Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

Contemporary English 1

Prof. Ivana Grbavac

Mate Radoš

Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is a book about post-apocalyptic America. Those who survived apocalypse formed new country called Panem. They created country with capital city named Capitol and twelve districts. Originally there were thirteen districts but those districts started the rebellion aginst the Capital. The Capital had quelled the rebellion defeating twelve districts and completely destroyed the thirteenth district. Because of that rebellion Capital started event called The Hunger Games. That is an event in which twenty-four chidren(two children from each district) are chosen to participate in games where they fight each other to death. Main character is Katniss and we meet her at reaping day in District twelve. She is sixteen year old teenage and she lives with her mother and little sister Prim. Reaping is day where childrens are chosen to participate in the games. Katniss's little sister is chosen then she volunteers to participate in the games. After the reaping they prepare for the games. In games there is a lot of things that happens and first time in history of Games there are two winners. I think that author of this book was influenced by ancient Rome because there is a lot of similarities to old Romans.It looks like that the districts are the slaves of The Capitol and a participant in the games are gladiators in the Colloseum. First of all, I do not like the idea of the Hunger games. It does not make any sense because it is very unfair(they choose childrens from twelve to eighteen year old and there is a big difference in strength, intelligence between them.) and it looks like modern Tv reality shows but on steroids. The games are designed to remind citizens of all twelve districts that The Capitol can take their kids on the first sight of revolt, and they can not do anything about it. To me that looks like kidnapping twenty-four children a putting them in the arena to kill each other like that would not start another rebellion. The whole idea of the Hunger games is stupid.But I liked the story in the arena. I liked how game makers played little games with children in the arena. On the beginning of the battle, nature is normal but while the games getting longer they messing up with temperature, woods, animals and so on. But even them were not thinking about everything and they are making a big mistake putting poisonous berries in the arena and announcing that there can be two winners if they are from same district. Also, main character is a very interesting person because of her childhood in which she losses her father an becomes head of the house. I liked her because she is very quiet and liked by the residents of District twelve. She knows how to hunt and with that skill she is helping her family with food and money but the thing which impressed me most is her bravery because she is willing to do everything to save her family even if that means that she must participate in the games in which odds are never in you favour.
A book? I did not love it, but I did not hate it. To be fair, I think it was too hyped, people told me I am going to love it and my expectations were not exactly met but it was not a disappointment either. It is violent but not but it definitely makes you wonder about the direction of our society.