Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 374
Published: 2010 (first published 2008)
Challenges: 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation, 2012 TBR Pile
Genre: Dystopia, Fantasy fiction, Young Adult
Edition: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Description: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. (via Goodreads.com)
Thoughts: Really quite enjoyed the book and exploring her thoughts as she competes. Its almost like she can't exist without being in the woods with Gale, hunting for food and her family's survival. And she also can't exist without being around her family, which consist of her mother and her younger sister, Prim; they are her world and the reason she participates in the Games and her thoughts are never far from them.
While the book didn't exactly paint how Katniss rebelled against the Capitol, the movie did a much better job in portraying it (well, at least I could visualize the rebellion). Liked how Katniss played up the "romance" between her and Peeta, even though I think most readers know her heart lies with Gale.
Bottom line: I really liked it and would recommend to most readers as it introduces a lot of themes that I think that the series explores and has more mature theme than the Harry Potter books deal with, despite that they do deal with some pretty dark material. I would recommend this book to those that liked the Harry Potter series and other fantasy books that are on the market that are marketed to young adults.
Rating: 4.5/5
Pages for 2012: 8294
