It has been a long time since I became so consumed with a story. Not found something wildly interesting or loved the writing - that happens to me fairly often. But obsessively, seeps-into-my-dreams, can't-think-about-anything-else, consumed with a story.
Now, before I build it up too much in your mind, I have to state that The Hunger Games
trilogy is technically Young Adult, and I read it knowing nothing about it. I downloaded it onto my iPad while in the airport, but didn't actually read it until weeks later. I'd heard some twitter buzz on it - mainly surrounding the August release of the final book in the trilogy - and seen the displays at the bookstore, but believe me when I say that I knew nothing of the premise. And I think it's best enjoyed that way.
Which works out well for you, since I don't believe in giving summaries in book reviews anyway.
I will say, though, that The Hunger Games is about children and is violent. Like, strangely violent for a book of this type. This didn't stop me from buying a complete set for my nieces, but if children and violence isn't your thing, maybe skip it. In another twist, I didn't love the main character. The heroin, if you will. Nope, didn't love her in any of the three books. Admired her, maybe, but we wouldn't have been besties in either pre or post-apocalyptic America.
Speaking of America, there were thinly veiled messages in The Hunger Games, but they didn't bother me. All good literature has messages and even though this were cultural and political in nature, I didn't feel like rolling my eyes Avatar-style. This seemed like more of a cultural commentary, and interesting commentary at that.
This isn't a series that you can read out of order. Start with The Hunger Games, which is the best one. Catching Fire
starts a little slow, but becomes a page-turner and has the most well-executed cliffhanger. The final book,
Mockingjay
, was a necessary end to the series but by far was my least favorite of the three. Like the final book of Harry Potter, it was completely different from the others. But while I enjoyed the differences in Deathly Hallows
, I never got quite on board with Mockingjay. Still, once you commit to the series, you can't not read the end.
I was raving on and on about The Hunger Games
trilogy to a friend from my book club who wrinkled her nose and compared it to Twilight
, at least on hype and reputation. If you're feeling the same way, let me stress that Twilight
and The Hunger Games have nothing in common except their Young Adult library designation.
Read it. You heard it here last.
(If you want to talk about The Hunger Games trilogy in more detail with me in the comments, by all means please do - while omitting major spoilers, of course.)
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