Bread and Circuses

The first category I decided to check off was the trilogy.  Jessica has been bugging me for over a year to read the Hunger Games.  Each book really deserves its own review but since it's one selection on the book list...

The first book is very strong and it sort of declines from there.  The Hunger Games is fast paced and exciting.  Catching Fire is still exciting but the first half is pretty slow.  Mockingjay is just slow and choppy.  The ending of the whole series was frustrating and Mockingjay is full of book-throwing moments. I was very disappointed. I wasn't expecting a happily-ever-after but I was disappointed that only Katniss recognized the similarities between President Snow and President Coin.  How did all of these people accept their realities until a kid threatened to commit suicide? Why did kids fight each other for 74 years instead of just sitting down and agreeing not to? I mean if they knew they had a 1/24 chance to live, then why not claim their humanity and work together against whatever complications the Capital threw at them?

I have to address the Peeta v. Gale debate.  I've seen the first three movies and I was team Gale all the way but after reading just the first book, I am fully behind Peeta.  Liam Hemsworth has a smoldering chemistry with Jennifer Lawrence on screen but Gale on the page is less smoldering and more stupid teenage boy. (Book) Peeta is upfront with his feelings and is always authentic with Katniss while Gale never talks to Katniss, just kisses her in hopes of catching her attention. Josh Hutcherson has less chemistry with Jennifer Lawrence and I think Hutcherson just has a more innocent/pure look to him that may work because as Haymitch says, he is better than everyone else but it really isn't believable as a potential love interest for Lawrence.  So for the books, I was rooting for Peeta but in the movies, it will be less believable to see Gale just leave Katniss after the revolution is over.

As a history nerd, dystopia futures are fascinating.  I have had the occasional debate over alternative history and how the future would be different. Hunger Games is almost frightening because it isn't far off from our own reality.  The same parts of civilization that make our modern, comfortable lives make a chaotic, children-fighting-to-the-death future possible.  As long as we are fed and entertained, right?