Monthly Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is a science fiction thriller, action packed, and romance tale about a young teenage girl named Katniss, who lives in a post-apocaltic world and competing an annual event called the Hunger Games. To win the game, Katniss must first fight along twenty four other contenders to the death in a battle royal.

Pick a character that interested you and write about them in depth.
Katniss Everdeen is the main character and narrator of this book called "The Hunger Games." She is only just sixteen years old and already the main supporter of her family. She takes care of her mother and her younger sister, Prim, in District 12 the mining sector. Her father was killed in a mine explosion, which forced her to support the family at the age of eleven. As for her mother, she was overcome by the death of her husband and unable to take the role to support the family, which made Katniss resented her mother as a failure of parenting. Katniss is a very skilled hunter who hunts in the forbidden forest in order to keep her family alive, and trade some of the games from the community. She is an excellent archer which helps her survive the hunger game, and got one of the highest score in training. She also learned how to gather herbs/plants and set up traps from her deceased father.
I like the characteristic of Katniss for her strong minded personality, and her cunning ability to survive in the horrible district. She is very caring for her family and will do anything for them, even risking her own life to participate in the hunger game to supply her family with food. She detest the Capitol's harsh treatment toward all the districts, while they lavishly spend their lives in luxury, and how they toy with the people in all the district to participate the horrible game each year. Unfortunately she entered the game in exchange for her sister not to be the one. Luckily, with the help of her mentor, her cunning skills to survive in the environment and her partner, Peeta, they both were able to win the game. Katniss is very strong, kind, and will overcome any obstacle that will come in her path.

What was the author's purpose(s) in writing this book, and how can you tell? How well was this purpose achieved?
After reading this book, the thing that hits me the most is that love will always triumph, even if its fake love. I do agree with this and that love is the greatest weapon to use. The author was very clear in her purpose about love conquering all, and she put it to work in the book. There were many events in the story that explains love is the most important thing and will do anything for it. For example, Katniss's love for her younger sister, Prim, made her volunteer and took the place of entering the game. Against all odds, if it wasn't for Katniss and Peeta love thing going on, they wouldn't have made it that far. The audience who are watching the hunger game wouldn't be that much interested in them if it weren't for their love, which spark some excitement. The tragic love couple who are in the game together and are suppose to fight each other to the death. Wouldn't that grab your attention or at least want them to win together? Well it sure worked for them, which made the game markers change the rules so they can have a chance to win together, instead of a battle royal where last one stands win. Their love was the most important factor in the game that made them both victories.
Reading this book was great, and the love thing going on with the couple certainly grabbed my attention. The idea of putting the element of romance into this was brilliant. I was very intrigued with the love thing going on and that love will always be number one. I kept on asking myself when I'm reading if their plan was going to work, and if they truly love each other. In the end, their love made them won the game and that love will always overcome any obstacles that are in its way.

After reading this book, what do you think will happen in the second book?
There are so many possibilities about what will happen in the second book of the Hunger Games trilogy. It could describe about Katniss's life on how the hunger game changed her life, or even a rebellion within the districts toward the harsh treatment that the Capitol gives. For me I say both of these will probably happen in the second book. Katniss and Peeta will probably live in luxury for winning the game and will experience a change in their life. Their lifestyle will change and will have to find something new to do. Of course the mass media will still talk about their victory and their life now after winning the game. Katniss and Peeta will still have to play the "love couple" thing going on whenever the media shows up. I think that Katniss's feeling for Peeta will grow later in the book, but will have other problems like her best friend, Gale. Gale and Katniss probably love each other, but can't show it to the media because of the Peeta thing. If the media ever finds out about that, their life will be horrible. The people of the Capitol will mostly likely be upset that two people fooled them into thinking their couples only to win the game and gain their side, which was true. Well some of it since Peeta truly love Katniss, but she didn't have that kind of feelings toward him. There probably be a love triangle going on between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale.
Also, I think a rebellion will emerge in the second book because they talk about people who tried to betray the Capitol called anvox. Anvox are mostly prisoners who serve under the Capitol for trying to betray them. I think something like this will happen in some districts trying to rebel against their harsh leader or the Capitol. Katniss and Peeta will most likely be involved with this and trying to change the ways the Capitol has been doing. Just hope the second book, "Catching Fire," will be fantastic when I'm going to read it.