The Hunger Games
Summary
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
What I Liked
Beginning a Trilogy
I know it took me a long time to finally start this series. I devoured the book in 2 days once I finally did start it. I'm just glad that I started this series after it has been completely published, now I don't have to wait a few years for the final book to be released.
Characters
Katniss: I completely love her character, strong (non whiny) female characters are hard to come by in the YA genre. Katniss is strong, she doesn't whine or complain she just deals with it all. I would hope I would handle her shitty situation just like she did if I was in her situation.
Peeta: I like his character as well. I love how sincere he is and how great of a guy he truly is.
Dystopian Genre
A genre I still haven't read many books in, but I have enjoyed them all. Sometimes I do find it hard for me to not hate the world they are suffering in. This futuristic controlling world is horrible and I shudder and hope that our future will not resemble this books future.
Harsh Reality
So I really didn't know what this series what about before I started to read it, I just know everyone was telling me I need to read it. I was surprised to find how much violence filled the pages of the book. There are a lot of cold and heartless people that Katniss runs into. I personally don't mind violence, death and gore, but be warned it is in the book.
Didn't Like
There wasn't anything that I didn't enjoy. I will say that by the end of the book I had to check to see who Katniss ends up with, Peeta or Gale. Yes I did spoil the book for myself, but I just had to know so I know who to root for when she is trying to figure out her feelings for both of these boys.
Recommendation
Yes everyone must read this series, especially before the movie comes out.
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Catching Fire
Summary
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...
What I Liked
Romantic Tension
Gale or Peeta, who is Katniss going to choose? The boy she has been friends with for a long time or the boy who has helped her survive. Even though I do know who Katniss will end up with (since I peaked at the last pages) I love both of the boys. She has two every great and wonderful boys to choose between and I'm glad I don't have to make her decision. Katniss goes back and forth trying to figure out what she is feeling, in the process ends up causing both boys pain.
Drama
A lot of drama is present in this book. People are lying to each other when they should be confiding in each other. There is so much exciting and nerves running through my system while I was reading this book. Never a dull moment.
Didn't Like
It ended with a cliffhanger, good thing I didn't have to wait for the final book to be released.
Recommendation
Yes everyone must read this series.
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Mockingjay
Summary
Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.
At Odds
I finished the last book at 1 am because I had to know what happens, but now that it has ended I don't really know how I feel about the series now. The ending was right for the book, in war lots of lives are lost and family members aren't saved because the author wills it to be so. But as a reader (especially of YA, fantasy, romance PR, UF and Sci-fi) I crave those total and complete HEA's (Happily Ever After). There was no HEA, there was contentment and living with the horrors of the past, which is what actually happens with survival victims.
Disappointment
Katniss: I got annoyed with how extra abrasive her character became. The distance she placed between herself and everyone else and the lack of actually true heartfelt feelings. In the end she became too cold and too strong and she lost one of the greatest attributes that as humans we can have, compassion.
Death
A lot of characters died and no one and I mean NO one was safe from the author. Yes I cried when some of those wonderful characters were lost.
Recommendation
I'm not sure now what I recommend. I really enjoyed book one and book two there was still a lot of hope, but now with book 3 I'm not so sure. I think I would rather forget book 3 and make up my own conclusion for the characters. I think it is worth the read and it is a great book to learn from.
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Information
The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Have you read the trilogy yet?
Where happy with it?
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