David’s Reviews > The Hunger Games > Status Update

The parallel “game” being played inside and outside the arena is such a cool concept I enjoy it so much. And of course it flips the dynamic from Katniss in control and Peeta following both due to Peeta’s true feelings and his natural charm. So well executed and extremely engaging

The psychological damage experienced by the “victors” and how cruel the constant reminders of it are, just makes me feel so sick. Haymitch being able to function at all is a miracle I’m just so appalled by how intensely cruel and malicious this book makes the Capitol seem

One point of note I’d like to make, it’s extremely interesting how this book (and this section) show us the sheer malice in the capitol’s punishment, as the hunger games aren’t just an inventive, profit friendly way of punishing the districts that they feel they must carry out (in such a severe manner) to remind the districts of their “crimes”, but the game makers and Capitol citizens take active -

The action scenes in this book are expertly written, I can feel my heart jumping out of my chest whenever Katniss is forced to spring into action (specifically the fireball scene so far), and even though I know how it’s going to play out I’m still stressed out!!

Continuing from my last point, this is one tiny that is pointed to constantly (almost to the point of exhaustion - which in some cases would make it insufferable, but here serves to simply drive home the point with soul-crushingly effective repetition) and Collins never lets you forget just how drastic the difference is between everyday life in both worlds, something the Games themselves more overtly reinforce

One thing that is done extremely well throughout this novel is how Collins draws parallels between capitol life and district life beyond just stating “this is bad, this is good, oh well that sucks”, as she draws your attention to small things - like on this page with the elevator rides, just a quick means of easy transportation in the capitol, but Katniss has only ever ridden an elevator in times of tragedy.