The Artist Writes a Review (Monday)

Ok, here's the deal UP FRONT.

I am going to give an honest, to-the-point review of this book.

If you don't think you can handle having the down side of this particular book pointed out to you, by all means, don't read it!

I'm not to be held responsible for "ruining" your favorite book for you. If I'm capable of destroying this story for you, again, don't read this!

And another thing, think before you comment. Seriously, I don't want a single post flaming about how "You're wrong, I'm right, and you're a horrible person for thinking this."

And if you do disagree with me, feel free to make your point, just don't start ranting, and take a stab at proper spelling/grammar (makes it harder for me to mock you).

One last thing, I will try to keep this to a spoiler-minimum, but I may mention character names and personalities, so if you haven't read it, I'd advise you read carefully.

So, onwards!

I will be reviewing (*drumroll*)...

The Hunger Games

(Lord, help me.)

Ok, So this book has gotten really popular lately, and I can see why.

I read the book in 6 hours.

Yup, six hours, hardly putting the thing down.

I was glued to it.

Then, after getting over the shock of reading such an (at the moment) zomgawesomebeyondbelief book, I mentally berated myself for jumping on the bandwagon while it was still in town.

I really hate doing that.

Then I began to evaluate what I just read, and the glitter began to die down.

Here's where the hard part begins.

I saw the issues.

First off, this hit while reading it at the start, the writing.

It was... ok.

Better than Meyer (by a good bit), but not in the neighborhood of Rowling (at all).

There were some glaring grammatical errors which really threw me, I mean, the author should've let me proof-read it and I could've fixed it.

Then there were parts that were, in a way, amateurish. I mean, I've read short stories on Deviantart that were better worded than this.

I know this seems harsh, but it's the truth as I see it.

So, here's where there would be a possibility of spoilers.

Now for the storyline.

...

I really didn't find much issue with the story itself.

It was well paced, engaging, and developed enough where you could understand it fully without having to think everything over more than once or twice.

But again, I ran into the amateur bits. 

Some parts could've been drawn out longer, some could've been shortened, but there weren't too many of those, so it wasn't that much of an issue.

It was a lot of the dialog that got to me. It just seemed like the author was just too eager to get information out there. I mean, some things I just saw coming, others were a little surprising, but I felt a little more suspense wouldn't have hurt.

But the story was my favorite part, I loved it, so don't say I'm a hater yet.

Now for the characters.

um...

My favorite character is one we only see a few times and has this air of 'I'm going to be important later in the plot.'

Yeah, Cinna's my favorite. 

He's really the only character that intrigued me, although, those who've followed me for a while know that it takes quite the character to impress me.

For a quiet, understated character, he was, in my opinion, the best.

Now, I'm kinda forgetting the guy in the beginning, if that tells you anything about him.

Rather forgettable.

As was Peeta.

So, that's all I have to say there.

Now, Katniss lovers, look away now.

I mean it, you really don't want to read this.

I don't like her.

Actually, as a lead character, I hate her.

She's got Mary-Sue written all over her.

All. Over.

The problem begins with her tragic backstory and unstable family life.

These things I am willing to overlook if the character has depth and great personality, but Katniss didn't.

She was... shallow.

One thing that I really trip over is, despite how much we learn about her, how little I actually got to know her.

The entire book she's hiding her emotions, and despite us being in her head the whole time, there is little revealed there as to her feelings during this whole adventure.

There was also something else that lacked in her.

Character development.

She didn't change.

She was still ... hiding her emotions.... at the end.

Yes, this is a problem.

She expresses a desire to return to her family, like she promised, but there's really no change in her. We don't get the opportunity to see her feel hopeless. There's no true realization that she may die.

And if there was, I must have missed it, but it should've been a crucial part of the story.

One reason I say she's Mary-Sue'ish is that... well, how do I put this... she's hollow.

A kind of vessel we can just step into and live in this new, exciting world.

You may be thinking "Allie, this isn't a bad thing," well, I say it is.

You shouldn't have to play a part in the story you're reading; you should be a passive observer. You should be able to get drawn into the story easily, but not get that 'I've been on vacation in someone else's head' hangover when you finish.

And yes, hangover is the appropriate term.

Not that I've had one, but if the complaints are true, then it would be similar.

I want to get to know this character. She should be my best friend at the end of the book, not part of me.

That's just too close for comfort.

So, overall, the main character was a disappointment, and many of the secondary characters were forgettable, but the story was fantastic.

I would recommend this as a good weekend read.

So, yes, The Hunger Games is good. Not great, but good.

ONCE MORE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO COMMENT!

No flaming!

and

Be polite!

The ignorant few who break these simple rules will have their comments deleted and politely asked not to do so again.

Repeat offenders will be banned/blocked/ect.

Go with God,

and

Have a Nice Day,

~Allie