Anyone I’ve talked to who has read The Hunger Games series vows that EVERYONE should read them. They claim they were hooked just a few pages in. Sleepless nights were had because they loved them so much. Waiting for the next saga sent them to a realm where they couldn’t understand what to do with themselves.
I. Don’t. Get. It.
Here’s why. I watched someone read the first book within a few days. Throughout that time, she described the story as sad and depressing, but she hoped for a twist, turning it into something positive and worthy of her time. She sulked more and smiled less.
The gist: It’s a story about starving children killing other children for food.
Um, excuse me? O_o
“But it’s MORE than that,” friends would claim. “If you get past that part of it, you’ll enjoy the books,” they’d press. “You won’t understand until you read them yourself.”
Nope. Not interested.
I’d rather watch stupid TV than read about children in pain, sorry. No, I’m not sorry, scratch that. I don’t mind not following the crowd and giving in to peer pressure. Call me feisty ;)
“But you read the Twilight series,” you argue? There’s an explanation for that.
I read it in the very beginning before anyone heard about it and was told (by a trustworthy friend) not to read the flap or find out what it’s about… “Just start reading it,” she instructed, “you will LOVE it!” Grabbing it on my way to the airport for a two-hour flight, I promised I’d give it a whirl even though I don’t read (oh, I mean, I can read, of course… Thank You, Mr. Bingley).
She was right, I did, and do, LOVE it. Not that it’s superbly written, has a strong female main character, follows proper writing technique, or deserves an award; but it did keep me occupied, gave me an escape from reality, and made me imagine what I would do in a similar situation.
Which, I think, we all THINK we’d behave a certain way when confronted with something crazy like a sparkling, supernatural hot guy (not that I’m saying Mr. Pattison is hot, he’s NOT what I pictured Edward would look like… Team Jacob!) But when push comes to shove our instincts either kick in or we retract/freeze with fear.
Having said that, my friends, I’m going to hit PUBLISH and run away from all the HG’s fans who will try and convince me it’s the best, most amazing, definite read EVER!!!
{ 8 comments }
All the arguments that you use in argument for Twilight can be used in argument for Hunger Games. It’s a great escape from reality and you will love it.
I agree with your choice to avoid the HG books. I choose not to read them not simply because I don’t want to follow the crowd, but because I don’t think the plot is appropriate (as you elude to in your post). There’s a reason why your friend got depressed reading them: Children killing each other because they’re being starved to death, all to provide entertainment to a gladiator-and-death-hungry society is barbaric. Juxtaposed to a silly love-story about a girl who falls in love with a vampire (and a werewolf…maybe? ;) who live the law of chastity (better than she does perhaps) and do everything they can NOT to kill anyone (preservation of life…it’s a good thing) simply cannot be lumped into the same category of consideration.
Thanks for the warning! :-D I don’t like depressing books. In fact, I asked for a recommendation on my blog and said, “Something not depressing or gross.” I read Lovely Bones and HATED it.
I disagree, and that’s OK! You could use your argument for any distopian book. Uncomfortable themes, sad story lines, etc. I didn’t get depressed reading it at all, in fact, I was enthralled. I found it deeply interesting, and it was meant to make you think about the way our world is heading right now…how our world could end up in the future. It makes you think about the power we give the government, and the thrill people (not me) find in “reality shows”. Getting sick pleasure out of another person’s suffering. The love triangle story is very similar to the Twilight story, so that’s where the comparison comes from. I also truly believe that the main character (Katniss) has greater moral fiber than Bella…to say that their vamp chastity story is inspiring is all nice, but she’s a weak and silly girl. I don’t like her character, and I think she teaches girls incorrect behavior. She’s dependant on a creeper, and she can’t live without him…her world crumbles apart, and she’s just in high school!
Anyhow, yes. HG is about kids fighting gladiator-style to the death. But it’s a whole lot more than that, too. You are free to not read it, and I am free to love it!
If you look at it like it is a zombie story, it could be a lord of the flies with zombies, and you pretty much can’t get any cooler than that.
I totally love the Hunger Games- I read all three in less then 4 days. I was really hoping they would get less sad. It was an easy read for me but the subject matter is pretty heavy and it does take a lot out of you. I kinda like that in a book though. Less fluff, more meat.
I though overall it was a beautiful story, and if you like Twilight, I would give it a chance.
I’m with Tee!
Haters gonna hate.
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