Melanie Sabol – Copy Editor
In 2008 the science fiction novel, The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins, hit bookstores everywhere. Since then, there have been a total of three Hunger Games novels written, one movie that has since hit theaters, along with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hitting theaters this November.
Yet, what is the big deal with The Hunger Games? The trilogy is based off of a post-apocalyptic North America, where children that need to fight to the death in an arena. This is all done as a punishment for the rebellion that occurred many years ago. Collins’s writing is so well done in this trilogy that the idea that 24 children are placed into an arena to fight for their lives just goes out the window. You follow Katniss Everdeen around through her experience with the games.
Senior at Southern Connecticut State University, Natalie Schriefer, says that she got into The Hunger Games when it came out a few years ago. “I’ve read all three books and have seen the movie. I’ve enjoyed them all.”
The movie set records when it premiered by bringing in $155 million on it’s opening weekend. Everyone who has read the books had to be one of the firsts to see the movie.There were people starting the trilogy once they first saw the movie.
“The books left me wanting more,” said Schriefer. “The movie did a fairly job of getting most of the information and facts from the book correct.”
Just as other readers, Schrefer, loved following around Katniss Everdeen . They watched as Everdeen’s life unfolded after being part of the games. Once she was part of the games Everdeen met Peeta Mellark and her life turned into reality show and people were reading her life now turn into a love story.
Getting so engrossed The Hunger Games trilogy, everyone you knew was reading it so you always had someone to talk to about it. Last Halloween, many people went as Katniss Everdeen.
Tyler Kekac, senior at Southern Connecticut State University, has read all the books and thought they were great. “My friends had all read the book and said it was great, so I had to see what it was about,” said Kekac.
“After reading the books I saw what all the hype was about,” said Kekac. “I see why the book took off so well that it did. The storyline of this post-apocalyptic is just so interesting for teens and young adults.” The books offer a different way of growing up for young adults. They are reading about guys and girls their age doing things that would never be thought to happen to them.
The Hunger Games took off so well because of the end of the world concept behind it. The idea that Everdeen would have to fight for survival is what people loved reading. Collin’s writing offers readers something other to read other than vampires and werewolves. This new concept of fighting for one’s life, made readers flock to it because it was so new and crazy.
Following around Katniss and her troubling love triangle makes readers forget about their own life. Readers are dropped in another world where The Hunger Games happen. A life that would never be a reality for the readers, that’s what causes such phenomenons. Just as in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. And just as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games offers a story for all ages to enjoy. Everyone wants to read it and make sure that their expectations are being held up because of this phenomenon. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set to hit theaters Nov. 22.
