Yikes.
Well, it's been a while, and we've both said some things, but I hope that you'll take me back...
Well, I'm writing this anyway!
Just looked at the stats for this blog for the first time in months, and they're amazing! Thank you to anyone who's reading! So it galvanised me into coming back with a bang.
And what bigger bang than to review the heartbreaking, emotional rollercoaster that is
MOCKINGJAY
In my opinion, no better.
*Mild spoilers detailing the horrific events in this novel are included*
Onward!
Well. This book. What to say? I admire authors who have the guts to kill of their characters. It's horrible, and I hate reading it, but it's brave and more realistic to get rid of those who don't deserve to die. I'm currently pondering whether or not to mention the extensive list of deaths, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone... Feel free to comment if you haven't read, but want to know, and I'll tell you!
If you haven't read it, then you'll have picked up that a lot of people die in this book. And it is extremely heartbreaking. Especially the way it leaves Katniss. Speaking of Katniss, I LOVE what happens to her in this book. Not because I'm sadistic, but because it was so different. When we see her at the beginning, a little while after escaping from the 75th Hunger Games, she is completely broken. She can't focus, she breaks down frequently: she is physically and mentally weak. We NEVER see heroes/heroines suffer from PTSD, and I think it was a good thing that Katniss suffers so badly: look what she's been through, how much death she's seen and caused herself. It's far more realistic for her to suffer this way than to spring right back up and be ready to lead an entire rebellion. So I applaud Collins from my very comfy swivel chair that I am currently sitting on. And I also want to ask which, if any, heroes/heroines from other novels would or should have suffered from post-traumatic stress? Harry Potter? I'm as yet unsure about this one. I certainly think he'd suffer post-traumatic guilt, and would spend a long time wallowing in the memory of all the deaths he thought were his fault.
I do think that Gale is amazing with her in this book. Although in Catching Fire he seemed to pressurise her a lot and blame her almost unjustly for her relationship with Peeta, I think he was a better influence on her in this book than Peeta ever would have been. Gale may not have been through the same things as Katniss, but they have this bond that transcends language. He knows what she's feeling, and he can help her through this horrible time. I also think he's pretty awesome in the fighting side. Even the most devoted Peeta-fan couldn't argue with the fact that Gale would have been way better in the Hunger Games than Peeta, who only survived because of Katniss.
Speaking of Peeta, OH MY GOSH. Now that storyline surpassed anything I could ever have expected. It was cruel of Collins, but that just makes me admire her all the more. To completely reverse his feelings towards Katniss through TORTURE was a touch of genius, and incredibly interesting, as we see how much Katniss depended on him before. In fact, she sees this for the first time herself, too. She realises that she took him for granted, and I think that's what sets her on her (very slow) path to genuinely loving him. I think it must have been awful for him, to be so confused about his own memories - imagine not knowing what's real and what's been put there by a corrupt government - and to have no one trust him.
I really liked the parallels between the official government of Panem and the rebel forces: it shows that this is not a battle between good and evil, that these things aren't black and white. It makes it all the more difficult for Katniss to know what she's fighting for - especially after they've won and President Coin suggests they host their own, final Hunger Games. And, of course, the bomb that Gale creates that kills so many innocent children (including SPOILER) goes to show that they're almost exactly the same as the Capitol.
The underground setting for the majority of the novel was successfully claustrophobic, and you could feel the pressure of the walls and the war closing in on Katniss. No wonder she had a hard time!
Then, the end, where everything is supposed to be all happy again, was still riddled with heart-wrenching agony. I have a picture of Katniss sitting alone in her house, not moving for days, burned into my mind. Her mother not returning was just horrific, and, although I don't want to say "heartbreaking" AGAIN, there are no other words. Although I kind of get Gale not wanting to say goodbye. After what he did, nothing he said could ever have made her understand, and it was better that he didn't upset her any more. I just hope that he got over his feelings for her and was happy in the end.
I was glad about the way Katniss's life ended up (again, not going to say just in case - comment if you want to know), although it was still profoundly poignant. It's a nice, peaceful ending, but was it really what she wanted? Would she have been fully satisfied after everything she went to? I think she might have been, but there's always that flutter of doubt in the back of your mind. I think it's because the Epilogue's so short, and we don't get much insight into her future life, that we still think this, and I think that was intended.
Overall, I though this was an excellent book, addressing very mature themes and gripping the reader in an iron fist that still doesn't let you go after you've finished.
On a slightly different note... Who's going to see The Hunger Games on Friday? I am :) very excited - the reviews have been so good, and the trailers look fantastic. Still not as excited about this as I was for Harry Potter, but if I was, I think the world would be worried...
Coming soon [or as soon as it takes me to read and review these novels, which, knowing me, will probably be a while]:
Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
Between the Acts - Virginia Woolf
A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
Yep, you guessed it - more Enlgish books. But IF I shock myself and read these all this month before I go back to Uni, then you could perhaps look forward to the likes of these beauties:
The Bloody Chamber and other stories - Angela Carter
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Mitford Sisters - ... can't remember... started this LAST SUMMER, and still haven't finished due to the horrific strain of reading lists for Uni. But I plan on finishing it this summer...
Hope the next gap isn't this long again - believe me, I'll try my hardest!
Btw: if you still haven't had enough of my ramblings on The Hunger Games, here is my review for my University newspaper...
http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/features/2011/11/05/hungry-for-more-a-review-of-the-hunger-games/
*shameless plug*
Showing posts with label The Hunger Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hunger Games. Show all posts
Monday, 19 March 2012
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHH MY HEART IS IN PAAAAIN!!!!!!!!!
OH, SO DEVASTATED!
I DON'T EVEN FULLY UNDERSTAND WHYYYY!
Who would have guessed what would happen in this book?? Not me, certainly.
Before I get wrapped up in the utter heartbreak and darkness that goes on in this novel, I want to do some praising of Suzanne Collins, which I don't think I really did much of in my last review.
I know I had a few troubles with her writing style before, but now I've realised the huge benefit it gives to this type of fiction. Because it's in first person, present tense, ther is no way of knowing if Katniss is going to survive or not. There is no opportunity for hindsight which would give us a hint that she will make it, and at certain points of the book I wasn't sure that she would. Now I've finished this book, I am pretty sure she'll make it through the final one, but unfortunately I can't say the same for Peeta.
It kills me to write this, because he is officially my favourite character in this series. I can relate to him so well, and I sympathise with him completely. Whilst Katniss has moments of being a little dense, insensitive or moody, Peeta clearly thinks ahead, always has a plan of action, and is evidently hopelessly in love with her. Because he is so totally awesome I don't see him lasting. Partly because Collins DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ANYTHING HAPPY, and partly because I saw on Twitter that someone had finished the book and were going off to cry. Which doesn't bode well at all :( *sadness forever*.
Back to Collins being a legend. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE books where the opressed rise against the opressors. I don't know what it is: as far as I know, I have no radical political views; and yet I really love books about rebellion (see Harry Potter and His Dark Materials). So it excites me greatly to read about all these rebellions going on, and to have Katniss as the figurehead of it all. Could she be the female Harry Potter? Interesting...
So, shall we move onward to the story?
I may as well start with the *love triangle*. I am not a fan of love triangles. Ever since I made the gravest mistake of my life and read Twilight I have become irrationally angry whenever I read about them. Don't get me wrong, I love reading romance in novels. But when another love triangle starts, I just get sooo bored. So I was a little worried when I sensed one coming on here between Katniss, Gale and Peeta, but I needn't have worried. This is why I find Katniss's character so refreshing. She is not romantic, and she is not in love with either of the boys. She admits she has feelings, though what they are she isn't sure, for both of them, but when they tell her they love her she doesn't melt into their arms and sacrifice her life for them like some "heroines" might do. Instead, she tells them both that she has no time for romance in her life right now, as she has to keep her family,and now her fellow rebels, safe. OK, she has to maintain this strange rigmarole with Peeta whenever they're in the public eye, but other than that she won't let it cloud her vision. I think this is really great of Collins because it is so different, and I'm interested to see where this is going, although I have to state now that I hope she and Peeta get together, even though I would feel so awful for Gale... maybe it would be better for him to die... :(
I was surprised how quickly the Victory Tour passed by. After their first stop in District 11 it just went by in a few pages, but of course I understand why, as there is so much worse to come. I enjoyed finding out about the other districts, as I love delving into the imagination of the author, as I said in my last post. I really love everything in the Capitol. I know the people are awful, and the juxtaposition of that and the destitute Districts shows how corrupt the government is, but I loved the lavish detail, the descriptions of food, fashion and frivolity that peppered the pages.
But then, of course, after things seem to be going just about OK, they announce the plans for next year's Hunger Games. And my heart nearly stopped beating.
I couldn't believe that Collins could be so cruel. How could she do this to her characters again?
I'll admit, I did cy when I found that Katniss, along with one other male Victor from the District would be joining 22 other previous Victors. I'm now wondering how the people of the Capitol, the people who actually enjoy the games, reacted, or will react. We heard rumours that they weren't happy with this decision, as they had got to know the Victors over the years, and now they were going to have to watch them kill each other. Could this lead to dissent even from those in the Capitol? I'm interested to see where this goes.
So, Katniss and Peeta return to the Games, and I didn't think the run-up was as suspenseful or detailed as last time, but then, of course, we know what's coming, and I suppose by throwing her in there quicker it gives us more of a shock. Before we get to that bit though, I want to say how totally awesome Cinna is. I LOVED the idea of sending her on in a Wedding Dress that disintegrated to become a Mockingjay: the symbol of resistance for Katniss's fellow rebels. I hope we see more of him, that they didn't kill him when they took him away.
As for the actual games, although I loved the idea of the island being a clock with each section holding a different horror, I actually preferred reading about the character interactions than anything else. I'm not sure what to make of Finnick yet, although I'm pretty sure he's an OK guy. With Johanna, I'm glad there's another fiesty girl around, and also I enjoyed the disparity between them. So many people love Katniss that it was refreshing to see some verbal sparring.
I also liked how determined Katniss was to have people like Mags, Beetee and Wiress on her side, rather than the tougher tributes like Brutus, and, hey, it paid off!
Before I get on to the traumatic ending, I'm going to talk briefly about ~the kiss~. So, I'm pretty sure Katniss does have feelings for Peeta, more than friendly, but I don't think she'll act on them until this is over... if he survives. I'm not saying that she doesn't have feelings for Gale, though. Those two have such a history behind them, and now she knows he loves her I think it'll be hard to ignore it. Although I'm swaying on the Peeta side, I do still think Gale is an awesome character, and I don't want him to be an empty shell if she rejects him. It's so difficult for her!!
Ok. To the endless sadness.
Once Beetee concocts his plan, Katniss and Peeta are forced to split, and I was not happy. The confusion that ensues was completely discombobulating (yes, that is a word) that I wasn't really sure what was happening. All I knew was that I was positive that Johanna's stabbing of Katniss was just a way to protect her from Brutus and Enobaria, rather than a malicious attempt to kill her.
It's hard to sum up what happened, but Katniss's shooting of the forcefield was great: a nice piece of foreshadowing from Collins there, and I love me some foreshadowing!
BUT.
BUT THEN...
I SOB FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY.
Katniss hears Peeta shouting for her, but they can't get to each other, and then she gets picked up by a hovercraft!
I thought the hovercraft was the capitol, thinking she was dead, and when Plutarch Heavensbee (coolest name ever, btw) closed her eyes, I though somehow they actually thought she was dead and she was going to be buried alive, or turned into a mutt or something awful, but THEN!!!
We find out that actually, PLUTARCH WORKS FOR THE REBELS AND....
DISTRICT 13
OMG!!
Sooooo exciting!!
I love that there's a significant rebel movement and everything, but then we learn two things that kill me:
Bring on Mockingjay.
OH, SO DEVASTATED!
I DON'T EVEN FULLY UNDERSTAND WHYYYY!
Who would have guessed what would happen in this book?? Not me, certainly.
Before I get wrapped up in the utter heartbreak and darkness that goes on in this novel, I want to do some praising of Suzanne Collins, which I don't think I really did much of in my last review.
I know I had a few troubles with her writing style before, but now I've realised the huge benefit it gives to this type of fiction. Because it's in first person, present tense, ther is no way of knowing if Katniss is going to survive or not. There is no opportunity for hindsight which would give us a hint that she will make it, and at certain points of the book I wasn't sure that she would. Now I've finished this book, I am pretty sure she'll make it through the final one, but unfortunately I can't say the same for Peeta.
It kills me to write this, because he is officially my favourite character in this series. I can relate to him so well, and I sympathise with him completely. Whilst Katniss has moments of being a little dense, insensitive or moody, Peeta clearly thinks ahead, always has a plan of action, and is evidently hopelessly in love with her. Because he is so totally awesome I don't see him lasting. Partly because Collins DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ANYTHING HAPPY, and partly because I saw on Twitter that someone had finished the book and were going off to cry. Which doesn't bode well at all :( *sadness forever*.
Back to Collins being a legend. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE books where the opressed rise against the opressors. I don't know what it is: as far as I know, I have no radical political views; and yet I really love books about rebellion (see Harry Potter and His Dark Materials). So it excites me greatly to read about all these rebellions going on, and to have Katniss as the figurehead of it all. Could she be the female Harry Potter? Interesting...
So, shall we move onward to the story?
I may as well start with the *love triangle*. I am not a fan of love triangles. Ever since I made the gravest mistake of my life and read Twilight I have become irrationally angry whenever I read about them. Don't get me wrong, I love reading romance in novels. But when another love triangle starts, I just get sooo bored. So I was a little worried when I sensed one coming on here between Katniss, Gale and Peeta, but I needn't have worried. This is why I find Katniss's character so refreshing. She is not romantic, and she is not in love with either of the boys. She admits she has feelings, though what they are she isn't sure, for both of them, but when they tell her they love her she doesn't melt into their arms and sacrifice her life for them like some "heroines" might do. Instead, she tells them both that she has no time for romance in her life right now, as she has to keep her family,and now her fellow rebels, safe. OK, she has to maintain this strange rigmarole with Peeta whenever they're in the public eye, but other than that she won't let it cloud her vision. I think this is really great of Collins because it is so different, and I'm interested to see where this is going, although I have to state now that I hope she and Peeta get together, even though I would feel so awful for Gale... maybe it would be better for him to die... :(
I was surprised how quickly the Victory Tour passed by. After their first stop in District 11 it just went by in a few pages, but of course I understand why, as there is so much worse to come. I enjoyed finding out about the other districts, as I love delving into the imagination of the author, as I said in my last post. I really love everything in the Capitol. I know the people are awful, and the juxtaposition of that and the destitute Districts shows how corrupt the government is, but I loved the lavish detail, the descriptions of food, fashion and frivolity that peppered the pages.
But then, of course, after things seem to be going just about OK, they announce the plans for next year's Hunger Games. And my heart nearly stopped beating.
I couldn't believe that Collins could be so cruel. How could she do this to her characters again?
I'll admit, I did cy when I found that Katniss, along with one other male Victor from the District would be joining 22 other previous Victors. I'm now wondering how the people of the Capitol, the people who actually enjoy the games, reacted, or will react. We heard rumours that they weren't happy with this decision, as they had got to know the Victors over the years, and now they were going to have to watch them kill each other. Could this lead to dissent even from those in the Capitol? I'm interested to see where this goes.
So, Katniss and Peeta return to the Games, and I didn't think the run-up was as suspenseful or detailed as last time, but then, of course, we know what's coming, and I suppose by throwing her in there quicker it gives us more of a shock. Before we get to that bit though, I want to say how totally awesome Cinna is. I LOVED the idea of sending her on in a Wedding Dress that disintegrated to become a Mockingjay: the symbol of resistance for Katniss's fellow rebels. I hope we see more of him, that they didn't kill him when they took him away.
As for the actual games, although I loved the idea of the island being a clock with each section holding a different horror, I actually preferred reading about the character interactions than anything else. I'm not sure what to make of Finnick yet, although I'm pretty sure he's an OK guy. With Johanna, I'm glad there's another fiesty girl around, and also I enjoyed the disparity between them. So many people love Katniss that it was refreshing to see some verbal sparring.
I also liked how determined Katniss was to have people like Mags, Beetee and Wiress on her side, rather than the tougher tributes like Brutus, and, hey, it paid off!
Before I get on to the traumatic ending, I'm going to talk briefly about ~the kiss~. So, I'm pretty sure Katniss does have feelings for Peeta, more than friendly, but I don't think she'll act on them until this is over... if he survives. I'm not saying that she doesn't have feelings for Gale, though. Those two have such a history behind them, and now she knows he loves her I think it'll be hard to ignore it. Although I'm swaying on the Peeta side, I do still think Gale is an awesome character, and I don't want him to be an empty shell if she rejects him. It's so difficult for her!!
Ok. To the endless sadness.
Once Beetee concocts his plan, Katniss and Peeta are forced to split, and I was not happy. The confusion that ensues was completely discombobulating (yes, that is a word) that I wasn't really sure what was happening. All I knew was that I was positive that Johanna's stabbing of Katniss was just a way to protect her from Brutus and Enobaria, rather than a malicious attempt to kill her.
It's hard to sum up what happened, but Katniss's shooting of the forcefield was great: a nice piece of foreshadowing from Collins there, and I love me some foreshadowing!
BUT.
BUT THEN...
I SOB FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY.
Katniss hears Peeta shouting for her, but they can't get to each other, and then she gets picked up by a hovercraft!
I thought the hovercraft was the capitol, thinking she was dead, and when Plutarch Heavensbee (coolest name ever, btw) closed her eyes, I though somehow they actually thought she was dead and she was going to be buried alive, or turned into a mutt or something awful, but THEN!!!
We find out that actually, PLUTARCH WORKS FOR THE REBELS AND....
DISTRICT 13
OMG!!
Sooooo exciting!!
I love that there's a significant rebel movement and everything, but then we learn two things that kill me:
- Peeta was not saved by the rebels, and will likely be tortured by the Capitol for information
- District 12 has been decimated, and there is nothing left.
Bring on Mockingjay.
Monday, 19 September 2011
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
I am going to come right out with it.
I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES.
But not as much as Harry Potter. Never.
STILL. It is FLIPPING AMAZING AND HEART-BREAKING AND HORRIFYING AND EXCITING AND UNIQUE.
I absolutely LOVED it.
So this was another book I'd heard loads about. It's not been as hyped up as One Day, but I've been hearing things, especially since the film's coming out (Oh my gosh, guys I actually cannot wait for that!!) and I thought that I ought to give it a try.
Best decision since sliced bread.
I don't even know where to start. I don't think I'll do one of those reviews where I just explain exactly what's going on, but I will give a brief summary just in case...
So. This series is set in the future, in the place where America used to be. The land is split into 12 Districts, with one area that controls the others, called the Capitol. Years ago, there was a rebellion against the Capitol, because of their iron-fisted hold over all the Districts, but the Capitol beat them down. As a result they imposed the Hunger Games: a televised competition, in which a boy and girl from the age of 12-18 are chosen at random from each District, and they are put in an arena and have to fight to the death, the last one remaining winning the competition.
Katniss Everdeen is our narrator, and her little sister gets chosen to compete in the Games. Katniss, aged 16, won't let this happen, and so volunteers instead. The boy chosen is Peeta Mellark. They journey to the Capitol with a support team, and have to go through many public appearances and interviews before the nation. But there comes an interesting twist. Katniss and Peeta's main mentor is Haymitch, District 12's only living survivor of the Games, and he and Peeta seem to think that if Peeta and Katniss pretend to be in love, they will win over public favour. By doing this they're more likely to get funding, which can be life-saving, as it means you might be able to get access to medicine or food when you're trapped in the arena.
They enter the Games, and although they're split up for a while, they are eventually reunited, and both know they have to act like they're in love the whole time, to keep the audience, and the Game-makers, happy. When the announcement comes that the rules have changed, and if two people from one District are left at the end, they may both win, it seems that they won't have to kill each other, and they might both be able to get home. Through various schemes and events, it turns out that they manage to survive it, and just as the final tribute dies, another announcement comes that actually, the rules can't be changed: meaning that they're going to have to kill each other.
Now Katniss has been having suspicions that Peeta isn't faking his affection towards her, and she is in confusion about her own feelings, and knows that she could never kill him. She proposes they both kill themselves, hoping that the Game-makers will not allow this, as the Games needs a winner. Her plan works, and they are taken out of the arena, to safety. Or so they think. Haymitch tells them that the Capitol isn't happy, that they feel they've been cheated, and if Katniss and Peeta don't uphold their story of being in love, they will both be killed.
It isn't until they're on the train home that Katniss tells Peeta that she was faking her attraction to him, trying to get them to survive. He is understandably angry and upset, and it ends with themheading home, her knowing that she's hurt him, but also knowing that they will have to keep up pretenses in order to stay alive...
Ok. Now for my reactions.
This book is exactly the type of story that I love. Fantasy is defintely my thing: Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, The Magicians' Guild, The Hobbit. I love stories where imagination runs wild, where anything is possible becaue it's a completely different world. I love the fact that people can create these worlds with so much depth and back story, how they're so completely different to ours. That's probably part of the reason I love Harry Potter so much. So this book fits that category perfectly.
I also like a bit of romance. I just get so involved with the characters, and think about their lives far more than I think about my life. Especially with this book. I have gone to bed every night for the past couple of weeks, my head filled with the problem of Katniss and Peeta, thinking about their relationship and how on earth they're going to survive.
I actually love Peeta, (NOT in a fangirl way though!) he's just so sweet and honest, and it's such a shame Katniss doesn't quite feel the same way about him. I think I'll start with this problem, as we're here. I thought it was a great idea of Collins' to set this romance up, but remind us that is was only as a way to survive. In reality shows now, people always whisper rumours about contestants getting together, and it's a comment on how set up these things are that Collins had them pretend like this. However the great twist was that they had to do it just to save their own lives, and also that Peeta actually does love Katniss.
Throughout the novel Katniss's feelings were torn between Peeta and Gale, her best friend from home, neither of whom she knew her feelings towards. I have to admit, that for a short while I was worried that this would go down the 'Twilight road' (that's one Fantasy series that I don't like) of the whole love triangle, who's she going to choose, are the two guys going to be all stupid and macho towards each other, blah blah blah. But it doesn't quite seem to be like that. I'm not sure yet whether Gale does like her. Hopefully not, as that would make things easier, but also the fact that Katniss is determined not to get married or have children. I thought that was an interesting dynamic to her character, as so often we are fed the idea that Marriage + babies = happiness. In my opinion, if people want to do that then fine, but personally I don't want children, I want an amazing career instead. But I wouldn't miind getting married. So when she told Peeta at the end that her feelings for him weren't real, I felt like wrapping him up in bublewrap and hugging him, because he's so adorable, and just been completely crushed.
Sadness forever.
So yeah, Katniss's character is nice and refreshin: just like I said the other day about wanting a different kind of heroine, one who doesn't always end up with a guy etc. With Katniss, she loves both Gale and Peeta as friends, and I think that's really different.
Something else I love in novels, and it sounds weird to write this, is the government opressing the nation. I'm not saying I think it's a good thing!! I was just always interested in learning about the Nazis and Soviets, and I don't know what it is, but in books when there are parallels to that sort of society, I find it really interesting. Especially when people begin to rebel against it (see Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, the Inheritance series, etc). I've always loved history, and when I get to learn about the social context of novels in English, it really brings them to life for me, and I feel like I understand them that little bit more.
So although the Capitol and the Game-makers were awful, I love the fact that they're there because I'm sure there'll be some kind of rebellion in the coming books. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so sadistic as to trap 24 children in a large area and force them to kill each other. It was even worse when, after a day or so of inaction, they decided to set the forest on fire just to force the tributes out of their hiding places and into close range of each other, so they had no choice but to fight.
Collins obviously wasn't scared of having Katniss confront the other tributes, and I was surprised that she actually made her kill someone. One complaint would be that she didn't dwell long enough on the fact that Katniss had just murdered, but then maybe the only way for Katniss to survive was for her to block out everything she had done. Maybe we'll see more regret in the next books, but somehow I doubt it.
I also thought that the people who live it the Capitol were really interesting. The stark contrast between them and the people Katniss is used to, and the disgust she feels towards them was really well done. I also like the way Collins approached the idea of fashion. The story is set centuries into the future, so why wouldn't people find ways of dying their skin pea green? Why wouldn't people want golden swirls inked onto their faces, or gems embedded in their arms? I thought those details really made the city come alive, and only added to the difference between them and Katniss.
I didn't think Collins' writing was perfect. I'm not so keen on the writing style, in that it's written in the present tense, which I've never been that keen on, but I didn't think it detracted from the story at all. For me, even though I love it when people write beautifully (modern example: Markus Zusac, The Book Theif, classic example: EM Forster, A Room With a View), but it's not the most important thing. Unless, of course, they write so awfully, Stephenie Meyer and Mandy Hubbard, to name a couple, that I just can't ignore it anymore. But on the whole, I care more about the story. As long as that's good, I'll go with it, and I can confidently say that this book is a hell of a good story.
Oh gosh, my life doesn't have room for another book obsession!!
I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES.
But not as much as Harry Potter. Never.
STILL. It is FLIPPING AMAZING AND HEART-BREAKING AND HORRIFYING AND EXCITING AND UNIQUE.
I absolutely LOVED it.
So this was another book I'd heard loads about. It's not been as hyped up as One Day, but I've been hearing things, especially since the film's coming out (Oh my gosh, guys I actually cannot wait for that!!) and I thought that I ought to give it a try.
Best decision since sliced bread.
I don't even know where to start. I don't think I'll do one of those reviews where I just explain exactly what's going on, but I will give a brief summary just in case...
So. This series is set in the future, in the place where America used to be. The land is split into 12 Districts, with one area that controls the others, called the Capitol. Years ago, there was a rebellion against the Capitol, because of their iron-fisted hold over all the Districts, but the Capitol beat them down. As a result they imposed the Hunger Games: a televised competition, in which a boy and girl from the age of 12-18 are chosen at random from each District, and they are put in an arena and have to fight to the death, the last one remaining winning the competition.
Katniss Everdeen is our narrator, and her little sister gets chosen to compete in the Games. Katniss, aged 16, won't let this happen, and so volunteers instead. The boy chosen is Peeta Mellark. They journey to the Capitol with a support team, and have to go through many public appearances and interviews before the nation. But there comes an interesting twist. Katniss and Peeta's main mentor is Haymitch, District 12's only living survivor of the Games, and he and Peeta seem to think that if Peeta and Katniss pretend to be in love, they will win over public favour. By doing this they're more likely to get funding, which can be life-saving, as it means you might be able to get access to medicine or food when you're trapped in the arena.
They enter the Games, and although they're split up for a while, they are eventually reunited, and both know they have to act like they're in love the whole time, to keep the audience, and the Game-makers, happy. When the announcement comes that the rules have changed, and if two people from one District are left at the end, they may both win, it seems that they won't have to kill each other, and they might both be able to get home. Through various schemes and events, it turns out that they manage to survive it, and just as the final tribute dies, another announcement comes that actually, the rules can't be changed: meaning that they're going to have to kill each other.
Now Katniss has been having suspicions that Peeta isn't faking his affection towards her, and she is in confusion about her own feelings, and knows that she could never kill him. She proposes they both kill themselves, hoping that the Game-makers will not allow this, as the Games needs a winner. Her plan works, and they are taken out of the arena, to safety. Or so they think. Haymitch tells them that the Capitol isn't happy, that they feel they've been cheated, and if Katniss and Peeta don't uphold their story of being in love, they will both be killed.
It isn't until they're on the train home that Katniss tells Peeta that she was faking her attraction to him, trying to get them to survive. He is understandably angry and upset, and it ends with themheading home, her knowing that she's hurt him, but also knowing that they will have to keep up pretenses in order to stay alive...
Ok. Now for my reactions.
This book is exactly the type of story that I love. Fantasy is defintely my thing: Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, The Magicians' Guild, The Hobbit. I love stories where imagination runs wild, where anything is possible becaue it's a completely different world. I love the fact that people can create these worlds with so much depth and back story, how they're so completely different to ours. That's probably part of the reason I love Harry Potter so much. So this book fits that category perfectly.
I also like a bit of romance. I just get so involved with the characters, and think about their lives far more than I think about my life. Especially with this book. I have gone to bed every night for the past couple of weeks, my head filled with the problem of Katniss and Peeta, thinking about their relationship and how on earth they're going to survive.
I actually love Peeta, (NOT in a fangirl way though!) he's just so sweet and honest, and it's such a shame Katniss doesn't quite feel the same way about him. I think I'll start with this problem, as we're here. I thought it was a great idea of Collins' to set this romance up, but remind us that is was only as a way to survive. In reality shows now, people always whisper rumours about contestants getting together, and it's a comment on how set up these things are that Collins had them pretend like this. However the great twist was that they had to do it just to save their own lives, and also that Peeta actually does love Katniss.
Throughout the novel Katniss's feelings were torn between Peeta and Gale, her best friend from home, neither of whom she knew her feelings towards. I have to admit, that for a short while I was worried that this would go down the 'Twilight road' (that's one Fantasy series that I don't like) of the whole love triangle, who's she going to choose, are the two guys going to be all stupid and macho towards each other, blah blah blah. But it doesn't quite seem to be like that. I'm not sure yet whether Gale does like her. Hopefully not, as that would make things easier, but also the fact that Katniss is determined not to get married or have children. I thought that was an interesting dynamic to her character, as so often we are fed the idea that Marriage + babies = happiness. In my opinion, if people want to do that then fine, but personally I don't want children, I want an amazing career instead. But I wouldn't miind getting married. So when she told Peeta at the end that her feelings for him weren't real, I felt like wrapping him up in bublewrap and hugging him, because he's so adorable, and just been completely crushed.
Sadness forever.
So yeah, Katniss's character is nice and refreshin: just like I said the other day about wanting a different kind of heroine, one who doesn't always end up with a guy etc. With Katniss, she loves both Gale and Peeta as friends, and I think that's really different.
Something else I love in novels, and it sounds weird to write this, is the government opressing the nation. I'm not saying I think it's a good thing!! I was just always interested in learning about the Nazis and Soviets, and I don't know what it is, but in books when there are parallels to that sort of society, I find it really interesting. Especially when people begin to rebel against it (see Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, the Inheritance series, etc). I've always loved history, and when I get to learn about the social context of novels in English, it really brings them to life for me, and I feel like I understand them that little bit more.
So although the Capitol and the Game-makers were awful, I love the fact that they're there because I'm sure there'll be some kind of rebellion in the coming books. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so sadistic as to trap 24 children in a large area and force them to kill each other. It was even worse when, after a day or so of inaction, they decided to set the forest on fire just to force the tributes out of their hiding places and into close range of each other, so they had no choice but to fight.
Collins obviously wasn't scared of having Katniss confront the other tributes, and I was surprised that she actually made her kill someone. One complaint would be that she didn't dwell long enough on the fact that Katniss had just murdered, but then maybe the only way for Katniss to survive was for her to block out everything she had done. Maybe we'll see more regret in the next books, but somehow I doubt it.
I also thought that the people who live it the Capitol were really interesting. The stark contrast between them and the people Katniss is used to, and the disgust she feels towards them was really well done. I also like the way Collins approached the idea of fashion. The story is set centuries into the future, so why wouldn't people find ways of dying their skin pea green? Why wouldn't people want golden swirls inked onto their faces, or gems embedded in their arms? I thought those details really made the city come alive, and only added to the difference between them and Katniss.
I didn't think Collins' writing was perfect. I'm not so keen on the writing style, in that it's written in the present tense, which I've never been that keen on, but I didn't think it detracted from the story at all. For me, even though I love it when people write beautifully (modern example: Markus Zusac, The Book Theif, classic example: EM Forster, A Room With a View), but it's not the most important thing. Unless, of course, they write so awfully, Stephenie Meyer and Mandy Hubbard, to name a couple, that I just can't ignore it anymore. But on the whole, I care more about the story. As long as that's good, I'll go with it, and I can confidently say that this book is a hell of a good story.
Oh gosh, my life doesn't have room for another book obsession!!
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