J1 Staff Writer
The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy of books written by Suzanne Collins. It was released Sept. 14, 2009. It takes place in a post apocalyptic America dubbed Panem. In this future the country is split up into 13 districts all ruled of by the Capitol. The Capitol rules over the districts with an iron fist. Every year they take two kids from each district to fight to the death in The Hunger Games. Protagonist Katniss Everdeen is entered in the games to protect her sister Prim.
While this is an interesting idea, it’s presented poorly. It can be exciting at times, but also tiresome and predictable. Katniss Everdeen is a very melodramatic protagonist. It seems like she’s never happy. I understand this future is dark, but even when she is happy it’s a very mellow “not really all that happy” happy. She also has a nasty, sarcastic attitude sometimes. Melodramatic is the word I think of when I think of this book. Nearly every single chapter ends off with a cliffhanger, which gets very annoying.
The first half of the book consists of buildup and exposition. It is slow and way too long. It could be skimmed of the “drama” and unnecessary details to be three fourths as long. There are plenty of unnecessary details that didn’t need to be told. I think it should’ve been edited better, as plenty of details are shown but never matter.
In the second half the “games” start and the book picks up. It shows Katniss and the rest of the participants fighting to the death in a huge arena. This part of the book can be exciting but, I could predict some of the details. And this part of the book is filled with annoying melodrama. It seems that every other minute the book stops to expose how “dramatic” it is, but it is done way too much, this fraction of the book can be very slow at times because of this.
The Hunger Games feels like a wasted idea. The setting and basic plot could make for a great story. Constant melodrama, slowness and predictability keep it from being one. There are two sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, but they get worse and worse. I can’t say it’s an awful book, it’s mediocre. Don’t even bother with the sequels.
Photo Courtesy of http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/
