Alive in Retrospect: The Hunger Games Trilogy: Just Read the Books, Will You?

Ask me what book would you want me to recommend to you for pleasure reading and I’d answer "The Hunger Games" trilogy in a heartbeat.

Not that I’m playing favorites or because I’m a huge Jennifer Lawrence fan; I’d recommend it because it deserves to be read by everyone - men and women, young and old alike.

The trilogy takes us into the future - dystopian and unforgiving, vile and bloody. Where life has of little value, and every small mistake is magnified as heinous. Where the grave consequences of yesterday’s rebellion are passed upon the shoulders of those living in today, and hope for the future remains unseen. This is the world “The Hunger Games” lets us take a peek into. This is the world our heroine, Katniss Everdeen, inevitably dwells in and decisively struggles to put an end to.

There’s more to Hunger Games than all the Gladiator-like killings and Battle Royale-level of violence; there’s the touch of politics and media influence, ignorance and greed, submission and rebellion - all perfectly brewed into a story so riveting and gripping you wouldn't want to put down the book you’re holding.

There is Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old who is forced to mature fast, taking the role as the family’s provider after her father was killed in a land mine. Then there’s Gale Hawthorne, a handsome yet brooding gentleman who seems to be Katniss’ only official friend and shares the same tragic paternal story with Katniss; and Peeta Mellark, son of an average family who owns a bakery and is a victim of unrequited love, both from his parents and the girl he loves.

Reading the first book was already too heavy a scenario; you have to deal with an ugly world these characters live in – an authoritarian government which for years had set the curse of oppression onto its people; a blind, submissive filthy rich followers of the country’s government who had all the comfort they needed but knew too little of their ignorance; and an oppressed nation who wanted so badly to set themselves free from the chains of slavery that locked them for so long but didn't know how to.

Now put these together, plus a heroine who has become the country’s symbol for hope and rebellion without her intending it, and you will surely find yourself another fandom to insanely belong to.

It took me no time to throw myself into the story, which was not hard to do, as Suzanne Collins wrote it in such a strong and impactful way. Written in 1^st person point of view, the reader can easily get into the head of Katniss Everdeen, hear her thoughts, feel her grief and hatred, and understand her fears and apathy.

Closing the first book would give you the rush to read Catching Fire and finishing it would leave you to hungrily devour Mockingjay. Man, it’s irresistible.