Hunger games

[flowerseverywhere]

I loved this book series. I am so excited to see the movie. Katniss Evedeen is the type of female I admire. Strong and kind character. I was very surprised the series was rated young adult. I thought the themes were very adult and there was a lot of violence.

I only long for the day when the Jackie Faber series( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Jack_%28novel%29) also make it to the big screen

[Float On]

I haven't read the books yet, probably should put them on the list a little higher so I can read them before the DVD is available. I probably won't see it at the theater.

[Tiam]

I read the Hunger Games before they seemed to become HUGE! I liked them, didn't love them. They are violent and adult....but I think younger readers want more realistic books. They don't want pablum. One thing I kept hearing back then, was that the Hunger Games were very similar in plot to another book, a Japanese one, called Battle Royale. But I never read that one.

[jania]

I read the first book a while back when a friend suggested it and then I made her tell me what happened in the last two books of the series as I don't plan on reading them. I think if I was a young or high school girl I would have been in love with Katniss, just like I was with Karana from Island of the Blue Dolphins. Katniss is a great, strong character. I didn't find the writing style that great and the reason for the games I thought was lame, so I just didn't focus on it. That being said, the trailers of the movie look great and I am hoping to see it.

[leslieann]

I liked book #1 and 2 & 3 were okay...the premise got a bit lamer and the details thinner as she went along. Books seemed CLEARLY written for the movie screen. My DH said that book #1 just lacked detail...I saw lots of detail about fashion and people's weirdnesses but nothing much to explain the political and cultural oddities. In that way, I see it as written for young adults (teens). And because sexuality and sexual violence are pretty much left out, well, except for the made-up pregnancy, that's how it is for kids...if the books really were for adults, the level of sexual violence would probably match the level of other physical and emotional violence. I thought they were gross, actually, but also I couldn't stop reading. One critic referred to them as "plot driven" which I took to mean that the characters and the context were pretty thin.

BUT....even with my complaining, I DID stay up all night reading. And I liked Katniss and the mockingjay as icon.

[CathyA]

I know nothing about these books/movie. But I keep hearing that its very violent and not for younger people. Is this another one of those movies that's going to give violent kids another behavior to emulate?

[Tiam]

I read the first book a while back when a friend suggested it and then I made her tell me what happened in the last two books of the series as I don't plan on reading them. I think if I was a young or high school girl I would have been in love with Katniss, just like I was with Karana from Island of the Blue Dolphins. Katniss is a great, strong character. I didn't find the writing style that great and the reason for the games I thought was lame, so I just didn't focus on it. That being said, the trailers of the movie look great and I am hoping to see it.

You too? I was telling my daughter that the games, the reaping, all of it, just doesn't make much sense or add up. It's kind of a gaping hole for me.

[Tiam]

I know nothing about these books/movie. But I keep hearing that its very violent and not for younger people. Is this another one of those movies that's going to give violent kids another behavior to emulate?


I think you would have to define "Young People". But if you watch it, I think the filmmakers try to go with the theme of Katniss and Peeta, playing this game not out of choice but necessity, and yet they try hard to play them on their own terms, with a sense of morality, of humanity which is in direct opposition of the nature of the "games". So, humanity and non violence are a theme, even in the midst of the violence.

[Blackdog Lin]

I won't end up seeing the movie for years probably (I'm usually about 2 years behind even the DVD releases). :) But I picked up the book a month ago, based on all the hype I was seeing, and very much enjoyed it. Decently written and strangely compelling. So much so that I'm wanting to read the next two in the series.

[jennipurrr]

I finished reading the series recently. IRL I kept running into a wide variety of people who had read it and loved it, so I decided to give it a try even though the premise did not seem that intriguing to me. I enjoyed it and felt the writing and characters were much better than the other YA series I have read fairly recently, Twilight. I really did enjoy Katniss as a character, as a strong female protagonist. I was so happy the whole "love triangle" thing was kept to a minimum. I did wish there was more background on what exactly lead to the creation of Panem and how former civilization fell, more of the political stuff, but that was glossed over. I kept wondering where in the context of North America each of the districts were but we never found that out except for District 12. The second book seemed a little bit like filler to me, between the first and the third but I finished the series in less than a month, so I was definitely engrossed.

[beckyliz]

Well, I haven't read the books, but my 12 (almost 13) yo DD really wanted me to go with her to see this movie this weeked (I thought - how many more times will she want me to go with her?). So we went Saturday afternoon. The movie was over 2 hours and pretty intense, but I really liked it. I knew maybe a little about what is what about before I went. I do agree with some other reviewers - that Katniss is a better role model for tweens & teens than Bella is. I would watch it again and will probably read the book.

[jania]

I saw the movie this past week and thought it was pretty good. It stayed very close to the first book, so if you have liked the book you will enjoy the movie. I still found the reasoning for the games implausible but again just let it go. I have to say the first flaming costume during the chariot ride at the beginning of the games was amazing, better than I had imagined.

[Tiam]

I saw the movie this past week and thought it was pretty good. It stayed very close to the first book, so if you have liked the book you will enjoy the movie. I still found the reasoning for the games implausible but again just let it go. I have to say the first flaming costume during the chariot ride at the beginning of the games was amazing, better than I had imagined.


You too? Whenever I say that, people don't understand me, but, to me, yeah, I just don't get it. But, I too, just 'go with it.'

[Rogar]

It was a snow day here yesterday and a good day to see a movie. I had read the first book and thought it was a little entertaining but just a little too simple a plot and got bored. As a movie, I think it came off as great entertainment. The producers/directors brought the characters to life in a colorful way and give the story an almost believable futuristic SciFi look. My only disappointment was that the story ended so early into the plot.

[flowerseverywhere]

Well Rogar, it is a trilogy so the door is open for future movies.

I loved the books and thought when I saw the movie that there were many details that were understandably left out that would have enhanced the story. Overall, it was quite good. I hadn't seen a movie in a theater in a long time so was surprised at the commercials.

[Float On]

I said I wouldn't see it, but I was too tired of driving around to just drop off the kids and go home and then back to town again so I watched it Friday night. Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Now I probably won't read the books.

[catherine]

Everyone has read this book! It's amazing. My son's girlfriend read it and LOVED it, and when she spoke of it, she caveated it by saying it's a "young adult" book, like the Twilight series. So I felt that was her code for "You probably wouldn't like it."

But then DH was talking about a book he had bought for his Kindle, and how engrossed he was in it, and I asked him what the name was and he was like, "Hunter...???" I asked him "The Hunger Games"? And he said, "Yeah! That's it!" DH is a 58 year old ex-Marine! Crazy.. I think I'd like to read it now. It seems to transcend age and gender.

[flowerseverywhere]

catherine, for young adult reading you will be surprised at the graphic violence. I was surprised it was classified so.

another great young adult series is the "Bloody Jack" series, the adventures of Jackey Faber by Meyer. I highly recommend it. Everyone I have told about it loves the series. It is set in the early 1800's and takes place in England, America, Australia, the far East and all the oceans in between so it is a very interesting jaunt through those times at land and at sea.

[rosarugosa]

My manager loaned it to me, but I haven't read it yet. I hadn't planned to read it, but she's a good judge of books, so I'll take her word that it's worthwhile.
Flowers: But is there anyone who loves graphic violence more than young adults?

[Stella]

I haven't seen the movie or read the books, although someone bought me the first book as a Christmas gift. I am sensitive to violence, especially when it involves children. Part of me wants to read it because it sounds like it could be interesting, though.

The same person who gave me the book has suggested that at the very least I not see the movie until after I've had the new baby because it would probably give me nightmares. I am especially prone to nightmares during pregnancy.