17 December 2012

Book club #2: 'The Hunger Games' trilogy


Oh... Wow.  I finished this trilogy a good few months ago, after reading the first one when I found out the film was coming out.  I finished the last two within a few days, which is very quickly for me, and I remember reading them through the night until it was literally light outside.  Without doubt, the best book series I have ever read.  Ever.  The third book had me crying, in fact 'weeping' would probably be a better word.  I'd never a shed even a tear at a book before, which should say everything.
The protagonist is Katniss, a girl, who is sixteen years old, which immediately made it easier to read for me because it becomes so much more relatable and easier to put myself in her position.  She's not someone who I get along with throughout the trilogy, she even annoyed me at some parts, but there's something about her which I really, really, admire (and I think Jennifer Lawrence is probably the perfect person to play her).
You know how everyone always likes the first thing in a series?  Books, movies, whatever.  That wasn't the case for me when reading these.  I think I'd say the second is my favourite, if you're wondering.  But something about these books that appeals so much to me is the fact that the first book was written so it could standalone, like a single novel, resulting in me wondering how on earth they could continue the story into not one but two more books, but it worked.  It so worked.  I mean, to come up with such a wonderfully unique idea for one book is amazing, but to go even further than that, to the point where the third book was just blowing my mind, is pretty phenomenal.
The one thing that makes this trilogy so perfect to me, without a doubt, is how very real it is.  I'm not saying it's realistic, it's set in the future and their world is very different to ours, but it doesn't sugarcoat things.  People die who you don't want to die, sometimes in more violent ways than you'd be used to, it includes issues such as depression and alcoholism, and [potential spoiler alert] the end of the trilogy doesn't end happily ever after, not at all.  Now I'm not used to this, and when I do come across a not-how-I-wanted-it-to-happen ending, I get angry and feel underwhelmed, but this time it had the opposite effect on me.  I mean, I wasn't happy about it, but I understood that that ending was the best way to end it, the most real way.

Oh... I just, I can't explain the impact that this story as a whole had an effect on me, but it really got to me, and I thought the third book was just heartbreaking (hence my tears).  I was emotionally drained when I finished it, and I just remember saying to myself 'wow'.
That's all I can say about it.  If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend you do, the concept is just too amazing and it completely transports you to another world which you will inevitably get sucked into.  Peeta, without a doubt, is my favourite character, and I'm on a lifelong quest to find someone just like him.
Have you read these books?  Or seen the film?  Whether you agree or disagree with my ramblings, I would so love to know your thoughts on it.
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8 comments:

  1. Love this post! The books are amazing and brilliant and fantastic. Everyone I know read them like mega quickly even if they're not a 'quick reader'. I loved yet hated the ending in equal measure, it didn't make me too happy yet was exactly right. You can't read the first book without wanting to read the next two, they really do suck you in! Emotionally drained really truly is the word once you've finished them! Yet you still want to read them over and over and over! Suzanne Collins is a legend, and Jennifer Lawrence is exactly the perfect person to play Katniss! Oh gosh, I'm rambling now. But I love this post, and love your thoughts on it! xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your reply! Not rambling at all, I wanted a good long answer, haha! I'm glad you felt the same about the ending, yeah it was right and I suppose it would be silly to imagine that it would end happily ever after.
      She definitely is a legend. I can't wait to see what they do with the next two films.

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  2. I read these books before the first film came out and I think they might be my favourite series of books. I couldn't put them down at all and I think I read them all about 3 times just to take everything in! I agree the ending was not a happy one at all but I think for the story it was the right ending. I really want to read them again now and I'm already so excited for the next two films!x

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  3. I haven't read any of these but I really want to - I've seen the film and really really enjoyed it. I only read about half of your review above because I was scared to read spoilers but from what you've said they're definitely worth a read! xx

    kw-justlikeheaven.blogspot.co.uk

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  4. I LOVE The Hunger Games! I'd recommend a series by Lauren Oliver for you - the first book is called Delirium, the second Pandemonium and the third is released in March! It's got a similar dystopian theme, you'd really like it I think! And they're making a film of it too! X

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  5. I adore the film, and Battle Royale and Running Man, it's such a bizarrely realistic plot line. George Orwells 1984 is on my Christmas list.
    x
    http://life-of-a-london-intern.blogspot.co.uk/

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  6. i love the hunger games trilogy!!! it's my second favorite book (and movie) series, just after my all-time favorite, harry potter! ;)

    <3, Mimi
    http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

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  7. I loved this series! Though I do like Battle Royale too (both book and film), which is essentially the same plot as the first The Hunger Games, so I wouldn't say it's the most unique of plotlines. But it's great all the same!

    You might like my debut novel The Elites cause my publishers have described it as The Hunger Games meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon ... along with Girl in the Lens I have an author blog now :) details about my book here lovely! http://natashangan.com/ x

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