So, the Hunger Games…
I’m not writing another review of the books\movies of the Hunger Games
franchise. But being a major THG fan and a writer, I thought it would be
interesting to try and figure out why the HG books\movies became so popular.
Of course, as any other Sci-fi or YA writer in the world, I am
incredibly jealous that it wasn’t me who came up with that idea. Let’s be
honest here. Huge respect for Suzanne Collins for doing what she did with it
(well, except for writing only three books and not more :)
And it is not just about the money. The universe of HG is so incredibly
complex and simple at the same time that it becomes very captivating for the
readers. And you only begin to realize how amazing that universe is when you
attempt to imitate it.
I see nothing wrong with being inspired with somebody else’s idea. As
long as you’re not just copy-catting and trying to create something of your
own. But when I tried to do so I failed. It turns out that all the major
elements that I would want in my book are already taken by Suzanne Collins. Let’s
make a list.
1. A dystopian country with the evil government concentrated in the Capitol.
Who wouldn’t want to have that in their book? I know I do.
2. The 12 districts fool of rebellious workers.
That is such a simple thing and yet it is so powerful. And every attempt
to imitate that now becomes a reference to the THG books.
3. The Reaping.
That is just incredible. That is such a powerful thing in a book. It is
something that provides immediate excitement and crabs hold attention of the
reader. And it is so amazingly intertwined with the hunger in the districts and
how it is almost the only way to get some extra food. More so it is an event of
the national scale and that makes it even bigger.
Try to create an even so powerful, I dare you. That is very complicated
task.
4. The difference between the life-styles in the districts and in the
Capitol.
That is a very graphical thing that allowed Suzanne Collins to provide
the readers with the high-fashion Capitol people who are completely crazed by
what they look like (and that is so great for the merchandize department). And
yet we also have people in the districts who are so simple and like us and we
can totally relate to them and relate to Katniss, the main character of the
books.
5. And finally the most exciting thing is the Arenas.
The hunger games are hold within the arenas that are different every
time and that is just amazing to have something like that in the book. You can
put your character outside of his normal life, outside of his comfort zone and
yet not completely. It’s like the parallel universes. There is life within the
games and arena and there is life outside. And that creates such a unique
atmosphere about it that I other writers are wrecking their heads now trying to
come up with something like that.
And the most important thing is that the Author of the trilogy was able
to put all of these elements together so well, and they fit together so well,
that is just mind-blowing. And if it is mind-blowing for the writers then it is
just super mind-blowing for the simple fans who don’t think about how writing
actually works.
There are still people who didn’t get Hunger Games and I’m sorry for
them. For one thing they should read the books first and watch the movies
later. No matter how great the movies are, the books provide much more of the
detail and atmosphere. And then you watch movies and you see it all come to
life and it’s amazing. We are so lucky that Jennifer Lawrence agreed to play
Katniss, thank you J
So, yeah, that is basically it. That is what I think about the HG.
And yeah, also I wanted to say a few words about why Suzanne Collins is
not writing the 4th book. I wrecked my brain recently trying to figure out how
it could all be continued. The story was wrapped, clearly. And we fans want it
to continue no matter that it already ended. But there is just no logical way
to put all the same elements together and make them work. The drama was
resolved. Putting Katniss into another Arena would be so far-fetched. Even if
there was another government that would decide to revisit the concept of the
games why would they put Katniss back in and even if they did she would end up
dying this time around for sure. And what about Peeta? Would he be there in the
Arena with Katniss again? It’s just not coming together in any way. That is why
there is not going to be another book in the series or at least not about
Katniss. And without Katniss it wouldn’t be the same.
Maybe Suzanne Collins could stretch the drama for, say, five books while
she was still writing them. Well, maybe she could. But she didn’t. The ship has
sailed. And that was her choice and I respect her for that and I am waiting for
her next book to surface and be even more incredible, if that is possible.
So, thanks for reading this. I hope I made any sense J
Yours,
Perie
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