Discussion: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

maianhvk · 06-23-2011, 02:50 AM

Many people have read this series. A movie will be released in 2012. This thread should've been started a while ago.

So, what do you think about Hunger Games?

odiakkoh · 06-23-2011, 04:04 AM

Haha interesting timing, I just finished the first book about ten minutes ago. I really enjoyed it. Of course my brother loaned me the first and third book so I will have to buy the second lol.

maianhvk · 06-23-2011, 06:19 AM

To make it short, I enjoyed the first book best, and the 2nd book least.

- I'd like the ending more fierce than it already was.

- The collapse of everything in the end for the Capitol, along with a new iron-handed government was a good move. I had expected something more mediocre and fairytale-like, but that was common sense.

- However, the first book definitely got 4-5 stars, since it brought up a whole new interesting world in which youngsters battle against each other. Book 1 was very promising, it blew my mind completely. In comparison, book 2 "Catching Fire" was pretty weak, without any really big event, and it was just like a break to prepare for the last book in the trilogy.

viviena · 06-23-2011, 06:23 AM

Loved all three books. I don't think it's the greatest book series ever, nor is the series even one of my favourites, but I think it deserves much of its praise and don't understand why people often compare the series to Twilight, except on a superficial, 'there's love triangles in both series!' angle.

I even liked the last book, though it seems to get a lot of hate and disappointment from fans. It's not very inspiring in a 'winner takes all' sense, and the pacing in plot feels uneven. I think a lot of those criticisms can be applied to the first two books as well though.

aielloj · 06-23-2011, 06:37 AM

I read the first book in a all night marathon read, could not put it down, I really really enjoyed it, the concept was just so unusual. I have not been able to read the second in the series. Probably cause i have hard time with series', they never really measure up.

cearbhallain · 06-28-2011, 12:30 PM

I gobbled those books up last week. I loved the story and appreciated the author's depiction of PTSD in teenagers. I also thought it was interesting how the main protagonist is always active, but does not always have agency. She's being used to promote a political agenda *from the very beginning*. Let's remember that this is a YA series, and as such I think the themes were pretty deep.

issybird · 06-28-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maianhvk

To make it short, I enjoyed the first book best, and the 2nd book least.

Ditto. Returning to the Hunger Game was a bad choice plot-wise, IMO. Been there, done that, didn't need to read about it again.

cearbhallain · 06-28-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Ditto. Returning to the Hunger Game was a bad choice plot-wise, IMO. Been there, done that, didn't need to read about it again.

I thought it was a very effective way to highlight the capricious cruelty of the oppressive regime. It was also interesting in how it backfired and became a way for the veterans to band together.

Maybe reading all three books in the space of three days makes a difference in how one perceives the story?

teenap · 06-28-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cearbhallain

Maybe reading all three books in the space of three days makes a difference in how one perceives the story?

I read all 3 books in 3 days (over the christmas break) and I agree.

I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did because it was a young adult series. I've since recommended it to at least 10 people. A suprisingly wonderful read!

odiakkoh · 06-28-2011, 09:54 PM

well just finished the third. For me the whole triology went downhill. 1 was great, 2 was repetitive and 3 was just meh.

orlok · 06-29-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odiakkoh

well just finished the third. For me the whole triology went downhill. 1 was great, 2 was repetitive and 3 was just meh.

(sorry @maianhvk )

And sorry to disagree with @issybird too, but I think the mistake was not enough of the actual Hunger Games in #2 and #3. That was the whole premise of the series, after all.

anamardoll · 07-01-2011, 04:13 PM

I loved them all. (Don't get the 2nd book dislike -- I loved it, and thought the second game felt very natural. Huh.) I seriously feel like they're the best serious YA trilogy I've read; prior to HG, that title went to Pullman's Dark Materials in my estimation. Love them.

Has anyone heard the audiobooks? I really like the narration by Patricia McCormick, esp. since she's "the Law & Order child psychologist" to my ears. Very fitting!

AnemicOak · 07-01-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Has anyone heard the audiobooks? I really like the narration by Patricia McCormick, esp. since she's "the Law & Order child psychologist" to my ears. Very fitting!

I liked the audiobooks too.

DianNC · 07-02-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Has anyone heard the audiobooks? I really like the narration by Patricia McCormick, esp. since she's "the Law & Order child psychologist" to my ears. Very fitting!

I bought the ebooks from Amazon and checked out the audiobooks from the library (simultaneously). For some reason, I was feeling a need every now and then to take a break from listening and just read.

Great little series...really fun and quick.

OtterBooks · 07-03-2011, 01:31 PM

I read the first book. Collins is a pretty good writer, and it's definitely better than a lot of the recently popular YA stuff. Yes, it's a ripoff of Koushun Takami's Battle Royale, in that it not only borrows the concept but directly takes scenes from it, but I'm pretty forgiving of such things so long as they're done well.

I felt that Collins cheaped out at the end.

Spoiler:

06-23-2011, 02:50 AM	#1
maianhvk whimsical Posts: 2,779 Karma: 88193939 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: in darkness Device: current: PPW 4. brick: K3 & Voyage.	Discussion: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins Many people have read this series. A movie will be released in 2012. This thread should've been started a while ago. So, what do you think about Hunger Games? Last edited by maianhvk; 06-23-2011 at 02:53 AM.

07-01-2011, 04:13 PM	#12
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I loved them all. (Don't get the 2nd book dislike -- I loved it, and thought the second game felt very natural. Huh.) I seriously feel like they're the best serious YA trilogy I've read; prior to HG, that title went to Pullman's Dark Materials in my estimation. Love them. Has anyone heard the audiobooks? I really like the narration by Patricia McCormick, esp. since she's "the Law & Order child psychologist" to my ears. Very fitting! Last edited by anamardoll; 07-01-2011 at 04:28 PM.

07-03-2011, 01:31 PM	#15
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I read the first book. Collins is a pretty good writer, and it's definitely better than a lot of the recently popular YA stuff. Yes, it's a ripoff of Koushun Takami's Battle Royale, in that it not only borrows the concept but directly takes scenes from it, but I'm pretty forgiving of such things so long as they're done well. I felt that Collins cheaped out at the end. Spoiler: She should have had to kill Peeta. Taking the easy way out compromised emotional depth and complexity. It also suggests that ultimately, the story isn't going to take any major bold moves, which makes it predictable.

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06-23-2011, 04:04 AM	#2
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 823 Karma: 1818344 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: iPhone 5s	Haha interesting timing, I just finished the first book about ten minutes ago. I really enjoyed it. Of course my brother loaned me the first and third book so I will have to buy the second lol.

06-23-2011, 06:19 AM	#3
maianhvk whimsical Posts: 2,779 Karma: 88193939 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: in darkness Device: current: PPW 4. brick: K3 & Voyage.	To make it short, I enjoyed the first book best, and the 2nd book least. - I'd like the ending more fierce than it already was. - The collapse of everything in the end for the Capitol, along with a new iron-handed government was a good move. I had expected something more mediocre and fairytale-like, but that was common sense. - However, the first book definitely got 4-5 stars, since it brought up a whole new interesting world in which youngsters battle against each other. Book 1 was very promising, it blew my mind completely. In comparison, book 2 "Catching Fire" was pretty weak, without any really big event, and it was just like a break to prepare for the last book in the trilogy. Last edited by maianhvk; 06-23-2011 at 06:40 AM.

06-23-2011, 06:23 AM	#4
viviena Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 520610 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra, Australia Device: Currently Kobo Clara HD and Aura One, iPad	Loved all three books. I don't think it's the greatest book series ever, nor is the series even one of my favourites, but I think it deserves much of its praise and don't understand why people often compare the series to Twilight, except on a superficial, 'there's love triangles in both series!' angle. I even liked the last book, though it seems to get a lot of hate and disappointment from fans. It's not very inspiring in a 'winner takes all' sense, and the pacing in plot feels uneven. I think a lot of those criticisms can be applied to the first two books as well though.

06-23-2011, 06:37 AM	#5
aielloj Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: kindle	I read the first book in a all night marathon read, could not put it down, I really really enjoyed it, the concept was just so unusual. I have not been able to read the second in the series. Probably cause i have hard time with series', they never really measure up.

06-28-2011, 12:30 PM	#6
cearbhallain Groupie Posts: 183 Karma: 1053258 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Vancouver Device: nook	I gobbled those books up last week. I loved the story and appreciated the author's depiction of PTSD in teenagers. I also thought it was interesting how the main protagonist is always active, but does not always have agency. She's being used to promote a political agenda from the very beginning. Let's remember that this is a YA series, and as such I think the themes were pretty deep.

06-28-2011, 09:54 PM	#10
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 823 Karma: 1818344 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: iPhone 5s	well just finished the third. For me the whole triology went downhill. 1 was great, 2 was repetitive and 3 was just meh.

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