Why I Loved The Hunger Games Books
I’ve spent the past two and a half weeks in a daze. When people spoke to me I was an empty vessel with my mind caught between District 12, the Capitol, the Arena, and the mysterious District 13. If you’ve experienced The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, then you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t read the series, I’m going to explain why you should, especially if you write fiction.
In my attempt to describe the plot without ruining anything, I’ll say this: It’s SURVIVOR meets LOST meets THE TRUMAN SHOW meets LORD OF THE FLIES meets nothing else I’ve ever seen or read.
When I first heard about The Hunger Games I assumed it wasn’t for me.
I have NO idea why that’s always my initial reaction to something “big.” (I didn’t read The Help until this summer, for example.)
Do I think just because millions of copies sold that something is wrong with a book? That I’m above it somehow? Not only is that incredibly snobbish of me, I absolutely cannot stand it when certain writers evoke that same subtle sentiment about popular women’s fiction titles or any novels for that matter. Let’s all knock it off, okay? If that many readers enjoy a book, then there’s something to it, no matter what your MFA professors and classmates implied.
Let’s discuss that “something.”
First, take a look at NYT best-selling novelist Allison Winn Scotch’s review of the series. Allison does a great job discussing the importance of writers reading outside their regular genre. She also addresses how the conflict and page-by-page tension of The Hunger Games series reminded her as a writer what makes a book unforgettable. Allison was spot on. I rarely read outside of literary and “women’s fiction,” and I’m so glad I branched out to experience something new.
THE READING “EXPERIENCE”
I’ve read plenty of excellent books over the past year. (See the post where I vowed to read a book a week as well as my weekly reading log). However, it’s been a long time since I’ve recommended a book so highly and cared this much about the characters and the setting they inhabit.
Since Allison covered the use of conflict and tension in The Hunger Games already, I’ll discuss two other aspects of my reading experience. Starting with—that magic word: EXPERIENCE. During the two+ weeks I read the three books, I was, as I already mentioned, not only lost in the characters’ problems and in their world while I held the books in my hands, but I obsessed about Katniss, Peeta, Gale and others during my non-reading time as well. I had a constant, gnawing desire to know what would happen next. It was almost as if I was part of their world, that the resolution of their conflicts mattered to me in some real way.
Something about the entire atmosphere of the world Collins created grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I read the last page of the third book. If I could identify that “something,” then I’d be a significantly more advanced writer of fiction than I am at this moment. I don’t think it’s simply the sheer nature of the genre (a fantasy/sci fi/thriller mix). I wish I could come to better conclusions for all of us trying to eradicate the “so what?” from our fictional work. How did Collins do it?
LACK OF AUTHOR INTRUSION
Speaking of Collins, the other aspect of the series that stood apart for me was the utter lack of presence from Suzanne Collins herself. In my opinion this is an area where literary fiction sometimes fails. Were you able to read Freedom without picturing Jonathan Franzen in a smart-looking sweater wandering the streets of St. Paul making notes about the native birds? And The Help, which I genuinely loved, cannot seem to exist as a work of art that’s separate from Kathryn Stockett’s inspiration for the story and even the true tale of how difficult it was for her to find an agent and a publisher.
I often find it difficult to experience a character’s world without picturing the author sitting at his or her computer typing each word. With The Hunger Games series I was delightfully unaware that a writer had worried over each character’s name or physical description and so on. It felt, to me, as if the plot could have come out only one way, that the trilogy itself exists as an entity separate from Collins and the publishing industry. It was dang refreshing to ride the roller coaster of a novel (three novels!) with no awareness of its creator. I don’t know what Collins looks like or where she lives. I don’t even care. But Katniss? Katniss I care about!
And now of course I’m in a writing shame pit where it seems pointless to bother since no stories make me as painfully aware of their creator as my own. But I digress.
Have you read the series? Do you want to read it? Why or why not? Have you read anything else that’s transported you into another world the way this series transported me?
DISCUSS!
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68 Responses
I was so there with you! My kids knew what I was reading, I was so attached to it! The only other books that did that to me are the Twilight series (note: I still refuse to see the movies, but yet, I can’t wait for the Hunger game movie!!)!
Debbie! You and I often like the same stuff. Jorie says I have to read Twilight. My initial, reaction, of course is “Vampires and werewolves, ick.” But seems I’m the last to read it, as usual. It’s on the list!
Nina, you have to read Twilight! I was sucked into those book the way you just described being taken in by THE HUNGER GAMES. And this series is definitely on my to be read list. I am similar to you when it comes to holding out on BIG series, and I didn’t read Twilight until the entire 4 books were out. Storytelling was great, writing was just okay.
Hi Cindy! Twilight is getting mixed reviews around here. Can I just see the movies? Is that cheating? As for waiting for a series . . . there is something really nice about being late to the game and not having to wait for the next book. Same goes for TV series. I was always jealous of people who discovered LOST late and didn’t have to wait those excruciating half-years between seasons.
I loved this series too, Nina. In fact, I had to stand up at a conference this weekend and introduce one book I’d read that had really affected. I chose Hunger Games because (as I told the audience) it’s exactly the kind of book I DON’T like, and I couldn’t put it down.
Just goes to show that we should never pre-judge a book–even if it’s a genre we don’t normally read, or a subject that we normally connect with, etc.
I loved the series so much I then read her entire other series (it’s more for kids than adolescents). You might want to check them out, or have your kids read them! Collins used to write TV shows for kids, so I think that cinematic element really shows in her writing, don’t you?
I should have covered that aspect–how VISUAL it all was. I didn’t know about the TV background, but I’m not at all surprised.
I have never heard of it but your post makes it sound very intriguing.
Read it (them). Loved it (them). I finished the whole series in about 5 days – I was so obsessed with it. Fortunately I spent 16 hours on a train during that time so there were few distractions!
Love your point about author intrusion (or the lack of it). I think that’s one of the things I couldn’t put my finger on, as to why it was so engaging.
I wanted to hate The Hunger Games trilogy (for purely self-serving reasons mostly involving jealousy – isn’t that lovely to admit?).
So I actually looked for elements to criticize. (Again, lovely of me, no?)
But despite my nit-picking, overly-analytical, looking-for-fault approach? The story sucked me in. The characters tugged at my heart. The non-stop “what’s going to happen next” pacing kept me reading until I finished the entire series in a matter of days.
Here’s what stood out to me that may be absent in less successful (and my own) writing:
Every single scene propelled the plot forward and each chapter ended on a cliff-hanger that forced you to move ahead. Then, the culmination of the first two books raised questions regarding what would happen next. The twists were unpredictable (in my opinion) and the choices the characters had to make SEEMED impossible.
So while I don’t believe it is (stylistically/grammatically) a perfect piece of writing (remember, I read it wanting to hate it, so!), I was hooked. I didn’t want the stories to end. I cared about the characters and their futures. I speculated with my children about the outcome as we read together…
And little else matters in the long run.
Love that you read it with the kids. (Note to readers: the series is really not for YOUNG kids. It’s very, very violent. . . like the last book of Harry Potter times 1000.) Julie, wouldn’t you agree?
I was jealous too while reading it . . . made me feel like my imagination is VERY lacking.
I would agree that it’s DEFINITELY not for young kids. Mine are teenagers in middle school so they can handle the themes. (Beyond the violence, there are issues of “damage” and addiction and sacrifice that would be too sophisticated and confusing for younger kids, in my opinion).
I did appreciate the lack of sexual precociousness throughout the series. Hooray for not bombarding our young adults with THAT!
I agree about your point on author intrusion as well; Collins simply took you to a whole different world and planted you there, and made you feel like you were a part of the scene, up front and close. How she did that, I’m still not sure, but it worked. I could not, absolutely not, put these books down. My husband was raising his eyebrows but I didn’t care – I had to find out what happened to Katniss.
I’d be interested to see what you think of the Twilight series… I read them, and I have a different opinion on them than I do with the Honor Games.
Leslie–loved your comment on Facebook too. I feel like I haven’t slept in two weeks. I was always up way too late huddling in bed with my book light.
I have not heard of the series – but it seems a perfect series to lose myself in over the December year-end break. I have put it on my list.
It’s a great vacation series—unless you were hoping to sleep on your vacation. Really–it’s hard to put down!
I loved the Hunger Games for all the reasons you mentioned. So sucked in was I that, it took me a while to realize *I* am from what is District 12 in her books and then… it never seemed important. I was too involved in the characters.
A book this popular, people (writers, especially) are going to go into it with a snobby, I’m not going to like this, attitude. We can always find things that don’t work. There are a lot of things she did right. And, to grow, I think that’s where the focus should lie.
BTW, I read Twilight (only the first book) and had a very different experience. I will say this, though. The first Twilight book did not demand that I read more because I loved the characters so much or couldn’t walk away from the roller-coaster. The Hunger Games (the first book) did that and more.
Lori–feel like I should know this, but where would District 12 be? Obviously somewhere with mines!
In the book, she mentions it was formerly Appalachia and, of course, the coal mines. In West Virginia that’s pretty much all there is: mountains and coal mines. Of course, the districts would be bigger than one state, but I thought it was a fair assumption that we were in it.
My boss, who recommended I read the books–in fact brought me the books and said, “Read this.”–directed me to this site, which has a map of the districts when I mentioned it today.
http://www.myhungergames.com/hunger-games-a-look-at-panem
How cool! Thanks, Lori!
Nina, thanks for the recommendation. Hunger Games sounds like a must read. I’m in heaven this month, as three other writer-bloggers, including myself, have decided to catch up on their TBR books and I am getting great titles to add. Love you comment about author intrusion. I find my thriller/mystery writers do this very well, fantasy fiction comes to mind. Series I have fallen for are in the dozens and include many romance/suspense, literary and of course, Harry Potter (I don’t care if it was YA, it was YA for all ages), John Sanford and his Lucas Davenport series, Tess Gerritsen with Rizzoli&Isles. Have more fun with your weekly reading and keep the titles coming. I love hearing what other writers … read to write 🙂
Thanks I love crime/detective series. I’ve added Lucas Davenport and Rizzoli/Isles on to my to read list!
Great suggestions and have fun getting through your TBR list. I’ve loved doing my book a week thing. It’s been going on since February 2011 and it’s honestly taken away that panicked feeling I used to get at the towering stack of books in my house. I’m getting through them! (I still don’t have an e-reader. Feel so behind the times!)
I *almost* dragged myself out of bed last night to read your post. Almost. But I’m glad I waited until I was fully awake so I could give a coherent response. Your review is wonderful (as always). I often hate writing book reviews, although I do for 90% of the books I read, because I’m not a writer and I get frustrated try to put into words what I’m feeling and thinking. The reviews often don’t convey what I really want them to. You’re review captured so much about what I felt for Hunger Games, especially what you said about the reading “experience”. I’ll agree with your first commenter that Twilight was the last series that invoked this type of reaction from me, but for different reasons. I’ve taken a long time to analyze why I love the Twilight series so much because so many people hate it and feel the need to share their hate with me and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not because I love Bella Swan (although I disagree with most people’s perception with her) or that Meyer’s is an exceptional writer (because she wasn’t in this series) but because of where I was in life and how the books pulled be out of a bad reality into an escape. I think there are lots and lots of reasons that a book can speak to you and you can fall in love with it and it doesn’t always have to be exceptional writing.
I find your comments on the lack of author intrusion intriguing. I refuse to watch movie trailers and refuse to read book summaries/synopsizes, I always prefer to go into a story with a blank mind and no preconceived notions. (Yes I did cover my face with my jacket, cover my ears with my hands and quietly sing to myself when the Breaking Dawn trailer came on in the movie theater). Maybe it’s because I’m not an author but who the author is plays very little part to not part at all in a book to me. I didn’t know that The Help was based on Stockett’s own story until the whole lawsuit controversy erupted. I’m going to think about this some more because there have been times where I think “what was the author thinking” or “this author is pushing an agenda” where as I never once thought of Collins when I read Hunger Games.
I still to this day – and I finished Mockingjay back in March – get worked up and upset and get a physical tightening of my chest when I think about or discuss this series. I LOVE KATNISS THAT MUCH. I’m a little surprised there’s no mention of how the story ended but maybe you don’t want to spoil it (or maybe you didn’t mind the ending). Let me say that I was devastated at how Collins ended the series. I NEED closure and I didn’t get that from Mockingjay. The ending felt rushed and haphazardly put together leaving me feeling lost and empty. I’m not going to go into details here because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but the ending did damper my feelings on the entire series.
I’m a little embarrassed that my comment is so long but I easily could have written more. I love these books and I love talking about them. I hope it’s ok; my book club plans on doing a meeting for the whole series and I’m going to link them to your post.
Tanya,
Love that you added your thoughts here! That’s what I was hoping for. I was thinking of you as I wrote the post. Wish we could see the movie together in March.
As for the ending . . . I’m going to email you privately so we can “discuss.” I’m not a book review person either. Rarely write them and when I read reviews I tend NOT to read the book because I feel like I know too much already. I purposely kept my thoughts vague in terms of the actual story and focused on different things. I will say I didn’t love the third book as much as the other two. The atmosphere was different than the other two-, didn’t love all the “propos”–though it pulled me in the same way . . . made me forget a regular person had written it.
Will email you asap! 🙂 OH–after your book club meets please report back with what they thought.
I’ve been wondering about The Hunger Games for a while now. I think you’ve just convinced me to read them. They’re on my list for the next books to buy.
OK, I suppose I have to read this series. I’ve bought each volume for my teenage daughter, who loves it. I had been doing the same thing with Harry Potter, and when I finally started reading her books I became addicted.
Interesting what you note about the author being absent from the prose. I’ve actually been seeking out books recently that have a strong author presence. Why? Because I write creative nonfiction, and my MFA instructors want me to put myself more into my prose. Oh, the joys of creative writing!
I don’t know if you do humor or more serious stuff, but Sloane Crosley’s essays (I read the first book, not the second) are really good! VERY clear author presence.
Thanks!
A friend recommended THG to me a few years ago, when only the first book was out. I didn’t actively avoid it, but it didn’t make it to the top of my reading list because it was YA book. But the more I got to know my friend’s tastes, the more I realized that we liked all the same things, so I finally downloaded the first book (by this time, Mockingjay was about to be released).
About halfway through, I DLed Catching Fire, because I didn’t want to finish THG and have to wait to continue. I did the same with Mockingjay.
I actually lost sleep over these books, because Collins can write a chapter-ending cliffhanger like no one else. I kept saying to myself, “OK, I’ll just finish this chapter and then go to sleep,” but then each one ended in a way that forced me to go on!
If you liked THG this much: Have you read Divergent? It’s not as all-caps AMAZING as THG, but it’s still really good. Only the first book of the trilogy is out so far.
Yes! Those cliffhangers were KEY to me feeling the same way . . . just one more chapter, one more. Don’t know anything about Divergent, but I’ll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Oh, it’s YA. You know I’ve heard of this book, (series) but have never paid much attention. And that’s probably why, since I don’t read YA. Well…the Harry Potter series, but that’s pretty much it.
But now, between your review and the link you provided, I think I will read this one, just to observe the technique, if nothing else. I love that you point out the complete lack of author intrusion. And the other review mentioned the headlong action.
“And now of course I’m in a writing shame pit where it seems pointless to bother since no stories make me as painfully aware of their creator as my own.”
Hey, just use it as inspiration, Nina. 🙂
“Hey, just use it as inspiration” Yes, yes. I will! 🙂
Nina- all you say here is true. I think Collins does an amazing job of throwing us into a world that is fully realized and compelling. What you say about seeing the author in the work, again true. I always picture Sarah Dessen as the main female lead in her books. Same with John Irving, John Green… well nearly everyone. My mom certainly thinks I’m the MC in all of my books, and she worries mightily that the MC’s mom is her– though I try to tell her that’s not really the case. :0) I think it’s because many of us write what we know, but others don’t. One’s not better than the other, but it’s intriguing to think about the writerly choices we make.
Yup, I have that same problem of people assuming I’m the MC in my stories. I’m guessing it’s because the settings, etc, I use are so familiar to my life. It’s a problem that can be hard to avoid!
I felt the exact same way about these books, Nina! When I put down the last book in the series, I felt like I had come out from under a magic spell. I knew Katniss so well, I spoke of her almost like I would a friend. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out how Suzanne Collins did it. I also experienced the “writing shame pit” after finishing these books; it was especially painful because I was working on a YA book with a female MC. So hard not to make her another Katniss! Thanks for a great review that reminded me why I loved the Hunger Games so much!
“from under a magic spell” EXACTLY!!!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with The Hunger Games! I just did NOT want to stop reading about Katniss and Peeta, so I read the books over and over. I read them four times in the first month I owned them. By then, I was getting just a teensy bit tired of THG, so I finally put the books away so I would stop reading them.
This is the first time since I got my BA in English in 1978 that I got so excited while reading a book that I actually wanted to write a paper about it! I love the foreshadowing, and the humorous descriptions (Buttercup had eyes the color of rotting squash). I love the words she coined to describe various characters, such as an “Avox” which I remember from Latin literally means “without a voice”.
These books were far from formulaic IMHO–there were endless twists and turns. The books didn’t end anywhere close to how I thought they would end! They were just splendid!
All I can say is I’m so glad my son finally got me to read the books.
Tracy,
I smiled when I saw that you’d read them four times! I found someone more obsessed than I am. Did you see Lori’s comment above? Check it out . . . there’s a link to maps of Panem and tons of other cool stuff. I assume you’ll be first in line to see the movie!? I can’t wait for it!
Nina, I felt like I was the last one to read it. I have two copies in my possession; one I bought myself and one I received as a Christmas present. The whole YA label has kept me from grabbing it. Perhaps I felt I was too mature? Which is such a farce because I devoured Twilight like it was a chocolate covered glass of wine.
Maybe I haven’t read it yet because I have heard the tales of no sleeping and I am training, like one does for a marathon. After the past couple of weeks of late nights, I think I might be ready. *cracking knuckles*
So glad you liked the books and found something to learn from something outside of your normal genre reading. Love your observation of the author’s absence. I felt a little of that when reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I was so into Claire’s character (and perhaps a wee bit into Jamie’s) that I never pictured the author at all.
How does one learn how to do that? Write in first person? Heavy setting description? Hmmm….
Yes, wait until you’re done training. As for first person, I find that first person sometimes makes it even harder to seperate the MC from the author. Just another kudos to Collins for pulling that off!
Along comes a wet blanket to this Hunger Games love fest. Haha. I only read the first installment and unlike others who thought they wouldn’t like it, I thought I would. It’s been so hyped not only for the story but the style. Sadly, I didn’t love it.
I see your point Nina about author intrusion. That’s very insightful and useful for me to consider in my own writing. The comments about no indulgent sexuality or language are also good. Shows stories don’t need that to be interesting.
But I felt the cliffhangers were manipulative. I began to see them coming every time. As for the descriptiveness, unlike Harry Potter whose whole world is magical, this series has some ‘reality’ to it in that it takes place not in a magical world, but a ‘real’ world albeit futuristic. That mouthful being said, I couldn’t suspend my disbelief in much of what was told or implied; cameras everywhere that capture the action, parachuted gifts from sponsors at exactly the right times, controlling the weather in an impossibly huge arena??
I thought my son might like this series because he enjoys action. But the action doesn’t even begin until almost halfway through. I’m surprised young boys hold out that long through descriptions of fashion and television interviews. But the author obviously does something right in driving the plot forward. Another good take away from a writer’s standpoint.
Lastly, I found it a was quick read not because it was un-put-downable but because it wasn’t very challenging. There. I said it. I’m not a fan of YA but I’m not the target market so I’m fine with that. Now don’t get me started on Twilight! 😉
Angela–this is great, really. I was hoping for some good discussion. I too sometimes found the utter primitiveness of certain situations yet uber-furturistic stuff hard to experience at the same time. If that makes sense. And I 100% agree with the surprise (though pleasant surprise) that boys are just as into it for the reasons you mentioned (fashion, waxing, hair-dos, etc) and for the fact that the MC/narrator for all three books is Katniss.
I’m actually thinking I’ll skip Twilight for now. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy it or learn something from the style, characters, etc, but now I need a break from a series.
Interesting points! The first person to recommend the series to me was a guy (not a boy but a 30 year old man who acts like a boy). He loved the first and most of the second book but felt that the third book went into too much romance and was dissapointed by that.
I, too, had a Hunger Games daze when I first read it. And then I had the unnerving experience of having to waits MONTHS for the next book to come out (I don’t usually read really popular books hot off the presses, so this feeling was weird). You’re lucky that all of the books are out now. Also, Kristin Cashores has a series that’s kind of similar to the Hunger Games, in that it’s got a strong female main character (yay for anti-Bella female leads!) and is in the fantasy/sci fi/adventure-ish genre that I don’t usually love. But the Hunger Games and Cashore’s book captivated me.
That IS the benefit of being a latecomer to any books or tv shows. Right now I’m catching up on Big Love, for example, since we don’t have HBO. It’s so delightful not to wait between episodes or worse, between seasons. I had the misfortune of falling for LOST from the get-go and sometimes half a year would pass between seasons. It was torture.
This book completely took over my world. I am not usually drawn to YA fiction, but this woman knocked this plot out of the “normal” YA ballpark! Thanks for breaking down the reasons it was such a success.
OK, OK… So you, Nina, are the second person to praise this trilogy. And seeing Jolina’s comment that it “took over her world” makes me think I should, indeed, branch out. For the same reasons you – and Hallie and others – avoided it, so did I. (THough I have to say that i read Sherman Alexie’s Diary of a Part-time Indian and loved it. It was YA, too). So… if there is THAT much to learn about this book, then… yes! Sign me up.
I had the same experience with Stockett’s book (wanting to know what the characters were doing, thinking about them during the day, CARING about them)… Unlike you, I kind of like it when an author shows off her literary genius (not sure if that’w what you were intimating?) and I rarely picture the author sweating it out behind the keyboard, because I’m more interested in the story usually … and if I’m NOT that interested in the story, then something’s wrong.
No–it’s not about an author showing off . . . I mean, that IS what he/she is there to do. I guess I know what I mean by “author intrusion” when I see it, but it’s hard to describe. While I read The Help I was lost in the story too, but I think I would have been MORE lost had I read it when it first came out (before the lawsuit stuff came out, etc.)
I loved the series. Like you, I thought about the characters even when I wasn’t reading. And it’s not my “normal” genre either.
You make a great point about how Collins keeps herself out of the book. (I’m reading Freedom now and I really can picture Franzen with a little notebook.)
I think she also excels at characterization, especially with characters who demand an emotional investment. Katniss is an intriguing combination of strength and weakness, of heroism and deep, abiding flaws. That and excellent cliffhangers made me loose sleep as well.
WELL SAID, Lisa! “Katniss is an intriguing combination of strength and weakness, of heroism and deep, abiding flaws.”
My cousin was really into the series when I visited her this summer but I admit to just thinking they were kids books. Now I’m definitely going to go check them out, you make them sound fabulous!
I think this is the most guilty I’ve felt for not reading a book. Honestly it didn’t appeal to me a whole lot but CLEARLY it’s amazing so I have to now. I’ve promised myself I will read it before the movie comes out. I did the same thing with The Help. I actually finished it the weekend before the movie came out.
Sara,
That’s when I read The Help . . . right before I saw the movie and I’m SO happy I did because while the movie was good, the book was SO much better.
Ooo – a new book to add to my reading list. Exciting! I also have an unexplained aversion to reading popular books (I haven’t actually read the Help yet, and I didn’t read any of the Potters until the series was almost done), so I probably wouldn’t have gotten around to reading this if you hadn’t suggested it. Thanks!
I did read the first one, and like you, LOVED the premise, setting, characters, etc…
But got to the end, and didn’t feel invested enough to forgive the cliffhanger on the last page. To me, that’s when Collins intruded as an author. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves. Still, I’d be a fool not to admit that Collins is a genius! And she deserves this incredible following the series has won her. 🙂
Honestly, it’s hard for a series to really hook me, and I blame that solely on the cliffhanger mechanism so many use to get you to read the next book. After devouring books like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, where I would’ve been salivating to read a next installment, I don’t think it’s necessary to leave an opened ending just to get readers to want more.
Haha! Opened a can of worms, right? I still loved it, though! And I bow to her amazing talent.
Anita,
That’s interesting . . . I wonder if I would have felt that author intrusion of a cliffhanger more if I’d read the books when they were released and I had to wait for the 2nd one. I had them all with me so it felt like one big book. It’s a really valid point!
Hello, Nina!
My Aunt told me about your blog, and even though I haven’t read it all yet, I’m amazed. It’s really awesome! I’m a fellow Hunger Games fan. In the process of re-reading the books again. I’m such a big fan that my friends and I are hosting our very own “hunger games” (foam weapons, tents, etc). It should be fun. 🙂
Hope you have a great week!
Aniyah Popovich
Oh! A party sounds fun! Love the foam weapons and tents. That’s hysterical!
Late to the game here … I worship these books, read them in a few days, just like you. Totally obsessed with the characters, the setting, everything. I think there are many layers of meaning and the commentary on society and the future is obviously both riveting and alarming. I have to admit I am not a Twilight fan, though I worship Harry Potter (the two other series that seem to get referred to in the same breath as the Hunger Games, at least as far as I’ve experienced). I cannot WAIT for the movie. I haven’t thought very deeply about what it is exactly that makes the books so compelling, and think your discussion is spot on. Thank you! xoxo
I LOVED this series. I didn’t read it until this year and also didn’t think of it as a series for me. In the end, I’m glad I waited because I read one book after the other. I’m looking forward to the movie! (BTW, the series Collins wrote before this one was a good read, which was a nice surprise. She’s so talented.)
I’ve heard great things about her previous series. I’m saving it . . . need to save some Collins for later. I wonder what she’ll do next!?
Hi Nina, I loved your insight on the lack of author intrusion. I’ve never really thought about that, and how it completely changed how I read The Hunger Games. That said, I think it’s a really great book, and it just proves that young adult fiction can be enjoyed by all ages 🙂
It’s changed how I read other books too (the author intrusion thing). Totally agree re: YA!
I love this book and you are so right about the author. She smoothly disappeared. Great review.
So you glad you found me! I loved poking around your blog too. Thanks for coming over from Goodreads. 🙂