#9 A book by a female author: The Hunger Games, by: Suzanne Collins.
When it comes to female authors, Suzanne Collins has made a name for herself with the instant hit with the Hunger Games Trilogy. Within four years of the books release, the film was released, and every year thereafter, reflecting the ever growing popularity of the series. I was swept away by that storm as well, falling in love with the dark reality that belonged to Katniss Everdeen.
Because this trilogy and movie series has become so popular, it is impossible not to address the details without revealing spoilers. If you haven’t seen or read Hunger Games, I suggest you do so before continuing with my review.
As most know, The Hunger Games is about a sixteen year old girl, Katniss Everdeen, from District Twelve, and her struggle to survive in the coliseum style game she is thrown into by her government. Every year The Hunger Games occur to remind the different districts about their loss in the rebellion against the Capitol. Each District sends one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 to 18, through lottery, to fight in the games, but only one can survive. When Prim, Katniss’ twelve year old sister is selected, Katniss volunteers as tribute, to take her place in the games, starting her journey to the arena and the events that occurred on the road to triumph.
I watched the movies first, so I felt it was only fair to give the books the same level of attention. Once again, I’m not disappointed. It surprised me that Peeta, the male protagonist, quickly became one of my favorite characters in the books, considering I was least impressed with him in the films. It wasn’t that the actor wasn’t good, it was more based on the fact that the character wasn’t developed enough for me to feel invested, as they did for Katniss. In the book, Peeta is just as important within the games as Katniss, if anything he saves her image constantly, keeping the audience on her side.
We get so many more details on his background, and the stories of him realizing he was in love with her when since he was five, even his father plays such a precise role. He sheds light on Katniss’ mother, why she looks so different from other members of the Seam, and even how Peeta first learns about Katniss. It helps you attach to Peeta while you realize he really was in love with her… from the start, which is heartbreaking even more, because you know from Katniss that part of it was just for show on her part during the games. The information I just mentioned was all revealed when Katniss and Peeta were recovering in the cave, which in the films only felt fabricated, all for show instead of the true bonding between these two characters. It was at this moment that Katniss realized she might be developing feelings for him, which complicates her situation in the games, and back home when she thought about Gale.
Some details that could have also helped were more flashbacks. We only get that one memory of Peeta throwing bread at her in the rain in the film, but we don’t understand it fully, or receive any additional information as to why that meant so much to her. In the book we discover that it was a major turning point in her life because Katniss and her family were literally starving. They hadn’t been able to eat anything solid for weeks. She had been digging through trash cans to find scraps to feed herself and her family, so when Peeta burns the bread on purpose and gets smacked by his mother, it was all done so he could give it to her. It saved her life. It gave her the motivation to start to hunt and to bring food for her family. That’s huge!
There were also small details that I felt only added to important moments. Another scene that was important was when Katniss receives the bread from District 11, from Rue’s district. She bonded and protected the small child, and when she was killed, she avenged her death. It tore Katniss up because she simultaneously lost someone important to her and killed someone for the first time. By sending her their bread, it represented their thanks, and paying their debt for her actions towards one of their own. This small gesture signifies so much more than just bread for her to eat; you could see this action as the support for the rebellion.
Another scene that could have just taken a few more minutes but would have added depth or darkness to the film was the whole ordeal with the mutts at the end of the games. In the film they were these strange looking dogs, but in the book they are a creation on the dead tributes and wolf like creatures. This connects to Cato’s death, which is caused by these mutts. He suffered for what seemed like hours, being mauled by the mutts, and begging for death…it was hard to read it without empathy and sympathy towards him. When Katniss finally executed the killing blow, it was mostly due to pity. In the film she kills him almost as soon as he falls into the waiting mouths of the mutts. By extending the scene, it reflects the grotesque nature of the Capitol, and how for them this was considered entertainment.
One difference in the movie that was actually positive was the fact that our view as the audience is widened when we are shown the events happening in the districts throughout the games. Since the book is in first person, we only know what Katniss knows. By doing this, we are given the sparks of rebellion born out of her actions, which she doesn’t get to see in person until the second book.
Over all, I really loved this book, and it only makes me want to see the movies again! 5 out of 5 simply because the story flowed nicely, developed effectively, and kept my attention from beginning to end.
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