REVIEW: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Name: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Release date: 31/12/08

Pages: 454

Source: Bought

Rating: 5 stars

Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature. May the odds be ever in your favour

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Review

I can't explain why I took so long to get round to reading this book, I can only regret that I didn't pick it up earlier.  I'm probably one of the few who saw the movie first before being encouraged to read the book.  As soon as I got my hands on it, I just knew I had to forget everything and dive into its world.  But I'm not sorry that I abandoned my books for review in order to read this.

From the first page, I was launched into this strange, dark world.  It's quite slow to begin with as there is a lot of description and back story but it only adds to the vividness and reality of what their lives are like.  It certainly cleared up a lot of things that I was confused about when I watched the movie.  But from there, it's tense, action-packed and totally suspenseful.  Everything is so detailed, so vivid, you can't help but be fully immersed in the story.

The characters feel so 'real': they're clearly not perfect but their flaws make them human, like us.  Katniss is strong-willed and stubborn: a true fighter.  I felt myself admiring her the whole way through the book, she is definitely one of the most kick-ass female protagonists I've read about!  The way she distances herself only makes you desperate to 'see through' her and I'm glad she did end up revealing a lot of her true feelings.  Despite the tough exterior, she can be sensitive and caring as we can see how she dotes on Prim and takes on Rue, another tribute, as an ally.  I rooted for her until the very last page, her cheerleader willing her to overcome every obstacle.  Suzanne Collins has a way with words which makes you wholeheartedly warm to her characters.

And then there's Peeta.  Not the boy with the bread.  But the boy who melted my heart.  I fell for him almost immediately.  He's gentle and caring and terribly sweet and he made me squeal and cry and giggle.  I'm sure he's already stolen millions of hearts across the world but he can have mine too ;)  His thoughtfulness and wit only add to his adorable-ness and the way he pulls through even when things are tough is so so cute because you know he's doing it for Katniss.

Which brings me on to the romance.  Usually I want something hot, a spark.  I didn't get this in The Hunger Games but I adored it nonetheless.  The romance between Katniss and Peeta seemed quite tentative, flitting here and there.  Despite Katniss insisting that their love was just a pretence, I'm convinced she fell for him.  How can you resist him and his sweeter-than-candyfloss personality?  Peeta is one of those guys who make you wish that fictional boys existed <3 nbsp="nbsp">

The Hunger Games is a book you won't want to miss and it has already become a firm favourite of mine.  Let Katniss win your support, let Peeta melt your heart and let The Hunger Games become a permanent addition to your bookshelf.  

5 teacups for The Hunger Games!