Review: Hunger Games trilogy (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) by Suzanne Collins
Cover of The Hunger Games
Somewhere in the distant future the USA are no longer a great democratic country. After a series of natural disasters it is reduced to Panem, a country consisting of 13 districts and ruled from the Capitol by a despot called President. After a bloody uprising, organized by the 13th district, the government forces decide to level the 13th district’s area to the ground; allegedly all its inhabitants are dead, the terrain is contaminated by nuclear waste and unfit to live. All the other districts are severely punished for the cooperation with the rebels – not only people are forced to vegetate as peasants and blue-collar workers on a pittance bordering sometimes starvation but also each year during a ceremony called reaping the government officials draw for two underage children (adults must work so they get off), a boy and a girl from every district; they become tributes and must take part in bloody Hunger Games, filmed and broadcast, in which you either kill or you are killed. A punishment and compulsory entertainment in one- isn’t our dear leader rather clever? The sole survivor is the winner; she/he is awarded a luxury life (like a comfortable house, some money, nice clothes and plenty of food for the victor's district) and fame but it doesn’t mean they are left to live happily ever after. It would be virtually impossible to live happily after taking part in such a nightmare as the Games.
We meet the family of Katniss Everdeen, a passionate 15-year-old girl, just before the reaping in district 12, one of the poorest but also the least important ones. She lives with her mother and Primrose, her younger sister. She must hunt to feed them although hunting is officially illegal; her father died in a mining accident and her mother doesn't earn enough. At the ceremony, her little sister is chosen by lottery to be the girl tribute. Shocked Katniss volunteers to take her place (volunteering is allowed). Her partner and competitor in the Games will be Peeta Mellark, the son of a local baker; he loves Katniss secretly but otherwise seems to be rather soft and ordinary boy without any combat training, in other words a perfect victim. He is no fool, though and knows his chances of winning are slim; his main aim is to help Katniss to survive. Katniss is not sure of his good intentions because there are no reliable allies at the Games. As we deal with a trilogy here it will be perhaps not a big spoiler if I tell you that both Katniss and Peeta survived the first Games (but I am not telling how). However, if you think it is the end of their ordeal you can't be more wrong. They provided good entertainment but also did the unthinkable, outsmarting Gamemasters and the Capitol. It is considered almost an act of defiance. They will never be left alone especially that after the Games a new rebellion is brewing in different districts. President Snow wants Katniss to prevent it happening but is it really in her power to do so? She and Peeta have no choice - they must try their utmost as their life and the life of their families and friends is on the line.
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Cover via AmazonWhat I liked:
Plenty. The pace of narration leaves you simply breathless, the idea behind the plot is incredibly good and original, combining Greek myths, Roman gladiator games and more contemporary events like those ugly reality shows. In my opinion the authoress brought out all the subtleties necessary for such a dark story. The series is simply un-put-downable so I was very glad I had waited a bit to be able to order all three books at once; otherwise I would be agonizing over the end constantly.
The lead character is portrayed in a truly heart-wrenching manner: as we get fond of her almost immediately we observe with ache how she struggles to save her life and sanity in quite barbaric circumstances she must face. I also liked her main partner in the Games, Peeta, very much – an intelligent boy full of kindness who simply can’t stop protecting his beloved Katniss even if he is not sure of her feelings or, in fact, anything else. What a nice surprise he wasn't a vampire ;).
Last but not least, I found the description of the Capitol people and the rebels very real indeed: we don’t have here good guys vs. bad guys cliché but on every side we are presented with different shades of evil. Some of the rebels would certainly fit the ugly Capitol without any problem and some of Capitol inhabitants are not bad at all.
What I didn’t like:
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Cover via AmazonI have no intention to pick holes in an undeniably brilliant series but I would like mention two things I didn’t like in these books.
First, the fact that we deal here with another romantic trio (Katniss, Gale and Peeta) I found simply silly. I must admit this kind of mannerism in YA literature, so popular nowadays, is getting on my nerves a lot. Soon enough any girl, be it a fictional character or a real person, who doesn’t have two boys vying for her attention at the same time will consider herself seriously deficient.
Second, I wonder why the character of Katniss’s mother was portrayed in such a way. I mean I don’t quite get why she did so little to help her daughter - she seems to be too busy to play an important role in her healing and finally she decides to leave unstable Katniss in the care of that emotionally scarred, unreliable drunkard, Haymitch, so practically on her own, in the ruins of her home district. I consider it rather strange, especially taking into account the fate of Prim. In my view it would have been more natural if they had stayed together, at least for some time.
The final verdict:
I do recommend this series to anyone who likes good stories told in a terrific manner. Just incredible read!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (My rating: 2 of 5 stars)
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
