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| The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, hardbound 1st edition book cover |
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Genre: YA, dystopian
Editions available: Hardback, paperback, ebook, Kindle,
international, audiobook, audio CD
Date published: January 1, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Borrowed
* Rating:
Summary (Goodreads):
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel 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, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, 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 will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
My *Freakin'* Thoughts:
What's the use of my blog--where I share my thoughts on stuff, especially books--if I don't share my thoughts about my fave books and music? That's what I thought a few weeks ago. And since September is my birthday month, why not showcase one of my faves? So now, let me introduce you one of my fave books ever. I am not a professional reviewer, but I hope the next words would give justice to how epic I thought The Hunger Games is.
The Hunger Games is one of the books I judged by its cover (another one is Divergent) where I hated myself for doing so afterwards. I've been seeing this book (along with Catching Fire and Mockingjay) in bookstores. It's on the 'Best-sellers' display. I've been intrigued of what might be it is about, but looking at the cover alone, I figured it's not what I would like. That was months before I heard Taylor Swift will be singing a song of the movie's soundtrack. I didn't even know that it'll be gonna be a movie.
In case you're not aware, or not seeing the obvious, I'm a huge fan of Taylor Swift. I listen to all her songs, watch, as much as possible, her shows and guestings, etc. So when I learned she wrote and sang a song called "Safe and Sound" for the Hunger Games movie, I'm so excited. Of the song. That's when I knew that it was originally a book and it's the same book I'm eyeing for months. Curiosity and intrigue won, I gave the book a try.
The Hunger Games wasn't the first book I read with the combination of genres: action-dystopian for young adults. But it's one of the few books that I experienced a whirlwind of emotions in reading it in less than a day. I've gasped, became frustrated and amazed on the action and thrilling scenes. My heart pounded while I found myself on the verge of my sit (or lying) while reading it. Literally. Who would've thought with just reading, you'd feel those things?
Collins does not only create an action-packed book, she's also done a very good job in mixing it with amaaaazing (no typo here) teen romance, family and community drama. I loved Katniss, the female protagonist, by being strong, girl who her family--especially sister--needs, the girl who is not like the other annoying female characters who has her world revolving around hot boy/s. And simply for being a kick-ass heroine. The other characters has their own roles on the book that makes it more exciting..and annoying. These are the things that--for me--made the book epic.
The Hunger Games is one of my epic (and fave) reads ever and Suzanne Collins has just turned my new fave author. I've read this book before the year ends last year, btw. And I'm still thinking about it a LOT. Like, my ultimatecrush love. And this is another thing I should thank Taylor Swift about. (Oh, and, have I told you how I LOVED *yet creepy* Safe and Sound is? It made my arms' hairs stand and my heart pounding like I was reading the book. I really felt like I was Katniss. Both by the song and book--that makes it more like 4D. The Civil Wars did an amazing job as well!)
I'm so glad to find someone to borrow this book from (non-blogger common friend). But even if I have finished the trilogy, it's just so..I feel incomplete without my own copy. So it's still on my Wishlist. To have a hardbound (first edition, as much as possible) copy of The Hunger Games trilogy. :D
Review of Catching Fire and Mockingjay soon!
Recommendations:
For everyone who wants to read an action-packed book. With right amount of drama and romance. You don't have to be teen to read this, you know. Even if the book was told in Katniss' POV, I'm also sure boys would love this. I knew some have.
I'm sure a lot of people have read this. But there are also who haven't. If you first heard of THG because of the movie, I recommend you to read this.Hear Read me out: it was NEVER the same when it comes to books. They're wayy better.
So if you're one of not-yet-read-it, still-thinking-of-reading-it or first-seen-in-movie, YOU SHOULD READ THIS!
*Be prepared to encounter violent scenes. I suggest this to teenage audience and on.
Book cover comment/s:
Back what I said at the beginning of my review, this was one of the books I judged by it's cover. Now I fully understand the meaning of the mockingjay on the cover with an arrow.
Alternate covers:
Attention with this one, friends! Because of the popularity and the movie adaptation, THG has had a lot of alternate covers. I'm not going to include covers with minimal changes. All covers I got from Goodreads. Ready? (Click on the photos to view larger)
Games. I think these covers looked like a poster for a computer game. What do you think? The first cover was almost the same with the other two. The only difference is that the next two covers shows half-bodied Katniss and the other one's Peeta. The fourth has the mockingjay on the back of the initials (HG).
No-no. This batch are the covers I do not see THG in. Worst, in other words. If this would be my first time to hear THG with these covers, I'd think that it was rather.. The first (Russian) looked rather a novel about romance only. The second (Arabic) teen contemporary/drama (there's so MUCH about the book rather than a girl and her back). Third (Danish). Fourth (Italian) horror story. Fifth (Thai) computer game.
Other world. This batch's pretty nice. First (German) fierce green-eyed Katniss. Second (Dutch) although it is nice, it's kinda more on commercial type. Third (Japanese) from the first look, you'd know right away that it's from Japan. Fourth (Serbian) looked good!
Mockingjay. These covers, as obviously seen, has emphasized the mockingjay. I must say that this batch is my favorite. First (collector's edition) it looked like it was antique. Don't it? Haha But really, I loved it. I love how it was the only cover who has the mockingjay's wings spread out, flying. Free. Second (Chinese) with Peeta and Katniss running in the woods. Third (alternate, English language). Fourth (movie tie-in edition) I. Loved. It. Favorite of them all. Love the fire effect. Best illustrates Katniss. If you've read the book, you know what I meant. ;)
The Hunger Games is one of the books I judged by its cover (another one is Divergent) where I hated myself for doing so afterwards. I've been seeing this book (along with Catching Fire and Mockingjay) in bookstores. It's on the 'Best-sellers' display. I've been intrigued of what might be it is about, but looking at the cover alone, I figured it's not what I would like. That was months before I heard Taylor Swift will be singing a song of the movie's soundtrack. I didn't even know that it'll be gonna be a movie.
In case you're not aware, or not seeing the obvious, I'm a huge fan of Taylor Swift. I listen to all her songs, watch, as much as possible, her shows and guestings, etc. So when I learned she wrote and sang a song called "Safe and Sound" for the Hunger Games movie, I'm so excited. Of the song. That's when I knew that it was originally a book and it's the same book I'm eyeing for months. Curiosity and intrigue won, I gave the book a try.
The Hunger Games wasn't the first book I read with the combination of genres: action-dystopian for young adults. But it's one of the few books that I experienced a whirlwind of emotions in reading it in less than a day. I've gasped, became frustrated and amazed on the action and thrilling scenes. My heart pounded while I found myself on the verge of my sit (or lying) while reading it. Literally. Who would've thought with just reading, you'd feel those things?
Collins does not only create an action-packed book, she's also done a very good job in mixing it with amaaaazing (no typo here) teen romance, family and community drama. I loved Katniss, the female protagonist, by being strong, girl who her family--especially sister--needs, the girl who is not like the other annoying female characters who has her world revolving around hot boy/s. And simply for being a kick-ass heroine. The other characters has their own roles on the book that makes it more exciting..and annoying. These are the things that--for me--made the book epic.
The Hunger Games is one of my epic (and fave) reads ever and Suzanne Collins has just turned my new fave author. I've read this book before the year ends last year, btw. And I'm still thinking about it a LOT. Like, my ultimate
I'm so glad to find someone to borrow this book from (non-blogger common friend). But even if I have finished the trilogy, it's just so..I feel incomplete without my own copy. So it's still on my Wishlist. To have a hardbound (first edition, as much as possible) copy of The Hunger Games trilogy. :D
Review of Catching Fire and Mockingjay soon!
Recommendations:
For everyone who wants to read an action-packed book. With right amount of drama and romance. You don't have to be teen to read this, you know. Even if the book was told in Katniss' POV, I'm also sure boys would love this. I knew some have.
I'm sure a lot of people have read this. But there are also who haven't. If you first heard of THG because of the movie, I recommend you to read this.
So if you're one of not-yet-read-it, still-thinking-of-reading-it or first-seen-in-movie, YOU SHOULD READ THIS!
*Be prepared to encounter violent scenes. I suggest this to teenage audience and on.
Book cover comment/s:
Back what I said at the beginning of my review, this was one of the books I judged by it's cover. Now I fully understand the meaning of the mockingjay on the cover with an arrow.
Alternate covers:
Attention with this one, friends! Because of the popularity and the movie adaptation, THG has had a lot of alternate covers. I'm not going to include covers with minimal changes. All covers I got from Goodreads. Ready? (Click on the photos to view larger)
Mockingjay. These covers, as obviously seen, has emphasized the mockingjay. I must say that this batch is my favorite. First (collector's edition) it looked like it was antique. Don't it? Haha But really, I loved it. I love how it was the only cover who has the mockingjay's wings spread out, flying. Free. Second (Chinese) with Peeta and Katniss running in the woods. Third (alternate, English language). Fourth (movie tie-in edition) I. Loved. It. Favorite of them all. Love the fire effect. Best illustrates Katniss. If you've read the book, you know what I meant. ;)
Great post, and i agree with you 100%!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THG!!!!