Saturday, March 24, 2012

What makes The Hunger Games so awesome?


(my niece is #teampeeta, so this one's for you, Amanda!)

The Hunger Games movie opened at midnight on Thursday night, and eager fans (my niece included) bought tickets early, waited in long lines, and packed crowded theaters to see their favorite story come to life on the big screen. Yes, it's Hunger Games hoopla time!

In honor of the movie release, I thought I'd join the frenzy and discuss one of my favorite books. Keep in mind, I'm not a huge fan of dystopian stories. But my buddy, Lisa Green, encouraged me to read this book, and I'm so glad she did. (BTW, Suzanne Collins is a genius, and if she could bottle that talent and sell it, I'd buy a truck load)

What made this story so awesome? Here are my thoughts:

Amazing Characters

No doubt Katniss, Peeta, and Gale are beloved characters who carry the entire series. Katniss is smart, strong, and rebellious. Peeta is sweet and protective. Gale is loyal. Add a love triangle, and we're hooked.

Sacrifice

Katniss sacrifices herself for her sister. Peeta sacrifices himself for Katniss. Gale helplessly watches the girl he loves and wishes he could sacrifice for her. These acts endear readers to the characters, and we root for them all the way.

Death

The threat of death is constant in the story, and all along we wonder how in the world Katniss and Peeta will escape death "this time." We learn early on that there can only be one victor, and we worry about these characters throughout the entire novel.

Live TV

In a sick twist, the Hunger Games play out for the nation on live television. This adds to the tension, but also affects how the main character plays the games. She knows people are watching, and she uses this to her advantage.

How about you? If you've read the book, what do you think made it so special? Are you Team Peeta or Team Gale? If you've seen the movie, did it live up to the hype? And if you haven't read the book yet, what are you waiting for??

And just for fun, my buddy, Leslie Rose, shared a cool link on Facebook. Click here to see what district you're from, and how you met your demise in the Hunger Games. Enjoy!

"May the odds be ever in your favor"

26 comments:

  1. I loved Hunger Games (the novel), but I've reached the overload point on hearing about the movie. It's everywhere. Lucky for me, I don't watch movies in the theater, so maybe by the time the DVD comes out, I won't be tired of it anymore.

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  2. I put a hold on this book at my library, but with 1500 people ahead of me, I doubt I'll ever get it that way, so I guess I'm just gonna have to buy it. I've heard only great things about it, though I'm with you & don't normally care for dystopian stories.

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  3. I haven't read the book and not sure I'll see the movie. Oddly enough, it reminds me of the movie The Running Man. Sure it's much better though.

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  4. Hi Julie, I just read The Hunger Games over this past Christmas break. I bought it for my 12-year-old, and she still hasn't read it. (She probably won't.) My 17-year-old just read it last week. We normally don't jump on the bandwagon of the popular books. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know the movie was coming out until after I had read the book.

    I decided to take a peek because it was sitting on the kitchen counter. And right from the start I felt a connection with Katniss: living in the poorest district, having to survive by hunting for food, having to be the "parent" because her mom could no longer do it...all those things made me keep reading the book.

    But it was also all those things you have listed that made it such a great book. So once again, thanks for breaking it down for us.

    Have a great weekend. :)

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  5. I'm reading the book now. I didn't get a chance before. I'll see the movie soon.

    I'm hearing rave reviews.

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  6. Darn - I got killed by trusting a 12 year old boy *sigh* :)

    LOVE this book! I had no idea at all what it was about when I picked it up. I think it was the best way to read it. I felt like the emotional sucker punches kept coming. Amaizing writing. My heart was pulled in every direction on every page! :)

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  7. Oddly, I didn't really love The Hunger Games when I read it. I know. I know. Everyone else LOVES it! I actually liked Divergent more. I will watch the HG movie though, because my teenager liked it a lot and she wants to go. I am looking forward to reading Starters by Lissa Price which is being hailed as the next Hunger Games. Now that sounds like a fantastic read.

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  8. Once I started reading Hunger Games, I put my whole life on hold until I was through all 3. I was totally lost in the world. Right now I'm basking in my post-Hunger Games movie glow, wearing my District 12 earrings and listening to the soundtrack. I disappeared into the movie the way I did the books. Where's my bow?

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  9. I read the books a couple of years ago and loved them. The story is way bigger than Team Peeta or Team Gale. The premise is about sacrifice for a bigger picture.

    I saw the movie yesterday and just loved it. One of the best book to film adaptations I have ever seen.

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  10. Thanks a lot, I just killed by a thousand paper cuts ;-)

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  11. Hi Julie - I enjoyed seeing the film yesterday, but I think I much prefer books over blockbusters. It's difficult not seeing all the small details you get from reading the novel. All the best ~

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  12. For me it was the characters.... I was hooked with the gripping tension of the upcoming games, and what she was about to face... pretty awesome book

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  13. I loved the book bit didnt think the movie lived up to its hype & I didnt like some of tchanges.

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  14. Read all three books. (HG was my favorite)Saw the movie. So...hmmm. Well, loved the books. Agree that SC is Gene-yus! I'd be right behind you in line to buy her greatness. My son is just finishing her Gregor series and LOVES it. As for the movie, I did like it. It was fun to return to those characters and they did keep a great deal of the story there, not to mention intact. But (and this is the problem with jumping from book to movie) I didn't buy Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. She is a good actress and did a fine job, but she wasn't "my" Katniss (ie the one I envisioned while reading). But that is 100% personal opinion which we all have. I missed some of the great details of the book and the depth of her connection to certain characters like Cinna and even all the background about her mother as a healer. All in all, though, it was good. I went with 3 other people, none of whom had read the books, and they all liked it.

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  15. You KNOW I love it!! Absolutely loved the movie as well. I cried. Like three times. It's a must see, it wasn't changed into some commercial mess, it lived up to the novel, which is NOT easy. :D Great post!

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  16. I've read all three books, but I haven't seen the movie yet. I think you hit all the good points of the novel. The love triangle wasn't the centerpiece, but it did add an extra layer of tension, and though I usually like a good bit of romance, I think for this story it needed to be secondary.

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  17. Well, and I think a big part of it is the sort of creepy, "this could happen" feeling of the whole thing. I mean with how insane reality TV has gotten and how negative the worldwide state of affairs seems to be. It's a scary "what if" in which the MC (sort of) wins. That always makes for good reading. <3

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  18. I loved HG because I fell in love with the writing!
    Some say they didn't like the movie that much, but I did! :)

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  19. I've only read book #1, but I really enjoyed it. The appeal for me was the tension Collins maintained throughout the story. I wanted to find out what would happen next. I also am a Shirley Jackson fan, so the scapegoat theme got my attention right away.

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  20. I've only read book #1, but I really enjoyed it. The appeal for me was the tension Collins maintained throughout the story. I wanted to find out what would happen next. I also am a Shirley Jackson fan, so the scapegoat theme got my attention right away.

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  21. Thanks so much for your comments, guys! I hope to see the movie within the next two weeks :)

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  22. I loved the book and can hardly wait to see the movie. I'm not sure if I'm team Peeta or Gale yet, still undecided. ;)

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  23. I still need to see it! My children got sick Friday, so I'm waiting to be set free before I can go.

    Your breakdown of the movie has only made me more excited to go!

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  24. I know I'm going to sound crabby, but I am so not into this Hunger Game hoopla! I think it's because I'm rarely impressed with movies anyway, and I enjoyed the books, so I can't imagine enjoying the movie more. Anyway, I am not rushing out to see it. I will wait for the DVD. :) Although my husband is bugging me because I think HE wants to see it. Go figure. :)

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  25. I really wish I could see the movie! (lack of funds, sniff) Hey, I'm team Peeta all the way. He proved his love for Katniss over and over.

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