Tuesday, June 1, 2010
First off, I do apologise for not blogging and taking an unannounced hiatus. I had two events [non book blog related, mostly concerts] that I had to attend to - write blogs and upload photos, and a bit of sorting out some videos but I'm back to blogging about books now.
So, what happened when I was away? Well, I finally got to write my review on "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.
The first book in the Hunger Games trilogy, the story revolves around Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old girl who lives in Seam, the poorest region of District 12. In their world, North America has been destroyed, and the only liveable part called Panem, divided into 12 districts, each with their own trades/specializations, and being controlled, albeit unjustly by the Capitol. As a pasttime, and to remind people not to uprise against the Capitol, the Hunger Games are a yearly televised event wherein one boy and one girl from every district, between 12-18 years old are chosen, placed in an arena, and are asked to fight for the death until one winner would emerge. When Katniss' sister, Prim was chosen, Katniss volunteers in Prim's place, and along with the boy tribute from District 12, Peeta, fight for their life in the arena, and eventually, other complications arise.. will they make it out alive?
Absolutely amazing book. It's one of those books that I can't stop reading. The dynamic between Peeta and Katniss are soooo unbelievable, I can't stop imagining Peeta in real life. *sigh* Oh, young love. The way Suzanne Collins created her characters were so believable, they were so alive! The world she had presented in the Hunger Games seems so unreal yet real at the same time. Unreal because of course we don't know a country that forces their people to tune in to the telly to watch the tributes of the districts kill each other. That's absolutely horrible, and real because we all know that there are some people who are fighting for their rights against being opressed. The book truly is a page-turner. Just when you think one event is going to happen, the story completely takes a 360 degree turn and leave you hanging. As I finished the first book, I find myself looking for the second book, "Catching Fire" and trying to find out what will happen next.
The book does address a lot of real concerns that may be boggling society now: has reality tv gone too far? How far will we go for love? Do we just keep silent when we are being oppressed? Being a young adult book, I wouldn't expect these subjects to be tackled in, but it was presented in such a manner that makes the killings and the story lighter than what I expected and imagined. I totally feel for the characters and the situations that they are in, Suzanne Collins really is a wonderful storyteller. Definitely worth the time in reading this book, definitely worth thinking over the subjects that were being presented, and definitely, definitely worth getting a copy.
I can't wait for the movie! I hope that the screenwriters won't butcher the movie though! But given that Suzanne Collins is writing the screenplay I guess it's safe to say that it might not move too far from the book. I just hope that RPatz and Kristen Stewart NOT be cast as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. Puhlease.
Published: 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Available from: everywhere!
Read it if: You have to read it! Everyone should read this!
Book was acquired from: Peter [KyusiReader] --> Thank you so so so much for introducing this book to me! Thanks also to Blooey!
fickle fan/overall rating:
The above post is featured in Cym Lowell's Book Review Wednesdays.
I loved The Hunger Games too! Such a great book!
who are you lookg at for haymitch? i want the main actor from Firefly.
I was getting worried about your blog because the URL was broken on my blogroll. Glad to see you're here!!!
Someone from Scholastic is attending a conference with Suzanne Collins as speaker, Peter and I are planning on sending something from FFP. We'll discuss tomorrow.