The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

*My thoughts here do include spoilers*

Ok, so everyone I know (more or less) has raved about their wonder over The Hunger Games, which is a trilogy of books written by Suzanne Collins.

Last year it seemed all I heard about was how great these books were and how everyone was wow-ed by them. I was definitely growing increasingly intrigued and wanted to join in on the "I Read It" club. Finally got around to picking up a used copy of the book and dove into it this past month.

Here is when I confess to you: I only read the first half. I wanted to state that right up front because I recognize that that disqualifies me from having an opinion on it according to some people. So there's my disclaimer. Regardless of whether or not I'm "allowed" to have a full opinion of it, I do anyway.

Here are the reasons why I DEVOURED the first half in one afternoon:

Suzanne Collins writes in an intriguing manner. She keeps up the suspense and she lays the groundwork for what you know is going to be a wild and intriguing tale. She draws the reader in and hooks them - partly in awe and wonder and partly due to morbid curiosity.

I should point out that I did not read any descriptions of the book before I got started. I understood the series to be something of a cliff hanger and I didn't want to spoil anything. I just wanted to immerse and enjoy. Here is the synopsis of the plot, taken from the Amazon description:

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed . . . to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like 'Survivor' and 'American Gladiator.'

As I mentioned, I read the first half of the book leading up to the start of The Hunger Games, in which past games were discussed and I had a feeling that the games themselves (again, in which the teenagers are required to kill each other off in front of a national television audience) were going to be disturbing. Heck, I was already disturbed by the first half! Just the very idea of sacrificing children by forcing them to kill and mutilate each other as some sick form of entertainment (and enforced slavery) is, in two words, positively disgusting. To say that I was riveted by the first half of the book is an understatement. So is saying that I was in a foul mood after having finished it.

Granted - one thing I want to make absolutely clear - Suzanne Collins does one of the most awesome job in painting a horrifying scenario without actually spelling out the details. She makes it very clear that The Hunger Games are horrible. She makes it very clear that these games are a despicable event. Her main character, Katniss, is used to show how inhumane this practice is. There is mention of nudity but nothing explicit or graphic. Again, Collins paints the scene without words, allowing the reader's imagination to take them where they will without going overboard with unnecessary further descriptions. I did appreciate that and thought it very artful. (Considering the topics that this book deals with, I appreciated that!)

Jonathan came home and I went over the plot with him and asked him if he thought I should keep reading it. He suggested I might want to find more happy reading fare, but left it up to me. So I decided at that point to try to find some spoiler reviews to see if I could handle the end results of this book. And I had a hard time finding a spoiler review! (Look at us book bloggers! We're all so good at being courteous in this department!) But I needed to know so eventually I stumbled upon the Focus on the Family review of The Hunger Games and read that. I highly recommend reading their review if you aren't certain what to make of this book!

After reading that review, I decided against completing the book. Although Collins skillfully avoids describing the morbidness of past killing games, I wasn't too certain about the actual games themselves. So I checked out the FoF review and then skimmed a few chapters of the games in the last half of the book and felt disturbed by what I found on the pages. The idea of sending children into an arena to kill one another is bothersome. For the same reason, by the way, that abortion is bothersome and difficult to deal with. The idea of mutilating a person just because they haven't been born yet is equally vile and offensive. Killing for the sake of killing is something that rightly sends chills down our spines. It is shocking and horrifying to our sensibilities. It keeps us riveted on the plot in The Hunger Games because we simply cannot believe our eyes or what emotions are being stirred up within us as we read about children being speared by other children or having their necks broken by others. Why would we do this? Why would we shove scissors in the backs of babies necks and think that that is somehow an agreeable or excusable practice? Because the government says so? Because we are ignoring common moral law? Our brains cannot comprehend the cruelty of it but society is telling us it is acceptable. It's "the way things are." We cannot make sense of it.

For the reasons I concluded the last paragraph with, I can't find anything inherently wrong with the idea of reading The Hunger Games. I think it hits very close to home and accurately jars the sensibilities of the reader by painting out perfect cruelty without graphic pictures. (However, I do understand that they are making a movie out of this book which I would not choose to see.)

I read (the first half) of The Hunger Games and thought it was scarily accurate as to how little value today's society places on human life. And therefore I was horrified by it. Not because of the shock value, but because of the truth. Quite frankly, reading the book for entertainment was beyond me. It wasn't a fun read. It was captivating. It was intriguing. It was, as I've said, horrifying. But it was not entertaining. It would be as entertaining as watching a few abortions performed live would be, although we might create some fictionalized names "to protect the innocent."

In the end, I did decide against completing the read. Mostly though I decided to do that because of the following:

1. The books are presented as reading entertainment to Jr. High kids on up. (I think they are better suited to college students grappling with worldviews and needing a good place to jump start conversation!)
2. I was unable to read it as entertainment but kept thinking about the unfathomable murder of unborn children. If we put them into the arena for The Hunger Games, perhaps we'd be more aware of their plight and eager to take a stand against the injustice of their murders.
3. The book ended up putting me in a very foul mood because of the depravity of it. It was affecting my emotions in a negative way and I didn't feel it beneficial to keep reading it just to say I finished it.

For flippant reasons, I decided not to read it after I turned to the back cover and read the endorsements on the back of my paperback copy:

"A violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense . . . I couldn't stop reading. - Stephen King

"I was so obsessed with this book . . . The Hunger Games is amazing." - Stephanie Meyer

I read those quotes and wondered how many people are reading these books as entertainment only or as thought-provoking reads. I trust some readers but the general public worries me as to what they think is just fine, fun and entertaining and what isn't.

If you do have young teens (or older teens) who are or want to read this, I would heartily and strongly recommend the parents read the books first. Be prepared to discuss. Plan to discuss. Understand the books and the arguments they are making. Talk about this book's effect on society and society's view of killing for purposes of convenience and entertainment. Do not be lazy about addressing the issues this book raises!

I wouldn't say it's a "Don't Read" book. I would say it's a "Do not read for entertainment only purposes" type of book. It DEMANDS attention and diligence in dissecting and discerning and it would be a great mistake to assume less.

Again, I heartily recommend and encourage the Focus on the Family review of The Hunger Games. It gives a good overview of the plot, the issues and things to be aware of.

Am I glad to have picked it up? Yes. For this reason: I wouldn't want to remain in ignorance of it. However, that doesn't mean I have to complete it. And it doesn't mean I'm going to recommend it. All I'm saying is that I'm glad to be "in the know" to a greater extent - because of its truth.