it all: mystery, suspense, action, love- who couldn't love reading it! Thanks so much for stopping by : ) I look forward to the virtual book club that you are starting on your blog ~ F

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  3. I haven't read this yet because the concept freaks me out. I was disturbed by the short story The Lottery and this reminded me of it. Maybe one day when I'm much older and my daughter is grown, I'll be able to read this. But for now, I'll just congratulate the author on such a popular book.

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    1. Kelly- The Lottery freaked me out, too! That made me not want to read this book, but the story is told in such a way that you don't like the society that Katniss lives in, but you like her and are captivated by her story. I resisted reading it for a long time, but it wasn't what I expected. Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller. One day when you read it, I hope you love it. :) ~Stephanie

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  4. I just finished reading The Hunger Games myself and had originally set it aside for the same reason as yourself. But wow did I enjoy it! Now I have my daughter and my mother reading it. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the other two novels as I read all three in five days.

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    1. Hi Beth- Isn't amazing that we thought we wouldn't like The Hunger Games and we both loved it? I enjoyed the whole series and read them within a week. I hope your mom and daughter like the book, too!

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  5. I have resisted reading this book because of the cover and the concept. But after reading the review it sounds really interesting. I'm going to have to check this out! Thanks for another great review!

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    1. Greg- So glad you enjoyed the review! I hope you will like this one- it was so much better than I ever expected. I actually can't believe I resisted it because it is so well written. Sort of how I felt about Harry Potter (I didn't want to read it at first, but then loved it). If you read it- I can't wait to hear your thoughts. ~Stephanie

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  6. Heck to the YES!!! I loved it so much. I only got book one but once I started reading it I couldn't stop. I went to the store immediately and bought book two and three even though I was about 70% into the first one. I seriously hope they do the book justice when the movie comes out.

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    1. Toni- Yay! I can totally relate to not being able to stop reading. I can't wait for the movie- and hope the movie is done well. Fingers crossed. :)

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  7. I’ve picked it up and put it down again a few times because neither the cover, nor the plot appealed to me. But your review makes it sound really interesting, next time I see it, I will definitely buy it.

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    1. Barbara- I can understand why you picked it up and put it down. It is MUCH better than it looks or than the plot sounds! I was so shocked by how great it was!

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  8. I read Hunger Games a while ago and it has since been one of my favorite books ever. I finished reading the series and was a little disappointed with Mockingjay but I got over it because the series was great. The movie looks like it is going to be awesome and I can't wait. Great review! Happy reading! New follower.

    http://thebucketlist-gn.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Gina- Welcome! So nice to have you here. It is now one of my favorite books, too! I think the whole series was great- but I wanted the end of Mockingjay to be a little longer. Can't wait for the movie!

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  9. every child of mine and my husband has read this book....it does not jump up at me and say read me to me.....I just started Uncle Toms Cabin...and no one seems at all interested in that....guess that is why we can't have too many books around!!

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    1. momto8- We definietly need different books for different people. :) Not everyone likes the same books. I can totally understand why this book didn't jump out to you. It was that way for me, too!

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  10. I loved this series, too, and look forward to the movie.

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  11. I've heard so much about this book (is it a series?) last year. It's still sitting on my to-read pile because I have way to many books to catch up on. Nevertheless, I'll read it soon. (It doesn't sound like the kind of story I'd like, too, but so far I haven't heard anything negative on it. That makes me curious ...) :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts on The Hunger Games!

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    1. Hi Claudine- The Hunger Games is the first book in a series of 3. I was so surprised that I loved this book because it didn't sound like my type of book at all. The writing is so great that the story just captivates you! Happy reading- when you get to it I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

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  12. I would like to think I could survive...but I am not sure...I loved these books but if that was my life...I would be totally freaked out...I would want to hug my goat and stay inside!!!

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    1. Patty- I agree- I love the books, but if I had to survive and it was my life I would freak out! I don't think I actually have the skills to survive in the Hunger Games.

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  13. I'm so loving this series! I also avoided reading it mostly because of the cover *cring* I'm so terrible, judging books by their covers..
    But, I also never bothered to even pick it up and read the synopsis, so I ignorantly walked arounds assuming that it was a vampire book, since they were all the rage when this came out.

    I'm glad I finally had some friends hound me to read this. It's amazing! Great review!

    Oh, and I doubt I could survive, I don't like violence :(

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    1. I love this series, too. I am on the last book in the series now. I avoided it because of the cover- just like you. I don't know what I was thinking- I know not to judge a book by its cover (but sometimes I do anyway).

      Thankfully we both have friends that convinced us to read it! The Hunger Games rocks! I am glad you liked the review.

      ~F (Oh- and I do not like violence either.)

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  14. My daughter-in-law just loaned it to me. I haven't started it yet, but I've read book reviews that say it is great. I can't wait to read it.

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    1. Enjoy it, Donn! I can't wait to hear your thoughts when you are done.

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  15. I put off reading the Hunger Games too, but the movie announcement in addition to all the praise of others I knew who had read the series, motivated me to read it. I began with borrowing the first two and then the third but partway through the third I decided to buy the box set. Hunger Games is a fabulous read, action packed, with a love triangle too.

    See my review here: http://shirley-mybookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-hunger-games-by-suzanne.html

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  16. Shirley- I completely agree with! What an amazing series. I love all of it! Thanks for posting the link to your review. I really enjoyed it!

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  17. I hope you did read the other two books in the series as well because it sounds like you enjoyed this one so much! I have read this and I quite liked the first book but the second one is where I really fell in love with the series! It's very gritty and I doubt I would survive the Hunger Games myself DD:

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    1. Olivia- Savannah- I did finish the series, but haven't written my reviews yet. I don't think I would survive the Hunger Games either. :) ~L

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