Ellie's Book #12: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

****

Not too much to say about this one, since everyone has read it or seen the movie and I have little to add.

I re-read this book in preparation for the movie, as it had been about two years since the first time I’d read it. I was impressed again by the urgency of the writing, how the pace keeps moving the reader along, as if by staying in one spot too long the reader, too, will get attacked by giant flying fireballs. As before, I cried for Rue (even though I cry at the drop of the hat where movies are concerned—it’s ridiculous, really—it takes a lot for a book to make me cry, so this is fairly high praise). Katniss frustrates me some of the time because it seems like she switches back and forth very quickly at times from competent kick-ace huntress to “wait, what, you actually like like me?” and the contrast seems choppy and uncharacteristic. But that’s probably just me. All in all I still really liked it. I’m looking forward to getting a chance to unpack my boxes of books and re-read the rest of the trilogy. Four stars.

(If you want to know my thoughts on the movie, you can read them over on my LitGroupie blog, but I didn't want to clutter up this blog with movie stuff for now.)

Reflections on a Re-Read

In preparation for the film, I purchased and re-read The Hunger Games this past week, making it my eleventh read of 2012. As I'm pretty certain none of the contributors (or readers) of this blog have not read this one, I don't plan on giving it a full review.

I did want to share some of my thoughts after re-reading it, though. First, I actually enjoyed it even more this time, which surprised me. Maybe I read it way too fast the first time-- yeah, that's probably it. I took my time this go round, letting things sink in a bit more, which was really great. I still got just as drawn into the story. Collins did a phenomenal job, y'all. Some of the more emotional parts really got to me.

{Speaking of that, I am very curious how the adaptation will treat certain scenes. Definitely nervous-- I don't want to be disappointed. That said, I am not the type who gets super angry when a book-to-film adaptation diverges from the book. Seriously, folks, they are two completely different mediums. They're not perfectly transferable. I like to go into the movie with the expectation that it'll be good, but I don't hold out hope that they'll get every single scene or my favorite part ever just right. Meaning, of course, exactly how I see it in my head. Yeah. It's just not going to happen. Anyhow. I try to be cautiously optimistic. In this case, I think I may have exceeded that, mainly because every time I watch the trailer-- and see Prim get taken away and then Katniss burst through and yell, "I volunteer as tribute!"-- I tear up.}

But back to the BOOK. Right. My only other reflection is the one thing that left me kind of unsatisfied. And that is the way Katniss seems utterly unable or unwilling to see the reality of Peeta's feelings for her during the Games. Her internal monologue throughout that time was maddening to me, when she'd go along thinking "Hm, I wonder why Peeta is doing all the stuff. Surely it's not because he actually likes me!" over and over. It didn't seem very realistic. I was able to get more into why she had to pretend to be in love with him, and Haymitch's role in leading her to put on the act, but I guess I think I'd rather have had her just accept Peeta's feelings. I don't think a girl in her situation would really have been that oblivious to it the whole time. Such a small thing, but it's what I kept thinking throughout the second half of the book.

I love this book. I'm sure I'll re-read it many times in the future. Here's to the movie in 17 days!