THE HUNGER GAMES Discussion

Jenn will be commenting soon.  But I thought I might as well get things started.  

Since I had never heard of The Hunger Games previously, when I saw Becca reading it, during our family's summer get-together, my first thought was “Oh...another diet book.” Obviously though, no diet book could have riveted her attention the way this did.

Unlike the other books we’ve been reading I wasn’t inspired to do a lot of underlining and margin noting, but it certainly held my interest. The whole idea of the hunger games reminds me of ancient Rome and the gladiators. It’s so barbaric and uncivilized that initially it seems beyond the realm of possibility. But it did happen anciently, and as a society we’re certainly on a downward slope and moving fast! I can’t help but think of our fascination with reality tv shows where only the cleverest and strongest...... the fittest survive, and I wonder if it could ever actually evolve into such nightmarish evil.   

– Aunt Louise

Grandma Mary wrote:  

I have mixed feelings about The Hunger Games.  It is an exciting book to read and far different from the books I ordinarily read. I can understand why younger people and especially teenagers would enjoy this book. I was glad to finish it and it left me up in the air. It is a trilogy – so the end is far away. I don’t think I will read the other two books – but would dearly like to see the last page of Book III!!!

JENNIFER'S DISCUSSION POINTS:  

I heard the buzz about The Hunger Games long before I finally decided to read it.  I would overhear people talking about it in little bits and pieces – never enough for me to understand the plot, but I was intrigued.  Finally, I decided to check it out for myself, and it didn’t disappoint. 

I enjoyed the characters, the roller coaster plot, the romance and adventure.

Although the book is futuristic, I appreciated the text to world connections.  I felt like Suzanne Collins was giving a nod to Survivor, Wipe Out, Lost, and American Gladiator.  It makes you wonder if this is where reality TV is headed?  What will TV producers and directors do to push the envelope to keep ratings high…Extreme Survivor?  And more importantly, what will the public do about it… Will we choose entertainment over humanity?

As in The Giver, 1984, Freedom Factor, and more recently The Uglies trilogy, the theme of the book is government control.  The possibility of such a thing is perplexing and disconcerting.  However, I think it is important to realize that every day we are inching closer and closer. 

This book was not one of my all time favorites, but it was a great read.  From the “grabber” lead to the very last page, I was captivated.  It’s a book that really made me think and ponder.  Ilah recently started reading it, and I am anxious to discuss it with her.

Looking forward to YOUR comments on The Hunger Games!

My Antonia • Final Thoughts

I finished reading My Antonia a few weeks ago, and have since finished The Hunger Games. While I try to sort out my feelings about The Hunger Games I thought I might share some favorite quotes from My Antonia before we put it back up on the shelf and move forward.  If any of you have any more comments about it, they too are still welcome.

Perhaps the only part of the book I didn't enjoy were the chapters about his time away at college. For some reason it felt a bit dark to me and I  had a hard time following or understanding it all.

But what I LOVED about this book is Cather's remarkable ability to describe anything...... emotion, landscape, people, etc., and the way she speaks of goodness without seeming to preach. (Or does she Ben?) The following quotes are just a very few examples of my favorites from My Antonia.

I was entirely happy.  Perhaps we feel like that when we die and become a part of something entire, whether it is sun and air, or goodness and knowledge.  At any rate, that is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great.  When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.  – Jim alone in the garden

I can remember how glad I was when there happened to be a light in the church, and the painted glass window shone out at us as we came along the frozen street.  In the winter bleakness a hunger for colour came over people, like the Laplander’s craving for fats and sugar.  We used to linger on the sidewalk outside the church when the lamps were lighted........The crude reds and greens and blues of that coloured glass held us there.  – Jim on the Methodist Church in winter

At the piano, he swayed in time to the music, and when he was not playing, his body kept up this motion, like an empty mill grinding on...... To hear him, to watch him, was to see a Negro enjoying himself as only a Negro can.  It was as if all the agreeable sensations possible to creatures of flesh and blood were heaped up on those black-and-white keys, and he were gloating over them and trickling them through his yellow fingers.  – Jim on Blind d’Arnault (sounds kind of like Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles)

When boys and girls are growing up, life can’t stand still, not even in the quietest of country towns; and they have to grow up, whether they will or no.  That is what their elders are always forgetting.  – Jim

Disapprobation hurt me, I found – even that of people whom I did not admire.  – Jim after his actions had disappointed his grandmother

–it is so necessary to be a little noble!  – Jim as he contemplated leaving Lena to pursue his education

The Hunger Games. Jenn, since you suggested the book it seems to me you should begin our "discussion".  Send me your comments via e-mail and I will create a new post for the blog!  But any of you that want to share your impressions on The Hunger Games please feel free to do so – whenever. Officially we have to the first Sunday in October and then we will be Reading The Hiding Place.

Love, 

Aunt Louise

PS For those of you who feel you can't remember well enough to comment as it's been a while since reading, I'm amazed that every book we've read so far has study helps and questions on-line for groups just like ours.