A little about everything: The Hunger Games

So after, when he whispers, "You love me. Real or not real?"
I tell him, "Real."

Thank God, times when I had to read only classic literature had passed. Actually, I don't have anything against classics, but I really do mind when people make me read something. Anyway, today I'd like to talk about a very special book - a trilogy by Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games. The very reason why I even started to read it was because I saw a teaser to the film based on the book which is to be on screens on March, 2012. Well, if Hollywood directors consider it worth filming, then it might be worth reading, don't you think so?

It is one of these stories which sound ridiculous when you start describing the plot, but change your opinion dramatically the same minute you open the book itself and don't let you go until you've read it all! You just keep reading and reading and can't stop... (Or maybe just I am such a bookworm?)

Anyway, here I try to make a summery of the plot. The story takes place in the future, when a global war destroyed North America and a new nation - Panem - "rose out of the ashes". There is a controlling Capitol city and twelve districts. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected at random and forced to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised event in which the participants, or "tributes," must fight to the death in a dangerous, outdoor arena, controlled by the Capitol, until only one remains. Yeah, sounds not really cheerful, but it is just the beginning!

The story follows fatherless 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12, who volunteers for the 74th Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Also participating from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a boy whom Katniss knows from school and who once gave her bread when her family was starving. And that's when the story really begins!

I don't want to reveal all the story, but I'd like to share my own thoughts and impressions.

1) I am so happy with the way Suzanne Collins solved the problem with "love triangle". I am more than happy with her explanation why Katniss stayed with Peeta.

That what I need to survive is not Gale's fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.

2) Until now I would never imagine what a person who was in war felt. The author described so really all the fears and agony and pain which suffered the heroes that it was difficult to hold back a tear. Now I understand that it is not just physically, but mentally that war destroys us.

3) It is obvious that the end makes the story. And I am such a sucker for happy ends! But Collins' ending is complicated. On one hand, it is good, Katniss is alive and finally found her love. But on the other hand, we see a girl with mental disorder (don't worry, one day she will recover!), who lost almost everybody she loved and now doesn't even know for what she fought all this time. I'd say, the end was depressing...

4) I think the main idea of the book - how hard it is to beat down the system, especially when you are young and have no support. 'Coz in the end you will end with nothing. But if you have nothing, then you have nothing to lose, isn't it true?

5) I hope the film will be as good as the book. Obviously, it is a real challenge for the cast to reproduce all the emotions, all the feeings described in th book and to make you sympathize with their heroes. Please, don't dissapoint me! Btw, here is the cast: