Snowee
l says
I think
it's about time we review Hunger Games
Or well
past the time, but let's do it anyway.
Let's
begin with the disclaimer; we spoil everything so don't come crying to us if
you read something you didn't want to know.
Scottie
B says
Yes, agreed it is about time.
So basically we have a story that has a character
that is placed in an extreme situation and it tells us how she deals with life.
Book One! Hunger Games: It starts with Katniss
Everdeen explaining her story; this book is written from the perspective of the
main character. It starts with how the world has become separated into
districts, why they were separated, and that each year they hold the Hunger
Games. This happens to be a sport where they take two teens from each of the 12
districts and pits them against each other in a battle to the death. Maybe you
can see where this is going...
Snowee
l says
We
noticed immediately that it was a little like taking the short story 'The
Lottery' and the reality TV show 'Survivor' rolled up into some pop-culture
plot. The well-written segments were,
imo, mediocre and the rest of it was less than that. What did you think?
Scottie
B says
Overall I did enjoy the first book of the series.
Agree that the story was definitely reality TV esque, and had similarities to
the short story The Most Dangerous Game also. While I enjoyed reading the book
I still had some problems with the story though. I also had to keep reminding
my self that this is a book written for a younger audience.
Snowee
l says
It was numbingly
predictable. We both discussed
that. I'm afraid I've forgotten some of
the details of my complaints at the time which is making me reflect that the
book might not have been all that bad, but I didn't like it. I read from such a critical view of writing
(where I believe most people can enjoy the plot despite that) it ruins a lot of
authors for me.
It felt
a bit choppy throughout, like a conglomeration of scenes rather than an
examination of cause and effect.
Scottie
B says
I agree that it was predictable. The first being
that Katniss would survive. It was hard to really think that she was in danger
throughout the book/series since they were all from her voice.
The fact also that Peeta was going to survive with
her was blatantly foreshadowed as early as the train scene when they were first
leaving for the games.
Snowee
l says
It
doesn't bother me quite as much when a book is written from first person
perspective, but in this case, yes, it takes out the question of survival right
up front. It could have been a more
intense ending if we could not be sure.
I agree
we know Peeta lives then, but I also knew pretty quickly while they were in the
city how it would happen. It wasn't just
the predictable outcome, it was being able to see how it would happen so that I
kept asking myself why I kept reading.
Scottie
B says
You know as well that I am not a fan of the first
person story, but have been getting over that hang up recently. This book
proved to me why I originally thought first person was a bad idea.
Snowee
l says
You
read a lot of fantasy which is often heavy on the action/peril storylines so
that makes sense.
I've
written both and read both so for me, it's a decision of how to tell the story
better. In this case, third narrative
might have been better. I can agree.
Scottie
B says
The other problem was the author, imo, trapped
herself with this style. I felt that there were several points in the story
where I could felt like I could see that she wrote the story in third person
and then went "wait" I am in first person here and now I have to make
it work.
Snowee
l says
Poor
choice on her part. It might have made
it more engaging in many sequences. I
tend to focus on the climax which, it turned out, felt brief and anti-climactic
because I expected the final battle to be so much more.
Scottie
B says
That is true. So basic problems that I had as we discussed
already predictability. Here are the others that I had. It wasn't really
explained why it was kids that had to fight and seriously after 74 years of
this happening no one rebelled sooner? Me as a parent, I would die trying to
protect my kid.
Snowee
l says
I
realize they were supposed to be a sacrifice or punishment for previous
uprising, but humans have shown that they do not care about self preservation
on this level. They will rise up in
groups and fight a war if they have to.
Humans love a good war.
Scottie
B says
No they don't. Heck the news just recently - oooh I
am going to make a commercial and I am going to stand up to and I am going to
do this and that. All over some guy in Africa making kids into killers. Nope we
don't just sit around. We like war and trying to prove our supremacy.
So what I really guess that it is (and I am
treading as lightly as I can), but Germany in WWII had the concentration camps
and while this is a shadow of a situation comparatively people didn't just
stand by and let it happen. Basic humanity just doesn't allow for situations to
occur that long.
Snowee
l says
Should
we just tack the movie bit in here, too?
I mean,
I have little to say except the movie was vaguely more enjoyable and J *loved*
it.
And the
ending seemed better, but they took out the dogs being mutations of the people
which was a HUGE point.
One of
the few things I liked (from a dramatic point)
Scottie
B says
I liked that too, only because it told a point of
where humanity can be completely deranged. I did enjoy the movie too, but it explained
less of the why and really didn't explain why people had their name in the
lottery more than once.
Which was a big thing too.
Snowee
l says
As a
whole, then, this franchise brought up some distaste in the mouths of (mainly)
mothers. I consistently heard people who
didn't like it because it was horrible to think of kids doing this to each
other.
That
had nothing to do with my complaints seeing as how more adults ready YA fiction
than actually young adults, it feels like so maybe it was always for adults
under the guise of YA fiction just because the main character is a teen.
That's
how they decide where a book fits in, you know.
Scottie
B says
true
Snowee
l says
And
these same people would encourage the same kids to read Lord of the Flies if it
was assigned for school.
Without
this becoming a Lord of the Flies discussion, I don't see Hunger Games as any
more distasteful.
Scottie
B says
Neither do I.
There are plenty of other YA fiction that puts kids
into horrible circumstances and no one bats and eye. I mean Harry Potter wasn't
all roses and jelly beans, but it was wonderful! And, no, this will not be a
Harry Potter discussion. Anyone who knows me knows where I stand there.
Snowee
l says
I won't
even read that, but it's pulling teeth to get me to read YA. The fact I've read any shows I've come a long
way. The last YA I read before this
recent upsurge was when I was 12. I have
little taste for kids their ridiculous problems.
Scottie
B says
Where I have been reading more YA fantasy because
they move faster than some of the Adult fantasy out there. Maybe because the YA
moves you through story and they don't tend to bog you down with extraneous
description. Although I think that Hunger Games could have use more thought out
descriptions and been told from a third person point of view.
Snowee
l says
Yes,
definitely. We need to stop agreeing so
much...
Overall
recommendation. Read? Watch movie? Or you are not missing anything
special?
Scottie
B says
If you are thinking of reading and enjoy YA fiction
then read it, but just stop with the first book. That imo is really the only
one worth the read. If you want you could read book two, but book three felt
like she was just trying to put something out there (contract?). I do think
that you can get the gist of the overall story with the movie, so save yourself
time and watch the movie. The sequels have been announced so you could just
wait
Snowee
l says
My
opinion is none of it is worth it.
You're not missing anything. Jane
loved it, though, and getting her to read fiction is sometimes a challenge.
Scottie
B says
fair enough, I while I had my issues with the first
book and progressively more issues as the trilogy went on, I enjoyed the read.
enough to recommend it to someone who wants a
brainless book to read.
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