Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins


Spoiler Alert: My book club just finished the first book of this trilogy and most of us really enjoyed it. The time in the arena dragged in a few places for me, and although I saw the set up with Rue coming, it still worked! I cried my eyes out, but I do that easily, as the others in my club will tell you. I liked how a new tension is introduced once the games are over, and then again at the very end.

My favorite parts involve the creativity the author puts into the staging and the stylists and the interviews. I liked the costumes. I also liked the irony in the fact that Katniss is forced to please the very people she despises.

Did Anyone else think of PETA as you read Peeta?

Although I didn't like the wolf muttants at all (I kept seeing the werewolves in Twilight), I did enjoy the mockingjays and their songs and the mutant bees.

I do think so much more could have been done with the Peeta relationship, but maybe the author wanted to keep it tame for a PG audience. The violence though makes it PG13, I would think (though I was surprised that one of my friends found the violence too tame). Racier feelings could have gone along with that level of violence. I just didn't feel enough sexual tension in that relationship, but not everyone in my club agreed.

Although I like the new tension at the end of the novel, I would have liked to see Prim and Gale again at the end, Gale's expression especially. Some of the ladies in my club thought the ending was too abrupt.

Overall, I recommend this book.

What did you think? I hear the movie has been cast. Anyone know who's playing whom? I heard rumor that Donald Sutherland might be up for Haymitch.

8 comments:

  1. Aw aw aw. Can you remove the captcha code? I had to type this comment twice because the first one didn't work out when loading. <_<
    (Make it thrice)

    Rue's part was horrifying. I had to read the sentence twice just to confirm if I was right. It was really surprising. I was really hoping Rue and Katniss would be the last tributes standing - now that is a challenge.

    Yes,there is a film going out soon, 2012. I don't know Katniss Everdeen who play Katniss but I do know who plays Clove's Part. She is Isabel Fuhrman. She is the lead actress in the horror thriller orphan. :]

    ReplyDelete
  2. I removed the code. Thanks for hanging in there!

    Fuhrman sounds like a good pick for Clove!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for removing :]

    I hope she is. She is dark and creepy and I guess that will add an edge to her character.

    Anyways, are you planning to finish the rest of the trilogy?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Not yet. I have other books on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I also didn't like the wolf mutants! I felt like it was terrible to taint the memory of the fallen tributes by having them come back as evil creatures, just to be killed again. I figured there wasn't more sexual tension with Peeta because Katniss doesn't like him that way, she wants Gale! LOL Jennifer Lawrence will play Katniss ( she was in X-men and Winter's Bone) and Miley Cyrus's boyfriend Liam Hemsworth is playing Gale. (never seen him in anything, just know this from celebrity gossip) The Peeta actor I haven't seen yet in any movies. I'm excited for the movie and hope it's a good adaptation

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for your comment! I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the movie as well. Thanks for the info. Did you read the rest of the trilogy? If so, do yo think it's worth reading?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, I loved it! A lot didn't care for number three, but I thought it was okay. And I think I liked number two more than number one. I'd tell you why, but I don't want to give anything away.

    I also didn't think she cared (sexually) for Peeta all that much at that point. She was just acting for the camera on her. Throughout the whole Trilogy I don't think Katniss shows near enough feeling for either of the guys.

    The movie comes out in Mar 2012. You can find pictures of the actors if you google it and there is even one of the actress all dressed up as Katniss on a mag. cover. Looks great!

    BTW The movie will be PG-13 not R. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Can't wait! Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete