The Hunger Games Trilogy Review
The Hunger Games. A series that doesn’t need any introduction. Some people read the books, others watched the movies, and many did both. I did none. I was aware of the basic story behind The Hunger Games: a bunch of kids put inside an arena to fight until death. Although I never wanted to watch any of the movies, I don’t know why, but I never did.
Fast forward a few years, and here I am, a die-hard fan of Divergent and the dystopian genre. I knew it was a matter of time until I had to read The Hunger Games trilogy. There was no denying how important this series was for the genre, and it was (still is) so beloved. I had to read it. And this year, I finally archive that goal.
Attention! The following review contains spoilers for all three books in The Hunger Games series. You have been warned.
Book 1 – The Hunger Games
Pages: 436 Publication: 2008
I confess I was a little scared to start reading The Hunger Games. Being such a big name in the dystopian genre, I thought it would change my view on Divergent. That I would realise it wasn’t as great as I believed. Since Divergent was my first introduction to the genre, I knew I could think it was amazing because I didn’t have any frame of reference. So it took me a while to finally grab The Hunger Games off the shelf and open the first page.
When I did, it was intriguing and easy to read. Oh! And obviously, there was something to be revealed about her father. Mysteries and thrillers are usually more subtle about these things. Although a character never keeps mentioning something unless it’s relevant to the story. So for sure, there will be a big reveal about her father’s death. For sure!
Once I reached the end, I knew I didn’t have anything to fear. The Hunger Games was a great and solid story. The whole arena and battling to the death was great – to the ones that survived – and it was engaging and enjoyable. I was a little surprised it wasn’t a five stars book as I expected, but I had a good time, my view on Divergent wasn’t affected, and I had two more books that could make the story skyrocket.
Book 2 – Catching Fire
Pages: 439 Publication: 2009
When the second book rolls around, I expect the story to pick up the pace. Katniss will rebel against the Capital. She saw first-hand how cruel the Games can be. How ruthless it is to send a child like Rue to fight for her life for Capitol’s entertainment. For sure, she won’t let Snow laugh about it. Right?
Yeah… Here’s the thing. Katniss kind of wants to forget that book 1 ever existed. She just wants to run away – which would make an interesting story. She wants to pretend the Games never took place and she was never inside that arena. But then Snow brings out the reverse Uno card and puts them back inside.
At this point, I expect a plot twist. Something, someone or someway for Katniss to not get in that arena. To start unravelling what will dethrone Snow and bring down the Games and the Capitol. Stupid little me to think that Katniss would do something. But no, they are sent back inside the arena and have to fight again. At least there was some action which is always fun to read.
Book 3 – Mockingjay
Pages: 438 Publication: 2010
Now for real. The last book. The epic moment that I’ve been waiting for will come. This is the last chance. It has to happen in this book. It took a while, but it’s finally here. The Quarter Quarrel didn’t reach the end. There isn’t a winner. Katniss found a way to break free, and now the real action will begin. Snow, if I were you, I would be trembling and hidden under the blankets for extra protection! Now there’s a rebel force growing. The Districts are rebelling against the Capitol. Katniss is called to be the leader.
And then, she’s used for making propaganda… What is this? 1984 and Katniss is the new Big Brother? Okay, she’s still recovering, and that’s why she can’t do much. I’ll give her some time. Meanwhile, the world keeps spinning, and the Capitol and District 13 are in full battle mode. With or without Katniss, they are already fighting.
Then comes the time for Katniss to shine. A group goes to the Capitol to infiltrate and take down Snow. She’s on it. Now she’ll lead them to victory. Put a bullet through Snow’s skull and end with the Games and the tyranny of the Capitol. Panem will be a better place to live. Katniss’ sister will be able to grow up without fearing the reaping. Everyone will celebrate Katniss’ name for leading them to freedom.
But, once again, Katniss does nothing. Don’t get me wrong, she’s the reason why there are no more Games. She truly freed Panem. Although one impulse decision can’t erase all the other times, throughout the book, she did nothing. Oh! And her father… He really died in a mining explosion. So… All that constant reminding for nothing.
In the end
I was extremely disappointed. The story wasn’t what I expected. Katniss wasn’t what I expected. I wanted a heroine, a raising phoenix (in this case, a Mockingjay), a female character to go against everyone for freedom, to be a rebel, to say no when everyone resigned… to do something.
And lately, I’ve realised something new about my reading taste: I like proactive characters. I don’t enjoy main characters that can see problems and flaws and sits back for other characters to move the story. The same thing happened with Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris. The main character keeps talking about finding a way to break free, and in the end, she’s not the one doing it. Someone does it for her. I want my main characters to be the ones to take action. I’m following them, so I want them to be in the front line doing something instead of just sitting back and letting other characters take the wheel.
Now credit is due where it exists, Katniss took action in every book that changed the course of the story. Although every time another book started, she reverted to the state of doing nothing and staying very still so other people wouldn’t see her. She spent the entire story just following along, and only at the end of each book did she rebel, to save herself or to save others, but always as a final resource. For the rest of the book, I’m following the main character following everyone else, like another sheep in the herd.
Then comes the most shocking moment: Prim’s death. I’m extremely against her sister’s death. It was unnecessary. In my perspective, she shouldn’t have to die to motivate Katniss. Rue died in her arms. Her father is dead. She was sent to the arena twice, where she saw people she knows kill and be killed. She was against the Games from the start. All she had to do was take action. She already had plenty of reasons to do it. But still, her sister had to die to be that motivation. For me, Rue should have been her breaking point. The last straw. But it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. Nothing was ever enough to make Katniss stand up and do something. To take the matter into her own hands and change the future.
Contrary to what this review might seem, all the time I spent reading was never wasted time. I enjoyed the books a lot, and because of that, I wanted more from the story. I liked the world of Panem, how it was structured, the Games, the Districts, and the extravagance of the Capitol, and I even liked Katniss in her moody and rebellious way. Although I wanted to know more. How did Panem come to be? Who came up with the idea of the Games and why? And how was the Capitol so technologically advanced when the rest of the districts weren’t? Oh! And why Avocs? I left the story with so many questions it became another reason to be disappointed with the series.
I also can’t end this review without saying which team I belong to. Team Peeta or team Gale. I choose team none. Usually, in love triangles are easy to see which one will get the girl. Mostly because she will have a strong physical reaction to him – cue Cullen almost vomiting with Bella’s smell. But with Katniss, neither of them fits the role. They both love her, they both are capable of bringing out the best in her, and they both know a hidden part of her, although she doesn’t love any of them. Not Gale and not Peeta. So I can’t be on any team. If she doesn’t truly love them then I don’t support a relationship with either one of them.
All my fears of comparing Divergent with The Hunger Games now seem like a joke. The two stories are so different that there is nothing to compare. They both can exist, and one doesn’t need to be better than the other. I was wrong to believe The Hunger Games was this big and perfect story I would love because everyone else seems to. It was time well spent, and I’m glad I read the three books, but it wasn’t the right series for me. It allowed me to know more about my reading taste and not fall for “everyone’s favourite book” again.
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