Book Ramble/Review - 'The Hunger Games'

About two weeks ago now I managed to finish reading Suzanne Collin's - The Hunger Games. I'd previously watched the film adaption and really enjoyed it and have been meaning to get around to finally reading the book. At long last I found the time to do it and I'm so glad I did.

{Image: Wikipedia}

It's safe to say The Hunger Games is quite a popular book/series (the first part of a trilogy) and so many of you may have already read or watched the film but I thought I'd do a little post on my thoughts on the book. In a nutshell this book is based in a post-apocalyptic time in which the government, known as the Capitol, arrange a yearly game known as The Hunger Games in which 12 boys and 12 girls are forced to participate in these games in which the one rule is "kill or be killed". The story is in first person, from the perspective of Katniss who takes her sisters place in the games.

Taken from the back of The Hunger Games (the blurb):

'In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.'

After watching and enjoying the film I was pretty certain that I'd also enjoy the book and I wasn't in any way disappointed. If anything I found the book a lot more enjoyable, I really couldn't put it down. This book is definitely different to anything I've ever read before. I thought it was clever, thought provoking and full of suspense. This book touches on themes of poverty, oppression, survival and hope. But it doesn't bog you down, I think it's really well written and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the second book (Catching Fire).

If you've watched the film but haven't picked up the book I can't recommend it enough. The book explains things a lot clearer and goes into more detail than the film in many different ways. Definitely a must-read. 

Have you read or watched The Hunger Games? Are you a fan?