Yes, I'm late to jump on the bandwagon. I concede that much. In my defense, however, I've been burned in the past when it comes to YA book recommendations. Back in 2008, several once-reliable sources directed me to a book series by one Ms. Stephanie Meyer, insisting that these books were "the next Harry Potter." I shouldn't have believed them, but I was young and naive and, in due course, sorely disappointed by the trite and often misogynistic prose of the Twilight books. I promised myself it wouldn't happen again; I wouldn't take it on faith that any adventure/fantasy series could even begin to compete with the likes of HP and LOTR. So when many of the same sources began crowing about how fantastic the Hunger Games series was, I was reluctant. I protested and ignored it for as long as I could, even after seeing a pretty epic trailer for the first film adaptation. But alas, I was in need of books to fill my 2012 reading list (I'm currently 6 books deep on my quest to finish 100 before year's end), and these three novels seemed like they'd make for a pretty quick read. I was hardly expecting to be impressed by their depth and excitement, or to have my heartstrings tugged the way they ultimately were. I am happy to say I was proven wrong.
The Hunger Games, as most people probably realize, is the first novel of the series. I went in with low expectations: all this book needed to do was hook me, and maintain a pace that allowed me to forget that it was written for a target audience much younger than myself. Fortunately, it does this and more, introducing us to Katniss Everdeen and a cast of the critical people in her life without feeling too introduction-y. We meet her family as well as her best friend Gale, who from their first exchange exudes a kind of rebellious spirit that Katniss admires. As we follow Katniss through her day we are given snapshots of Panem, the futuristic incarnation of America, which is war-torn and extremely oppressive. We also learn that perhaps the state's cruelest tradition, the annual Hunger Games, is about to take place. Two representatives, a boy and a girl, from each of the 12 districts, will be selected to fight to the death in a tournament designed solely for the entertainment of the prosperous masses. We are told that the odds of someone getting picked for the games increase with age and several other factors, and thus it is a complete surprise when Katniss' sister, Prim, is selected for the games, despite supposedly having the lowest odds of selection. It is, of course, no surprise, that Katniss immediately volunteers to replace her.
As the preparations for the Games revs up, we meet Peeta, Katniss' fellow representative. He comes across as clean-cut and kind, if a little wimpy. Oh, and by the way, he's apparently got a thing for Katniss. That might complicate the whole "having to kill one another" thing just a little bit.
I won't give away the details of how the tournament goes, mostly because a secondhand narration of them couldn't possibly compete with the urgency and pacing of watching it unfold on the page. Katniss definitely carves out a firm place as a kick-ass heroine, as well as furthering a streak of self-sacrifice and courage that will remain a crucial thread throughout all three books.
I think this book could have easily succeeded solely as a character piece, investing us the way it does in the lives of Katniss and the various other citizens of Panem. It would be enough to want to know how the tournament will end, how Katniss' psyche will be affected, and indeed, where her romantic entanglements will lead her. What Suzanne Collins has managed to accomplish, however, is painting a fully-realized, three-dimensional world that is almost a character of its own. It is a testament to her skill that it is not tedious to read about the districts of Panem or the way their politics have evolved since the "Dark Days", but both intriguing and necessary to raise the already high stakes.
The Hunger Games could easily stand on its own, as the story wraps up tidily enough, but so much detail and emotional investment has been poured into this installment that it is impossible to not want the remaining loose threads tied up. Fortunately, we have two more books to see the fallout of an unexpected victory in the tournament, and its inevitable impact on the future of both the characters and the horror-state in which they live.
I recommend this book not only as a satisfying quick read, but as an intriguing concept that gives the reader a lot to think about, long after the last pages have been read. I'm also intrigued to see how it translates to film this coming March-- it certainly reads with a certain cinematic feel that makes an adaptation for the screen seem like a very natural step.
No comments:
Post a Comment