Search This Blog

So I Finally Completed the Hunger Games Series and Here's My Review




As of this writing I'm done with the book and done watching the final movie adaptation too. 

Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins is part of my Must Read Books Before 2015 Ends and I am happy to announce that I've successfully done it! I know I'm super duper late with this but I am actually not a book series lover. As a matter of fact, Hunger Games is the very first series I bought and completed. I am still not over my "books-that-became-movie" obsession. 

Anyhow, this is also the first installment on my templated book review post so let me know in the comment section if ever you share the same opinion. Though I'll be reviewing the trilogy in one post I decided to section each book review template per book. That way you can also jumped from one book to another. 
Title

Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins

Characters

Katniss Everdeen - Katniss is the main protagonist of the book. She narrates the whole story introducing each and every character as well as the settings. She is District 12's female tribute who volunteered for her younger sister. She has the character of true survivor.

Peeta Mellark - Peeta is the male tribute from District 12. He's been in love with Katniss ever since they were five years old. He is good in camouflaging since he's the creative soul who designs cake for their family bakery. He is described in the book as medium height, strongly built and has ashy blond hair. 

Haymitch Abernathy - Haymitch is District 12's lone victor from the 50th Hunger Games. He became Katniss and Peeta's mentor. He drink alcohol a lot of time to forget the memories of the past. He believe in Katniss a lot and send her gifts throughout the games.

Effie Trinket - Effie is a Capitol resident and District 12's escort. She was the one who drew the name of Primrose (Katniss' younger sister) causing Katniss to volunteer instead. She has a bubbly personality and wears colored wigs and face full of makeup.

Gale Hawthorne - Gale is Katniss' childhood friend. He is a reliable person and the man Katniss trust a lot. He and Katniss are hunting buddies. 

Primrose Everdeen - Primrose is Katniss' younger sister. She was supposed to be District 12's victor but was replaced when Katniss volunteered to take her place. She is very wise and thinks older than her age. 

Cinna - Cinna is Katniss' stylist and is designs greatly all of Katniss outfits. He made Katniss known as "the girl on fire". Cinna is very simple when it comes to his choice of clothing and overall look.

74th Hunger Games Notable Tributes- Rue from District 11, Cato from District 2, Foxface from District 5, Clove from District 2, Thresh from District 11, Glimmer and Marvel from District 1.

Date Read

October 19, 2015 

The Book Was About

The Hunger Games, being the first of the Trilogy, opens the reader with the world of Panem and the tradition of Hunger Games. Panem is led by President Snow who resides in the wealthy area called The Capitol. Panem is composed of 12 Districts where each district specializes in important industry. District 1 Luxury, District 2 Masonry, District 3 Technology, District 4 Fishing, District 5 Electricity, District 6 Transportation, District 7 Lumber, District 8 Textiles, District 9 Grain, District 10 Livestock, District 11 Agriculture and District 12 Mining.

Now each district sends one boy and one girl ages 12-18 to participate in a bloody reality-show style tradition called The Hunger Games. They are forced to kill each other leaving only one alive and will forever be known as a Victor. The Hunger Games is set to remind everyone on the districts dependence to The Capitol.

The book describe each scene from when Katniss and Peeta were announced as District 12's Tributes, their training days to the moment the 74th Hunger Games begin. There are moments of flashback when Katniss remember her father who died in a mining bombing but most are narrated in the present time. Because the Hunger Games is surviving until the end, it is quiet filled with violence with each teenager tributes using rocks, spears, knives, fires and other to stay alive. 

Katniss and Peeta unexpectedly started a star crossed lover thing when Peeta confessed his love for Katniss during their interview with Ceasar Flickerman. They strive to protect each other during the game. In the end, Katniss and Peeta were announced as the 74th Hunger Games' victors. 

Favorite Line or Quotes



To this day, I can never shake the connection between this boy, Peeta Mellark, and the bread that gave me hope and the dandelion that reminded me that I was not doomed. - Katniss Everdeen, p. 37 


She has no idea. The effect she can have. Peeta Mellark, p. 105


We’ll there is this one girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But i’m pretty sure she didn’t know I was alive until the reaping. Because…because…she came here with me. Peeta Mellark, p. 151


Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin! Claudius Templesmith, p. 171


I killed a boy whose name I don’t even know.  Katniss Everdeen, p. 243


It’s strange to be so physically close to someone who’s so distant.Katniss Everdeen, p. 279


I remember everything about you. You’re the one who wasn’t paying attention. Peeta Mellark, p. 302



I Read This With...

Strangers I sat beside with during my commute time.

Favorite Memory With This Book

The moment when I can't control my kilig reading Peeta's "because she came with me" line. 
Reading this book alone at Blenz Coffee Shop near work.

Title

Catching Fire by Suzzane Collins

Characters

Aside from Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, Effie, Gale, Primrose and other mentioned in Book 1, new faces were introduced. 

Finnick Odair - Finnick Odair is the male tribute from District 4. He won the 65th Hunger Games when he's only 15 years old. He woe a net himself and used a trident to kill the other tributes. He is known for his attractive green eyes and being a darling of the Capitol. 

Mags - Mags is the female tribute from District 4 who volunteered in behalf of Annie Cresta, Finnick's true love. She can make fishing hook out of anything. She gave up her life when the Finnick, Katniss and Peeta are trying to escape the poison fog. 

Johanna Mason - Johanna is the female tribute from District 7. She won a Hunger Games before by pretending to be weak and when there were only a handful of tributes left, she showed her killing skills. She is not in good terms with Katniss.

Beetee Latier - Beetee is the male tribute from District 3. He is very intelligent and very skilled with wire. He was the one who gave the idea of blowing the arena's force field through wires. 

Wiress - Wiress is the female tribute from District 3 and one who figured out that the Quarter Quell arena is like a clock. She was killed by District 1's tribute, Gloss.

Data Read 

October 21, 2015

The Book Was About

Catching Fire is the second book from The Hunger Games Trilogy. The focus of the book is the 75th Hunger Games which is also known as Quarter Quell. Every 25 years a quarter quell will happen it is supposed to be tougher than the normal Hunger Games. The Capitol change the rules of the game to spice up everything. 

For the 75th Hunger Games, the tributes will be taken from the remaining victor of each district. District 12's once again had Katniss and Peeta as tributes. The relationship of Katniss and Peeta in the first part of Catching Fire was strangers trying hard to still be the star crossed lovers. 

Just like in Book 1, Katniss and Peeta went on training again and saw how the other 22 tributes look. They were the youngest contestants and was pushed to have allies by Haymitch. In the hope of canceling the games, Peeta once again made a line that broke the whole Capitol. He stated that 1. Katniss and him had a secret marriage back in District and 2. Katniss is pregnant.

Unfortunately, the games is still on. On the final minutes before the game started, Cinna was beaten to death by Peacekeepers in front of Katniss. Katniss, though emotionally ruined remained stable and fight for survival. During the games, Katniss and Peeta had an alliance with Finnick and Mags. 

Katniss and Peeta were much more closer with kisses and tight hugs and sweet conversations here and there. They survived the 75th Hunger Games together with Finnick and Beetee when Katniss threw her arrow on the arena, forcing the whole area to collapse because of Beetee's previous wire plan.

Favorite Line or Quotes

Let them go I tell myself.Say good-bye and forget them. I do my best, thinking of them one by one, releasing them like birds from the protective cages inside me, locking the doors against their return. Katniss Everdeen, p. 189

You just remember who the enemy is.  Haymitch Abernathy, p. 260

They can’t hurt me. I’m not like the rest of you. There’s no one left I love. Johanna Mason, p. 347

If you die, and I live, there’s no life for me at all back in District Twelve. You’re my whole life. I would never be happy again.  Peeta Mellark, p. 351

I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me. Katniss Everdeen, p. 352

We had to save you because you’re the mockingjay, Katniss. While you live, the revolution lives. Plutarch Heavensbee, p. 386

I Read This With...

Again, strangers I sat beside with during my commute time.

Favorite Memory With This Book

Using just 15 minutes of my lunch time to eat and obsessing the rest just to finish this book. 

Title

Mockingjay by Suzzane Collins

Characters

Aside from the other main characters presented on Book 1 and Book2 the following were added

1. President Alma Coin - Coin is the president of District 13.She doesn't want anything or anyone opposing her decision. She was said to authorize the bombings of Capitol's children that killed Prim. 

2. Plutarch Heavensbee -Plutarch was the head gamemaker during the 75th Hunger Game but was secretly working with the second rebellion under Coin at District 13.

3. Annie Cresta - Annie was Finnicks ultimate love. She was a victor of the 70th Hunger Games. 

4. Cressida - Cressida is the resident director from the Capitol who joined the rebellion. She directs all of the propagandas starring Katniss.

5. Pollux - Pollux is part of Cressida's filming team. He was turned into an Avix and became part of District 13 to seek revenge.

6. Boggs - Boggs is from District 13. He became Katniss' very own bodyguard, protecting her no matter what. 

Data Read 

October 26, 2015

The Book Was About
 
Last book from Trilogy. Honestly, this is my least favorite from the whole trilogy. I found the story a little boring maybe because there's no Hunger Game going on. The focus of The Mockingjay is the rebellion.

Katniss opened her eyes to District 13, the long lost district that's main industry is nuclear weaponry. They were destroyed by the Capitol during the first rebellion and was shut down for so many years. Through an agreement, District 13 remained hidden to the other districts and silently planned a second rebellion where Katniss will be the lead star.Katniss became The Mockingjay, the voice of the rebellion. She was used to summon the other districts to rebel to the Capitol through propagandas that were shown to all of Panem except the Capitol.

It was also revealed that Peeta became hostage by The Capitol along with Johanna Mason and two other victors, Annie and Enorbia. Because of the torture Peeta endured at the hands of the Capitol, he became ill and tried to kill Katniss the moment they saw each other again. He is not the same Peeta anymore and grew very angry with Katniss.

Katniss struggled between her feelings for Peeta and Gale for a long time in this book and decided to just focus on her plan to kill President Snow. She became part of the Star Squad headed by Boggs and went to The Capitol to hunt where Snow lives. Her journey to The Capitol was one of the best parts of this book. 

The Trilogy ended with the following *SPOILER ALERT
  • Prim's death
  • Snow being killed by the rebels 
  • Katniss assassinated President Alma Coin knowing she's behind the reason why Prim is now dead
  • Katniss decided to go back to District 12. She was joined by Haymitch and they live in the Victors Village
  • Panem is now the new Panem, no more Hunger Games and people had freely voted for their President from each of the District's main representative.
  • Peeta came to District 12 too and reunited with Katniss.
  • Katniss and Peeta lived together and had two children.
Favorite Line or Quotes

I had already set something in motion that I had no ability to control.  Katniss Everdeen, p. 6

I must now become the actual leader, the face, the voice, the embodiment of the revolution.  Katniss Everdeen, p. 10

Power. I have a kind of power I never knew I possessed. Katniss Everdeen, p. 91

Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us! Katniss Everdeen, p. 100

Strange things did happen here No stranger would it be If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.  Katniss Everdeen, p. 123

Next time we see each other, we’ll be free of him. Prim Everdeen, p. 258

Friend. Lover. Victor. Enemy. Fiancee. Target. Mutt, Neighbor. Hunter. Tribute. Ally. I’ll add it to the list of words I use to try to figure you out.  Peeta Mellark, p. 270

The problem is, I can’t tell what’s real anymore, and what’s made up. Peeta Mellark, p. 270
You’re still trying to protect me. Real or Not Real? Peeta Mellark, p. 302
Real. Because that’s what you and I do. Protect each other. Katniss Everdeen, p. 302
Stay with me. Katniss Everdeen
Always. Peeta Mellark,  p. 314

I think…you still have no idea.  The effect you can have. Peeta Mellark, p. 325

Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can’t live without. Gale Hawthorn, p. 329

That what I need to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that. Katniss Everdeen, p. 388
You love me, Real or not Real? Peeta Mellark
Real. Katniss Everdeen, p. 388
I Read This With..

Still, strangers I sat beside with during my commute time.

Favorite Memory With This Book

Playing the Hanging Tree song in my ukulele.

I would Recommend this Series to

This was supposed to be a children's book but adults can definitely read this book too. It would pass as a good read for people who like me enjoys an easy-to-read book filled with drama, love story and adventure. 

Each book has its own magic for me. The Hunger Games sets a good foundation and will make you want to read the next book. Catching Fire is filled with romance and the Peeta-Katniss-Gale love triangle was more emphasized. This books is what made me a Team Peeta actually. Mockingjay is a bit boring at first but once you are in the ending it will build some lasting tension. 

Genre: 
Adventure Fiction

Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
I hope you enjoyed reading my very first installment of Book Reviews. Let me know if it is something you enjoy reading. 
Have you read The Hunger Games Series???
MORE POSTS TO READ UNDER BOOKS:
Posted by at
Labels:
loading..

No comments

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)