What I think of "The Hunger Games"

For those who haven't read it, you should.  I found it to be an excellent, excellent series.  And here's why:

Katniss is a wonderful main character.  She's not your average female character for sure.  She knows how to hunt, has awesome aim, is smart, doesn't worry about her appearance, defies cruel authority, and has such a compassion and respect for human life (despite the circumstances she is placed under).  I believe that young women need to have more female characters like Katniss in their reading repertoire.  Books need to represent a wide range of female characters, because that's the reality of the world we live in.  Women have just as varied a range of character as men do in real life, but this isn't portrayed as much in books/media.  This makes it hard for young girls to find examples of the sorts of women they would like to be when they grow up, because the options are limited.  I'm thrilled that The Hunger Games trilogy is enough of a hit that the majority of young people will be able to read and appreciate what an amazing character Collins' created.

The book is also amazing in that it really highlights what should be important in life.  Compassion, love, integrity, honor, are all emphasized because of the atrocious and cruel scenario that is set up.  It's one of those things that you don't know is important until you don't have it anymore.  Even in a cruel and purposefully arbitrary world, people can still have hope and fight for the freedom to love and live in a fulfilling, meaningful way.  

This book series really resonates with our young people today because they can identify with the sometimes cruel and arbitrary adult world that imposes oppressive beliefs and practices on them.  While of course the book is an overexaggeration of the problems, its makes one think of the horrors many children face in our modern day that children should never be subject to.

This book is a critique of our own society.  The capital, the one place that rules them all is made up of people with nothing better to do than be entertained and worry about things like food and fashion.  They are gluttonous, ignorant, uncompassionate, and frivolous.  They don't seem to understand or care that children die in the Hunger Games.  They obsess unhealthfully about the most trivial things.  They are constantly concerned about appearance and style, even to the extent of plastic surgery to make them look like an animal and the like.  Isn't that just the way that society seems to be heading?  Reality TV and media in general advertise to get people to obsess over just the same things.  It's something to think about.

As a feminist, I think there are some very female-positive elements to the book series.  While not intended to highlight feminist ideas, it is very accepting and open to the idea that people take on the roles they are personally best suited to, and not the traditional roles established by society as male or female.  The apocalyptic scenario seems to help everyone realize that gender roles simply aren't necessary when everyone must do what they can to survive.  Women aren't regarded as odd or un-feminine when they can shoot with better accuracy than men and are the main bread-winners of the family.  Men aren't considered weak or feminine if they are the one who is saved from death by a woman.  Males don't seem to have a macho complex and females are not seen as objects to be viewed and ogled.  And, all genders are criticized for being unnecessarily violent, even during a war.  There is a male and female protagonist, and a male and female antagonist, making it clear to the reader that males don't have a monopoly on violence and females don't have a monopoly on gentleness/compassion.  Peeta is a great example for young men in that he is no less of a man or person because he is forgiving, abhors unnecessary violence, patient, and nurturing of others.  It puts all of the normal gender stereotypes we hear today on end and shakes it up.  Hopefully people realize just how much about gender roles is a social construct and not necessarily a biological reality.

Anyway, that's my take on the books.  They are the sort of books I will have to buy and read over and over.  I think with each read, more nuance can be picked up.  I think its an 11 out of 10 just like Harry Potter.

So, my readers, what do you think of the series if you've read it?  If you haven't read it, will you?

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