What I Think About "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

My friend Kaley recommended this book to me a few weeks ago, and I was looking for a simple, entertaining book that I could enjoy. "The Hunger Games" satisfied that completely. The book is very straight-forward (as are most books written for young adults these days, it seems) following the first-person perspective of the main character Katniss through her ordeal. There's plenty to like about the world, and nothing is shoved in your face so much that you tire of the story, and it's clear that Collins set out to write the book with the idea that the story would continue in future novels.

I particularly liked the dystopian world that Collins created. She spends no time at all to describe how North America turned into Panem and even less time on the war between the Capital and the Districts. At the same time, she clearly establishes the subjugated world of District 12 (and the other districts), and the Hunger Games themselves are a very creative invention of a ruling society to keep the man down as it were. Even in this fairly stable society are the small seeds of dissent. I also like how she so easily distinguished between the technologically advanced Capital from the low-tech Districts.

It is here that Collins' greatest work is done. Katniss becomes the central focus of the power of the Districts to subtly rise above their station, show strength to the ruling Capital, and begin to rally the revolution anew. And yet, at no point does she have an inkling of that intent. All she is doing is trying to survive, trying to keep her friends and family alive. Such simple motivations leads to the simplest of actions that in the broader canvas of the world stirs the embers of rebellion. I thought it was brilliant to see such radical changes come from such innocent actions. Most rebellions rarely come from such subtlety, and Collins paints the picture very well.

If there was anything I didn't like about the book was the fact that Katniss is such a girl! LOL! (Let me also say that Katniss is a terrible name for a character, in my opinion anyway.) The fact she can't see beyond 10 feet in front of her and missing the obvious in everything around her drives me mad but is completely necessary to setup the coming rebellion. Her oblivious treatment of Peeta (another weird name) got my nerves rattled more than once. But, in the end Katniss makes a very good heroine for readers displaying the innocence and courage of Alice along with for more inner strength than Bella Swan. I wish we could have gotten more of Rue before she was killed, but I understand how it was necessary.

While "The Hunger Games" is predictable for the most part, it sets up a world that I want to return to in the following books. I want to know more about the world, the other Districts and how Katniss' actions set about a revolution that needs to happen. I can't think of better praise for a series than to emphasize how much I enjoy spending time with the characters in their worlds. I'll be back for more.