From the Bookshelf of Swiftie Book Club¹³…

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

Why we're reading this: "The first thing I did was read the first book in about two days." - Taylor Swift…more
[close] "The first thing I did was read the first book in about two days." - Taylor Swift

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Nov 23, 2022 Aiza rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

Reread. As brilliant as the first time. Will add more later.

I forgot how prickly Katniss was. Rereading brought me back to my youth, the first time I’d read this series. The trademark 2000s/10s first person YA novel formula, with the female protagonist. Sharp as a tack. Only in this case it’s not just because or plot armor, or shallow.

Suzanne Collins is utterly brilliant at world building, with the way all the layers she’s woven come together to make these characters so unbelievably human. Katn Reread. As brilliant as the first time. Will add more later.

I forgot how prickly Katniss was. Rereading brought me back to my youth, the first time I’d read this series. The trademark 2000s/10s first person YA novel formula, with the female protagonist. Sharp as a tack. Only in this case it’s not just because or plot armor, or shallow.

Suzanne Collins is utterly brilliant at world building, with the way all the layers she’s woven come together to make these characters so unbelievably human. Katniss desperate to survive, helplessly guarded, and yet somehow capable of drawing people in. Peeta so good and sturdy and full of right and softness and his poor heart. Rue being even more haunting than I remember. Cinna however has been driving my mind. Smart, capable, observant.

It was so strange, reading this series again so many years later. The plot points were familiar though I’d forgotten the details. A good book never truly leaves you though, so it’s no wonder I can not forget.

The games are brutal and horrifying. Age has put that into perspective. But perhaps this world is more reflective of our own than ever. The privileged living at the height of luxury while the poor barely survive. The widening of the gaps in socioeconomic class. Controlled spread information, widespread propaganda and authoritarianism , distance and divisions among people. Violent regimes and war torn nations while those privileged barely can imagine such a thing.

About The Hunger Games. I am going so far as to call it a masterpiece. Yes. At first glance it will appear to be a typical YA 2010s novel. Prickly female protagonist, love triangle, first person prose, dystopian world. These elements, in this series, are used and layered amongst so many other things for a reason. Not for shallow appearances that do not explore or go in depth in the world. They are a part of how the author constructs themes and the world building. It explores very important topics, which during my reread I found to be even more relevant than ever before. So if it seems cliche and trope-y please keep going. Every character is done justice. Because its so much more than a popular book franchise from a decade ago. The prose isn’t fancy, or heavily stylistic or structured, but it is effective. It gets you into the characters mind and life. None of the characters are simple archetypes. It’s simple and readable, even for a 5th grader. But the issues are complex. And the horrors and depth has only been made clearer with age. Suzanne Collins constructs, explores, and breaks downs systems and issues that are prevalent to this day, to all of us. So what I’m saying is keep going with the book. It will get better if it isn’t already. And it is so worth it. Funnily enough, I have yet to watch the films. ...more

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