The Hunger Games (Yes, The Actual Book)

[flexy]

Warning:

I have NOT seen the movie (yet), I am also only about 40% into the book.

Due to all the hype i thought to get the trilogy for my new kindle.

While i ENJOY the book, i think it's very shallow and full up to the rim with stereotypes and cliches.

There is no depth in the book, let alone any deeper philosophy, wits or anything special. I do not have the impression this is a literary "masterpiece", by a long shot.

The situations in the book where you know exactly what's coming are almost ridiculous.

The cliche of the "post apocalypse" world etc.....well it has been done so many times already....

Ah..here's a good comparison..i think the Hunger Games book is like one of those $1 "romance novels" you can get at the cash register in your supermarket.

(Maybe i am wrong and it gets better later in the book, i at least hope...)

Anyone think the same?

 

[alent1234]

when i was a kid the fear was the world is going to end due to nuclear war. now it's global warming or some other nonsense

in the 1980's the cool movies were comedies like National Lampoon or school comedies like revenge of the nerds or ferris bueller's day off. something with rebelling against authority or the system. or action movies with steven seagall or ahnold

today it's emo kids

most of the popular stuff kids like is usually mindless crap until the kids grow up and then it becomes high art

 

[Red Storm]

I agree that the books are a bit too shallow. Dystopian stories are very interesting to me so that's what drew me to the series, but having a teenage girl as your lead character definitely hurt the story.

The cliche of the "post apocalypse" world etc.....well it has been done so many times already....

Of course it's been done already, it's just a setting. This is like saying "The story is based on human interaction, like that hasn't been done before..."

Originality purely for the sake of originality is dumb.

 

[MrChad]

I've never heard it called a "literary masterpiece". It's young adult fiction and a fun read. The pace is quick and the story is engaging even if it's not "deep". I wouldn't call Crichton, Grisham, Koontz or King literature, but they are good story tellers and write enjoyable books.

 

[brainhulk]

Didn't read the book. From my experience, the movie versions are always much more enjoyable than the text. They usually interpret the author's intention visually in such a manner that cannot be expressed in words. Plus the movies cut out a lot of crap that isn't needed. Finally, it's so convenient to be able to just go to the movies, sit down, and get it over with in < 2hrs. And in 3d too boot

 

[MrChad]

when i was a kid the fear was the world is going to end due to nuclear war. now it's global warming or some other nonsense

in the 1980's the cool movies were comedies like National Lampoon or school comedies like revenge of the nerds or ferris bueller's day off. something with rebelling against authority or the system. or action movies with steven seagall or ahnold

today it's emo kids

most of the popular stuff kids like is usually mindless crap until the kids grow up and then it becomes high art

I take it you haven't read the books or seen the movie then?

 

[Red Storm]

From my experience, the movie versions are always much more enjoyable than the text. They usually interpret the author's intention visually in such a manner that cannot be expressed in words.

I think my sarcasm meter is broken...

 

[alent1234]

it's on my to read list but the story does sound dumb. it's just that the kindle versions are so cheap and if you're a prime member and have a kindle you can read them for free

the story sounds like its based on the old hatred/mistrust or whatever you
want to call it between rural people and city people. wizard of oz has similar themes

UC Berkely has an excellent US history course you can listen to via iTunes U that discusses this

 

[flexy]

I've never heard it called a "literary masterpiece". It's young adult fiction and a fun read. The pace is quick and the story is engaging even if it's not "deep". I wouldn't call Crichton, Grisham, Koontz or King literature, but they are good story tellers and write enjoyable books.

I agree with you because i wanted to mention King as an example, i also enjoy(ed) King a lot, although his books are sometimes just plain...how should i say..stupid. (Not all of them, tho).

As for The Hunger Games, i think it's amazing how she managed it to not even describe the characters, they are also shallow and to a point un-interesting. Ok, one reason might be she is writing in the first person..but you really dont get much of an idea what the characters look/feel ASIDE from the stereo-typical acting.

I also had sort of an "epiphany" while reading the book and came up with a theory why the book/movie is so hyped right now..which, i assume, is mainly amongst teenagers.

Because if you read the book you will see how she over-emphasizes the "bad assery" of those characters which is in extreme contrast how the majority of teenagers is REALLY today.

Let start:

* Oh, my life is so bad, we never have anything to eat, have to work since i am a little kid.

* I am the only one who is there for and has to care for my family, since dad died, mum is crazy etc..

* Have to hunt and shoot my own food

* I am so bad-ass...author needs to point out on each page of the book how badass i am

* Have to prove myself and survive, fight to the death for "my district" etc..

You know what MOST teenagers do today? They are spoilt, sit at home and play computer games all day, they get handed everything to them...for their 8th birthday their parents give them an iPad and their own phone.

There is no such thing as "responsibility" really let alone life essentials things since everything is handed to them while they grow up.

I know i sound like an old fart, but the irony of this really struck me reading this book...and the same extreme opposite you can also find in similar other highly successful franchises, Harry Potter etc. where a KID is put in in some position which is just the total opposite of what reality really is today for most teenagers. Ever thought about this?

 

[zerogear]

Isn't this just Battle Royale with a PG rating? (general theme)

 

[gorcorps]

I've never heard it called a "literary masterpiece". It's young adult fiction and a fun read. The pace is quick and the story is engaging even if it's not "deep". I wouldn't call Crichton, Grisham, Koontz or King literature, but they are good story tellers and write enjoyable books.

This. Nobody said it's going to be the next literary standard that all novels will be held to. It's simply a fun series for a young adult book, in the same vein as Harry Potter.

 

[Tobolo]

You all realize that this was written as a young adult novel right? A teenage female lead is very appropriate in the context. No, the novels will not be considered a masterpiece, but then again , they are not meant to be.

 

[thegimp03]

I picked up the books and am currently about half way through the second one. They seem to be OK for quick reads. I didn't really have any expectations and I have not seen the movie yet. I can see why they're popular among the teenager crowd.

 

[alent1234]

I agree with you because i wanted to mention King as an example, i also enjoy(ed) King a lot, although his books are sometimes just plain...how should i say..stupid. (Not all of them, tho).

As for The Hunger Games, i think it's amazing how she managed it to not even describe the characters, they are also shallow and to a point un-interesting. Ok, one reason might be she is writing in the first person..but you really dont get much of an idea what the characters look/feel ASIDE from the stereo-typical acting.

I also had sort of an "epiphany" while reading the book and came up with a theory why the book/movie is so hyped right now..which, i assume, is mainly amongst teenagers.

Because if you read the book you will see how she over-emphasizes the "bad assery" of those characters which is in extreme contrast how the majority of teenagers is REALLY today.

Let start:

* Oh, my life is so bad, we never have anything to eat, have to work since i am a little kid.

* I am the only one who is there for and has to care for my family, since dad died, mum is crazy etc..

* Have to hunt and shoot my own food

* I am so bad-ass...author needs to point out on each page of the book how badass i am

* Have to prove myself and survive, fight to the death for "my district" etc..

You know what MOST teenagers do today? They are spoilt, sit at home and play computer games all day, they get handed everything to them...for their 8th birthday their parents give them an iPad and their own phone.

There is no such thing as "responsibility" really let alone life essentials things since everything is handed to them while they grow up.

I know i sound like an old fart, but the irony of this really struck me reading this book...and the same extreme opposite you can also find in similar other highly successful franchises, Harry Potter etc. where a KID is put in in some position which is just the total opposite of what reality really is today for most teenagers. Ever thought about this?

kids have been getting nice gifts for a long time. game consoles go back to the 1980's. expensive sneakers as well. its just that necessities are a smaller part of the budget now than 50 years ago and parents have money for this stuff

iphone and ipads are probably better gifts than some of the crap i see in toy r us like action figures or some dumb playset where you push a button and a car goes in a loop, repeat

but a lot of this is right, a lot of necessities of life take a lot less time and energy now ored and before so kids are bored and complain. but it can't be any worse than a movie about a kid who cuts out of school or throwing a party and destroying your parents house

 

[Theb]

It's young adult fiction.

You know what MOST teenagers do today? They are spoilt, sit at home and play computer games all day, they get handed everything to them...for their 8th birthday their parents give them an iPad and their own phone.

There is no such thing as "responsibility" really let alone life essentials things since everything is handed to them while they grow up.

Good lord, speaking of cliches...

 

[flexy]

kids have been getting nice gifts for a long time. game consoles go back to the 1980's. expensive sneakers as well. its just that necessities are a smaller part of the budget now than 50 years ago and parents have money for this stuff

iphone and ipads are probably better gifts than some of the crap i see in toy r us like action figures or some dumb playset where you push a button and a car goes in a loop, repeat

but a lot of this is right, a lot of necessities of life take a lot less time and energy now ored and before so kids are bored and complain. but it can't be any worse than a movie about a kid who cuts out of school or throwing a party and destroying your parents house

Well i was a bit shocked to see that 7 year olds get ipads and androids those days..when i was that age i had lego Seriously...

 

[flexy]

It's young adult fiction.

Good lord, speaking of cliches...

Well i was under the (wrong) assumption that behind a hyped MOVIE must be an extraordinary and good book....

 

[SP33Demon]

I'm so emo!

 

[Miramonti]

I thought it was a good premise and it could have overcome some of it's shallowness by going with a wicked euro-film style ending. Instead, the author chose a kiss-@ss 'pacify the shallow audience' ending.

That's probably what bothered me the most...putting up with a lot of stereotypical shallowness only to finish with a 'hollywood style' ending.

I don't know the author but tend to be skeptical...that it's classified in the young adult fiction category because the author is incapable of something deeper or more profound.

That said, I did enjoy reading it, mainly because of the premise, and plan to read the 2nd and 3rd books next.

 

[KLin]

Sounds like someone had too high of expectations to me.

 

[Doppel]

Warning:

I have NOT seen the movie (yet), I am also only about 40% into the book.

Due to all the hype i thought to get the trilogy for my new kindle.

While i ENJOY the book, i think it's very shallow and full up to the rim with stereotypes and cliches.

There is no depth in the book, let alone any deeper philosophy, wits or anything special. I do not have the impression this is a literary "masterpiece", by a long shot.

The situations in the book where you know exactly what's coming are almost ridiculous.

The cliche of the "post apocalypse" world etc.....well it has been done so many times already....

Ah..here's a good comparison..i think the Hunger Games book is like one of those $1 "romance novels" you can get at the cash register in your supermarket.

(Maybe i am wrong and it gets better later in the book, i at least hope...)

Anyone think the same?

Yeah I agree, but all this said it was a great book because I enjoyed it. Was a quick, enjoyable read and kept my attention. So no, it's not a literary masterpiece like A Tale of Two Cities, but you know what Tale of Two Cities sucks ass because I can't read it (too fvcking boring), so take that for what you will.

 

[dwell]

You were expecting depth in tween-lit'?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Isn't this just Battle Royale with a PG rating? (general theme)

No but that has become sort of the popular unpopular thing to say.

 

[Whisper]

Well i was a bit shocked to see that 7 year olds get ipads and androids those days..when i was that age i had lego Seriously...

So did I, but as another poster mentioned, I also had an NES and, later, an SNES, both of which were major gifts for their times and would be equatable to an iPad.

 

[jalaram]

If you really want dystopian+kid characters+classic, then you want to read Lord of the Flies.

I have Hunger Games on my to read list (I'm on the waitlist at the library) just like I had the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last year. That one was a nice read, but not great writing by any stretch.