More Than Just a Game

The Hunger Games may be my favorite novel we have read this year. Suzanne Collins creates several characters that really rally the support of the reader during the graphic, gladiator-style fight to the death. The Hunger Games frequently reminded me of George Orwell's 1984 in the sense that the characters are always being watched by some higher power and their actions are altered by their need to please the government or whoever else is watching. The characters are controlled by the government like stringed puppets. The Hunger Games is simply a way for the government to remind all of the citizens of Panem that they are not in control of their own lives, they owe everything to the Capitol, a futurist sort of place where all of the higher powered citizens live in comfort and wealth.

One problem I had with this novel was the love affair between Katniss and Peeta. The whole opening of the novel got my emotions invested in Gale and Katniss's relationship, then Collins forces this over-the-top love story between two kids who are supposed to be killing each other. It was one thing when Katniss was hesitant to end her friendship with Peeta because she knew she couldn't kill him if she liked him, but it was too much, for me at least, when they were cuddling in a cave kissing while the others were hunting them down to kill them. I liked that the two teamed up once the rule change was made, especially because Peeta would have died otherwise, but I think it was ridiculous to have them so "in love" and to have the gifts received based on how many times they kissed or acted a certain way toward each other. In my opinion, Collins placed too much emphasis on the love affair between the two when the focus was expected to be on a gruesome man-hunt.

Despite the love affair between Peeta and Katniss, I really enjoyed the novel and the strong characters Collins created. The writing style makes the novel seem as if it were written for younger ages, but it is a great read regardless.