Monday, October 29, 2012

Series Review: The Hunger Games Trilogy

Normally I would have wrote seperate reviews on each book, but because I have read the whole series practically in one go and I still have a huge backlog of reviews, I decided to change it up a bit. I will give general info on all three books, but only post the synopsis of the first book, to keep this review as spoiler free as possible. Then I will give a short opinion and rating on each book.

Title: The Hunger Games / Catching Fire / Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA Dystopia
Subject: Supression
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release date: October 2008 / September 2009 / August 2010
Length: 374 pages / 391 pages / 390 pages
I got this book: Borrowed all three of them at the library


Summary:
From Goodreads:
"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 steps forward to take her sister’s place 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 will weigh survival against humanity and life against love".

Personal opinion:

The Hunger Games:
How I loved this! It had been a while ago that I had read a book this good! The setting is too cruel to think of. It is so scary because something like this actually could happen if the wrong persons would get control over such a society. I think that is what gives it part of it's strength: it isn't realistic, but it could be. I really could relate to Katniss and I loved her as a character. She isn't very likable to others but that is what makes it believable because who would be likable if they had to shoulder everything that Katniss did her whole life. I also liked the parts in the arena. I was afraid at first that it might be too violent for my liking but because there wasn't anything too explicit in it, I could just handle it fine. I just loved the action packed fast pace of the book and I will surely re-read this. I actually want to buy the books to stick on my shelf.


Catching Fire:
Without giving too much away, I can say I liked this one as much as the first. Because this twist I didn't expect at all. I also liked most of the new characters they put in the book and this book certainly doesn't suffer from 2nd book syndrom, because it is as action packed as the first and full of plot twists. This book made my heart ache for Katniss because she has to go through everything again and how unfair it all is. It was much more compelling than the first book even because Katniss is starting to lose grip at certain points and it is all much more emotional.


Mockingjay:
To be honest, I did like this book the least. Katniss gets wrapped up in all the political games here and while there is still enough action going on, it doesn't compare to the previous two books. Sure, the plot twists are still there, as is the constant danger, but it just feels a bit too tame. I did like the fact that Katniss just stayed herself dispite everything they wanted from her. She stays a strong lead that makes up her own mind. This is a bird that can't be caged. The ending was done well. The last chapters picked up the action I was used to from the previous books, and the last blow that is delivered to Katniss is heartbreaking.


Purchase links: The Book Depository
Challenges: Dystopia Challenge
Other reviews: Too many to list ;)
If you have reviewed this book and want your link here, please leave a comment with the link, and I will add it :)


1 comment:

  1. Oh my gosh those owls! CUTE! And yes, I loved these books (and disliked the movie, seem to be the only one though), best I've read in a while.
    I felt really sad for the book after that.
    I loved the second pretty much as much as the first, and the third less. It's not bad, but just..Less action-packed?
    A lot of people think the ending doesn't fit, but I think it does. It isn't the standard ending, but I don't need that. Katniss stayed true to herself indeed.
    I hope JK Rowling's new book can give me the same thrill, because all through reading this book I thought: I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS EXCITED SINCE FIRST READING HARRY POTTER! XD And I think I read it at the same pace (read all three in 2 days)
    It really is a good series.

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