joyofreading

My holiday reading this Christmas consisted of the hugely popular trilogy about the Hunger Games.
I LOVED ALL 3 BOOKS!!! 

This won't be a long review because there is so much material written about these books, and the 3 films they have been adapted to since the first books 2008 release, that it seems unnecessary.

It's almost of cult- like proportions. Everyone under the age of 35 (40?) must know about them.

 

The basic story is a science fiction novel for  young readers, about a dystopian society set in the future. The USA as we know it has been destroyed and instead is the country of Panem. It's a totalitarian regime consisting of 12 districts that are totally ruled by the Capitol. Every district produces something that the Capitol needs (coal, weapons etc). To make sure the districts know their place, every year there's a Gladiator-like competition where there's a lottery to decide which young boy and girl (age 12-18) who will fight for their lives in the Hunger Games. One boy and one girl from every district. The Hunger Games are set in a made up arena where the children fight eachother and other dangers/enemies created by the Game Makers until only one child is remaining alive. All for the entertainment of the Capitol audience, where people live lives of ease and luxury (but no real freedom of speech and mind). People in the districts are kept under more or less starvation and harsh control. 

The story is told by 16 year old Katniss Everdeen who volunteers to take her younger sister Prim's place in the games. A large part of why I liked the books so much was due to Katniss. Over all the character development is great and very well written. Katniss is a young, strong, awesome female role model. And from all I've heard about the movies the actor Jennifer Lawrence who plays the part is equally awesome...