The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games #1

Summary:

Winning means fame and fortune, losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before – and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Plot:

This is probably one of the most hyped-about dystopian YA fiction of our time. It’s not extremely original, young teens battling the tyrannical rule of an unfair government, but the concept of the Games are pretty unique. I enjoyed reading the book, now that I’m pretty familiar with the movie and comparing the two. I think the film-makers did a pretty decent job, although there are some things in the book I forgot about until I read it again now. What I would’ve liked are more plot twists, or just moments that make me sit up and pay attention. Maybe it was less exciting for me because I know the story, but I feel that a truly excellent book would’ve captured my attention even after I know the story. The best part of this book is probably the way it subtly exposes things for how they truly are, the plastic surgery and make-up, or the reality TV-show of kids dying, none of these are concepts that are completely foreign to us. All in all this is a very good book for its genre, definitely one of the better ones, and I do enjoy reading it.

Characters:

Katniss is the perfect hero. She’s strong, skilled, kind-hearted, but not soft and extremely brave. Yet she’s imperfect and has her moments of weakness and confusion. I think she’s very relatable, and older sister, trying to keep her family together at all costs, yet still just a girl herself, confused about love, friendship etc. If it weren’t for her this would’ve just been another story, but she makes this book worthwhile. The only other character we really get to know is Peeta, her fellow tribute. He is very likable, humble and just a nice guy, without being annoyingly good. The other tributes are all very interesting, and Katniss’ family (including Gale) are nice to read about, but I feel like they’re all a bit understated.

Who should read this:

13+, the violence is not described very graphically, but the subject matter is obviously not meant for very young kids. I didn’t notice any language, and except for Haymitch’s drinking there is very little other content that could be objectionable to some people. If you like dystopian novels, or just YA fiction in general, this is one you probably should’ve read already. If you like romantic, light, fluffy type books this might not be the one for you...

My rating:

I really do like this book, but it doesn’t have a big enough impact on me to be added to my favourites shelf. 4/5.

Quote:

‘Stupid people are dangerous.’

Skin

Ted Dekker

Summary:

A freak storm has spawned three tornados that are bearing down on the town of Summerville.

Yet under the cover of the storm looms a much more ominous threat: a vindictive killer known as Red who’s left a string of victims in his wake and is now bent on exacting his final revenge on the unsuspecting town.

But there is an enigma surrounding Red that the FBI is unwilling to admit – closely guarded secrets of something gone terribly wrong beneath the skin of Summerville. Secrets that will destroy far more than one small town.

Caught in the middle is Wendy Davidson, a recovering cult survivor who takes refuge in Summerville on her way to visit her estranged mother. And with her, four strangers, any one of whom could be the next victim...

...or the killer.

Plot:

After reading two of Dekker’s other novels I know to expect the unexpected from him, yet he manages to surprise, shock and thrill me every time. This novel pulls you in on the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat, guessing every possible and impossible outcome to this story, until you close the book, and even then it doesn’t completely let you go. Thrilling is the best word to describe this novel, some parts are horrifying, and you never know what’s going to happen next.

Characters:

The characters are the reason I prefer Dekker’s book over Frank Peretti’s, he builds his stories around his characters. You get a look into a crazy killer’s brain, and it’s both incredibly scary and strangely fascinating at the same time. All the characters in this book are slightly crazy, which seems to be a pattern for Dekker’s books. You start rooting for some of them, and some of them are not likable at all, but all of them have faults and positive points, even though it may be hard to spot.

Who should read this:

16+, this is definitely not one for anybody who is sensitive to graphic descriptions of murders, some of which are incredibly cruel and disturbing. Also, this is not a happy, nice or in any way light-hearted story, so if that’s what you’re looking for skip this one. If you enjoy thrillers that will keep you guessing, even after you finished reading, or something that’ll make you think I would definitely recommend this one.

My rating:

It’s really hard to say I loved this book, because it’s such a disturbing story, but I did. It’s just a great book, well-written and thought-provoking, even if it is horrifying at times. Although I prefer Dekker’s more famous book ‘Thr3e’, this one is definitely worth a read as well. 5/5

Quote:

“What we see may deceive us - the skin may be deceptive - but there has to be one truth, right? It can't all just be a jumble of perceptions. So what really exists out there, beyond what we can see? We're so dependent on the surfaces of what we see. But if we could see past the skin of this world...”

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings Part #0.5

Summary:

Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

Plot:

This is one of the books that are always seen on must-read lists, and now I understand why. A great story, full of adventure and danger and magical creatures , this book probably inspired many, if not most, of the great fantasy writers of our time. The author’s style can be compared to C.S. Lewis’, although this book proved a quote I have disliked from Roald Dahl’s Matilda, namely that C.S. Lewis doesn’t use enough humour to keep children interested. As a big fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, I have never agreed with this statement, however The Hobbit may have changed my mind. While I still love Narnia I now see what some light, funny moments can bring to a book like this. All that I disliked about this story is the ending, it was slightly disappointing after the whole journey Bilbo made.

Characters:

None of the main characters are heroes, it says somewhere in the book, and this is true. Bilbo prefers his little hobbit-hole to the great unknown, and is rather reluctant to go on an adventure. The dwarves may be brave and loyal, but they have many faults, some of which make them slightly unlikable at times. Gandalf is probably the only character who could be described as heroic, since he always seems to be saving the day. All the magical creatures are fascinating, and inventive, but there aren’t too many of them, so it never gets too confusing.

Who should read this:

10+, there is some violence, but I don’t feel like it’s too graphic for younger readers. This was written with children in mind, however the author’s style of writing may make it harder for kids to read. If you’re a fantasy fan, you should probably have read this already. I also agree that this is a book to put on anyone’s must read list, since it, and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, inspired so many other great fantasy works.

My rating:

I really, really enjoyed this book. If it weren’t for the ending, which was slightly disappointing, to me at least, I would have added it to my favourites. However, I will be reading it again, because I feel like you would discover something new every time you read this. 4/5

Quote:

It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.

If I Stay

Gayle Forman

If I Stay #1

Summary:

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

Plot:

This is not a very original story, but the perspective from which it is told makes it extremely interesting. The author gives us a whole life story, told in flashbacks and from the main characters viewpoint as she holds her own life in her hands. This is just a story of a pretty normal girl, her life, hopes and dreams. While there are some aspects of her life that make it unique, it’s stays relatable.

Characters:

You really connect with this main character, you get to see her entire life literally flash before her eyes, and you start to care for her and the people around her. She is very relatable, although her present situation is pretty strange. All the characters are entertaining, and you get to know them pretty well, since the main character is pretty perceptive.

Who should read this:

13+, this is mainly for language, the violence of the car crash and suspense, as well as the issue of death, which, obviously plays a big role in this book. I would recommend this for people who like stories about normal teens, but want something a little different. The front cover says ‘for fans of Stephenie Meyer’s twilight’, but I personally didn’t see the connection. The themes of the two books differ greatly. If you want a light, happy book I wouldn’t recommend this one, as it is pretty sad.

My rating:

I enjoyed this book, it didn’t bore me, I found the perspective refreshing and new and I really liked the characters. I don’t think it’s going to make my favorites, simply because it wasn’t one of those books where I go ‘wow’ when I put it down, but it was definitely worth the time I spent on it...4/5.

Quote:

Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.