Heather Pippus
Period A2
September 12, 2011
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games, a novel written by Suzanne Collins, tells the story of a young girl, Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a small region of the country, Panem, which is oppressed by its power-hungry, cruel government. In The Hunger Games, two children are taken from each of the twelve regions of Panem, one boy and one girl, and they are forced to fight each other to the death, until only one child is left alive. The government of Panem made The Hunger Games after the failed revolt of the people. The games are to prove to the people of Panem that the government is the most powerful force, and to show the people that they have the power to kill their children if they attempt another revolution. During the games, Katniss befriends a girl who reminds her of her sister and she falls in love while trying to save her own life, and kill the other players of The Hunger Games.
I rate this book nine out of ten because it is suspenseful and action packed, but it also includes themes of love and family. In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins brings to life a story of pain and sorrow after losing the people you love and challenging something so much more powerful than yourself, so you can do something you believe in. The Hunger Games has times when it is tremendously violent and frightening. I highly recommend The Hunger Games to anyone looking for a book filled with drama, adventure, love, and a powerful plot line.
Katniss' personality is distinct and keeps me on my toes. The other main character at this point is Peeta, and I like that he is strong but also modest about his skills. It seems as if Katniss' lack of experience with other people has led her to be overly paranoid and distrusting. Also, the fact that the government is basically teaching the entirety of the districts that they are worth nothing and of no value, is so unbelievably against what we are taught today, that if it wasn't so sad, it would have been funny. Although the plot line and the actual Games themselves are completely fictitious, I find that the characters are realistic in their own ways. Katniss is insecure just like any other teenager, Peeta is an underrated hero, and the supporting characters (like Rue) are described just enough to leave you hanging. I think that it is ironic that the adults are preparing Katniss and Peeta with gifts and full meals when it won't really matter in the end. They are being prepared to die, so what's the point of making them happy? Is it to give them happiness and then take it away? I would say that this book is definitely one of my favorites, but sometimes the setting is described almost too well. I feel like I'm in the Games and that I'm doomed to die as well, and while that feeling is awful, I have to say that I love the book.
ReplyDeleteThe previous comment was posted by Neeka. Sorry, Heather! I forgot to add my name.
ReplyDeleteNeeka,
ReplyDeleteThis book is described so well that you can put yourself in the games, which at times can be really disturbing! I think Katniss is not so much insecure as she is guarded. She doesn't want to let people in because she is scared of getting hurt if she shows people how she feels. She does show a lot of insecurities, but she doesn't want the people around her to know that she is unconfident, so she tries to distance herself. I think the adults in the novel are trying to make the children more comfortable before their inevitable deaths so they don't feel so bad about mercilessly killing innocent children. The extravagant meals and clothes that the children otherwise never would have had are distributed so the adults don’t have the children’s deaths on their consciences.
The originally-non-apparent but now-developing love triangle between Gale, Peeta, and Katniss is one of the most misleading ideas in this book. I love that she has no idea how in love she is with Peeta, but it can be frustrating at times. I was angry when Peeta sided with the Careers, but at the same time, I knew that he wasn't truly a bad guy. When Peeta states that he wants to come out of the Games as himself and not as a monster, I realized how hard that would be for any of the competitors. To have to fight for your own life and kill others would change most, but I believe that it is possible to stay true to yourself. The most disturbing, strange part of the book is how they are all gruesomely manipulated into hurting each other. Eventually, it will have to become a game of Kill or Be Killed, and I hope that Peeta and Katniss can find the strength within to keep each other alive.
ReplyDeleteNeeka,
ReplyDeleteI don't know where you ended this section so I don't want to give anything away, so sorry if this is a little vague. One of the things I didn't like about this book is that Katniss is so oblivious to her own feelings because she is so absorbed in the games she doesn't take much time to realize she is scared for her life and she is in love with Peeta. Peeta obviously risks his life throughout the book so he can try to keep Katniss alive, and she doesn't notice this for a long time. Although Peeta does risk his life to keep Katniss out of danger, I don't think anyone could possibly come away from the Hunger Games without changing, no matter how much they stick to their morals and values. Peeta may not turn into a monster, but he will never be the same innocent boy he entered the games as. Peeta can try as hard as he can to not significantly change during the Games, but killing people is not something that can be easily forgotten or overlooked. Though he is fighting for his own life and only killing the other children to save himself and Katniss, the act of murder will forever change him as a person, even if he tries to stay true to himself.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about Katniss. She was so immersed in the Games that she didn't even think about her emotions. It is obvious that she loves him, yet she refuses (or cannot?) see it. I have finished the book, so don't worry about giving it away. Also, I don't agree about Peeta, because although he kills others, he does it to survive, but he stays true to what he believes. He may be a monster because of what he is forced to do, but he is not a monster in his heart.
This part of the book was the most shocking to me. When I read that Rue dies, I felt so overwhelmed that I couldn’t comprehend it. I was not expecting her to die so tragically, with Katniss singing her to sleep. However, that was not as surprising as the manipulative way Katniss uses Peeta and their “relationship” to get food. Her desperation overshadowed her thoughts and seemed to make her uncharacteristically mean. She had always been independent and maybe even rude, but never mean. The worst part was that poor Peeta was truly in deep love with her, and she didn’t even know it. She did it for the publicity, and he did it because he loved her. That’s what broke my heart.
In addition to the various surprises, I was pleasantly aware of how believable the plot was. Surely and thankfully, the Games could not take place in a world like our own, but the story had a basis. It was not so fake and unrealistic that I found myself unimpressed; the book is fresh and exciting, but I really like that it isn’t all fantasy. It involves a lot of the aspects in real life, which is one of the reasons I think I enjoy it so much.
Final review--
ReplyDeleteWhile the plot line may disturb the reader, The Hungers Games is a brilliantly descriptive book. It is mainly about two teenagers, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, who are cast away to fight to the death in the annual Hunger Games. The tributes are treated like trash, so brutal that it is hard to believe at times. The government seems to think that the only way to secure its power is to rob the people of their freedom. Although the people of the Capitol are ridiculously hungry for action and inconsiderate of the poor tributes, the book is a must-read. The actual Games themselves are inhumane; they are a way to test people to see whether they would rather stay true to themselves or become ruthless monsters. The voice of Katniss projects itself clearly, while the book also teaches the reader to value humanity and relationships.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is deserving of at least a 9 out of 10, and maybe even a 9.5. The novel is captivating and full of imagination. The idea of basing a book on real life and adding a dark twist is genius. Collins' writing is appropriate for an active reader and also very influential; she is one of the best authors of modern times. The Hunger Games is a book that inevitably captures the attention of all, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful read.