'Game' on
Literary phenomena have become more common in the last few years, specifically franchises. Unlike my experience with Harry Potter, I have tended to ignore the films inspired by these books. Without a friend's urging, I imagine I would have done the same with this book, the one I'm about to review, for the purposes of a) seeing what all the fuss is about, and b) being able to see the movie, thus becoming part of the fuss. Sometimes, that can feel really good.
Stoic, peerless Katniss has grown up in a harsh and stale environment. District 12 is the poorest, most often looked-over district in the country of Panem, a country with a barbaric tradition every year: two adolescents from all 12 districts must compete in a deathly, televised event called the Hunger Games. When her younger sister is picked to compete, Katniss chooses to take her place; together with the son of a baker, Keeta, she travels to the Capitol where all contestants are paraded in front of an insatiable crowd before being dumped in a forested arena. As every other contestant - Peeta included - must be regarded as an enemy, Katniss must rely on her hunting skills and remember to play to the cameras that record every minute of the game. The chance for her to win strengthens every day, and when the rules change, she has to put aside her doubts in order to make a last-minute alliance. She could win. But winning means killing, not just surviving.
Often, a book's ability to captivate relies - sometimes heavily - on the strength of the main character. This isn't always the case, however. A futuristic setting gives an author great opportunities to build a world that fascinates us with its culture, but which we can recognize. Perhaps it also leads the characters to question the set of morals their society has created for them, questions the readers would ask. And of course, action scenes are usually invigorating and offer plenty of tension, especially when lives are at stake. And a love story, perhaps one with a layer of complication, can add a layer of softness (not to mention an emotion other than fear or fury) to the overall plot.
Games has all of these things going for it. But I consider the character of Katniss to be the best thing about this book nonetheless. I've never read about such a tough, gritty, no-nonsense female character in a YA novel, and I was on her side from page one. She's so engaging and fierce, but every once in a while her softer side comes out in a natural way that reminds us she's still only 18. Watching her trials during the game are all the more engrossing because we're rooting for her even though the odds are stacked against her. Other characters, such as quiet nice guy Peeta, little sister Prim, and grouchy trainer Haymitch, are fleshed out well enough that their character arcs take some surprising turns - especially Peeta, whose thinking process is a mystery to us. Characters from the Capitol exist mostly as (dark) comic relief, but a couple are given a shade that makes them sympathetic. The antagonistic President and the unseen Gamemakers make for chilling bad guys by virtue of their invisibility.
In short: it's thrilling, it's dark, it's depressing, and it's thrilling. But I'm just repeating what everyone else has been raving about. Rating: 5 arrows out of 5.
Often, a book's ability to captivate relies - sometimes heavily - on the strength of the main character. This isn't always the case, however. A futuristic setting gives an author great opportunities to build a world that fascinates us with its culture, but which we can recognize. Perhaps it also leads the characters to question the set of morals their society has created for them, questions the readers would ask. And of course, action scenes are usually invigorating and offer plenty of tension, especially when lives are at stake. And a love story, perhaps one with a layer of complication, can add a layer of softness (not to mention an emotion other than fear or fury) to the overall plot.
Games has all of these things going for it. But I consider the character of Katniss to be the best thing about this book nonetheless. I've never read about such a tough, gritty, no-nonsense female character in a YA novel, and I was on her side from page one. She's so engaging and fierce, but every once in a while her softer side comes out in a natural way that reminds us she's still only 18. Watching her trials during the game are all the more engrossing because we're rooting for her even though the odds are stacked against her. Other characters, such as quiet nice guy Peeta, little sister Prim, and grouchy trainer Haymitch, are fleshed out well enough that their character arcs take some surprising turns - especially Peeta, whose thinking process is a mystery to us. Characters from the Capitol exist mostly as (dark) comic relief, but a couple are given a shade that makes them sympathetic. The antagonistic President and the unseen Gamemakers make for chilling bad guys by virtue of their invisibility.
In short: it's thrilling, it's dark, it's depressing, and it's thrilling. But I'm just repeating what everyone else has been raving about. Rating: 5 arrows out of 5.
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