Hunger Games - Come tell me that I'm wrong

I think The Long Walk was Stephen King's take on Vietnam and the draft and the toll it took on those who were part of it.

The winning boy was allowed to name his own prize and boys from all backgrounds put their names forward and 100 were picked, with some others on stand-by until the start of the walk.

From what I remember they all had a reason for wanting to take part, one was poor and had just married his pregnant girlfriend so needed the money, another had witnessed a previous long walk and felt compelled to take part, one had been dumped by his girlfriend because he wasn't earning much money and he wanted to win her back.

And they all seemed to think it would be an easy way to come home with whatever it was they were dreaming about, this non-existent prize they had been promised but would never get because the only way to win was to keep going until everyone else beside you was dead, no matter what it cost you to do so.

I think it's one of his better short novellas, so worth a read.

I agree with Trills

I really enjoyed these books and would like something similar.

She has maybe made the decision now..over a year later

YY you are spot on with the rome references. in fact they talk about that later in the series.

i think they are incredibly clever and well thought out. i saw the first film then devoured all three books in two days.

you should give it a go, if you dont like them you can still watch the films without missing out on information, they manage to pack all tge relevant stuff in.

I'd say it's still worth reading, though, as you kind of have to find out what happens...

Just finished the final book. Tbh, I was quite shocked at the level of violence, but I think the point about the horrible dehumanising potential of reality shows was quite persuasive. Quite liked the film and found all 3 books great pageturners, but I was disappointed by the ending of book 3. I don't want to spoil it so I won't say why, but I didn't like what happened and found some of it totally confusing.

I read them all but I wish I had stopped after number one as I found two and three a bit pointless.

Obviously the Panem et Circenses reference is intentional, but so what? Why not?

I think the red herring here is that this thread is about adult fiction (which I would expect to be more subtle) and The Hunger Games is emphatically teen fiction, so might need to be more explicit in some of its cultural references.

I'm with LaQueen - I thought all 3 books were good fun, refreshing, enjoyable un-soppy and generally pretty good at presenting an empowered, bright and 'strong' female character, who wasn't overly hung up on boys, clothes or make-up, which made a nice change.

The dark materials trilogy beat twilight, hunger games and potter into a cocked hat. Lyra is one of the best female heroines, ever. I'll drink to that.

I think The Hunger Games is wonderful. The Twilight series I couldn't read. And the films made me watch to pull my eyes out. Couldn't read Harry Potter either. But adore Pullman. Really teen fiction is just as mixed as adult. And on that utterly lame note, I think I will take myself off to the drunk thread. Sorry.

Interesting - the long walk is also one of my favourite books, although from what I recall the kids volunteer with the hope of winning a fortune, I don't remember them being particularly poor.

The Running Man I remember as being quite different to the film adaptation. In the book there is no arena as such he is running/hiding in real life through everyday towns.

Suzanne Collins did explain how she got the ideas for the book and they seem quite plausible. Either way I really enjoyed the books and thoroughly recommend them.

I've only read the first one. Not sure why I haven't moved onto the next. Kind of feel they will be the same and I will be disappointed.

Suzanne Collins references the bread and circuses herself in one of the books (can't remember whether it's Catching Fire or Mockingjay though). It's clearly all intended.

I enjoyed the book at first and thought she was a good heroine. However I grew to really dislike her by the end. I don't remember the details now but I seem to remember she has to lie and pretend and abandon who she really was. I couldn't see where the story could go by the end of it. And I read a bit about the other two books and it was as I suspected, more of the same. In fact I think they are very like Twilight, in that it was a good idea, reasonable well executed, fluffy fiction-wise, but because of its success the author decided to spin it out and should have left it at one book.

Either that or it's Suzanne Collins

Haven't seen the film yet but did devour the books. Agree that Panem is clearly deliberate. Not sure I buy the Green Card analogy though.

The panem refernce is quite deliberate. So too are the parallels with the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.

I suspect it's one of those creatures who dwell under bridges :o

If there's one thing that I hate it's fucking patronising intellectual snobs who think they know more than anybody else.

Decided to read the book before seeing film. LOVED book. wasn't let down by film which I also enjoyed. about to start second book but can't quite see how it will stretch to a third but I'll read it before passing comment!

Read the first, would say it was an easy read, took me about a week on and off.
Wouldnt say fantastic, but a good read yes.
Im very picky, fussy and difficult to please, dont normally entertain fiction.
That said, i did enjoy it.

Not seen the film though, not sure if i would enjoy it.As has already been said, i didnt read into it intellectually, just took it for the story that it was.

I cannot even begin to express the level of disappointment I had when I read the third book. Everything about it was wrong wrong wrong.