Hunger Games - Come tell me that I'm wrong

[CoteDAzur]

So, DH and I watched Hunger Games last night. I haven't read the book so not sure if I'm imagining things, but it seemed to me that it was trying to be more clever than your average teen story.

For example, have you noticed the significance of this country's name "Panem"? It means "bread" in Latin and is famously used in the phrase "panem et circences" (= bread and circuses), the only two things necessary to easily rule the people of Rome. Keep the people fed and entertained and they will not only elect you but will be easy to rule. Along with the Hunger Games as Roman circuses, "tributes" as gladiators entering the arena in chariots, the name "Panem" also points at the Roman Empire.

I also thought the whole selection of tributes for Hunger Games, going from their poor towns to rich Capitol to fight for their lives, with the promise (albeit with a small chance) of riches and glory, felt like an allegory for USA's green card lottery - each poor nation's promising young people go to a rich place where the vast majority will be exploited and spat out, enticed with the small probability of power and glory.

Now tell me why I should go read the books because I didn't get it at all

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.

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

I really enjoyed these books and would like something similar.

I agree with Trills

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.