The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins (Discussion)

alisha_17 · Post by **alisha_17** » 17 Nov 2013, 07:43

I read all three books in the series in succession over the space of about a week.
I was hooked after my sister leant me the first book and had to buy the series.
It does get slow in some parts but that is when I knew I needed a break to sleep etc If there weren't the lulls I would have read all three books without sleeping due to loving them so much.

jadecornelius · Post by **jadecornelius** » 17 Nov 2013, 15:53

Amazing books. I believe that the first book was the best of the series. After a while I found Catching Fire I little bit dull for my liking.

k_ruff · Post by **k_ruff** » 17 Nov 2013, 18:39

When The Hunger Games first came out, I honestly avoided reading it because I thought it was about cannibalism (bad info from a friend who claimed to read it). My husband started reading them and he was hooked, he didn't even want to watch his sports, so I was like okay Ill give them a go. I was then obsessed with these books and couldn't wait for the movie. I think I read them all in a couple days and was so sad when I hit the end. Though I always get pretty sad when I finish a series.

georgiAAAHHH · Post by **georgiAAAHHH** » 24 Nov 2013, 00:41

I agree that the first book was amazing (!!!!!!!!!), catching fire was awesome but mockingjay was the least exhilarating of the three (still heartbreaking though - prim :'( )
It kills me that other book series not even in the same league as the hunger games get more recognition *cough*twilightsaga*cough*

ribenaberi · Post by **ribenaberi** » 29 Nov 2013, 18:54

I am kind of annoyed by some of the comments of who Katniss ended up with especially since she was right. This was the person she most needed. These books took me to another world and opened up my eyes to how people struggle with their identity. Also, a lot of people felt that Peeta's character was weak and needed saving but they did not take the time to realize that he was the strongest character: lots of love, looking out for others and wanting to stay true to who he was to the end. In this whole love triangle, Haymitch said some powerful words. Katniss could live 100 million lifetimes and never deserve Peeta. No one did. He was a symbol of purity and goodness that was lacking during that time.

The author was so descriptive about people's perceptions and the psychological state of Katniss' mind and everyone else involved. I would not be surprised if in many, many years to come this book will be used in a literature class. The first two books were energetic and full of life and hope. The third book emphasized struggle and pain and loss that it can leave any reader with feelings of bittersweetness.

DATo · Post by **DATo** » 29 Nov 2013, 19:43

ribenaberi wrote:I am kind of annoyed by some of the comments of who Katniss ended up with especially since she was right. This was the person she most needed. These books took me to another world and opened up my eyes to how people struggle with their identity. Also, a lot of people felt that Peeta's character was weak and needed saving but they did not take the time to realize that he was the strongest character: lots of love, looking out for others and wanting to stay true to who he was to the end. In this whole love triangle, Haymitch said some powerful words. Katniss could live 100 million lifetimes and never deserve Peeta. No one did. He was a symbol of purity and goodness that was lacking during that time.

The author was so descriptive about people's perceptions and the psychological state of Katniss' mind and everyone else involved. I would not be surprised if in many, many years to come this book will be used in a literature class. The first two books were energetic and full of life and hope. The third book emphasized struggle and pain and loss that it can leave any reader with feelings of bittersweetness.

I agree. Peta was a multi-dimensional character in these stories. The character Collins created, apart from his other good qualities, had the ability to convince through dialogue. Katniss was admittedly NOT good at this. Though they cannot put everything from the book into a movie I thought this was suggested when in the first movie Haymitch leaves their initial discussion angry and Peta says to Katniss, "I'm going to go talk to him." Katniss tells Peta that this is a waste of time but shortly after she sees that Haymitch and Peta are in a serious "mentoring" discussion. We admire Katniss for her physical skills but we admire Peta for his strength of spirit. This spirit is put to a monumental test in the last book from which he still emerges victorious though a supreme effort of will.

********* By the way ... there was a news article (video) on CNN stating that The Hunger Games WAS in fact chosen for a high school literature class by both teachers and students.

ribenaberi · Post by **ribenaberi** » 29 Nov 2013, 20:10

I agree. Peta was a multi-dimensional character in these stories. The character Collins created, apart from his other good qualities, had the ability to convince through dialogue. Katniss was admittedly NOT good at this. Though they cannot put everything from the book into a movie I thought this was suggested when in the first movie Haymitch leaves their initial discussion angry and Peta says to Katniss, "I'm going to go talk to him." Katniss tells Peta that this is a waste of time but shortly after she sees that Haymitch and Peta are in a serious "mentoring" discussion. We admire Katniss for her physical skills but we admire Peta for his strength of spirit. This spirit is put to a monumental test in the last book from which he still emerges victorious though a supreme effort of will.

********* By the way ... there was a news article (video) on CNN stating that The Hunger Games WAS in fact chosen for a high school literature class by both teachers and students.

This is well said. I am glad the book is being used for literature classes. Katniss definitely needed work on her personality skills and this is the way the character was written. Gale seemed a little too perfect (maybe not the right word) to me. Josh Hutcherson's boyish charm does work well for this character and he himself presents with much humility. I am glad the movie presented Peeta in a better light in the new movie because people who had never read the books felt Peeta was too soft. After reading the books I had such a different perspective. He reminds me of Neo in the Matrix...The One LOL. I am not sure if others felt the same but after I read MockingJay that world kind of stayed with me especially the last chapter. It is probably my favorite chapter in contemporary literature.

Lishytoast · Post by **Lishytoast** » 01 Dec 2013, 08:50

I found the first book absolutely entrancing. The construction of characters throughout the series and the ability of the author to develop setting and evoke emotion was amazing. Of the vast range of books, series and genres I've read and enjoyed, the Hunger Games trilogy definitely has something special. Is it the strong female protagonist? The concept which hasn't already been done to death? The ability of the characters to engage the reader and form strong bonds? Because I certainly formed strong attachments to the characters. I'm still struggling to pick a single factor that defines how the series distinguishes itself, so the strength of the series is really through the complex interaction of setting, circumstance and state of mind (of the characters and reader).

As to my favourite,I couldn't really define a single book that I like better. However, the third book disappointed me regarding certain key points. I felt that the author used insanity as a plot device to explain certain actions. For example, I find it hard to believe that the girl who volunteered on behalf of her little sister would condone another games, regardless of her mental state. I found the epilogue frustratingly vague and ambiguous. But despite some major disappointments, the final instalment of the Hunger Games did continue the natural development of characters, such as Gale, and provided an interesting and unpredictable plot.

FearlessLiteracy · Post by **FearlessLiteracy** » 05 Dec 2013, 12:14

*Spoilers*

I thought The Hunger Games series was amazing. The first book did a great job of setting the scene and letting us get sucked into the world. The second book had the perfect amount of action to keep us interested. But the third book moved WAY too slow for my liking. I feel like the author tried to put way too much detail into one small book. I did however like the way they ended it. When I started reading the series, I knew that Katniss and Peeta were going to end up together, but I wasn't sure how they got there, so I'm glad that I read it.

dtvrivera · Post by **dtvrivera** » 10 Dec 2013, 22:44

I enjoyed the first and second book in the series the most, since they were the most suspenseful (especially book 2, who would have anticipated the same tributes to be required to partake once again in an even more horrendous version of the Hunger Games? Book 3 was certainly a great read as well, though I expected the series to end somewhat differently. While I could certainly get the connection between Katniss and Peeta and was delighted to read about how their relationship evolved, I somehow expected a rekindling between Katniss and Gale in the end. The Katniss/Peeta ending didn't seem quite as authentic to me. Overall, however, a wonderful series with just the right intensity and action to move the plot forward.

louisemwilcox13 · Post by **louisemwilcox13** » 18 Dec 2013, 22:58

I really enjoyed this series. I read the first book in my high schools book club and everyone loved it. The second book was definitely face paced and intense. The third book felt considerably slower to me but I felt like it did a good job of wrapping things up without a bunch of loose ends.

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 18 Dec 2013, 23:37

I read the first book... That was a creepy ending... The death of the little girl was one of the saddest passages I've read in an action- adventure novel... Awful stuff. Dang, the whole book was just... Awful... Wow...

Meg0169 · Post by **Meg0169** » 22 Dec 2013, 14:25

I think the first Hunger Games book did a good job on reeling the reader in and getting them interested. I didn't want to read the series, especially when I heard the movie was coming out (movies generally ruin the books), but my friends forced me to read them. I'm glad they did. I like when a series comes along where they have a strong female protagonist. One you can stand behind and not feel like love is the only thing she's interested in.

(SPOILERS)

The second book, Catching Fire, is definitely my favorite. I also think they did a good job with the movie adaptation of it. You definitely feel what Katniss feels when she returns to the arena. She's walking on eggshells with everything being watched and critiqued by President Snow and the people of Panem. She's chosen as this symbol, but all she wants is to protect those she loves. It's always interesting to go back and re read the books and see what you missed the first time, or to see it from the others perspectives. Katniss is there to make sure Peeta is the last one standing. She doesn't want to fight the other tributes, but the games begin and she instantly returns to her arena persona. The others know more than she does and they all have a part to play. You start to understand them as a person and not as a tribute, what the capital has made them. I think that's why everyone likes this book so much. Instead of throwing people into a ring that you only see as a product of the capital, you see them as a person and what the games has done to them. You are able to connect with them on a whole other level and suddenly killing them seems impossible.

The third book is a bit slow. It's still good, but it is definitely my least favorite. Peeta was always a favorite character of mine, so to see him suffer and hear what he has been through broke my heart. I got pretty mad at Suzanne Collins at this point. The ending brings it all together in a nice way, and I was not disappointed when I put the book down, but it in on way compared to Catching Fire.

soldierscowgirl · Post by **soldierscowgirl** » 22 Dec 2013, 15:47

I've only gotten to read the first book so far, but I must say that it was amazing. The details and the characters really pulled you into the story and I was happy, sad, or angry alongside of the characters because I was really able to connect with them. It was horrible when the little girl, I honestly can't remember her name at the moment, died. But I love how the author used that to Katniss' advantage.

I thought the movie was appalling in comparison. But this is a book review site not a movie one. I have yet to get the second book, but I hope that Katniss doesn't end up in a relationship with Peeta. I know that is where the Author is seeming to take it and everything. But I've never been fond of Peeta's character and honestly I just don't like him.

mrsjmaeg · Post by **mrsjmaeg** » 25 Dec 2013, 11:58

I am still so in love with these books. The third book was my favorite and the movies have followed pretty closely. I personally believe that book are almost always better than movies but I enjoy both in this case.