The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 6:00 PM

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Release Date: September 14, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 384
Overall:

Source: Bought
Interest: hype
Challenge: None

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before -- and survival.

I think I'm probably the last person to finally get around reading this. The book has like 600 some five star reviews on amazon, the debate of Team Gale vs. Team Peeta reigns supreme on my twitter. It's the series that just won't go away.

And now I understand why.

I must admit, when I read the summary, I wasn't intrigued, when I saw the cover... still not intrigued, saw all the positive reviews still not.... went to ALA Chicago, where the coveted Catching Fire arcs flew off the table like million dollar bills (is there million-dollar bill?)... I didn't get one, and I really didn't care. (I KNOW! Don't judge)

But I finally sat down to see what all the hype was about, I didn't think it would be able to live up to it all, but it did and then some. I'm not going to do a conventional review, because honestly I don't have anything to add to the discussion, just look at this as another reason why you should read it if you haven't.

I'm not sure what makes this book such a great one. It has all the elements of a great literary work, alluring characters, riveting plot, remarkably written.... but what makes it so great? I wish I knew.

It was addicting, and I was the unsuspecting victim.

Read it.

That is all.

(ETA: sorry Lenore..... forgot to mention.. I'm Team PEETA!)

Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Writing:

Cover:

View an in depth look into my Star Rating

57 comments:

Ella Press said...: LOL, took you long enough!
I love this book, it's amazing.
Catching Fire, hmm. Not so amazing, but great still.; March 16, 2010 6:02 PM
fallenleaf said...: haha!! I loved that book and can't wait till they relese Mockingjay

Team Gale :); March 16, 2010 6:04 PM
Just Your Typical Book Blog said...: Nope. You're not the only person who hasn't read this one! I have it on my bookshelf, but I just haven't dove into it yet. I basically feel like you did before you read it, lol; March 16, 2010 6:04 PM
Anne said...: I just got it from the library after hearing about it so much! (And loving Gregor The Overlander).
And don't worry. I still haven't read it. Your not the last one. I think that I am....
Well. It's nice to read yet another great review about it!; March 16, 2010 6:05 PM
Nicole said...: About time. =) Welcome to the world of the Hunger Games, Kristi. XDDDDDD; March 16, 2010 6:06 PM
~THE OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST ~ said...: I have not read The Hunger Games. My friend even bought it and Catching Fire and mailed them to me.. Seriouly didnt even think I would read them.. But now I will prob give um a try.; March 16, 2010 6:06 PM
Renee (SteelerGirl83) said...: LOL you're not the only one! I just read and reviewed them last week! This series gets SIX stars from me :-P

XOXO~ Renee; March 16, 2010 6:08 PM
Lauren said...: I'm always amazed when someone who reads YA hasn't read this yet. It's one of those books that's every bit as good as everyone says. I just love it.; March 16, 2010 6:14 PM
Miss Remmers said...: I just finished The Hunger Games as well and am halfway through Catching Fire. I'm so glad I'M not the only one and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!; March 16, 2010 6:14 PM
elizabeth said...: I loved this book! Definitely a favorite of mine.; March 16, 2010 6:22 PM
Jeannie @ Pine Cottage Books said...: LOL! Guess I had better read it then!!! :); March 16, 2010 6:25 PM
brizmus said...: Well, I'm glad SOMETHING finally made you decide to pick up this booK! And that you loved it in the end. Because awesome it definitely is!; March 16, 2010 6:27 PM
Bookalicious Ramblings said...: I'm a lot like you were - nothing about this book intrigues me (I actually quite dislike both the summary and the cover) and yet a part of me really wants to see what all the fuss is about. I really want to read it eventually!; March 16, 2010 6:36 PM
Lenore said...: That is NOT all! You have to tell us if you are team peeta or team gale ;); March 16, 2010 6:48 PM
Sab H. said...: She's Team PEETA obv! Well said Kristi! Love this book! ;D; March 16, 2010 6:50 PM
Katy said...: LOL I didn't get the hype until I read it either (last month). It was awesome (and totally worth the hype). :D; March 16, 2010 6:53 PM
Charlie said...: The cover looks incredibly boring but the story intriguing. Gah, I've too many books on my list already...; March 16, 2010 7:13 PM
Sarah said...: Go team Peeta.; March 16, 2010 7:18 PM
Kath said...: Great review, and go Team Peeta (although, a small part of me wonders if he is to good to be true? Maybe I'm a little Team Gale??; March 16, 2010 7:18 PM
annie said...: Same thing happened to me! I didn't read The Hunger Games until my friend bought it for me for my birthday, and even then it lived on the bookshelf for a few months. But it's definitely worth all the hype, and then some!; March 16, 2010 7:39 PM
pentagramdiaries said...: Go Team Peeta! My mom and sister are Team Gale and it gets really annoying when we have debates over it :); March 16, 2010 7:59 PM
Heather (DarklyReading) said...: I still haven't read Hunger Games and I so need to! It's slowly inching it's way to the top of my tbr pile.; March 16, 2010 8:00 PM
Chachic said...: I read it too because of the hype and I was surprised that I actually enjoyed it. I'm not really into dystopian books.

Team Gale! :); March 16, 2010 8:08 PM
Kelsey said...: I still haven't read it, but it's on my TBR list! The summary sounds cool.; March 16, 2010 8:12 PM
Sandy Shin said...: Yay, go Team Peeta! :D; March 16, 2010 8:19 PM
christina said...: Yay for Team Peeta!; March 16, 2010 8:25 PM
Emidy said...: I've always been disappointed with the books that have been getting lots of hype, but I'm dying to read this series! I have to make this a priority!

Emidy
from Une Parole; March 16, 2010 8:30 PM
Natalie Aguirre said...: I love this series and so did my daughter. Suzanne Collins also wrote another great series Gregor the Overlander for tweens. You'd never think it'd be good, but I always got sucked into the stories.; March 16, 2010 8:33 PM
Jolovesbooks said...: I Love this series and I'm glad you got around to it. Yay for Team Peeta!; March 16, 2010 8:56 PM
Anonymous said...: TEAM GALE.; March 16, 2010 9:04 PM
prophecygirl said...: Yay Kristi, I knew you'd love this! Amazing, amazing book!; March 16, 2010 9:14 PM
AnimeGirl said...: For me the book was okay, I wasn't particularly enamored of the story or the characters. I got Catching Fire somewhere in my TBR pile but I'm in no hurry to get to it.

Maybe it's just not what I like to read.; March 16, 2010 9:20 PM
Jennifer (Crazy-for-Books) said...: And I thought I was the last one to read this book! I just got it in the mail last week and am looking forward to it. I wasn't really intrigued by the premise, but with all the hype, I figured I would give it a shot!; March 16, 2010 9:41 PM
fantasylover12001 said...: You're not the only one to take long. I still haven't read it yet. ;ducks away; I'll get to it, okay?; March 16, 2010 9:41 PM
Zubinina said...: Actually, I'm neither Team Peeta or Team Gale. If it's allowed to be a team then I'm most assuredly, Team Cinna. I love him and wish we saw more of him.; March 16, 2010 9:42 PM
Liviania said...: I'm TEAM GALE. I have to stand up against Lenore, since it was her copy of CATCHING FIRE that I read.

I had small issues with HUNGER GAMES & sequel, but they are surprisingly addictive. I'm sad there will be no MOCKINGJAY ARCs even though I'd have no hope of getting one.; March 16, 2010 9:43 PM
purplg8r said...: you're not the last one...I have both Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but I just haven't gotten around to them, and while I am slightly interested, they're not at the top of my HAVE TO READ pile...but since you felt the same way and loved it, then I just might have to bump them up. Thanks!; March 16, 2010 10:16 PM
hcmurdoch said...: And I expect to see a Catching Fire review in the near future because you know you can't wait to see what happens!; March 16, 2010 10:23 PM
cosnmom said...: Oh, I'm so glad you finally read this! I really look forward to your reviews because we seem to have the same taste in books and also I find that you are extremely fair and you seem to try to find something positive to say about a book, even if it wasn't your cup of tea. Now you need to read "Catching Fire" and pre-order "Mockingjay"! Thanks for your blog.; March 16, 2010 10:52 PM
oO Mariana Oo said...: Great Review!!!! Is a great book, I loved it!!!! is just amazing; March 17, 2010 12:28 AM
stacy said...: Suzanne Collins is brillant, and this is one of my favorite books.; March 17, 2010 12:39 AM
S said...: I still haven't read it. *Facepalm*
It is sitting on my shelf though.; March 17, 2010 12:46 AM
Book Monster said...: Your most certainly not the last!! Still on my TBR pile. Great review!!; March 17, 2010 2:42 AM
Ladybug said...: The synopsis on the back of the book never intrigued me either and I would have never picked it up if it weren't for another book blogger's amazing review. Like you I loved this book and I was so happy that I took a chance and read it!

Catching Fire didn't quite live up to THG in my opinion but it was a good read.; March 17, 2010 3:28 AM
Lenore said...: Livi - Team Peeta Rules! Team Gale Drools! (dorky but true!); March 17, 2010 5:26 AM
Anonymous said...: This book was SOOOO good!!
I couldn't put it down (even though I had to several times =) ~ Ëarwen

http://thebookfae.wordpress.com; March 17, 2010 6:36 AM
fredamans said...: I feel the same as you did.... I see the cover and read the book synopsis, and just can't bring myself to read it.
Maybe I should.

Great review!; March 17, 2010 10:54 AM
Aths said...: LOL! Glad you finally read this! This series is awesome!!; March 17, 2010 11:30 AM
April (BooksandWine) said...: Yay Team Peeta! I'm actually glad there's no Mockingjay ARCs it leaves everyone on the same page when it comes out, essentially we'll all find out at the same time what happens which is awesome!!!; March 17, 2010 12:44 PM
GreenBeanTeenQueen said...: Yay-you read it! I keep telling my teens that haven't read this one to read it! I've booktalked it to so many of my co-workers who don't normally read YA and it's been a hit. I don't know what makes it work so well either, but it's addicting and I love it. And I'm so glad you're Team Peeta!:); March 17, 2010 2:08 PM
Hannah said...: Nice... I also LOVE this series. :)
The only thing is that I've read Battle Royale by Koushin Takami beforehand, and that sort of "tainted" my opinions on The Hunger Games a little. I know, I know, the stories are still rather different (different points of view, dialogue, writing...) but I don't know.
Don't get me wrong, I loved this. I just don't see it as everyone else does.
Thanks for the review!
Love, Hannah

P.s. I'm for Gale! Peeta is super cute and just so sweet, but Gale is bad-ass all the way. Bad-ass, cool, and really real.; March 17, 2010 5:00 PM
Lauren said...: Your review greatly amuses me. Isn't it amazing how hype is sometimes not enough to express how amazing a book is?

Kristi (and others), why are you Team Peeta? I'm honestly curious, since I'm Team Gale. I'm a sucker for the best-friend-forever, and he's such a strong character, to boot.; March 17, 2010 6:07 PM
Heather Zundel said...: Hahaha, this may be the best review of The Hunger Games I've read. You're fantastic. I can't believe you've never read it. But glad you came to join the club. It's really hard to deliver with the kind of hype this books has, but boy does it deliver.; March 17, 2010 7:20 PM
Indigo said...: I haven't read it yet either, but after 600 five-star reviews plus this one, I may just have to!; March 18, 2010 2:04 AM
Melissa Walker said...: I still haven't read it. I know, I know. For shame!; March 20, 2010 7:58 PM
Krista/Tower of Books said...: It's pretty amazing that a hyped-up book can live up to it all. I read this one pretty early, loved it, but I still haven't read Catching Fire.; March 21, 2010 3:34 PM
Kelli (I'd So Rather Be Reading) said...: It is awesome! I love Suzanne Collins! And I am Team Gale but Natalie is Team Peeta all the way!; July 20, 2010 4:51 PM