Well, this is a first! A book that we all enjoyed so much that we’re going to read the second in the trilogy as our next book group book, partly because we want to know what happens and partly because cynical Meg wonders whether the rest of the trilogy will be as good! So often a trilogy or series is accepted for publication on the basis of the first book and brief synopses of the subsequent books – which then have to be written relatively quickly. Result? Diminished quality – think of your own examples!
So what is so good about ‘The Hunger Games’?
Essentially, it’s very gripping and the concept is both clever and disturbing. The Hunger Games are a game-show that is compulsory viewing for the citizens of Panem, the remnant of the USA after devastating troubles. Each district of Panem has to send two teenage contestants to the games in which the aim is simple – to be the last one left alive – it is kill or be killed. The heroine, Katniss, volunteers to take the place of her little sister who, very unluckily, is selected. Some of us felt that it was a disadvantage that it was obvious in a first person, present tense narrative that she has to survive. The tension is in how she does and the plot ducks and weaves to the very last page. There is a romantic love triangle built in and some very moving moments alongside gruesome killings and the very chilling interference of The Gamemakers. It’s a very thought-provoking read about the game show gone very dark indeed, used as a means of controlling and intimidating the populace. That it also entertains is perhaps most disturbing of all.
Slight quibbles included that it was difficult to warm to Katniss as she comes over as quite a tough customer at times. Despite all she does to avoid murdering anyone and her love for her little sister, she still seems somewhat unapproachable. Some of us also felt quite cheated by the ending. There are big ideas here and we can quite see why a trilogy form has been chosen – but we wanted a little more closure at the end of book 1 and not that awful feeling that the reason we are stopping here is to get us to buy the next book! We have done and we want to read it – but are still mildly grumpy about the ending of book 1.
Scores were all 10s apart from Meg’s measly 9.5 (she withheld a half-mark out of her dissatisfaction with the ending.)
We’ll meet again at 4.15 on Tuesday 7th September and will read ‘The Hunger Games – Catching Fire’ by Suzanne Collins. When the film comes out, remember you read about it first here!
