Excellent book. You won't be able to put it down!, 2008-11-23This is one of those books which you can't bear to put down because you are desperate to know what happens next.
Katniss is a heroic teen who takes her 12 year old sisters place in the 'Hunger Games', a barbaric contest where children are forced to battle to the death until one winner remains. The baker's son, Peeta, is the other child who must compete from Katniss's district 12. The story is set in a post apocalyptic U.S where 12 districts act as slave states producing goods and essentials for the ruling city. A 13th state was obliterated for rebelling against the rulers and the annual 'Hunger Games' are held as punishment for the other 12 districts. A girl and boy are chosen by lottery to enter from each district. Some areas crazily always have volunteers but others like coal mining district 12 dread each selection day.
For anyone worried about the huge death toll in this book I can assure you its done carefully and not in a bloodbath manner. The worst actions are reported back to the main story line and the author uses a clever device of the victims faces being shown in the night sky to inform the fellow contestants who has died that day. The deaths are also told from the victors standpoint so the suffering is there to see but not described in horror by the victim. The setting is gripping enough that this one sided view does not spoil the book. Also it is not just brute strength that helps some of the contestants but guile and tactics. The battle arena has traps of it's own which all the contestants must face and prizes and rewards they must win or collect.
As you can imagine all types of fantastic gadgets and lifestyles are described in this futuristic story - these are only available to the bizarre ruling classes but Katniss and her fellow contestents experience them while being prepared and trained from the games. They provide an excellent constrast to Katniss's life and struggle for survival in a slave mining district and her post training struggle for survival in the battle arena which is several days walking distance wide.
There is much in this book to recommend. It deals with a parents depression and recovery, suprisingly not in the games but in a pre games story. The parents response to the the action is not covered in any way. It gives a fascinating nightmare view of the media, image consultants, sponsorship and branding in a warped future. The heroine of the story has to play along to try to survive. It deals with starvation and hunger not in a third world setting but comparisons can be made with our world today. It deals with honour, compassion and friendship and has some tear jerking moments of sadness but it's not a sentimental tale.
The ending is suitably clever, awful and unexpected and there is a what happens next scenario and I really want to know what happens next.
I am sure others will analyse this story and find fault but to me it is an excellent story for teenagers which will set imaginations on fire and get readers thinking about all manner of topics.
Highly recommend for teenage girls and recommended for anyone else who wants to read a fast paced, gripping childrens' story.
Reviewed By A29D4KLJ0VAAO7Katniss is a heroic teen who takes her 12 year old sisters place in the 'Hunger Games', a barbaric contest where children are forced to battle to the death until one winner remains. The baker's son, Peeta, is the other child who must compete from Katniss's district 12. The story is set in a post apocalyptic U.S where 12 districts act as slave states producing goods and essentials for the ruling city. A 13th state was obliterated for rebelling against the rulers and the annual 'Hunger Games' are held as punishment for the other 12 districts. A girl and boy are chosen by lottery to enter from each district. Some areas crazily always have volunteers but others like coal mining district 12 dread each selection day.
For anyone worried about the huge death toll in this book I can assure you its done carefully and not in a bloodbath manner. The worst actions are reported back to the main story line and the author uses a clever device of the victims faces being shown in the night sky to inform the fellow contestants who has died that day. The deaths are also told from the victors standpoint so the suffering is there to see but not described in horror by the victim. The setting is gripping enough that this one sided view does not spoil the book. Also it is not just brute strength that helps some of the contestants but guile and tactics. The battle arena has traps of it's own which all the contestants must face and prizes and rewards they must win or collect.
As you can imagine all types of fantastic gadgets and lifestyles are described in this futuristic story - these are only available to the bizarre ruling classes but Katniss and her fellow contestents experience them while being prepared and trained from the games. They provide an excellent constrast to Katniss's life and struggle for survival in a slave mining district and her post training struggle for survival in the battle arena which is several days walking distance wide.
There is much in this book to recommend. It deals with a parents depression and recovery, suprisingly not in the games but in a pre games story. The parents response to the the action is not covered in any way. It gives a fascinating nightmare view of the media, image consultants, sponsorship and branding in a warped future. The heroine of the story has to play along to try to survive. It deals with starvation and hunger not in a third world setting but comparisons can be made with our world today. It deals with honour, compassion and friendship and has some tear jerking moments of sadness but it's not a sentimental tale.
The ending is suitably clever, awful and unexpected and there is a what happens next scenario and I really want to know what happens next.
I am sure others will analyse this story and find fault but to me it is an excellent story for teenagers which will set imaginations on fire and get readers thinking about all manner of topics.
Highly recommend for teenage girls and recommended for anyone else who wants to read a fast paced, gripping childrens' story.
This review was cited from Amazon.co.uk.
This item was also found at:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.fr
Amazon.de
Amazon.co.jp
Google Books
Compare prices across all Amazons at AmazonDotStar.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment