I found an assortment of articles that seemed to represent varying responses to the book, The Hunger Games. I don't know that any of them could have, or not have, convinced me to read the book, but I thought they provided clear opinions.
I actually enjoyed the book. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it wasn't disappointing either.
Several readers felt disappointed in their experience with the book.
Tessa, from Goodreads.com, felt that she wasn't provoked to think or inspired to act. She felt she was on a roller coaster and that it was jerky and she didn't have to think or work her imagination. She also felt the writing style was poor and there were no surprises.
Lyh, from Amazon.com, said there was no depth to the story. This person felt that they were being told what to think, what the characters were thinking, what was and was not important, and that they would rather have been able to feel what the characters feeling or thinking. This reader also felt that the dialogue between Peeta and Katniss was forced and strained.
Eirelady from Goodreads.com was pulled in from the very beginning. She felt the story was full of surprises and was difficult to predict. She said, as a reader, she felt all the emotions of Katniss and that the book had depth and was not boring.
Michael from Amazon.com had compliments and warnings about the book. He said he was completely hooked after the first couple of pages and that Collins' narrative had an immediacy to it and combined with the life or death situations made it a compelling read. He also warned that it is a brutal storyline and that parents should be warned when considering for their children. He said it was probably the most violent book he's read in a long time. He likened it to a lesson learned in Jaws; you don't have to see the shark to fear the shark.
I'm not sure how Tessa and lyh came to these conclusions, I respect their opinion, I just don't understand it. I felt from the beginning of page one that Collins was pulling me into the story. I had no problem envisioning the scenery, putting personality to the 'voices', and feeling like I was on a journey with the characters. As far as the dialogue between Kat and Peeta, I guess I expected things to be awkward between them. I wouldn't have picked that out as a fault with the script. They've never had much interaction in their District, they knew each other, but had not been friends. To be thrown into an arena as competitors wouldn't, in my view, make conversation smooth. Add to that the revelation that Peeta loves Kat, which she had no knowledge of, and you have the perfect recipe for a lot of cricket chirping.
I am in more of an agreement with Eirelady and Michael. I felt this book had many surprises and was not predictable. Collins kept me eager for the next turn of events and I wasn't putting the pieces together pages before they unfolded. I don't, however, agree that this book was the most brutal that I've read. While it was violent, and I admit to not caring for the children being killed, I have read other books that were more intense. It could be that for the age range that this was written it is more brutal than others, although I do believe the Harry Potter series has a bit more violence and brutality toward children. I do understand Michael likening this to Jaws. For me, that comparison goes beyond the surface violence. Sometimes the greater fear is not what we see but what we cannot see. Usually what we see on the surface, good or bad, has deeper roots below. And if that surface image is negative, then how much worse lies below? I put this in context to equality and racism as we've read about in class. If what we see on the surface seems bad enough, how deep does it go? How far does it spread? And how do we rid ourselves and the world of it?
I have one final review by, Anonymous from barnesandnoble.com. This person was so thrilled and moved by this book that they went and bought a bow and arrow set. He/she felt the book was equal parts disturbing and fantastic. At the time of the review this person didn't have access to the second book but was eagerly awaiting its arrival. He/she felt this book opens your mind and changes your thinking.
I don't feel compelled to take up archery as Anonymous did, but I do like the open mind and change in thinking.
Works Cited:
1. Tessa. "No title". Goodreads.com. March 26, 2012. http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1882788-tessa?shelf=dystopian. October 15, 2012.
2.Lyh. "Underwhelmed, Hoping for More". Amazon.com. January29, 2012. http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Book-1/product-reviews/0439023521/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_link_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0. October 15, 2012.
3. Eirelady. "Best Book in a Long Time". Barnesandnoble.com. January 28, 2009. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hunger-games-suzanne-collins/1100171585?ean=9780439023528. October 15, 2012.
4. Micheal. "Engaging. Brutal, but engaging". Amazon.com. August 19, 2008. . http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Book-1/product-reviews/0439023521/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_link_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0 October 15, 2012.
5. Anonymous. "Wow". . Barnesandnoble.com. July 27, 2009. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hunger-games-suzanne-collins/1100171585?ean=9780439023528. October 15, 2012.
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