I just finished reading the book Hunger Games and Catching Fire (it’s sequel), and January is not even over yet, exceeding my New Year’s Resolution expectations! Now that I’m finished, I have a few thoughts. Then I want to hear what you think!
SPOILER ALERT – Read the books and come back!
I absolutely loved this book. I’m a bit of a Sci-Fi nerd, so this book was right up my alley. And yet, it’s not really a science fiction book. It’s set in the future, but it’s more about the characters and the will to survive.
I’ve broken Hunger Games into parts, comparing it to other similar books, all worth reading:
- Ender’s Game: For the games. It’s kids fighting kids, although the games are only simulations in this book. Ender is a lot like Katniss: they always win, are really good at it, and know who the real enemy is! Ender’s Game is my all time favorite book, but Hunger Games is coming in a close second.
- The Giver: For the timing. They’re both set in a time when people don’t really know any better. They let despicable things happen because they don’t think they have a choice. It’s just how things are for them and they live their lives. They’ve been told what to do and don’t resist. Their children are put into classes and people who don’t make the cut, die. That’s why I love both main characters, because they see things differently, wanting to make a difference. Although, I wish Katniss would have been a little more rebellious. I know she has her family to think about, but come on already! I am frustrated she let it go as far as she did.
- Lord of the Flies: For the survival. There’s a jungle, there’s alliances, there’s killing. Yuck. I don’t love this part, but I do love to see how Katniss’s mind works, she’s very smart. And unlike Lord of the Flies, there’s no adults coming to the rescue. In Hunger Games, it’s the adults who are making it happen!
- Twilight: For the love. There’s a bit of a Twilight love triangle going on! I think Peeta reminds me of Jacob, someone Katniss (Bella) loves but doesn’t love enough. She only sees him as a comfort. Where as Gale (Edward) is her real love, the one who understand and knows her best! Awwwwww. Are you team Peeta or team Gale?
What do you think about it? Please comment and let me know you’re thoughts, as I know some love it and some hate it. So let’s discuss!
Written by Marie LeBaron
Marie LeBaron is the founder and managing editor of Make and Takes. Always having a love of crafts, she enjoys getting messy with glue and glitter. There’s always some sort of project going on, her kitchen counter is often cluttered with crafts. When she’s not crafting and creating with her kids, she loves to run, read, and blog! Read other posts by Marie
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Love them… read them both in like 3 days. Cant wait for the third. I have similiar feelings to your thoughts too–however I am on team Peeta. I think Gale was her childhood love, where Peeta and her have shared something on a different level. We shall see how book 3 plays out I guess.
My first comment for you, I believe, and I have been reading your site for over a year. I finished Catching Fire last night and had dreams about it. A wonderful, engaging, imaginative, action packed story. I am on team Peeta, so far. He would do anything for her, no matter what. Gale, I’m not so sure he would, he hasn’t proven it yet. I think he has the potential to let her down or disappoint her, where Peeta never would, ever. Next book is released in August! Oh, how I hate series books.
I loved these books (and most of the ones you compared them too, hated Lord of the Flies though lol). I agree with your comparisons to those other books too. And I think she should be with Peeta. :)
I teach high school and hand these to my students to read. They come back begging for the second right after they finish the first and are all in high anticipation for the third. I’m like a drug dealer but with books. Another series that is of crazy interest is the Percy Jackson series – there are a total of five books in the series and the movie for the first one comes out in about a month.
Loved these books! I can’t wait until August when the third books comes out! Gotta say I’m on Team Peeta though. He’s so unselfish in his love for her. Gale’s a good friend, but I think Katniss belongs with Peeta.
Ohhhhh! How I love those books. They are amazingly written, great characters, actions, simple moments, JUST SO GOOD.
I have to give Gale props he’s hardly in either of the books but there’s still a big group of “Team Gale” people out there. Personally I’m a Petta fan. He simply wants her to be happy. He’d to anything, sacrifice anything. Katniss has been taking care of people her whole life. She needs someone to take care of her.
I am going to have to disagree with everyone. As much as I think that the writing was fabulous – I was not a fan of the book overall. Though I didn’t like Enders Game as much as The Hunger Games, I was not bothered by Enders Game as much. While reading the Hunger Games I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that this was incredibly morbid storyline. Children fighting children to the death?? I felt so icky reading the book that I couldn’t even enjoy it. But I do have to admit – fabulous writing.
After I read Hunger Games (and loved it), I ran right out to find Battle Royale, because I kept reading how similar they were. That one was much yuckier. I hadn’t heard of Ender’s Game…I’ll have to check that out.
I was on Team Gale throughout Hunger Games, but Peeta won me over by Catching Fire. Can’t wait for the movies. :)
okay, so these books are a few of my all time favorite…i can NOT wait for the third one to come out. and unlike bella i didn’t feel like i wanted to strangle the main girl character. katniss is a go get it done and hero girl.
love.these.books!
team peeta. just because she has a history with gale doesn’t obligate her to love him. i think she is willing to love gale because she is loyal to their friendship. but she should love peeta. (like i do.)
We only have to wait until August for the third one(wikipedia:suzanne collins:) It is interesting that all of the books you compare, are ones I have talked about with friends as well; except The Giver. I will have to try that one. Another book that has the same fight for survival and adventure is The Alliance by Gerald Lund. The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a new book that, from the synopsis, looks to have a similar storyline as well. I love the intrigue, adventure, and love in these kind of books. I am team Peeta all the way!
These are my new favorite books! I read them each in 1 day and then re-read them. Now I’m trying to get my husband to read The Hunger Games with me… he doesn’t usually enjoy fiction, but I think he’ll like these. I’ll have to read Ender’s Game; I’ve heard it mentioned by a few people now.
Loved these books and can’t wait for the next one to come out!…and I don’t even like fantasy or science fiction normally.
I like to describe them as, a mix of “Survivor” and “The Truman Show”… sorta.
I think I’m Team Peeta.
This is a really good series, and your analysis is spot on. When I met Suzanne Collins last May, she was working on both the third book and the screen play for Hunger Games. Hopefully, they’ll both be ready this summer.
I loved these books too! I can’t even imagine what great discussions you could have with high school kids who read them. I just wish I hadn’t discovered them until after the 3rd one was out!
Oh, oh, oh! I’m loving this discussion. I’m dying to know if/when a movie comes out! It would be a great book to movie.
Many of you are team Peeta. I’m still on the fence. I’m picturing Peeta blonde and Gale dark, is that how it was? I wonder who the actors will be. I hope it’s treated more seriously than Twilight!
Shantel – Yes, it’s morbid! But the story line is sooo good. I have to think about how they are a more mature generation, having to deal with so many more problems, they sound and act like adults.
Marissa – I’ll have to check out Battle Royale.
Heidi – I too wish I had come in later to catch all three at the same time.
Does anyone know if there’s a book 4?
The only book I have read on this list is The Giver. A good read to make you do a little thinking and a reminder of good things we take for granted.
A book that is on a similar line is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, written in the 20′s or 30′s. Frightening how spot-on he was about what motivates people. Has anyone read this one? It is disturbing, so be warned.
I didn’t read the spoilers because I fully plan on borrowing your books. The fact that you finished them so fast has me excited for how good they are!
I absolutely loved these books and I can’t wait for the third! Like some of you, I always seem to read these great books that are part of unfinished series. Waiting is so hard! I believe that The Hunger Games is only a trilogy to answer your question Marie.
I LOVED Ender’s Game, The Giver, and of course Twilight so this sounds like the perfect book for me. I never read Lord of the Flies, so I can’t say about that one. Going to put it on hold at the library. Have you ever read the companion books to The Giver? There are 2, one is Gathering Blue and I forget the name of the other. Both were definitely enjoyable!
I’m with you!!!!! This series is by far my favorite of 2009 and possibly one of my all-time favorites. I totally agree with your text connections! I refer to The Hunger Games series as sci-fi but like The Giver it’s a dystopic future. I love the incorporation of the love triangle but I’m kind of torn on as to who I think her true love actually is. I see what you mean that Gale really knows her but Peeta is so in tune with her also. I, personally, love Peeta. With Twilight I was deadset on Edward just because Edward is her one true love, she loves Jacob but just as a friend, not the same way she loves Edward. I’m a little confused with this one because she starts to fall for Peeta when she finally realizes she actually likes Gale so I’m not sure who she’ll eventually pick. I cannot wait until August for the third one!!!!!!! :)
I have only read the first one…I hated teh first 100 pages but then I could not put it down after that…I am excited to read the next book…I just might wait until the 3rd comes out otherwise I will “have” to reread all of them again
I read Hunger Games awhile ago and at first was slightly appalled at it. But I must say that once I started I couldn’t put it down and did like how it finally turned out.
I have been shoving these books down the throats of everyone I know. I loooooooove them. I first read Hunger Games over a year ago on vacation in New Zealand, and I missed a ridiculous amount of scenery because I was so eager to finish. :) I’m team Peeta, and all of the other books on your list are awesome (though I haven’t read Lord of the Flies since high school… I think I’ll re-read it again this year)!
I loved both books, although I did find them disturbing. I couldn’t put them down because they were disturbing and I needed some resolution and because they were so well written. I don’t think I want them made into a movie- too violent. Have you read her children’s/ young adult series, about Gregor the Overlander? Cute and not nearly as intense. I am on team Gale. You can’t always choose who you truly love, although I do think Peeta is adorable. I figure, Katniss and Gale can be together, and they can find Peeta someone wonderful so everyone can be happy.
LOVED these books as well! Couldn’t. put. them. down. I only buy books that I know I’ll read more than once, and these are DEF. on that list! I was rooting for Gale at first, but he faded into the background a bit. Peeta has proven he loved Katniss – I felt like Katniss’s character wasn’t as strong and confident in the 2nd book, and Peeta helped her through it all. We’ve seen what he’s made of, but I’m not so sure about GAle. We’ll see!
I’ll have to recommend these to my daughter. Sound right up her alley. I taught The Giver to my grade 7 and 8 classes and they just loved that book. My daughter’s favourite along these lines of dystopian books are Margaret Atwood’s, especially Oryx and Crake.
We read Hunger games for a book club and didn’t really know what to expect. It was fabulous and everyone has now read catching fire too. It’ll be fun to see how the third one is. I LOVE to read…I’m a nerd like that. ;)
My son and I both loved these books and can’t wait for the next one to come out. And I am on team Gale, for sure. Peeta is great, but he is the safe choice. I think Katniss is through taking the safe route.
i just wrote a post about these! i cannot get enough!! i am totally team peeta. gale is weird. i dont know how i am going to wait until august to read the 3rd one! its killing me!!
I loved both of these books… I’ve gotten several people to read them! I love the comparisons you made to the other books… I think you are right on (I loved all of those as well!) I’m also on the fence between Gale and Peeta… but I think I’m leaning towards Peeta. Can’t wait for the new book to come out!
I love both books. My friend reccommended them and now I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the third to come out. I wonder what will happen with Peeta and whether Kat will acutally fall for him…
Loved the books too! I can’t wait for the third book to come out! I like your break down of the books,good comparisons.
i read all three of those books,and i loved them! i hope suzanne collins doesnt pull a scott westerfield (author of uglies) and kill either peeta or gale off. wish the third one was out already. i hate the suspense!
I am so team Jacob and Team Peeta! That’s so funny that you connected them that way! I loved these books! The first was much better then the second tho. I can’t wait to see where the next book goes! These books came up with a ton of twists I never saw coming!
Again, more great comments! Areeba, I hope she doesn’t kill one of them off either. In fact, I was so expecting to see Peeta gone ages ago, even in the first book, that now I’m so attached, she better not do it!!!