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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Genre: Young Adult Rating: 4.5/5 |
Winter break is my favorite time of the year to catch up on reading. There is something very appealing about curling up in a warm blanket at home on a cold day with a good book. So, I took my Christmas money and gleefully made a trip to good old Borders to pick up "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, the first book of a bestselling YA trilogy that gained huge popularity since its original release in 2008.
Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen year old girl living in a futuristic world where the tyrannical government of Panem holds annual "hunger games" as a violent means to keep the districts in check. The book opens quietly enough, but then by the end of the first chapter, it throws you straight into a fast-paced, hard-hitting story without a break. Then, of course, it leaves you with a cliffhanger, and I was desperate for the sequel after putting down "Hunger Games" at four in the morning.
I don't even know where to start. I have to admit my skepticism when I first heard of "Hunger Games." Most young-adult books surrounded by so much hype are often disappointing, and I was prepared for another "Twilight" (no offense to Twilight fans). But this book was a darkly pleasant surprise. The plot may not be entirely original (think a female teenage "Ender" meets "Battle Royale" with "The Gladiator" thrown into the mix), but Suzanne Collins throws in enough new twists and turns for a refreshing story. The world of Panem is believable as a futuristic North America, and it was easy to pick up on the not-so-subtle messages against war, tyranny, and reality TV (seriously).
But more than the plot, the characters clinched the book for me. Suzanne skillfully depicts characters with enough dimensions and developments that I couldn't help but empathize with all of them. I was rooting for Katniss throughout the entire book and cared for everyone she cared about. Great writing, Ms. Collins. Character-driven stories are the best.
Although "Hunger Games" is technically YA, the story is captivating for any age. After I finished, it took a while for me to recover. Be warned: "Hunger Games" was not light reading at all. It was an intense ride from start to finish, with pretty dark themes and some particularly gruesome deaths.
Is "Hunger Games" worth its hype? Yes. Should you read it? Yes! Have the sequel near at hand to grab. Don't say I didn't warn you; the trilogy is incredibly addicting.
Keep a look out for my next review of the second book, "Catching Fire."
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