Jennie Jacques Instagram – #thehungergames #bookreview 📚 Fictional; teenagers killing each other, for entertainment sake. Wee bit of debate, online, re how old the reader should be 😬 Extraordinarily well-written. The characters have depth (even the ones who ain’t gonna last long) & the survivors are cleverly crafted with enticing potential for growth. I finished the last chapter shortly after closing David Nott’s War Doctor, so could’ve been slightly desensitised to how gory it was towards the end of The Hunger Games; a subconscious comparison. But, what stood out to me, more than bloodshed, was the complex love-story between Tributes, Peeta & Katniss, alongside the sheer devotion our strong female lead (Katniss Evergreen) has for her lil sister, Prim. Not to mention her loyalty to both family & friends. I love that Katniss actions a big “F you” to the corrupt system steering the wheel of fate. A brief synopsis is there’s a world split into 12 districts. Each district has its “role” to play in society which bleeds into the themes of class & social status. Annually, 2 “tributes” are (randomly) selected to take part in a reality tv show called “The Hunger Games” where the contestants ultimately fight for their lives. There are plenty of added twists & turns. Some of the chosen are young & naive, while others are older, wiser and/or have more of a physical advantage as their edge. The inequality & unjust distribution of resources is rife. Starvation, poverty & (once again) irrational human behaviour drives the narrative. It’s evident where the influence & insight for such astute writing, though imaginary, has come from… Suzanne Collins (the writer) father (Lieutenant Michael John Collins) was a US Air Force officer who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. The Hunger Games is actually interactive, so the audience can pay to send gifts in for their favourite ones, which could ultimately save (or kill) a life – The Capitol (the rich) therefore exacerbate motive & manipulation. It’s harsh & extreme, but it appeals vastly to the dark appetite of the viewers – especially those who have more money than sense. I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy! 💥 5/5