The Hunger Games - part 5

This is the final part of my 5 part series on The Hunger Games.  Parts one, two, three and four are here.

I've now read the final book in the series, Mockingjay.  I haven't quite had time to process all my thoughts yet, but here's a sample.

The book was as readable and exciting as the previous two and finished the series well.  The plot was good, though a little off-page.  A lot of stuff happened off-page and was simply reported to Katniss by other characters or the narrator.  This was necessary to prevent the book becoming overlong, and a necessary problem caused by writing in first person (more on this below), but it disappointed me a bit.
Gale came into the story a bit more, though I still feel like I don't really know him.  His character wasn't developed much.  Katniss' character is still engaging - a complex mix of inspiring and annoying.  Very flawed and very interesting.
I was interested to hear a few weeks ago that Mockingjay will be split into two films, following in the footsteps of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga).  At first I was suspicious of whether there would be enough content to fill two films.  I now think there is - the plot is dense and there is a lot of action which always takes more time on film.  The decision is probably still motivated primarily by money rather than a desire to adapt the books well, but at least the book is adaptable to two books and should make two decent films.
The fact that the series is written in first person caused a few problems.  I've read very little first person fiction so haven't come across this before.  The problem is that (obviously in hindsight) the reader only knows what the main character (Katniss in this case) knows.  There were a few times in the book where lots of things were explained to Katniss, it seems for the benefit of the reader.  When Katniss had been absent or unconscious, lots of exposition followed which seemed like a bit of a limited way of doing things.  I've never been much of a fan of first person fiction, and this series has confirmed my wariness.
However, overall, I enjoyed the series.  The story is good, though at times is seemed like the author didn't know exactly where she was going - it felt a bit lost and meandering.  While Katniss endless fretting her choice between Peeta and Gale became a bit tiresome, her character, as previously discussed, is brilliant.
The Hunger Games is certainly no Harry Potter, but it's also certainly no Twilight.  Easy to read, gripping plot, interesting characters and themes and some really touching moments.

The Hunger Games - part 4

This is post 4 of 5.  The first three are here, here and here.

I've now read the second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire.  I liked it.  Just like the first story, this middle part is easy to read, entertaining and gripping.  Plenty of cliffhangers and bombshells dropped in to keep me reading.  It probably helped that I'm on holiday so I had time to read it fairly quickly.

Some things I particularly liked:

• The power of the capitol is simultaneously portrayed as invincible and vulnerable.  They are able to ship in hundreds of 'peacekeepers' into District 12, but President Snow still feels the need to urge Katniss personally to play along with the love story set up in book one.  This both paints a picture of extreme peril for the heroes and also shines frequent rays of hope into the story.
• It's good to meet lots of new characters like Johanna, Finnick and Mags, and learn small parts of their stories.  This helps show that even districts 1, 2 and 4, which are suggested to be more powerful than the others, are just as under the yoke of the Capitol as district 12.  It reminds me of a section in The Goblet of Fire which says "It was Voldemort, Harry thought, staring up at the canopy of his bed in the darkness, it all came back to Voldemort....He was the one who had torn these families apart, who had ruined all these lives....".  The scope of what is going on is far bigger than the lives of the few heroes we know most about.
• I love how Katniss has become a symbol of hope without meaning to or even completely realising it.  It puts her into a perilous position that sets everything up nicely for book three.  It's also quite nice that I've recently watched The Dark Knight Rises which also has a lot to say about symbols.
• Katniss' flawed character still grips me - her confusion, her inability to lie convincingly...as I said in post two "I love how she finds it hard to make friends, how she often doesn't know what to say, how she doesn’t always get jokes.  Brilliant."

Something I'm still not convinced about is Katniss' feelings for Peeta and Gale.  Maybe it's because Gale has still had very little page time.  Maybe it's because more is to be revealed in book three.  Maybe it's because it isn't written that convincingly.  Maybe it's just because I'm not a girl.  We'll see what happens in Mockingjay.


I think these are the first books I've read having already seen the film.  I've noticed how much my imagination is influenced by the film.  When I read about Katniss and Peeta, I see Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson.  I guess this isn't surprising, but I think it's the first time I've experienced it.

One final thing.  I'm really enjoying reading a series that (a) has a female lead, and (b) isn't Twilight.

The Hunger Games - part 3

This is the third of five posts about The Hunger Games.  The first two are here and here.
I've now read the first book in the trilogy.  The film was very similar to the book, very few changes.  Most of the changes made a lot of sense for the film.
After seeing the film, the two things I wanted more of were more backstory on District 12 and Katniss' home life, and more detail on the buildup to the games and how the sponsorship worked.  I was happy that both of these issues were addressed in the book.  I feel satisfied.
I will now read book 2, and post my thoughts in a little while...

The Hunger Games - part 2

Having seen The Hunger Games again, it’s time for the second post in this series (first post is here).  Here are a few thoughts about the film (SPOILER ALERT).

• It is very re-watchable.  I’ve actually seen it three times now (I intended to see it twice, but ended up going a third time anyway), and it is not boring me.
• The two leads, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, really are excellent.  I spent a lot of one viewing watching Lawrence’s performance – it’s pretty special.
• This story is by no means finished, and it feels it.  Being part one of a trilogy, this is not surprising.  It definitely feels like there is a lot more to come.
• I loved the defiance and subversion at the end, when Katniss and Peeta refuse to kill each other, forcing the Gamemakers to allow two winners, and throughout the Games, as Katniss allies with Rue and then gives her a respectful funeral.
• I love the ambiguity of the relationship between the two leads – this gives a great extra dimension to the film.
• I love Katniss’ character.  I love how she finds it hard to make friends, how she often doesn’t know what to say, how she doesn’t always get jokes.  Brilliant.
• One of the most interesting aspects was the role reversal of the male and female leads – usually it is the male who is the braver, the more heroic, the more reserved, the more determined.  I love that this is flipped in this film.
• I still think the film could have been longer, to incorporate a bit more backstory.
• There is no way this should have been a 12A.  It was reduced from a 15 after cutting 7 seconds of violence, but surely the whole concept (essentially gladiatorial combat for kids) is more disturbing than any particular shots of blood or gore.
• I hope that the books and next two films don’t sell out.  I don’t know what happens, but I hope they manage to keep the integrity of the characters and develop the themes that have been set up.

I plan to read the books sometime this summer.  Parts 3 to 5 of this series will appear then.

The Hunger Games - part 1

This is something I haven't done before.  I plan to write a series of 5 posts on The Hunger Games.  One now, having seen the film once.  One after seeing it for a second time.  And one after reading each of the three books.  We'll see what happens.

I really liked the film.  It has gone straight to the top of my 'Films of the year' list.  I loved the concept and thought it was really well done.  I was absorbed.  The film fed my excitement for new young actors.  It's the second thing I've seen Josh Hutcherson in and, while he wasn't as mindblowing as he is in Bridge to Terabithia, he was still good.  I didn't get to see Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone, but this alone has convinced me that she's good.
I was left a bit disappointed by the length of the film - I thought it could have been longer.  Yes, I know it is already 140 minutes, but since when have I been bothered by long films?  I wanted more backstory about District 12 and Katniss' home and family life.  And I wanted more detail on the buildup to the Games and how all the sponsorship worked.  But in spite of this, I enjoyed the film and immediately ordered the books when I got home.

Possibly the most significant indication of how much I liked the film is that I want to see it again.  This only happens with films I really like.