The Hunger Games

Don't feel guilty for enjoying them! Suzanne Collins is an awesome storyteller, and the trilogy is well worth finishing. Enjoy it!

I read the trilogy several summers ago. While I could not put the books down, I have to admit, that I found the plot line very intense. Reminded me of a Stephen King short story - the "Long Walk" that I must have read 20 years ago.

My son decided not to read the trilogy - he thought is was too dark.

I don't know if I will see the movie - though the cast line up is intriguing.

I've read the Hunger Games and the rest of the Trilogy.

Of course it's a little disturbing. It's supposed to be. It's a reminder to people what could happen if politicians forget that they work for the citizens.

Yes, it's a little extreme, but it's also an engaging and highly entertaining trilogy.

I think the fact that it is kids is important to the story. The government control would not seem as horrible and overwhelming if it was adult men fighting to the death, it is the very fact that they are going after the most vulnerable that makes the story so in your face.

I'm in the middle of "Catching Fire" right now. My daughter gobbled them all down, my husband did right after her, and now I'm reading the trilogy. My daughter is 10 but is also a very advanced reader and likes stories with battles and high stakes like this series. I like the books very much and yes, they're hard to put down.

I have zero desire to see any movie of the books. The books are so well-written and the key reason is that Suzanne Collins chose first person present tense -- we are IN every second with Katniss and inside her head; we get all her feelings, confusion, gut reactions. That will all be totally lost in a film; they'll just reduce all the moral questions and regrets and big issues of tyranny down to bursts of violence and special effects. Whoopee. The emotional, romantic elements will end up either put aside to focus on the violence, or done as overly sentimental. A movie will ruin it and make everything about the Games themselves, not about choices and fighting back against evil.

I read all 3 books in about a week & a half because I just couldn't put them down. My 12 year old son is who told me about them & I was aware that there is a movie coming out before I started the first one.

They are positively brutal. They made me gasp, cry, & giggle out loud while reading them. Nothing in Stephen King's The Stand comes anywhere even close to these books, whether you're discussing storyline, writing ability, characters, nothing.

I was reading Stephen King as preteen and loving it! I have a feeling "The Stand" is even more disturbing than "The Hunger Games." I am eager to read those though. If your daughter wants to read them -be glad she wants to read! I wouldn't stop her. I clearly remember reading "The Shining" on a 5th grade beach trip, and while scary, it was fine. I wouldn't have touched "young adult fiction" by the time I was a teenager -I was firmly entrenched in regular fiction and non-fiction at that point. If you have an advanced reader -don't stifle it!

I remember all the girls in my sixth and seventh grade classes reading "Flowers in the Attic" series -now there's a disturbing tale with disturbing kids!

I loved the series. Yes, it was disturbing, but it was also a reminder of what happens when we allow politicians to make decisions that do not represent us, the average citizens, well. It was also a great reminder of why the free press is important, why it's so important to keep ourselves well-informed and educated. The citizens of the Capitol city in the book are such twits, and in a lot of ways they reminded me of things I see in daily life (Jersey Shore, anyone?), blissfully unaware of what's happening around them. Making sport of poverty and oppression. This series is powerful on so many levels.

Loved the trilogy, and can't wait for the movie...even though I know movies do are not as good as the books. I'm still excited.

Personally I don't see a lot of difference in it than Transformers, Star Wars many other movies geared towards any age group. Yes there is violence, yes there are parts that young children don't need to see.

I've said this before I don't typically do a lot of censorship on books, movies etc. I have small children so they won't see these but if they were teen, they probably would.

I absolutely loved the trilogy and think my husband (who doesn't like to read) would enjoy it. I don't usually watch graphic violent movies, but the Hunger Games books did not disturb me. I thoroughly enjoyed them and couldn't put them down. I wish the series was longer than 3 books, even though the last one was just okay to me. She is a gripping writer.

I read them and loved them, too...but you are right on...very disturbing. Reminded me of a Stephen King story I read years ago that had the same concept...compete til there's only 1 left alive. But, well written and entertaining for sure...movies like this, I always have to see 1st before I decide if my kids can see it. I think my son would definitely be disturbed because he analyzes everything to death!!! LOL!

LOVED the books...yes, they were disturbing. I think I may have a harder time watching the movie because you will actually be able to SEE that they are kids, whereas when I was reading the books I could kind of forget that they were books...You should finish the books, they are really quite good.

I loved the first two books, and I'm in the middle of the 3rd one now. The third one I'm struggling with. Dragging on, and all the post traumatic stress/post apocalyptic world stuff is just wearing on me.

Personally, they fact they're kids doesn't bother me any more than the overlying story line. The whole thing is supposed to be troubling.

I loved them!!!!! If it was based off a true story it would really bother me that they were children but its not so i loved it and will let my kids read it whenever they chose to. Plan on watching the movie too!!!

Yes I read the trilogy. I was recommended by soooooo many of my closest friends.

I found it intriguing and had a hard time putting the book down. I did not find difficulty reading it due to the young ages of the characters. I looked at it as a total fictional read. The story line was fascinating and believable on many levels...and yet taken to the extreme on others.

Many of my son's friends read it last year in the fifth grade but my son didn't choose to. I hope he will in the near future.

I look forward to the movie coming out but I personally do not watch rated R movies so I will be disappointed if it is R.

Awesome book...and I can't say enough good things about it!!

I've read the trilogy and LOVE it. I'm definitely going to see the movie. I love reading young adult books and in the case of young adult books the kids in them are usually 15-17 years old.

I read the books and thought they were excellent however did think the plot was disturbing. I am not planning on seeing the movie but then again I never see movies made from books.

What is the book about? (without giving too much away).

HI

Read all the books and hoping that the movie lives up to them. :-) I did wonder what rating it would have because it is violent and very emotional.

Plus who is the target audience??? Even young teenagers might find it disturbing. Loved the books though.

Do you mean The Hunger Games?

If so, I've heard good things.

Just checked it out on amazon and youtube, looks great!
As for being disturbing, that's probably what makes it so fascinating to teens, and it sounds smart, not just violence for violence's sake.
I think I will check these books out, and see if my almost sixteen year old (I hate to read!) daughter will read them with me. Thanks!

Read all 3 in a couple weeks and thought they were very well-done. The fact that kids are involved is very central to the story. I don't think I would allow a child under 13 to read them. A mother I know was contemplating letting her 9-year old son read them, but she hadn't read them herself yet. Sometimes the publishers just label books YA because it is the hot trend right now, but the books are for the older set, in my opinion.