Caity's Reviews > The Hunger Games

I agree with everything you said.

I totally agree.

I think this is a little extreme......

This is the best review I've read. I am reading a bunch of reviews because I'm too lazy to write my own. And because while I found this book riveting, I also found it to be just BAD and I can't even explain why. The only thing I can come up with is, it's just poor... such poor writing, such poor character development, inept descriptions and scene setting, etc. There is some amazing literature out there, it's too bad that everyone is hung up on this garbage. I think that's part of why I'm reading all these reviews- I'm reading the negative reviews because I need confirmation that there are still people with good taste left in this world (not to mention brains).

Thanks for your review. So true what you say about wasted characters. I really wanted to know more about the others too. I enjoy dystopian settings, and look for strong female characters, but I don't feel like I really found one here - I'm not sure that killing people in a 'nicer' way than the others and then justifying it to yourself after some token guilt demonstrates real inner strength.

While I liked the book, I agree completely with everything you've said here. Great critique.

Yeah. Agreed. Really don't understand how anyone outside the obvious target demographic can't see how irredeemably awful this book actually is.

I completly agree with you 100 percent! When I finished this novel I didn't like it as much as everyone else .But I didn't really know what bothered me about it. But after reading your review I relized that those were the things that bothered me! I don't understand why so many billions of people enjoyed it so much.

I'm not trying to be mean or anything but The Hunger Games is nothing like twilight I will admit the love triangle is like it. The Hunger Games is about survival and katniss trying to keep her loved ones alive. Twilight is about vampires and werewolves. I agree with you on learning more about the other characters but you have to realize it's in Katniss's point of view. You also have to realize that books will be alike in just the little ways it's not like The Hunger Games is about vampires and werewolves that would be exactly alike. I'm not trying to be all like hating on you but I just wanted to say that.

I was going to write a review of my own but no need. You have said it all.

I am Isis wrote: "I agree with everything you said."

I agree with the person above me. ;D

Awesome review. I enjoyed the book, but I certainly had some issues with it and you summed them up quite nicely.

Honestly, I don't quite understand how this book managed to attract such a massive, almost religious fan following in such a short period of time. It's certainly not a bad book, but the stores are putting it on a pedestal like it's the next Harry Potter. I can't even walk into my local Barnes and Noble without tripping over countless shelves of Hunger Games t-shirts, posters, book guides, etc. Perhaps it's the movie?

Anyway, great review, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees some of the flaws here :)

"Why set up a landscape so prime for rebellion and not even have one?" Because there is more than one book? A rebellion is the center of the rest of the story.

Thank you for this detailed review! I've just seen the movie and thought maybe the book does some more explaining on the moral compass on killing children for sport and fun. Especially how the heroine copes with something so cruel. Apparently reading the book is wasted time.

Jeremy wrote: "...I find the whole premise of the hunger games to be such a genius idea and wish it was real..."

Seriously? Wow.

My own experience of the book is 1*, but as I'm not the target market, I was generous and gave it 2*. Some of my criticisms overlap with Caity's, but she has several I hadn't fully considered before.

how can you compare it to twilight. i mean really fighting to the death and having to fake your love to live yeah thats just like twilight

i love the hunger games

Ah... Good review. However, remember this book was written for 12-year-old girls. I suppose they love it. Me, not so much. I had to read it though to see what the buzz was all about.

I enjoyed the book but I do agree that was annoyingly blind to the obvious feelings her two guys had for her. She had the emotional obliviousness of a Vulcan.

Thanks, Roy, and I realise I'm not the target market. Ultimately though, my reviews are about my response.

Chris, the odd thing is, even though I rated the book far less highly than you did, that aspect didn't bother me too much. Some people really are that oblivious, especially if they've never had a serious relationship and aren't looking for one.

I completely agree with you about the book being very predictable. I also think that the book is pretty cheesy,but I think that the book deserves more that one star.

Jesus, it's ridiculous I had to scroll so far down to find someone with common sense. My brain hurts trying to grasp how one could possibly have any sort of attachment toward this broken irrational world, repulsive characters, and catastrophic character and plot development, among a myriad of other serious problems.

Yet it somehow is rated an average of 4.4 from 3 million ratings. I just don't... It makes no sense. Thank you for voicing what I'm too exhausted to put into words.

Thanks for really getting into an issue I had trouble conveying in my own review :) Namely that other possible plot devices were overshadowed by the love triangle. It's too bad because Katniss had the potential to be a deep and realistic character. The whole thing was so plot-driven.

Thank you for this review! I always felt so alone because everyone around me love this book but now I feel much better. Knowing that there's someone out there who has the same opinion is really nice!

Loved this review because I agree with everything you say completely. But I'm also crying because it took me a month to read. It was just so awful ;o;

I enjoyed your review. I agree on most part, it was, I think the actual reasons why the target population (teens/schoolkids) loves this book to bits. I'd say it's a difference in preference. Anyone who likes whirlwind romances and love triangles would dig the riveting feelings Katniss has for both love interests. You, and me and the rest of the commentators who agree didn't like the obliviousness that Katniss has so much. More importantly her emotional decisions are used as a compass in the story's direction. It's so annoying while we think of so many interesting endeavours to read in the book.
Having said that, I love the movie so much because of the actors and the way it was portrayed.
Since we're here for book review, it's not an excellent book that is worthy for all the fangirls/fanboys to hype at.

I disagree. Hunger Games really doesn't have a "love triangle." I mean sure, maybe in the first book she has difficulty deciding who she wants to be with. But in Catching Fire, Katniss realizes that she had a bond with Peeta, over the games and the overall experience, that she could never have with Gale. So basically, in Mockingjay, Katniss loves Peeta and Peeta loves Katniss. And then we have Gale sitting in the corner, wondering what the heck hit him. He still loves Katniss, but she has no feelings for him. So this is not a love triangle. It's more like a love angle. This is one of the reasons I loved the books so much!! The main focus and moral isn't love!

I agree with you on the "wasted potential" and "predictability" counts. I haven't even finished the book, but I have regularly been knowing what will happen subconsciously a couple pages ahead of time. The one thing I really, really thought would be interesting would be if Rue had NOT been conveniently killed off by the Careers, leaving Katniss in a very awkward situation. Cue interesting moral crisis! But no, we had to do the "everything works out pretty well" routine, eliminating complex problems with convenient circumstances. Either way, I think this book is ok, but overrated.

I hear you about the movie. I enjoyed the books myself, for the most part, but I think that's largely because I saw the movies first.

Katniss is not terribly likeable, and learning everything through her felt forced. Plus the writing is just plain shoddy. The story itself, though, I appreciate.

Everything in Katniss's Hunger Games happens rather conveniently, yes, but I understand that to be part of the idea - it's not Katniss who makes everything happen, she's just caught up in the middle of it all and pushed this way or that as the real players dictate. Maybe exploring her moral culpability would have been one theme too many and detracted from the bigger picture?

I'm sorry, but unfortunately you're wrong about the Twilight thing. I can also see you don't like this book, and that's fine, but Twilight is not as good as THG. The love triangle is practically non-existant. There are also no werewolves/vampires. And the book goes much deeper than what people claim to be a "rip-off of Battle Royale."

This is written for 12-13-14-15 year olds. I don't think anyone outside that category can enjoy it as much.

Haven't seen the movies, but I think in many ways the script writer has a much easier time than the original book writer. The setting is already done for him and proven attractive enough, he can simply focus on the details. Throw away the ridiculous (say, Katniss twirling in her dress during the interview) or add some little touch the novel did not think of (say in LoTR, Gandalf's look of relief when Frodo sees no inscription on the Ring but then his "Wait"). It can add up to something surprising.

Even though I love this book, I really enjoy your review. It's an intelligent way to express why the book doesn't appeal to you. You made it about your tastes and opinions, not badmouthing the author or the people who do like the book. I wish more one-star reviews were like yours. Well done.

I get what you're saying, but for some reason...I still love the series.

Personally I loved this book but you do raise some good points about its flaws. The only thing I would suggest is DON’T YOU EFFING DARE COMPARE THE HUNGER GAMES TO THE PILE OF CRAP THAT IS CALLED TWILIGHT thank you very much.

A lot of the points you have made make sooooo much more sense if you read the other books... Such as:
Q) Why don't the poorer districts team up?
A) Read book 2.
Q) Rebellion?!
A) Read books 2 and 3.
Q) Character development of the people im the games?
A) Book 2.
The first book is best, but the other two answer all the flaws.

nu uh, not cool. You can not like the book, that is your choice, but OW HELL NO (HOLD ME BACK) DID YOU JUST COMPARE THIS PIECE OF ARTWORK WITH AN ACTUAL MESSAGE TO TWILIGHT????
Sorry, that was aggressive. (Clears throat)
1. Twilights message- you can't live without a boyfriend and you need him in everything, and you will have to kill yourself if he ever leaves your side.
2. The hunger games message: Do not stand through any kind of abuse and stand up to tyranny.
3. Bella- stupid, idiotic, needy, mindless, dependant, weak, fragile....
4. Katniss- strong, smart, creative, innovative, intellectual, independent, selfless, brave, skilled.
The list goes on and on. Look, don't get me wrong, of course you can dislike the book, but do not ever compare this book (or any other book tbh) to the miserable-stupid-waste-of-time book that is Twilight. Have a nice day)