The Hunger Games (novel)

The Hunger Games (novel)

The Hunger Games is a 2008 dystopian novel by Suzanne Collins. It is the first in the Hunger Games trilogy, followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Collins drew upon Greek mythology, Roman gladiatorial games, and contemporary reality television for thematic content. A film adaptation, directed by Gary Ross and co-written by Collins, was released in 2012.

About The Hunger Games (novel) in brief

Summary The Hunger Games (novel)The Hunger Games is a 2008 dystopian novel by the American writer Suzanne Collins. It is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the future, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America. One boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle royale to the death. Collins drew upon Greek mythology, Roman gladiatorial games, and contemporary reality television for thematic content. The Hunger Games was first published in hardcover on September 14, 2008, by Scholastic, featuring a cover designed by Tim O’Brien. It has since been released in paperback and also as an audiobook and ebook. A film adaptation, directed by Gary Ross and co-written by Collins herself, was released in 2012. Since its release, the novel has been translated into 26 languages, and publishing rights have been sold in 38 territories. The novel is the first in the Hunger Games trilogy, followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay. It was praised for its plot and character development, and won many awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, and was named one of Publishers Weekly’s “Best Books of the Year” in 2008. Collins has said that the inspiration for the book came from channel surfing on television. She observed people competing on a reality show and on another she saw footage of the invasion of Iraq. The Greek myth of Theseus served as a major basis for the story, with Collins describingKatniss as a futuristic Theseus.

The sense of loss that Collins developed through her father’s service in the Vietnam War was also an influence on the story. She considered the moments where Katness reflects on happier moments in her past to be more enjoyable. The story is narrated by KatnISS Everdeen from District 12, who volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her sister, Primrose. In the days leading up to the Games in the Capitol, they are given advice by their drunken mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, the sole living District 12 victor. The male tribute is Peeta Mellark, a former schoolmate who once gave her bread from his family’s bakery when her family was starving. Due to the tributes’ special costumes, which had the theme of fire, she became known as the “Girl on Fire” during their evaluation by Gamemakers. Meanwhile, Rue, the petite girl from District 11, is shocked by this and believes this is a ploy to gain sponsors, but later accepts this sincere love for her long-unrequited love for Peeta. In a televised interview with Caesar Flickerman, Peeta reveals his long-time love for Katnisse, but she believes this to be a ploy as well. As punishment for a past failed rebellion, which resulted in the obliteration of District 13, the Capitol exploits the twelve surrounding districts for their natural resources and labour.