Book Review: The Hunger Games, starving for success

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

That is what Effie Trinket an­nounces every year at the reaping of the tributes for "The Hunger Games," an event that takes place in each of the 12 districts for the last 73 years.

She is mocked by main character Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne, poor District 12 Seam dwellers who struggle every day to feed their fami­lies for her candy pink wig and ridiculous "Capitol" accent. Not that anyone really needs a reason to dislike her - she announces the tributes for each year's Hunger Games.

What is the Hunger Games?

In each of the 12 districts, a male and female tribute are cho­sen from the age of 12 to 18 to compete in this reality show style event that is televised throughout all of Panem. The 24 contes­tants are put into an arena and have to fight to the death, only one survives and receives glory and honor and food (which is in short supply among many of the districts)

Why would they have to do this? 74 years ago (this book shows the 74th Hunger Games Events) the 13 districts rebelled against the Capitol, so, after the Capitol viciously beat them and nuclear-bombed District 13, they imposed The Hunger Games to remind the survivors of the abso­lute power of the Capitol.

The Hunger Games is first in a trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Panem is what's left of North America, everywhere else is a toxic wasteland. The Capitol lives in excessive luxury while the 12 districts slave away in or­der to sustain the Capitol. Sound familiar?

Rebellions are crushed by bru­tal Peace Keepers who enforce laws designed to keep everyone in devastating poverty.

This novel is intense; besides the incredibly creative (and depressing) world Collins de­signed, there is true sorrow, fear, romance and triumph.

The concept of "The Hunger Games" exploits human flaws. The reader sees the "human side" of murder, the people who are about to get murdered.

This novel is intense; besides the incredibly creative (and depressing) world Collins de­signed, there is true sorrow, fear, romance and triumph.

My favorite part of the novel was how real the characters were. They have flaws, they have texture and they grow. They lie and cheat, they drink and wake up with hangovers, and nothing is candy coated (except for the streets of the Capitol). You'll develop a personal connection and start to love a character, who more likely than not will get killed a few pages later.

You're acquainted with the characters, so you see their families, their lovers and their friends. You see why they want to get home so badly and their devastation at how small chances are - less than 4 percent - at ever seeing their beloved district ever again.

Another thing Collins does a really stellar job at is making you hate the Capitol, which is ironic because they're lifestyle is just an exaggeration of our own.

They eat good food in excess, while the tributes who eat at the capitol before the games never even knew food like this existed, and may have even experienced their first shower ever.

The Capitol citizens cheer on the tributes, betting on how they will die and hoping for more blood from these innocent children who don't want to kill anyone, but have to play along with the Capitol's plans if they want to get out of the arena alive.

Collins is also not afraid of showing explicit violence; in fact I wouldn't recommend this for anyone with a weak stomach for blood and guts everywhere.

"The Hunger Games" is a story that will hold you in its grasp for the duration of the novel. You won't be able to put it down, and the only down side of this fantastic piece of literature is the ending- you'll be wishing for more.

I recommend buying the trilogy, so you don't have to go through the ordeal of waiting too long to find out what happens next.