The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins Book Review
I eagerly await the film; if it reflects the books brilliance then it should be truly extraordinary!
Book: The Hunger Games Written By: Suzanne Collins Publisher: Scholastic Price: £4.50 Pages: 454 rating: 5
The Hunger Games is a young adult novel by Suzanne Collins. It is set in an impending age in the poverty-stricken country Panem, geographically where North America once existed. Inscribed in the first person, the reader shadows 16-year-old Katniss, a robust, eye-catching, underprivileged girl from the mining colony of District 12. All of the districts are regressed back to the dark ages and live in servitude of the technologically superior and pampered metropolis called the Capitol. This cruel dictatorship asserts its authority by demanding each district, on the day of reaping, to provide one male and female tribute aged between 12 and 18, to participate in an annual televised fight to the death. Welcome to the most sadistic and lethal reality show of history. In preparation for its upcoming screen adaptation and after countless positive recommendations, The Hunger Games is undoubtedly on the top of most peoples must read list. In my opinion, every reader suffers with one of two major failings when reading a book. Either it is the inability to pick it up after the first attempting to lose themselves in its content, or to become so enveloped by the story that its never ending struggle to voluntarily put the book down. The reader of this book will suffer from the second of these scenarios. If they end up becoming as engrossed as I was, then sleeping before finishing it will be difficult. The story instigates on the day of reaping, unveiling District 12 in great detail and instantly transfixing the reader to the story. Though brilliantly depicted the longevity of introductions is adequate enough feel thoroughly informed but short enough that you feel the turbulence of pace. This sequence of highly detailed but brief descriptions is a very attractive feature of the writing. Unsettling the reader with this inspired technique really adds to empathy with our protagonist and their sense of being barely able to absorb one location before their insertion into the next. This quick progression doesnt make the storyline problematic to follow in any way, which is a credit to the author. By isolating and emphasizing carefully selected details the reader is continually educated. Much to my surprise, considering the favor this book has with adolescent girls, there is no absence of morbid death and injustice. The harsh nature of the environment and politics surrounding the context isnt hidden, it makes the circumstances seem so real that the story takes on a realty all of its own. The intensity of its climaxes are of the charts. At times my heartbeat felt like it had increased tenfold. The reader self inflicts a feeling of desperation to determine who will survive. Its far too easy to gain an association with the characters. The knowledge that only one out of 24 these young adults will endure the tournament is emotionally draining at times. I was hesitant to be indulged by a paperback narrated by a 16-year-old girl and thought that, when writing this review I would be merely humouring it, I couldnt have been more wrong. I am delighted to confess, the brilliant plot and writing of The Hunger Games has converted me from skeptic to fanatic. I read this book in two days but a concentrated reader with the strength of heart equal to that of a triathlete could probably get through it in one. Although it isnt very lengthy, it is not a book to be taken on nonchalantly. Light-hearted moments are few and far between, but when they do emerge they can be a much-needed break from the penetrating writing, they are also used for the development of the characters. I wouldnt recommend this book for young children. There is no dilution in detail made to accommodate a fledgling reader. It also spares no aspect in issues like severe poverty, starvation, oppression, and the consequence of war. Those wishing to try pick flaws with this book try to claim it plagiarizes`Battle Royale' written a decade ago by Japanese writer Koushun Takami. In my opinion that is like drawing parallels between Pirates of the Caribbean and Peter Pan or Oceans 11 and The Hole In The Wall Gang. I hate to be perceived as a reviewer with deflated standards but to give what I can only describe as a genuinely outstanding book less than top marks would be an undeserved insult to the writing especially after the delight it gave me. Stephen Kings analysis surmises perfectly Constant suspense I couldnt stop reading. I thoroughly enjoyed the content of every page. I eagerly await the film; if it reflects the books brilliance then it should be truly extraordinary!