posted March 22, 2014 10:06 PM            

However, MY OWN observations (and I know a few others with similar observations) is that it speaks to kids because of the intense competition they're put through today.

First, I need to point out that kids aren't all a bunch of spoiled brats who have their self-esteem coddled. I don't even know how this myth came to be, especially in the view that it's something of a new phenomenon. Maybe narcissistic, but I think kids have always been somewhat prone to that, it was just less obvious before social networking, and is irrelevant to what I'm about to say. On top of that kids tend to be better readers than many adults (perhaps JK Rowling can get the credit for that...), especially if you include e-books.

These days kids can flunk kindergarten! Furthermore, I was considered exceptional for having learned to read (and multiply and divide) before kindergarten let out, which I mostly did on my own (though I do recall the kindergarten teacher reading to us with the book aimed at us with her finger under the word she was reading) but these days kids are expected to be able to read before being promoted to first grade. (Interesting enough, the last report I saw showed that US kids were far more advanced in academics than kids of the same age at about age 5-7, but that changed over the years so that the average US kid was abysmally behind kids the same age in say Europe by high school.) Schools rely on testing as part of getting their funds and so push kids into scoring high, and parents and coaches often add their own pressures which often leads to kids competing against friends even just for their parents approval (and sometimes believe if they fail at anything that they'll be losers for life, a very unhealthy view). More than one kid even committed suicide (or came close to it) because of the intense pressure by disappointing the people they look up to or feeling inadequate next to friends who have learned to get their self-esteem from a test score, points in a game, results of contests and team positions, etc. In addition, one has to be popular (just as they do in the Games if they want sponsors to help them through it), and kids also tend to feel the entire adult world is constantly watching & judging them (right along with their peers).

And parents take sports (and other school activities) a lot more seriously, at least when the kids are particularly young, and it doesn't seem that unusual that the police have to be called over parents throwing a tantrum than the kids, and includes parents vandalizing (such as a car), menacing, or threatening coaches, teachers, or other parents, and even the use of guns by parents (typically brandishing, but one shot into the car of either a coach or another parent) isn't unknown. On top of that kids notice how unfair, arbitrary, and outright corrupt a lot of authority figures are, and many can also relate to having dysfunctional parents like Katniss has, so I (along with others) can see how this appeals to kids, especially as most of the kids who see it the most are of the more competitive crowds. Not that the kids consciously think, "This reminds me of my life in a metaphorical sense," but they can't help but emphasize them at an unconscious level, and the desire for Katniss and Peeta to not only survive but hold on to who they are in the process. Of course making Peeta (and others) hot is a nice bonus to ensure its popularity (though the novels themselves were popular before Josh Hutcherson made them even more popular).

posted March 22, 2014 11:31 PM              

I imagine myself being a glamorously dressed district 1 tribute and slaying everyone with my stratagems.

posted March 23, 2014 07:29 AM              

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Originally posted by 12muddy:
Yes I do think that they're based on what's going on in society. I think that's why they became popular, people can relate to them.

What I notice the most is social class separation theme. kinda reminds me a bit of my past observations. I've only read the 1st book though, not really my favourite, probably won't continue.

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12muddy, this is how I felt about them too. People can relate but don't see a way out, maybe it's to rub it in people's faces? Idk I haven't read the books so can't comment on that but why not continue?

posted March 23, 2014 10:43 AM            

After I read about the setting of the death game, my immediate thought was "Aren't we all competing in a colossal arena?"

I think it also has a political meaning. One wealthy "city" gets rich by exploiting other poor ones - sounds a bit like how countries were made into "colonies", by one method or another. Also sounds like how sweatshops make use of child labour n cheap labour....etc...

I think the book is interesting, the characters are described in details and as it goes on you sorta can see the shifts/changes in their thoughts, views n personalities. The characters are caught in a such a gripping situation. The things they have to do seem so much the "norms", they don't know that it can be challenged (well Katnip n her guy did challenge the rules in the end of the 1st book).

posted March 23, 2014 02:03 PM              

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Originally posted by PixieJane:
Generally speaking, my observation is that most adults compare it to somewhat similar movies years ago (as if you can't do that with just about any movie, and it's funny when those who say HG was a ripoff of BR are themselves told BR was a ripoff...

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Whatevs. Battle Royale is a BETTER rip-off of Lord of the Flies than Hunger Games. Shorter, too.

posted March 26, 2014 01:03 AM              

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Originally posted by 12muddy:
Firemoon, "rubbing it in people's faces" is a good way to put it.

After I read about the setting of the death game, my immediate thought was "Aren't we all competing in a colossal arena?"

I think it also has a political meaning. One wealthy "city" gets rich by exploiting other poor ones - sounds a bit like how countries were made into "colonies", by one method or another. Also sounds like how sweatshops make use of child labour n cheap labour....etc...

I think the book is interesting, the characters are described in details and as it goes on you sorta can see the shifts/changes in their thoughts, views n personalities. The characters are caught in a such a gripping situation. The things they have to do seem so much the "norms", they don't know that it can be challenged (well Katnip n her guy did challenge the rules in the end of the 1st book).

I don't think the writing flows well - as if I know anything about writing lol but yeah, that's one thing I dislike about the book.

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Yes exactly! I also think it's very political. Colonialism set a framework of wealth/political power that still very much exists today internationally.

The "games" are broadcasted to the wealthy for entertainment and everyone is thrown into the arena as if it's an equal playing field, although the reality of the situation should be obvious. Yet the whole premise is that fear doesn't work as a tactic of manipulation unless there's also hope. Everyone loves an underdog comeback story (Katniss and Peeta from district 12) which is why it's played up in the coverage/media... But if ppl start thinking the rules can be broken and there can be more than one winner the Capitol won't tolerate it.

posted June 27, 2021 11:54 PM            

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Originally posted by Chanterelle:
I don’t think I even knew there was a fourth book! I guess at this point I would have to go back and re-read all the others first. There’s another similar series, minus the reality-TV-show angle, that my daughter was reading about a year ago that was pretty good, but I can’t remember the name of it right now. It’s sort of like Hunger Games crossed with that M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Village.

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