"The Hunger Games" Series in Review

I never thought I could ever be so depressed and affected by a series of books in my entire life.  I am disgusted by the lack of humanity and hideously confused as to why anyone would recommend reading the series.  Book 1 (The Hunger Games) isn't so bad, though all the characters, perhaps only possibly excluding Peeta, lack humanity and morals.  Book 2 (Catching Fire) isn't too bad either until the last chapter, which is full of anguish and misery.  Book 3 (Mockingjay) is horrific and spews misery from page 1 to page 390 (aka the entire novel); don't read it, stop with the first book if you desperately feel the need to read any at all.

Part I
"The Movie"

Going in to see the movie Wednesday, March 28, I knew that if I was even somewhat impressed by it, that I would read the series, though, as usual, I kept this quiet.  I don't like people to think they can influence my decisions by recommendations.  Needless to say, I was beyond impressed with the movie, although it kind of gave a Spy Kids 3D vibe, leading me to begin reading the series.

The movie was entertainingly and beautifully constructed.  I was impressed with the story and the costumes.  Before viewing the film, I remember hearing about someone being upset over racism in casting, but after reading the book, I noticed that the complainers are not justified.  Rue and Thresh are described as having dark brown skin, so people need to get over it or harass the author over racism.

Of course the movie lacked some details in the book, but it was just as moving, and mostly grasped the overall concept.  In the movie, it is easier to sympathize with the characters, I think, because in the book they lack identifiable personality and humanity (except Peeta), which is of course brought on by society.  The movie does not fully portray the importance of tricking the Captiol and how life threatening the act is when Katniss suggests the berries.

Also, I think it's very weird that they chose a twenty-two year old actress to portray Katniss, who, except in the two-page epilogue, is only between the ages 16 and 17.  The actress, though skinny, is also too full-faced, you would expect someone extremely gaunt and thin to be playing a girl who was nearly starving to death.  The actress did portray Katniss well, but I think Dakota Fanning (with dyed dark hair) and her little sister would have been perfect for Katniss and Prim.

Part II
"The Books"

I don't understand why people are so into the series.  It has never been explained to me.  So many people talk about it as if they're talking about Twilight or Harry Potter.  These books are nothing like either of those series.  Twilight is a strange romance and Harry Potter is a fight between good and evil.  The Hunger Games is a sci-fi horror series, portraying what could happen to the world.  It isn't fantastical at all.

After watching Suzanne Collins in interviews, I am skeptical that she wrote the story, or at least that she has any idea what she wrote.  She seems to underplay the atrocious nature of the books, and prefers to look at it as simply a story that she tells.  This is confusing.  Watch one of her interviews, maybe you'll see what I mean.  I'm also surprised that she is happy and excited that her books are becoming movies.

By an "atrocious nature", I mean that the society of Panem either enjoys and exploits the Games or allows them to go on.  I don't even mean that it's worse that children are forced into the Games than adults being forced into them, if that were the case.  The part about it being children just opens up an audience of teenagers and makes the series more marketable.  No one tries to stop the Games in the books, not even Katniss.  When President Coin suggests the idea of hosting another Hunger Games with the Capitol's leader's children, the majority votes for them to continue.  No humanity.

The society of Panem also seems extremely confused by the idea of humanity.  Katniss considers her reasoning for using the berries to save herself and Peeta during Book 2 on page 118, "If I held them out to save Peeta because I knew I would be shunned if I came back without him, then I am despicable.  If I held them out because I loved him, I am still self-centered, although forgivable.  But if I held them out to defy the Capitol, I am someone of worth."  Katniss doesn't even consider the idea that she may have held them out because she couldn't fathom taking another human's life without it being in absolute defense.  It shows how backwards and inconsiderate her society is.

Another interesting observation I made while reading is that there is no mention of a God.  Katniss never considers her reason for living and doesn't even respect her own life.  The books are flowing with her determination to commit suicide.  They never really explain why she doesn't actually do it.  Katniss never discusses the "why am I here" idea that most people would do at some point in their life.  No one really tells her that she is a special individual either.

When Prim dies, I am surprised that Katniss didn't immediately think, "why did I do all of this".  The whole reason the uprisings began was because of her act of taking her sister's place.  Katniss never intended to cause the rebellion, though she never really defines anything particular that she wants from life except to be left alone.  When her sister dies, you would think that Katniss' world would have just ended, but instead she takes her revenge on Coin, which brings me to my analysis of Coin and Snow, the two major "Presidents" of Katniss' society.

Coin is the President of the infamous District 13, while Snow is the President of Panem.  Coin represents efficiency, greed and plainness; while Snow represents perfection, purity, and the sugar-coated.  District 13 is the opposite of the Capitol, where Snow presides, in that everything is rationed strictly and frivolity is absent.  Snow presides over the sugar-coated Capitol, as if a layer of pure, white snow covered a disturbing creature, vile inside.  Think of all the evil witches in Disney Princess stories that transform themselves into something beautiful, like in The Little Mermaid.  Snow's mouth is full of sores and blood, while his outside is inviting and beautiful.  By this, Snow maintains his power.  Coin represents herself plainly.  Coin, like money, symbolizes greed; she is greedy for power.  She is willing to wipe out anything in her way in the swiftest and most efficient manner.  Coin determines that her loss in healers and Capitol children is a necessary cut to make a quick end, whereas Snow realizes that it would be a waste and would prefer to find a different way.  Snow, at least, is worthy of some sympathy in the end, but Coin is almost worse.  Coin hides behind the rebellion to gain her power, it was her investment, but Snow works for his power sneakily.  Perhaps this is a little too obvious.

I will probably at some point think of more to say (I know I have more to say, but now's not the time).

Part III
"Astrology"

I don't have much to say about Astrology in this book.  Technically Katniss (birthday May 8th) is a Taurus and Prim (birthday late May) is a Gemini.  I don't know that either of them necessarily fit these classifications.  Gale is probably an Aries because he supports an aggressive attempt at destroying the Capitol and Peeta is probably a Capricorn because he is so deeply in love with Katniss and for so long.  I don't think that any of the characters can be accurately classified by an astrological sign because none of them have enough personality.  I suppose this is because of the society they live in; their personalities are seriously dulled.


Reading complete at 5:07am on Friday, April 6, 2012.