The Hunger Games Trilogy

[Deleted]

Since it was kind of taking over the What are you reading thread. I read all 3 books in the last 2 weeks. I had vaguely heard of it before but all the attention around Mockingjay got me curious. I'm glad I got to read them all one after another as they read like one huge novel. That being said I was a little disappointed in Mockingjay. The first two were grim but the third just seemed unrelentingly so. Not so much because of who was killed off but more because there was no real purpose to the deaths. Also I found it a little draggy.

I'm curious to see how they make this into a movie. The books are aimed at teens yet are crazy violent. I can't imagine the movies being that graphic.

Team Gale, team Peeta? Team Finnick all the way.

[angelaudie]

Another HG trilogy lover here!

Mockingjay was rather depressing but I fine with the deaths. It's war and war does no discriminate who it kills. Though my jaw dropped when *book spoiler*Prim died! Katniss got involved in the whole mess to save her and she dies anyway! And Gale? Your bomb was totally the one used.*end book spoiler*

There's been big discussions at forums if Gale is evil or not in MJ. Personally, I don't view him as evil. I think he's lost sight of the big picture. He does sincerely want to protect his family but unfortunately his need for revenge takes over and clouds his better judgment. One could argue he pays the price for this when *book spoiler*his friendship with Katniss falls apart*end book spoiler*

My team did "win" though. I use the quotation marks because it's quite bittersweet. They manage to find happiness but it's a daily struggle to keep it. Still, I like MJ's ending more Deathly Hallows. Everything is all nice and neat in DH's epilogue. I found MJ's epilogue much more realistic.

[Deleted]

I never thought Gale was evil either. More extreme than Katniss but really not by much. *spoiler* If Prim hadn't been blown up but other kids still were would Katniss still have been disgusted? I'm thinking not really. *end spoiler*

I find it interesting that MJ's ending and Deathly Hallows were very similar ( I didn't care for Deathly Hallows ending either for opposite reasons). Deathly Hollows is clearly a happy ending where as MJ makes *spoiler* Getting married and having kids sound pretty damn depressing *end spoiler* Another site described MJ as one long description of post traumatic stress disorder. I guess that is accurate and I don't mind a bittersweet ending, I just wish it was a little more sweet.

[Deleted]

angelaudie, I agree with you about Gale. Those were my exact thoughts about him in MJ. I was definitely Team Peeta, but have to admit to <<finding Finnick's death the saddest. He really grew on me as a character.>>

Parts of MJ were draggy, whereas the pacing in the first two books were really amazing; I've read both several times and there are very few sections that I have to skim/skip while rereading. I agree with you guys about Collins' ending vs. Rowlings, but remember, HP was marketed as children's and this is definitely YA.

[Deleted]

I really enjoyed the trilogy. "Mockingjay" was bittersweet; I liked the novel and how it ended the story, but the genius of the trilogy to me was the arena, the games. I knew that couldn't hold up after the plot development in "Catching Fire," and though I wanted more from "Mockingjay," am glad Collins stuck to her plot line and didn't deliver with a shiny package wrapped up in a bow, as it were. Kind of kept to her distopian theme, as the critics say.

[petitesuite]

I loved these books so much, and even preordered Mockingjay, but there were many, many moments where I wondered how much better/more powerful/more touching/etc the books would've been in the hands of a better writer. There were times when Collins' writing was just distractingly awkward, IMO.

That said, I really liked who Katniss ended up with and I thought it really ended perfectly. I especially liked Coin's development (trying to be vague because I'm not entirely sure how to do spoilers).

[regencydrama]

petitesuite: I kept thinking the same thing. Collins has brilliant ideas, but the writing was terrible in some parts. A lot of the dialogue just didn't flow very well.

Gary Ross looking to direct Hunger Games

Seabiscuit and Pleasantville were both fine and serviceable, but I'm wondering if it would be better to find a director with a more unique style. Maybe someone like Alfonso Curon?

[chiqui]

Are these books too violet/intense for a young teen reader? Everything I've read here seems to indicate they are.

[bitca]

I would say so. I know they're "young adult" and all, but, damn, they were pretty violent and depressing if you ask me. (Even though I absolutely loved the first two.)

[Deleted]

Violent, but not in a graphic way. I'd personally describe Stephen King books as being more intense (more graphic, for sure).
It's definitely not for kids, though.