2009 Reading #88: The Hunger Games
Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
Books 61-70.
Books 71-80.
81. Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz.
82. Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad.
83. The Dakota or Sioux in Minnesota As They Were in 1834 by Samuel W. Pond.
84. The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert.
85. The Flight of Red Bird: The Life of Zitkala-Sa by Doreen Rappaport.
86. Count Geiger's Blues by Michael Bishop.
87. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
88. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This, I liked. It's Battle Royale meets reality television, but rather than going the satirical route, Collins takes on the treachery of appearances versus reality in a more subtle and personal way. Set in a future North America where "tributes"--teenagers, one male and one female--from twelve districts are chosen by lottery to fight to the death for the entertainment of the ruling class and the intimidation of their home regions. Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of the story, is built for survival; she's an expert hunter and forager, and she's ruthlessly self-reliant. When the media-driven nature of the games forces her to rely on another person so as to appear more sympathetic, no one--not the people running the game, not the reader, not Katniss herself--can be certain of her true feelings. Collins doesn't linger on the violence, which arguably cushions its impact, but that's not really where the focus is; it's on the lies we tell and allow ourselves to be told by the media. And aside from all that, I couldn't put this damn book down. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of the sequel.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
Books 61-70.
Books 71-80.
81. Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz.
82. Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad.
83. The Dakota or Sioux in Minnesota As They Were in 1834 by Samuel W. Pond.
84. The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert.
85. The Flight of Red Bird: The Life of Zitkala-Sa by Doreen Rappaport.
86. Count Geiger's Blues by Michael Bishop.
87. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
88. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This, I liked. It's Battle Royale meets reality television, but rather than going the satirical route, Collins takes on the treachery of appearances versus reality in a more subtle and personal way. Set in a future North America where "tributes"--teenagers, one male and one female--from twelve districts are chosen by lottery to fight to the death for the entertainment of the ruling class and the intimidation of their home regions. Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of the story, is built for survival; she's an expert hunter and forager, and she's ruthlessly self-reliant. When the media-driven nature of the games forces her to rely on another person so as to appear more sympathetic, no one--not the people running the game, not the reader, not Katniss herself--can be certain of her true feelings. Collins doesn't linger on the violence, which arguably cushions its impact, but that's not really where the focus is; it's on the lies we tell and allow ourselves to be told by the media. And aside from all that, I couldn't put this damn book down. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of the sequel.