The Hunger Games. It's the book that made me fall headfirst into reading, and I'll be writing about it today.

I feel like the books get too much unnecessary hate. Many people discredit the genuine anger and fury that comes from behind the books, and instead see only what they want to see, which is 'Mary Sue Katniss Everdeen overthrows the government by sheer girl power and teenage angst' which all three books went above and beyond to make sure doesn't happen. Mockingjay, especially, does a great job of showing realistic politics. Suzanne Collins also quite obviously has a background in film, propoganda especially, and I think the scenes where Katniss is reduced to the Mockingjay are absolutely artistic. 

The way Cinna died for Katniss to become the Mockingjay--and, in extension, the backbone of the rebellion even in death--was haunting. I adore Collins' writing. It's pure genius. 

In my opinion, President Coin was just as bad as Snow, because she hid her true intention behind a carefully created façade, which, of course, worked. All the District 13 scenes were crafted beautifully, especially the one where they believe that Katniss' worst trait is that she doesn't blindly follow orders like a good soldier. That was what made me believe that they were as bad as the Capitol. And the one where Katniss says yes to having a final Hunger Games with the Capitol children--so many people believe that it goes against Katniss' character to say yes to it, when she'd just lost her sister. She'd seen the person she loved most in the world suffer, of course she'd want the Capitol to have a taste of their own medicine. 

The epilogue is also quite controversial, because many believe that Peeta made her have kids, when she spent the entirety of the books saying that she doesn't want them, whereas I see it as a next step for her. A perfect happy ending; finally gaining her faith in the world, because the only reason she didn't want kids is that she didn't want them to grow up in this world that is so terribly unkind to people, and she'd seen the worst of it, having been in the Hunger Games twice, having Prim and her father taken away from her, and god the list is endless. She'd never let herself even dream about a good world, and I think having kids is a sign of moving on. 

Finnick and Annie's relationship was really sweet to read about; how the sweetheart of the Capitol really just wants a normal life with the woman he loves. Finnick's death is definitely up there in my Saddest Fictional Characters' Death list, and I don't really know enough about Annie to judge her, but I know she'll care well for their son. Their marriage scene was one of the best in the book, and maybe one of the only happy moments at all. Again, Finnick's death really hit like a truck. 

Collins' writing style is very distinctive. Katniss' deadpan manner of delivering facts--in her head, of course, not in her speaking--is hilarious. I don't usually like present 1st person point of view, but this was a worthy exception to this rule. 

Overall, the Hunger Games is a four-star book. I would definetely recommend.