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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This was an interesting read. If you couldn't tell, I really loved the Hunger Games, and I was excited to read a number of different authors' perspectives. While they weren't all stellar (one, I shit you not, actually cited the Daily Mail as its source for scholarly material-- needless to say, I threw that one out of the my mental vault immediately)-- some were excellent and gave me some new things to mull over in my cerebral stew. Namely, PTSD, fashion, community, and feminism (without using the F-word) in the Hunger Games.
Team Katniss.
Team Katniss.
I liked this book. It offered some interesting insights into the series and the essays were both thought provoking and timely. This book strips away the romance factor and follows the real issues that are embedded in this fantastic series.
Note: Review copy received from publisher.
Perhaps targeted towards a younger audience than me, I felt that some of the essayists had a tendency to lean more towards the too familiar and chatty kind of essay. Nothing really wrong with that, but it personally irritated me. Additionally, there were a few inaccuracies, the most notable in Lockwood's "Not So Weird Science" where she referred to the first cloned sheep as "Polly" where a quick fact check by the editor could have cleared this up (although to be fair, the essayist did also speak of Polly the sheep, who was the first sheep spliced with human DNA).
All of the essays are great jumping points to further discussion about the novels, with the ones regarding reality television being a bit weaker and less interesting than some of the others.
Perhaps my favorite essay was Blythe Woolston's "Bent, Shattered, and Mended" which provided enough information on the way the brain develops and how it is broken via Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to be both easily digestible without feeling like I was missing something. This essay in particular would be great to discuss with teens or young adults who are experiencing their own PTSD as they will be more inclined to recognize both the symptoms and the attempts of living with it in the characters rather than themselves.
Other highlights of the collection include, "Your Heart is a Weapon the Size of Your Chest" in which love becomes the ultimate weapon and the only one actually capable of destroying the Capitol and "Team Katniss" which focuses more on who Katniss is over who she does or should love.
There are major spoilers in this collection, so if you haven't read the series yet you'll want to do that first.
Overall, a good start, if not quite up to the academic rigor I was hoping for.
Perhaps targeted towards a younger audience than me, I felt that some of the essayists had a tendency to lean more towards the too familiar and chatty kind of essay. Nothing really wrong with that, but it personally irritated me. Additionally, there were a few inaccuracies, the most notable in Lockwood's "Not So Weird Science" where she referred to the first cloned sheep as "Polly" where a quick fact check by the editor could have cleared this up (although to be fair, the essayist did also speak of Polly the sheep, who was the first sheep spliced with human DNA).
All of the essays are great jumping points to further discussion about the novels, with the ones regarding reality television being a bit weaker and less interesting than some of the others.
Perhaps my favorite essay was Blythe Woolston's "Bent, Shattered, and Mended" which provided enough information on the way the brain develops and how it is broken via Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to be both easily digestible without feeling like I was missing something. This essay in particular would be great to discuss with teens or young adults who are experiencing their own PTSD as they will be more inclined to recognize both the symptoms and the attempts of living with it in the characters rather than themselves.
Other highlights of the collection include, "Your Heart is a Weapon the Size of Your Chest" in which love becomes the ultimate weapon and the only one actually capable of destroying the Capitol and "Team Katniss" which focuses more on who Katniss is over who she does or should love.
There are major spoilers in this collection, so if you haven't read the series yet you'll want to do that first.
Overall, a good start, if not quite up to the academic rigor I was hoping for.
The Girl Who Was On Fire by Leah Wilson is probably the first secondary source I’ve read since university. Reading a book of short essays/articles about another book may seem dull or nerdy to some, but I love it. I’d like to write books like this, in fact on my second reading of The Hunger Games I took notes and highlighted quotes with the intention of writing an in depth analysis. I haven’t gotten around to writing it, or the one I started about the show Dollhouse, or any of the projects I’d love to do if I had a year off. Someday I’ll probably get around to it, but the thing is the market for these things passes so quickly and I don’t have the time to dedicate to it.
So about the book….
The introduction and first chapter made me cringe. I worried this was not the brain food I wanted but a happy meal in disguise. Would it just be fans gushing (says the woman who spends most of her time on this blog doing just that). Thankfully, the deeper I got into the book the more I liked it.
In “Your Heart is a Weapon the Size of your Fist” Mary Borsellino explores how President Snow’s reign is a mix of Big Brother from 1984, and Big Brother the reality show. What a horrifying combination that makes! Resistance through love may sound like a hippy slogan but Borsellino makes some compelling arguments.
“Love when there isn’t supposed to be love is a hugely subversive political act”(33)
Katniss and Peeta end their Hunger Games by choosing to kill themselves rather than one another. Borsellino argues this is the ultimate act of defiance under their circumstances. They have been dehumanized by the games, and the Capitol expects them to kill for survival but the young characters prove that they can not be manipulated into giving up their humanity, even if it means giving up their lives.
Katniss’ love for Rue is also notably rebellious and played down by the Capitol. That she made a true friend in the arena and mourned her with respect is part of how she gains the support of some districts in the rebellion.
“The effect of this tiny, humanizing act-singing to a dying child-has immediate and far reaching consequences.”(34)
In her article “Smoke and Mirrors” Elizabeth M. Rees points out a few things I missed in the book.
“comparing her eyes to “slush” foreshadows that she is really a counterpoint and twisted mirror image of the Capitol’s President Snow”(56)
This is actually a really important thing to notice in the description of Coin. Her character’s corruption is so essential to the story, because it eliminates the black and white of Capitol=bad and rebellion= good. She adds an extra element of reality to the rebellion, as the rebels become what they were trying to destroy.
I very much enjoyed Carrie Ryan’s “Panem Et Circenses” mostly because of her acknowledgement that we are drawn into the violence of the Games just like the characters we criticize:
Even while Katniss rails against the Games as disgusting and barbaric, we the readers turn the pages in order to watch them. We become the citizens in the Capitol, glued to the television, ensuring there will be another Game the following year. Thanks to us, the ratings are just too high to cancel the show.” (111)
This is a very important observation. It is not just the Snow’s government guilty of orchestrating this violence, it is the viewers who attract sponsors. This should make us think about how we as consumers and bystanders are guilty of allowing horrors to happen in our world. It should also make us think about how trashy reality television is only on the air because we (as a society) watch it.
In “Not So Weird Science” Cara Lockwood reminds us that the Mutts in the Games are not so far fetched. She points out scary genetic experimentation in real life and compares them to those manufactured mutations in the novel. She argues that “science is a tool; it’s how you use it that matters” (119) and I agree. Science in itself isn’t evil, but it can be used for it. This reminds me of magic is treated in Harry Potter. Witchcraft isn’t inherently evil, it’s what you do with your power that defines you. The problem with science is, like Lockwood points out, once you invent something you can’t control how it will be used. Sometimes scientists are well intentioned but the consequences are horrific (think nuclear bombs). The uncontrollable nature of genetic mutation and “playing god” is symbolized like so many things by the Mockingjay.
If the discussion of ethics, science and politics aren’t your thing, don’t be turned away. There’s also an article “Crime of Fashion” by Terri Clark that analyzes the importance of appearances and clothes in the novel and in real life. I have a friend who went to fashion school who I think would love this chapter. What I found most interesting was the part about Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin. The impact their wardrobes had on their campaigns really put’s Cinna’s work into perspective.
In “Bent, Shattered, and Mended” Blythe Woolston examines how the characters in the novel demonstrate signs of PST. Based on her analysis I think Collins did a fantastic job.
In Sarah Darer Littman’s “The Politics of Mockingjay” she discusses (among other things) how Katniss differs from Gale. In that “she’s still capable of seeing the so-called enemy as individuals, rather than as a monolithic entity”(171). This is one of the reasons I’m so happy she doesn’t end up with him. Gale is an extremist, and hates the people of the Capital with such lack of mercy that I can’t abide by him.
There’s a lot more to this collection than I have shared and if you are a big fan of Collins or a pop fiction literary analysis geek such as myself I think you’ll enjoy it.
So about the book….
The introduction and first chapter made me cringe. I worried this was not the brain food I wanted but a happy meal in disguise. Would it just be fans gushing (says the woman who spends most of her time on this blog doing just that). Thankfully, the deeper I got into the book the more I liked it.
In “Your Heart is a Weapon the Size of your Fist” Mary Borsellino explores how President Snow’s reign is a mix of Big Brother from 1984, and Big Brother the reality show. What a horrifying combination that makes! Resistance through love may sound like a hippy slogan but Borsellino makes some compelling arguments.
“Love when there isn’t supposed to be love is a hugely subversive political act”(33)
Katniss and Peeta end their Hunger Games by choosing to kill themselves rather than one another. Borsellino argues this is the ultimate act of defiance under their circumstances. They have been dehumanized by the games, and the Capitol expects them to kill for survival but the young characters prove that they can not be manipulated into giving up their humanity, even if it means giving up their lives.
Katniss’ love for Rue is also notably rebellious and played down by the Capitol. That she made a true friend in the arena and mourned her with respect is part of how she gains the support of some districts in the rebellion.
“The effect of this tiny, humanizing act-singing to a dying child-has immediate and far reaching consequences.”(34)
In her article “Smoke and Mirrors” Elizabeth M. Rees points out a few things I missed in the book.
“comparing her eyes to “slush” foreshadows that she is really a counterpoint and twisted mirror image of the Capitol’s President Snow”(56)
This is actually a really important thing to notice in the description of Coin. Her character’s corruption is so essential to the story, because it eliminates the black and white of Capitol=bad and rebellion= good. She adds an extra element of reality to the rebellion, as the rebels become what they were trying to destroy.
I very much enjoyed Carrie Ryan’s “Panem Et Circenses” mostly because of her acknowledgement that we are drawn into the violence of the Games just like the characters we criticize:
Even while Katniss rails against the Games as disgusting and barbaric, we the readers turn the pages in order to watch them. We become the citizens in the Capitol, glued to the television, ensuring there will be another Game the following year. Thanks to us, the ratings are just too high to cancel the show.” (111)
This is a very important observation. It is not just the Snow’s government guilty of orchestrating this violence, it is the viewers who attract sponsors. This should make us think about how we as consumers and bystanders are guilty of allowing horrors to happen in our world. It should also make us think about how trashy reality television is only on the air because we (as a society) watch it.
In “Not So Weird Science” Cara Lockwood reminds us that the Mutts in the Games are not so far fetched. She points out scary genetic experimentation in real life and compares them to those manufactured mutations in the novel. She argues that “science is a tool; it’s how you use it that matters” (119) and I agree. Science in itself isn’t evil, but it can be used for it. This reminds me of magic is treated in Harry Potter. Witchcraft isn’t inherently evil, it’s what you do with your power that defines you. The problem with science is, like Lockwood points out, once you invent something you can’t control how it will be used. Sometimes scientists are well intentioned but the consequences are horrific (think nuclear bombs). The uncontrollable nature of genetic mutation and “playing god” is symbolized like so many things by the Mockingjay.
If the discussion of ethics, science and politics aren’t your thing, don’t be turned away. There’s also an article “Crime of Fashion” by Terri Clark that analyzes the importance of appearances and clothes in the novel and in real life. I have a friend who went to fashion school who I think would love this chapter. What I found most interesting was the part about Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin. The impact their wardrobes had on their campaigns really put’s Cinna’s work into perspective.
In “Bent, Shattered, and Mended” Blythe Woolston examines how the characters in the novel demonstrate signs of PST. Based on her analysis I think Collins did a fantastic job.
In Sarah Darer Littman’s “The Politics of Mockingjay” she discusses (among other things) how Katniss differs from Gale. In that “she’s still capable of seeing the so-called enemy as individuals, rather than as a monolithic entity”(171). This is one of the reasons I’m so happy she doesn’t end up with him. Gale is an extremist, and hates the people of the Capital with such lack of mercy that I can’t abide by him.
There’s a lot more to this collection than I have shared and if you are a big fan of Collins or a pop fiction literary analysis geek such as myself I think you’ll enjoy it.
As all collections of short stories by various authors have, this book had it's ups and downs. There was a chapter or two that was completely mind-numbing in it's analyzing, a few more that were full of duh moments that ultimately left me no more enlightened or questioning then I'd begun the chapter, and a handful that were gems. They analyzed how fashion, community, media, and PTSD were such huge underlying elements in the books And the conclusions and messages they draw are very well supported by the book, even if Collins did not intend it when she wrote it. Ultimately I would recommend this book for people who love to look at the deeper meanings in pop culture.
I'd also like to say that the political nature and "always question" attitude that this book promotes is extremely needed in our world today. The book shows that someone young- only 16 can make a huge impact (both good intents and mistakes) on the political scene and informs the new generation that there's no age where you should just docily take what your government, elders, and peers tell you for granted.
I'd also like to say that the political nature and "always question" attitude that this book promotes is extremely needed in our world today. The book shows that someone young- only 16 can make a huge impact (both good intents and mistakes) on the political scene and informs the new generation that there's no age where you should just docily take what your government, elders, and peers tell you for granted.
This review will contain spoilers for The Hunger Games trilogy.
Last week, whilst browsing NetGalley and eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Hunger Games on DVD (finally!), I spotted this. As I am a ridiculous fangirl, I instantly jumped at the chance to read more about Katniss, Peeta, Gale et al. As the first essay of the book proclaims, I was 'hungry for The Hunger Games' (ho ho ho).
From the very beginning, the book raised many questions that I - completely sucked in by the story of The Hunger Games trilogy - never really asked myself. If I was a citizen of Panem, would I follow the coverage of the games as eagerly as rest? Would I see the barbaric show for what it really was? I would like to think I'd be disgusted by the very idea, but in all honesty I would probably just be like all the others, which is really quite shameful. I found myself questioning why it is I like the series so much - is it the story, the characters, the way it's written - or could it be, that like the citizens of Panem, I'm easily drawn in by promises of violence, unable to look away? A scary thought.
After reading this collection of essays, I now realise I didn't know Katniss that well - as one essay points out, she shocks the reader when she kills Coin rather than Snow. Some readers may have seen that coming, but I certainly didn't. In fact, Katniss barely knows herself. I'm also reminded why I love the trilogy - yes, it's a Young Adult novel, of which there are an abundance these days; yes, there's a love triangle; yes, there's a female heroine/protagonist - but it's all so different. Katniss is strong, for one, but not obviously so. She knows how to survive and overcomes so many obstacles. She may be scarred at the end, but she works slowly through it. She has no time for romance - what a breath of fresh air!
One particular stand out point in these essays was the fact that Suzanne Collins really thought about her characters names. I knew whilst reading the series myself that the Capitol was based on ancient Rome, the citizens of the Capitol had the names of prominent Romans. But what I didn't think of was the fact that Katniss is a tough, durable plant, as Katniss is a tough, durable character; whereas Prim and Rue are delicate plants, and fragile characters. The stand out articles to me were by 'Reality Hunger' by Ned Vizzini, which intertwined his own experiences of media exposure with Katniss'; and 'Not So Weird Science' by Cara Lockwood, a fascinating look at genetic science and its possibilities in the real world.
Brett Hartinger's criticism of Mockingjay - which he didn't enjoy at all - was a brave move in a book created for fans. I felt that it balanced the book out, and gave it a more professional element - it wasn't just continual praise. What is especially interesting is that when I have spoken to people about the trilogy, most of them, including myself, consider Catching Fire the weaker of the three books. It was interesting to see it from another viewpoint.
I also had a few issues with the collection. Many quotes from the trilogy were used to illustrate points, and I feel they should have included page numbers for easy reference. I would have also liked some continuity - some authors felt the need to use quotation marks, others did not - it would be best if they all had, as sometimes it wasn't entirely clear where a quotation started or ended. One contributor also constantly referred to Katniss as 'Kat', which irritated me - though that is just a personal preference and I'm sure many other readers wouldn't be bothered.
Finally, Brett Hartinger claimed that none of the events in the latter half of Mockingjay were as memorable as the ones in The Hunger Games. The very sudden, unexpected deaths of Finnick and Prim? The bombing of the hospital? The variety of pods in the streets? The lizard mutts? All of those moments are just as memorable to me as those in The Hunger Games, in some way they are more memorable because by that point I'd spent more time with those characters, so the deaths were more shocking.
I was considering giving this book a 4 star rating, but when I compare it to other 4 star books I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I enjoyed them, so I am instead giving it a very solid 3 stars. I would heartily recommend it if you're a big fan of the series. Between starting to read the book, and writing the review, my DVD of The Hunger Games finally arrived. After reading this book, I now feel I can watch it with a new perspective.
I received a copy of this book for free via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
Last week, whilst browsing NetGalley and eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Hunger Games on DVD (finally!), I spotted this. As I am a ridiculous fangirl, I instantly jumped at the chance to read more about Katniss, Peeta, Gale et al. As the first essay of the book proclaims, I was 'hungry for The Hunger Games' (ho ho ho).
From the very beginning, the book raised many questions that I - completely sucked in by the story of The Hunger Games trilogy - never really asked myself. If I was a citizen of Panem, would I follow the coverage of the games as eagerly as rest? Would I see the barbaric show for what it really was? I would like to think I'd be disgusted by the very idea, but in all honesty I would probably just be like all the others, which is really quite shameful. I found myself questioning why it is I like the series so much - is it the story, the characters, the way it's written - or could it be, that like the citizens of Panem, I'm easily drawn in by promises of violence, unable to look away? A scary thought.
After reading this collection of essays, I now realise I didn't know Katniss that well - as one essay points out, she shocks the reader when she kills Coin rather than Snow. Some readers may have seen that coming, but I certainly didn't. In fact, Katniss barely knows herself. I'm also reminded why I love the trilogy - yes, it's a Young Adult novel, of which there are an abundance these days; yes, there's a love triangle; yes, there's a female heroine/protagonist - but it's all so different. Katniss is strong, for one, but not obviously so. She knows how to survive and overcomes so many obstacles. She may be scarred at the end, but she works slowly through it. She has no time for romance - what a breath of fresh air!
One particular stand out point in these essays was the fact that Suzanne Collins really thought about her characters names. I knew whilst reading the series myself that the Capitol was based on ancient Rome, the citizens of the Capitol had the names of prominent Romans. But what I didn't think of was the fact that Katniss is a tough, durable plant, as Katniss is a tough, durable character; whereas Prim and Rue are delicate plants, and fragile characters. The stand out articles to me were by 'Reality Hunger' by Ned Vizzini, which intertwined his own experiences of media exposure with Katniss'; and 'Not So Weird Science' by Cara Lockwood, a fascinating look at genetic science and its possibilities in the real world.
Brett Hartinger's criticism of Mockingjay - which he didn't enjoy at all - was a brave move in a book created for fans. I felt that it balanced the book out, and gave it a more professional element - it wasn't just continual praise. What is especially interesting is that when I have spoken to people about the trilogy, most of them, including myself, consider Catching Fire the weaker of the three books. It was interesting to see it from another viewpoint.
I also had a few issues with the collection. Many quotes from the trilogy were used to illustrate points, and I feel they should have included page numbers for easy reference. I would have also liked some continuity - some authors felt the need to use quotation marks, others did not - it would be best if they all had, as sometimes it wasn't entirely clear where a quotation started or ended. One contributor also constantly referred to Katniss as 'Kat', which irritated me - though that is just a personal preference and I'm sure many other readers wouldn't be bothered.
Finally, Brett Hartinger claimed that none of the events in the latter half of Mockingjay were as memorable as the ones in The Hunger Games. The very sudden, unexpected deaths of Finnick and Prim? The bombing of the hospital? The variety of pods in the streets? The lizard mutts? All of those moments are just as memorable to me as those in The Hunger Games, in some way they are more memorable because by that point I'd spent more time with those characters, so the deaths were more shocking.
I was considering giving this book a 4 star rating, but when I compare it to other 4 star books I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I enjoyed them, so I am instead giving it a very solid 3 stars. I would heartily recommend it if you're a big fan of the series. Between starting to read the book, and writing the review, my DVD of The Hunger Games finally arrived. After reading this book, I now feel I can watch it with a new perspective.
I received a copy of this book for free via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
I am so happy I found this book while browsing on Thrift Books. My favorite hobby is analyzing fictional characters and worlds, and with The Hunger Games being my favorite series... I have never bought something so quickly. I had so much fun reading and annotating the CRAP out of every page. So much depth in character and plot was explored. Yes, there were some thoughts that I disagreed with (cough cough, the Gale chapter) but it was still neat seeing the different perspectives! I also love the fact that several authors joined forces to basically congratulate Suzanne Collins on her beautiful work. I enjoy seeing authors supporting each other!
Overall, I felt like so many chapters of this book were taken verbatim out of my head, with the countless hours I have spent thinking about Katniss, Peeta, and Panem as a whole. I 100% recommend this for die hard Hunger Games fans who want to dig a little deeper!
(I did NOT like that one of the essays referred to Katniss as "Kat" over and over...it made me grimace for some reason, blech.)
Overall, I felt like so many chapters of this book were taken verbatim out of my head, with the countless hours I have spent thinking about Katniss, Peeta, and Panem as a whole. I 100% recommend this for die hard Hunger Games fans who want to dig a little deeper!
(I did NOT like that one of the essays referred to Katniss as "Kat" over and over...it made me grimace for some reason, blech.)
I love reading other people's perspectives on books, but this set of essays was particularly interesting. Each author chose a different theme or aspect of the trilogy to analyze. Since I always deemed the romantic subplot as just that, a subplot, I found the essay "Team Katniss" refreshing. "Not So Weird Science" added some humor to the group while remaining sober about the serious topic of the essay - genetic manipulation. All of the essays were as thought-provoking as the Hunger Games trilogy.
This is a great tie-in to the series. Both you and your teens will enjoy it!