The Hunger Games: Reality TV of the Future
Categories: Fiction
Written By: admin
If you’ve had enough of blood-thirsty vampires, wizards and magic, but still want a fantastic Young Adult series that is brilliantly original and adventurous then ‘The Hunger Games’ is it.
A futuristic trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the story is set in post-apocalyptic North America. The central character of the story is sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen who is chosen to represent her poor district by fighting, gladiatorial-style within an arena.
The plot revolves around the poor battling with each other to their deaths for the sole amusement of the rich. The country is divided into twelve districts, and all children must be entered at least once into the lottery, and if their name is called they must go to the Capitol and play ‘The Hunger Games’ each year.
One boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts must fight to the death.
‘The Hunger Games is the Big Brother of the future. The fight to death shown live on Reality TV.’
The Hunger games are broadcast live over a several week span and only one contestant can win. The wealthy Capitol choose the contestants.
In this overwhelmingly popular Trilogy, we are given a rich and detailed insight into the futuristic world of reality TV. Collins explores the characters emotions remarkably well, their suffering, friendships and bonds, as well as their drive, resilience, weaknesses, ambitions and strengths. Just about everything is skilfully explored in this story, from the pre-show interviews, TV preparation, right down to the wardrobe and make up sponsors.
Just as Rowling’s Potter sequels frequently became hotly anticipated, Collin’s fans (both Teenage and Adult) queued for hours outside bookstores in the US recently, in order to purchase the third book in her Trilogy which has been just published this month. Hailed as a brilliant and skilful writer, Suzanne Collins’ Trilogy has become a pure triumph by storming its way through the bestseller charts.
If you are worried about the ‘theme’ of this book, many reviewers have highlighted that the story has definitely been aimed at its intended younger audience, and therefore isn’t overly gory or gruesome. What makes it compulsive reading are the interesting moral dilemmas some of the characters face, that are handled sensitively and with masterful prose.
One reviewer described the books as;
“It’s like Big Brother, but so much better. We have a tale of friendship as two people, who have an underlying relationship get thrown into an arena where its ‘kill or be killed’. And nobody exspects to come out alive! Seriously intense, spell-binding and breath-taking.”
Book 1
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
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Book 2
Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
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Book 3
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Or purchase the entire box set now available at Amazon.com
or Amazon.co.uk
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Have you read any of these titles? If so, leave your feedback for others .
August 26th, 2010 at 10:43 am
I’ve ordered the last book in this trilogy. I can confirm that it’s absolutely brilliant writing!
August 26th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Not heard of this trilogy before. Thank you for posting this one, I think my sixteen year old daughter will love it, and I am a tad curious too, in honesty.
August 26th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I found the first two books of this series frighteningly good. It was interesting to see the gender reversal as Katniss works hard to protect her love interest, and fully intends to die if that what it takes to be sure that he survives. We generally see strong women willing to die in maternal roles, not as teenage girls, so the books throw a couple of twists into stereotypes as well, but don’t beat the reader over the head with a feminist cudgel.
I do think they were right on the edge of the violence threshhold for the reader demographic, but more in a what-happened-to-Bambi’s-mom way than in a slasher flick way. The excellent exploration of moral struggles definitely justified the need for a proper milieu.
The enviroment is spine tinglingly close to things happening in reality TV today and the books are darn good read. I cant wait to pick up #3!
August 26th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I am appalled at the storyline of this yet can see why its so ‘fascinating,; its all about humans at each others throats – Again! I can’t stand BB yet so many viewers can. The popularity of reality TV and successfull books like this is the gladiatorial comeback of modern times. That’s the bottom line.
August 28th, 2010 at 12:04 am
You make a valid point giddylady. Scary to realise how so many of us gobble up human violence as a form of entertainment. Even I am moved to read this, not really for that aspect, but merely because any book that is hugely popular, is so for a valid reason too.. good writing, storyline etc…
@JoshuaRR – thanks for leaving your opinion on this book. The moral struggle/teenage theme is definitely an interesting one, in contrast so many teenagers today are poorly portrayed as somewhat vacuous.