From the Bookshelf of Hunger Games Trilogy…

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

Discussion: The Hunger Games Books

Why we're reading this: I absolutly loved this book I'm on Catching Fire right now and it is amazing. I'm also excited for the mo…more
[close] I absolutly loved this book I'm on Catching Fire right now and it is amazing. I'm also excited for the movies, which I heard there were going to be 4 movies so I guess their going to do 2 parts in Mockingjay. Also I think the actors that they chose were perfect, at first I was like eh then after I saw what they were going to look like in the movie i wass like. THEY ARE PERFECT! Also I'm a defanite Team Peeta.

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The Hunger Games Books

White Background for Hunger Games. Why? Just Why??
By Bethany · 1 post · 22 views

last updated Nov 21, 2021 09:44AM

One word to describe the Hunger Game trilogy?
By Olivia · 35 posts · 313 views

last updated Mar 28, 2016 07:46PM

What Members Thought

Apr 05, 2008 elissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my_00s_reads, 10s_re-readswith_l, youngadult, 2008favorites, 00s_re-readswith_j, sciencefiction, readwith_jandl, survival_stories

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've said to a few people that if I wasn't married, I'd have to marry this book. :) I read the 400 page ARC in a less-than-24-hour time period (so quickly that it was never even on my "currently reading" shelf), which I've only done before with HP books, and I've just officially put the first book on my 2008 favorites shelf. I feel pretty safe in saying that if this isn't still my favorite book of the year when next January rolls around, that I'll eat a hat. As soon as I finish I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've said to a few people that if I wasn't married, I'd have to marry this book. :) I read the 400 page ARC in a less-than-24-hour time period (so quickly that it was never even on my "currently reading" shelf), which I've only done before with HP books, and I've just officially put the first book on my 2008 favorites shelf. I feel pretty safe in saying that if this isn't still my favorite book of the year when next January rolls around, that I'll eat a hat. As soon as I finished reading it, I turned around and read it a 2nd time, which I've never done before in my life. I loved all of Collins' GREGOR books, and think she's a wonderful writer, but she's ratcheted it up to another level with this one. Even though it's the first in a trilogy, this one definitely stands alone, and I'm not sure how she can keep it up for another 2 books, but I suppose it's possible (think: THE GIVER, although I loved GATHERING BLUE, and liked THE MESSENGER--HUNGER GAMES is much more brutal than THE GIVER, though). It's got some very meaty issues to chew on, not the least of which is reality TV taken to extremes. There's a chaste and unresolved romance (think: TWILIGHT, but I don't think I will make it past the first in that series--HUNGER GAMES has much more action, more of a plot, lots of well-developed secondary characters, as well as extremely likeable main characters. I will miss Katniss until I can read about her again.). What more could you possibly ask for out of a book? It doesn't actually come out until October 2008, but if you can get your hands on an ARC, definitely do! I think that the violence in this will be easier for kids to take, since they probably won't see it quite as clearly as an adult will. None of it is particularly graphic, but it is definitely brutal. This is on the edge of too dark for me, which is my favorite kind of book. There aren't many writers who can push it right to the edge for me without going over (Zusak comes to mind immediately), but Collins is definitely one of them. Another book that I loved, and think of to compare this to is HOUSE OF THE SCORPION, but that fell apart slightly at the end for me. HUNGER GAMES didn't lack anything at all for me. OK, I'll stop gushing. I may have to re-write this review when I get some perspective. (2012: Obviously, I never did rewrite it, and this is my most-"liked" review :)

My 10 1/2 yr old son asked to read this with me, so I read it for the 3rd time with him in Oct 2008. Still my definite favorite book of the year, but all the typos in the finished book were pretty disappointing. Still, it's my choice for just about any award out there, come January, including the JHUNT.

Update May 2009: I am dying because the CATCHING FIRE ARC has just been released, and people are saying it's at least as good at HG. I've had 2 teenaged boys at my library read this on my recommendation, and both of them came back asking me for more books like it (really there isn't anything). One of them has pre-ordered CATCHING FIRE on Amazon (updated to say that I worked in a fairly disadvantaged neighborhood in DC at the time, so that was not a usual occurrence).

May-June 2011: I'm reading this for the 4th time, with my younger son, who's finishing up 5th grade. Still as good as ever!! Can't wait for the movie!!

Update 2012: Between them, HG and CATCHING FIRE were the pinnacle of my 20-yr career as a YA librarian! I've seen the movie twice so far, and definitely liked it better the 2nd time, when it didn't have to try to be my favorite book. :)

Update 2020: It's been 9 years since I last read this, but I've never listened to the audiobook, so I decided that having it read to me would be a good activity during the covid-19 pandemic. STILL as good as ever, and the odds will forever be in its favor. ...more

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Jun 01, 2009 Emma rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, fiction

only one word describes this book...AMAZING! It action packed and you don't want to put it down. It took me a bit to get into it because the world Suzanne Collins created is so different and unique. I loved this book and only put it down to sleep (damn sleep getting in the way). It left me breathless in parts and of course I cried. I love these characters and can't wait to continue their story with CATCHING FIRE! ...more

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Dec 07, 2008 Clickety rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, recommended-to-me, scifi, ya, fiction

Okay, first of all, to fend off any rabid fans, let me say that I think I tend to be stingier with stars than most people are. I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it. I was surprised by how much I liked it, but I think that has more to do with my incredibly low expectations (despite - or perhaps partly because of - the incredible buzz around the book; I didn't like any of the Twilight books, after all).

And I'm hearing Newberry buzz and hoping to goodness it's wrong. The book's just not ...more

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Oct 30, 2008 Stevie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 08, 2010 Rose rated it it was amazing

I absolutely could not put the book down. What an exciting story with remarkable characters. Whenever I recommend books to friends and family, this book is totally the first one.

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Aug 28, 2009 Heidi rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read which is a good thing in times of stress. I really need to get the second one now!

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May 25, 2011 Kassie rated it it was amazing

Couldn't put the book down from the second I opened it. I read it again recently and was just as hooked as I was the first time. ...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Mark rated it liked it

Shelves: teach-or-have-taught

Enjoyable read; however, very predictable. On the other hand, if the series gets people reading (especially young adults, then the series has succeeded.

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Jun 10, 2011 Laurin rated it it was amazing

Loved this book! I am now reading Catching Fire, the second in the trilogy. Read it. Seriously.

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Jun 10, 2009 Mahlet rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, ya, series, favorites

update 8/10/2010: Just completed my third read of The Hunger Games in just one and a half year's time. Yes, it's that good. And now exactly 2 more weeks until the trilogy conclusion: Mockingjay, is released at midnight!! ...more

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