Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
While perusing my favorite time-wasting website, I saw a teaser for an upcoming movie called “the Hunger Games“. It gave away nothing. Yet a symbol that appeared at the end was apparently enough to arise excitement in those who knew what it stood for. So I found the book and read it, purely on the basis of how epic the movie trailer looked. I wasn’t disappointed.
The story takes place in a post civil war United States, now called Panem. There are 12 remaining districts (like states) and a capital that controls them all. Each district provides some product for the capitals use (ie: fish, grain, coal, clothing, etc…), but otherwise live in an occupied poverty. And each year to remind the districts of the civil war, and how they lost, one boy and one girl (between the ages of 12-18) from each district must go and fight in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are cruel televised games that show these children killing each other until there is only one left. That survivor is called the victor, and they go home to a life of luxury and wealth (compared to what they grew up with) back in their districts. (If you want more explanation, just watch the trailer above.)
Immediately I enjoyed the setting. Underdogs, oppressed people, heart-ache, and passion. I was eager to see how the games unfolded. They were intense, terrifying (just the idea of kids killing each other for sport alone), not to mention the way the “game makers” made the game more interesting. I was admittedly disappointed at the direction by the time the conclusion rolled around. I wanted to see something bigger, a story that stretched out further beyond the main characters, as was set-up by the wonderful description of the country. But then I learned that it has two more books in the series. I was no longer disappointed. Nor will you be.
