Genre Swap Saturday- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Genre Swap Saturday is a regular post (not necessarily every week) hosted by All Things Urban Fantasy, that will highlight books outside of our focused genre that I think will appeal to you.  Feel free to use this on your site, just link me please.

Every Genre Swap Saturday book suggestion will include:

• Why you, an urban fantasy lover, might like this book:
• Why you, an urban fantasy lover, might not like this book: 

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book Description: Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.

My Take: I picked this book up after reading recommendations from both Stephenie Meyer and Steven King. The plot is like a cross between The Running Man and Lord of The Flies with an element of romance, and I loved every single page! The book is written in present tense which gives every scene a sense of immediacy. The 16 year old wise beyond her years Katniss has a very strong voice, especially in the beginning when we learn the risks she has had to undertake in order to survive and feed her family. The whole idea of The Hunger Games fills you with such a sense of impotent rage and sympathy for the district people. Truly a powerful book. The sequel, Catching Fire, came out last month, and while not as good as Hunger Games, I still can't wait to read the rest of the projected trilogy.

• Click here to read chapter one of The Hunger Games

Movie News: Lionsgate announced that it has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film version of Suzanne Collins' best-selling futuristic young adult novel The Hunger Games. Collins will adapt the screenplay from her novel, the first in a trilogy. Nina Jacobson is producing through her Color Force shingle. The announcement was made by Joe Drake, Lionsgate President, Motion Picture Group, and Co-Chief Operating Officer.

Why you, an urban fantasy lover, might like this book:

1. The post apocalyptic world is fully developed.  It is familiar yet feels completely other.
2. Katniss is an amazingly strong heroine without being superhuman.
3. A love triangle that extremely compelling

Why you, an urban fantasy lover, might not like this book:

1. Nothing paranormal here
2. Some scifi elements in terms of technology
3. Difficult subject matter involving the killing of children

 

 

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439023483