Book Review- The Hunger Games

Overview

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

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, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Review

First, I just want to say that I LOVED this book. I could not put it down. The overview pretty much explains the basics. Except for the “love” part. See, during these games, each tribute has sponsors that can help them out with food, and supplies during the game. These are based on how much each tribute is loved by the audience and if they can appeal to “big spenders” for help. Unfortunately, Katniss is kind of blunt. Not very appealing to the audience because of her attitude. So, the guy from her district that was also picked as a tribute decides to help her out, by creating a type of romantic relationship between the two for the camera’s. And as much as she appreciates it, it starts to get in the way of her emotions, and suddenly she can’t tell what’s for the camera’s and what’s not. She can't tell what are real feelings, or if she's just going along with everything to survive. Only one person can come out of the games, and even with the "fake relationship" and short alliances, she feels as if she can’t be attached. In the end she ends up causing quite a bit of trouble, and people are hurt in the process. 

I had seen this book at our local bookstore so many times, but always put it back as something I would read later. Well, recently I saw a trailer for a movie and before the title flashed on the screen I knew it was this book. It looked like it was going to be amazing. Then, my brother said he had read the book and actually liked it so I figured I’d read it before going to see the movie in March... Wow. I'm so glad that I did! I found myself completely attached from the very first chapter. I think what I found so appealing about this book, is how it wasn't supernatural. These were ordinary people. Yes, technology is way advanced in the books, but there wasn’t anything superhuman about anyone. And the way the book is written, you could easily be thinking those same thoughts. Feeling the same things. And I absolutely loved it! Once I finished it, I went straight to the bookstore to get the second book. 

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥