Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

When I started reading this first book of a triology, I was entranced by the very strange storyline. It started normally enough with the protagonist Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl giving the description of the aftermath of an apocalypse and the remains that became Panem ruled by the Capitol.  Panem was divided into 13 districts, one of which was razed because of a rebellion, and then, as punishment, here comes the interesting part- ‘The Hunger Games’ were organized.   These games were no ordinary games, not dissimilar to a regular reality survival show we see on TV, but dissimilar in the fact that, to win these games, participants had to survive from other participants, which meant, they had to kill all the others. As punishment for the rebellion, these participants were kids or ‘tributes’ from the twelve districts chosen by lottery. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist was chosen along with Peeta to be a part of the Hunger Games.  The prize for the victor was a continuous food supply to their district and a lifelong of comfort for them.  The book goes on to describe the violence and blood thirst as well as compassion that goes on in the arena as the reader begs to stop it all, at the same time being riveted to it.  Chilling concept isn’t it? A story which makes adults want to shield their kids from this very stuff, but can’t,  given today’s violent day and age. Watch kids play a video game, and see how they don’t bat an eyelid as they blow up hundreds , hundreds of times!

The second and the third part of this triology, ‘Catching Fire’ and ‘Mockingjay’ continue with the second Hunger games and with organized rebellions and revolutions against the Capitol buoyed by the symbol, surviving Katniss Everdeen.  I guess, the first two books did grab my attention because of the novel concept even though I hate even watching less brutal reality shows. I got wearied by the time I reached the third part and I wondered, did I really like the first two parts?  Kids killing kids! Really?! Even if they felt remorse or spent sleepless nights after that,still! Too bloody.  All the same, Suzanne Collins has been able to keep the reader hooked to her books.  Though I hate to admit it, her books were rather entertaining  if I actually stopped thinking it could be for real!