As the rain poured all around us in Southern California last week…I spent three of those days at home, with a book in my hand.
I have heard nothing but good things about the book “The Hunger Games” written by already widely loved author Suzanne Collins of the adult Underland Chronicles. But it wasn’t until I got the recommendation from a good friend of mine in a book group that I attend every month that I finally decided to pick up the first book.
Considering that I’m short on money and have been in the middle of the series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin for months now, I shouldn’t have even thought about starting a new book….but I was kinda tired of tons of people recommending it to me. Like they knew something that I didn’t. And they were right.
It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with these books. In fact, it only took one chapter. I thoroughly enjoy post apocalyptic stories when I come across the good ones. Like the Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfield, who is one of the best young adult authors out there today, and I’m sure, gonna be seeing his best selling trilogy into some movies very soon. But The Hunger Games is very different from any others that I have read. Although still classified as science fiction/fantasy…it is more real and authentic than most.
From the beginning, we wonder how a government could have possibly degraded to this. A world much like what is presented in Children of Men, where there are more forbidding laws than freedoms. And a President that invents something so barbaric as The Hunger Games. In short, 74 years ago there was an uprising in the 13 Districts of the country Panem, which lies in what we know as North America. Led by District 13, the government was just barely able to subdue its citizens, and blew District 13 to kingdom come. A Treaty was forged and agreed to, seeing as the remaining Districts had no choice. That Treaty inducting something called The Hunger Games. An event that would happen once a year. Each District has to give up one boy and one girl through a lottery of 12 to 18 year olds to the Games, called Tributes. These 24 tributes battle to the death in an arena that can hold amount of environment challenges and dangers on live TV.
However disgusted I was as a reader, it kept me reading. Reading these books frightened me as well…because it’s not that hard for me to see our government especially, becoming what is the ruling body of Panem in this trilogy. It is a dreadful use of fear mongering power. It is makes you root for the main characters even more.
No matter how intriguing the story was, the real thing that kept me wanting more was the protagonist: Katniss Everdeen. She is walking sarcasm, much like myself, and it took almost nothing for me love and root for her. She was a 16 year old girl, half starved and taking care of her family, with everything going against her. And now, being marched off to certain death as the next female tribute for District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games.
And as young adult novels, I was a little surprised with how graphic it was. I’m not talking about blood pouring all over the place, but if you do not like violence, I wouldn’t read these books. Already the premise is enough for people to veer away from them simply because of how authentic they are. And that is the wonderful thing about them. The story is so real and so authentic, that it scares the reader to death. It is simply not difficult to imagine this as a possible future.
But, other than that fact, Suzanne Collins is just a terrific writer. I have known about her adult books for some time, but like Rick Riordan, there is just something about an adult author becoming so much better when they write in young adult books. It’s kinda crazy how that happens, but it doesn’t really surprise me. The world has become obsessed with the genre of young adult series, especially that are fantasy. Most of the books that I have read in probably the past 8 years have been from this section, young adult fantasy. And all of my favorite books of all time are in that catergory except for the very top 2, which are adult fantasy. There really is something about this genre that is just so genius. Even though they are written for teens, if written well, and I mean to specifically exclude the Twilight Series, the genre is written for teens and above. Just how Harry Potter is a book for all ages. There are things in young adult fantasy for everyone 12 and up. Now, I wouldn’t let a child younger than that read some of the books I have read from the genre, but most would be okay.
The Hunger Games is a perfect example. I would say it is a good book for everyone over 12 and under because it can be a little violent. Now, if your kids are used to that kind of stuff at a young age, like I was watching rated R movies by the time I was about 7 0r 8 years old, then fine. And in most cases, many books in this genre, like The Hunger Games, raise issues not just about the main story line, but issues that are relevant in the rest of the world. Political, social and environmental just to name a few. And in The Hunger Games, there are plenty of controversies to sink your teeth into, which means there is plenty to talk about.
First, the political situation in these stories is horrid. I certainly wouldn’t want to live in any of the 12 Districts. Not even in the Capitol. In fact, I wouldn’t want to live in this possible future at all. That’s how scary it, wondering every year from 12 to 18 if it would be my turn to die for the sick entertainment of the Capitol, and act as a slave for the government. Which is really the whole argument behind this story. Is how the government runs thing, right? Even if it keeps the peace? There are definitely arugments for both sides. Now, because the story is told in point of view of Katniss, we are of course on her side of the issue. It’s hard not to be. But, as an intelligent reader, it would be hard not to at least, understand why the government began to run things this way to begin with, even if it was a punishment.
This story, more than anything, plays on the ideas of free will. We, as human beings, have the right to our own free will. That’s what we are taught as Americans, even if many other countries in the world do not believe, or many religions. But for the sake that this book is written by an American author, let’s stick to that. We have the right of free will. And the government in The Hunger Games, has two faces. One, that it shows the public, and another, that only the smartest of the Districts can truly understand, like Katniss and her allies. The actual Games are a wayof punishment, to remind the Districts who is in charge. I reminder of who is more powerful, and we can get away with anything we want. And in reality, they can. With the first two books of the trilogy, the government does all it can to make Katniss what they want, even with the constant subtlty of her rebellion.
That’s how the rebellion beings in “Catching Fire”, book 2. Katniss is a natural rebel, not realizing at times what exactly she has done to make the people of the Districts look to her as a savior and banner for freedom. And with the constant war going on in her head on who to turn to and which road to take, she never goes against her ideals. That is a real hero. She has principals and beliefs that she refuses to go against, no matter what the government sends her way.
Whether you enjoy this genre or not, this trilogy has something that appeals to everyone. Great characters, fascinating story line, or just great issues to talk about. if anything, reading these books will make you moreof a patriot than ever. It will give you the urge to stand up and believe in something. It is these feelings, that makes Suzanne Collins such a great writer, because only great writers can envoke such powerful feelings.
I can’t wait for the movie and the last book of the series.
LOL, and it makes you either Team Gale or Team Peeta. LOL
