(no subject)
I started reading The Hunger Games last night, the Hubs is on a business trip to another part of Japan so I have a lot of free time on my hands. Free time I've found I can do anything I want with, like breaking civilized responsibility and staying up all night reading a most engaging book.
And just now, after staying up all night, after getting that migraine, and after taking Excedrine for said migraine causing me to trip out on caffeine only in a manner I could manage I've come to a startling realization.
If you're reading this you know what The Hunger Games are about, or you don't care about spoilers. So I will continue, and this is your last chance to back out before being wretchedly spoiled.
This first book, as I've not read the other three, is about a distopia - I love distopias, they just strike home for me in a very profound way (that and Zombie movies... so, maybe you shouldn't take me so seriously?). In this book, the over powerful, all control government of Panem tortures and punishes its people for a rebellion that happened seventy-four years previous in so many inhumane and disgusting ways. The most of which being The Hunger Games, were two children from each of the outlying districts are forced to participate in a fight to the death with each other, all of this being broadcast across the country.
The only place where children are 'immune' from the Game is The Capitol, where the seat of the controlling government rests.
I put quotes around immune because the citizens of The Capitol have been programmed to take pleasure in watching these children fight to the bloody death, as if this were some wretched gladiator sport (whereas the people of the outlying districts are forced to watch their beloved children suffer in the most cruelest of ways). The author goes into great detail how this is effectuated, from the way the children are foisted to celebrity statues before they enter the Game arena (in all this gwady, garish Reality Show type antics - they have a game show host who interviews the children the night before the Game starts, teasing out laughter from an audience and children alike - GAH), to the way they can even control part of the out come of the games by being able to purchase and send useful items to the child they hope to win to the encouraging of placing bets on who lives.
As I'm reading this well written story (told from the point of view of a very kickass girl - yeay!) I am right there with the main character. Rooting for her, gasping, figuratively, at all the right moments, I even cry when she cries, dammit - emotionally I've placed my bets and though I am disgusted with how these children are treated and displayed by this appalling government, I find myself hoping this child, or that child dies - OMG.
And then I realize...
I am the Audience at the Capitol.
This is fiction of course, these characters aren't real - but to quote one fictional character to drive home the point, “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Well played Author Suzanne Collins, well played.
Migraine Caffeine highs make me so insightful!