The Hunger
Games: Part One
Suzanne Collins
When
The Hunger Games was first published in 2008, by Scholastic, no less, I was
full of disapprobation. A book for
children about children killing children in our world of violent video games
and schoolyard shootings? I didn't think
so.
But
here I am on a beach holiday where I met a nice priest trying to get through
Book Three before his plane left the next day, and he told me that the series
is well written for its genre. Well, if
he is trying to keep in touch with his young parishioners, and as my own
children have all read the series, and my friend assures me that it's a quick
read… well, I borrowed Book One.
He's
right; it is well written for its genre.
I read it in a day and didn't put it down until I finished it! That's partly because I am on holiday, but
mostly because Collins is good at creating suspense and she moves her plot
right along. Her characters are
sympathetic, the setting is interesting and the plot details fold nicely into
the narrative. The action is fast,
except for the denouement which is the way it's supposed to be, and the ending
leaves us anticipating the sequel.
There's
not a lot to ponder and reflect upon after the cover is closed, but the setting
is intriguing: a totalitarian state, which has emerged in North America after
climate collapse, with technological superiority over 12 vassal states. There are historical antecedents: the citizens of the dominant state all have
Roman names, and the tribute system of young people being sent to the capitol is
like the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.
The
main plot prototype is the TV reality show Survivors. Once the tributes from the provinces reach
the arena, all their actions and conversations are recorded, edited and
assembled into a film production which is aired nation-wide each day. But in this grim reality show, the
protagonists must all kill each other, and the winner is a hero for life.
And
the story is surprisingly moral.
The
writer has been careful that neither the hero nor heroine kill anybody in cold blood,
and the conflict at the end is against a man who has shown himself to be treacherous
and savage. The winning qualities are
resourcefulness, physical skill, loyalty, team spirit and quick thinking.
Surprisingly,
I think this would be a fine read for young people, especially reluctant
readers. The concept is gripping, the
pace is fast, it's not badly written and good values are modeled.
No,
I won't read Books Two and Three because they are really written for young
people, but, hey, Book One was fun!
