The Hunger Games (2008) by Suzanne Collins

[fadedrose]

There's a link about these books already:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1193778

But I thought that since the movie came out, there may be more opinions. What I'd like to know is would a person aged 73, closer to 74, be able to enjoy this series. Everyone says it's good, but I may be beyond the age where I would enjoy either the movie or the books.

Old people, please respond if you've an opinion....

Thank you.

[seabeyond]

1. my 50 yr old friend enjoyed it. my 72 yr old father wants to read it

not my type of book, and not into reading any teen book or twilight book... so i havent read it, though i bought for son for christmas and it was around the house.

that is where everyone was having a conversation about it. my 22 yr old niece and her 24 yr old bf read it and all liked it.

[Little Star]

2. As a older person....

I personally don't like dystopian science fiction. But I would imagine if one does like dystopian science fiction they might like it no matter their age.

But more than my useless comment, I was wondering if you were feeling better? Hope so.

[fadedrose]

3. Better, but a pain pill helps..thanks for asking...

I will not die till after 12/21, and that's a promise. You promise too, okay?

I wanna see what happens 12/22.

What does "dystopian" mean anyhow?

[Little Star]

4. I think it means in the future? I'll try to keep living, lol.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Dystopian would be the opposite of utopian to me.

I am thinking of reading the books, but I have always liked dystopian science fiction. One of the movies that had the most impact on me was Soylent Green, and at that time, I was young and not nearly as jaded as I am today. I have enjoyed books like 1984, Animal Farm, Blade Runner, Brave New World.

I am in my late 50's, so I am not teenager, but I like to know something about books that are all the rage. And I also have always had a picture of the future as a place that is not a good place, so these types of books interest me. They feed my pessimistic attitude.

[fadedrose]

6. And...

there's nothing like a well-fed pessimistic attitude . . .

thanks for the input.

I think I'll stay away from the Hunger Games - why are they called "hunger" games. I understood the teens chosen somehow were supposed to fight to the death.

Maybe the sequel will have the teens beating seniors to death.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. I don't know why they are called Hunger Games,

but what I do know about the plot is that there is a lot of poverty and famine in society at the time the book takes place. If that has anything to do with it or not, I will have to tell you later.

[fadedrose]

13. Are you reading the books or...

Going to see the movie?

[Curmudgeoness]

14. I have done neither, but intend to read The Hunger Games.

I am reading another book right now, and I do one book at a time, so this one has to wait. I never go to a movie made from a book without having read the book first. The movie is never close to as good as the book.

[Little Star]

10. Why by golly, your right and I knew that. Just had a brain fart, lol....

I just looked up that word last week cause I didn't know what it meant! Duh!

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Well, good for you for using a new word.

I do the same thing by using it over and over for a while to try to keep new words in my head---everything leaks these days, including my brain.

[ohheckyeah]

20. I love dystopian books

and movies. I don't know exactly why - maybe it makes me feel better knowing things could be a helluva a lot worse. Disaster movies make me laugh....they are so predictable.

[getting old in mke]

8. I liked the first one a lot

others I haven't read yet. Latter half of my 50s, if that counts as old .

Generic plot without details is certain fairly common in speculative fiction: Oppressive society of 1%-ers controlling everything. Protagonist, put in impossible situation, tries to use the very tools of the oppressors to subvert them.

Of course that fits everything from Lois Lowry's _The Giver_ to L. Ron Hubbard's _Battlefield Earth_ to Ayn Rand's _Anthem_.

In Collins case, it's clear sometimes that she was writing with a cinematic vision. I'll go see the movie on Monday night, probably, to see how directly it translated.

[fadedrose]

9. Thanks, however

Any part of the 50's is young. Trust me.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

12. I really enjoyed the books

I am 61 and have promoted it, from buying it for my 15 year old grand-daughter to encouraging my 40 year old son and three younger daughters to read the series. Now I have talked my 67 year old sister into reading it. It is what I would call an 'easy read', not overly graphic, and ideas in it are worth exploring. My 22 year old went to watch the movie Friday and said I could watch it (I am noted for being squeamish, the kids say PG 13 mean if a thirteen year old would let Mom watch it). I don't think you would regret reading it.

[SheilaT]

15. I read the entire series about

a year ago, absolutely loved it, and I'm 63.

I'm going to see the movie this Saturday with a friend who has read the first book so far.

A lot does depend on the kind of fiction you enjoy. Personally, I love dystopian fiction, and have noticed for some years now that some incredible stuff is being published as YA, and as a consequence does not always reach the audience it should.

[fadedrose]

16. If I don't die, and if 12/21 is a puffy bubble...

Based on your opinion, I may read the book. Longevity has everything to do with it. My library request is Number 144, and they have 20 copies with two more on order....That means that when I finally read this book, it will be old enough to qualify as a classic.

Thanks for your input - but 63 ain't all that old. It's that damned bible thing about man is allotted 70 years - whose 3 years have I stolen? And is my punishment for it a falling-apart body and fractured brain?

Oh well.

[SheilaT]

18. To someone only 20, a person of 63 is old.

I have a friend who'll be 81 in a few more weeks, and she's a role model for me, in part because she moved two-thirds of the way across the country about three or four years ago after her husband of 57 years died. She didn't stay in place and just become someone barely alive, as apparently most of her friends and age-mates have become.

The other thing that I really notice as I pass through life, is how some people age a whole lot faster than others. If people start thinking of themselves as old, then they become old. If they have health issues, if having grandchildren makes them think they're old, they become that way.

I do like it that sometimes when I tell someone a couple of decades younger than me my age, an expression of total shock will come over their face, and I can tell that it's because they thought I was younger, not older than my actual age.

Oh, and with 20 copies of the book at your library, you're not 144th in line, but more like 7th. You'll hit the top of the list faster than you'll realize.

[LWolf]

17. Well, some will.

I'm 52. I liked them. But then, I'm a middle school teacher, and I read a ton of YA novels to keep up with my students. I like novels written for young people that resonate with everyone, that can move beyond the narrow social focus of the average adolescent.

The Hunger Games and sequels have all the right ingredients to attract young readers, modern readers: romantic drama for the girls, and plenty of action and violence for the guys (yes, these are generally required ingredients for adolescents, lol.)

For the rest of us, there are some very obvious connections to other things: "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson, and television's "Survivor" immediately came to mind for me. My adult son says it's a derivative of Stephen King's "The Running Man." I don't know about that; I haven't read it or watched it.

The author herself, in an interview I read somewhere, linked it to the myth of the Minotaur.

For the blood-thirsty, impatient modern world, there is plenty of action, violence, and death. There is also, though, a deep internal conflict for the protagonist to wrestle with; one that asks us what we're willing to become to survive. The plot is founded on timeless social and political issues. I found the 2nd book, and especially the 3rd, to be full of irony. Finally, the ending is somewhat surprising, in that it's not a scripted, victorious, happy ending. Neither is it a total loss. It seemed authentic to me: some gains, some losses, much compromise.

If those things interest you, you might like the book. I know plenty of adults who do, although none of them are in their 70s. My mom is, but she wouldn't read it. Her ADHD prevents her from focusing on books these days. The action and violence would turn her away from the movie, overwhelming the other facets for her.

If you decide to investigate, I recommend the book over, or before, the movie.

[fadedrose]

19. My main reason for liking a book

is not the action, plot, etc., it's whether I like, really like, at least a few of the characters. And no matter how tragic the story, there has to be at least a smile exchanged here and there. In all I've heard on TV or read here in DU, nobody has said that the characters are likable.

What'd ya think?

[ohheckyeah]

22. There are great acts of

kindness in the book on a number of occasions. The "good guys" in the story are pretty likeable while still being human, imperfect and not always completely admirable.

[LWolf]

23. There are likable characters,

and characters that are easy to hate, as well.

Katniss is a strong, independent female, which is refreshing, to say the least. She is fiercely loyal and caring. I empathized with her. I was also relieved to see a series for young people put this kind of female protagonist forward. I am sick of seeing my girls enchanted with the self-destructive, needy, dependent Bella.

Peeta is kind, and humble, and loyal, as well, with an over-looked intelligence because he seems so simple.

Cinna is a hero, in a quiet, behind the scenes way.

Haymitch...I loved his character, with all of his dysfunctions.

Some of the other people from the capital working on Katniss' team started out displaying all of the despicable characteristics you'd expect from a shallow, corrupt, self-involved elite society, but revealed better human qualities as time went on.

[fadedrose]

24. NOW I'm looking forward to getting the book (s)..

Based on both of your assessments. ohheckyeah liked them too...

[ohheckyeah]

21. My brother is

63 and he loved the books. The books make good food for thought and I found the story engaging.

[XemaSab]

25. I just finished the series

I liked the first one, the second one was ok, and the third one was a chore.