No problem! *grins* And that kitty survives like everything, don't worry too much about him. I'm glad you're intrigued, and I do hope you end up enjoying them. Because they are awesome.
How is it different enough from Battle Royale to avoid feeling like a copy? (Other than that, it's sitting in my Amazon basket all ready for me to click the "checkout" button :) )
The second and third books are where a lot of the biggest differences open up, but I've always thought of Battle Royale as more about the fear and hatred of the young in Japan, whereas the Hunger Games trilogy asks about the cost of survival. The political commentary is a lot sharper in the Hunger Games, and the books use the premise of the Games to open up and explore the world of Panem; I feel like Battle Royale is less interested in the outside world and more interested in the Lord of the Flies stuff going on on the island.
And Katniss could whup Shuya's ass. In a heartbeat.
(Also, the reality-TV show element is apparently not present in the original story, which I missed out on at first because I'm mostly familiar with the English translation of the manga. Which added that in for -- I don't even know why they added that in.)
But yeah. Similar-ish premises, really different reasons why that premise exists in-universe, really different ways of looking at the event itself, really different characters -- and the Hunger Games ends
( ... )
Ack, sorry to hear that. (If you live slightly closer to a library, they might either have the books or be able to order them from another library, maybe?) But I hope you're able to pounce on them soon! They're freaking amazing.
I already read all three books and I loved them. After I finished, my brother had to put up with lengthy squee sections about them. I just loved everything about them. Everything! Granted, I'm not a picky reader but still! They're awesome.
I even liked the obligatory love-triangle that YA books are apparently contractually obligated to have now days. I mostly had no doubt that Katniss was going to end up with Peeta, but there were times in the third book I actually thought Collins might kill him off.
STILL KIND OF SPOILERYpuella_nerdiiNovember 27 2010, 17:42:11 UTC
I KNOW RIGHT. Mith and Linden had to put up with my incoherent flailing until I made them read the books, and then we all flailed together, which was the best part. I refused to not have squeepartners for this series, though, because I want to talk about how awesome they are all the freaking time.
I kept wondering about that one, especially in the first book when Katniss (and therefore I) had no idea what Peeta's deal was. SPOILER I was kind of resistant to the idea of her ending up with Peeta in The Hunger Games and in first part of Catching Fire because I was all NO THAT'S WHAT THE CAPITOL WANTS YOU SHOULD BE YOUR OWN WOMAN KATNISS but then he had to go and hammer my devotionkink ridiculously hard. And go crazy. He totally became my type after he went crazy. ...this says interesting things about me, I know. END SPOILERS
Re: STILL KIND OF SPOILERYellenel13November 27 2010, 19:28:46 UTC
I don't know how to make white text so I guess I'll just be cryptic or something.
THIS IS KIND OF SPOILERY FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE READING COMMENTS
I was surprised that I ended up caring about Katniss and Peeta's relationships because he had the "devotion just 'cause" thing going which is just not my thing. I guess if the books hadn't been told entirely from Katniss' pov, I might have understood him better. But I did grow to like them a lot towards the end.
I was also surprised that Gale ended up being really well developed in the last book. Before then, he just seem to be there as the third wheel for Katniss and Peeta's relationship. I also liked that he wasn't demonized in order to make Peeta and Katniss end up together. Gale basically won me over when he turned down Katniss advances when she was completely emotionally destroyed.
Re: STILL KIND OF SPOILERYpuella_nerdiiNovember 29 2010, 07:29:12 UTC
Whitetext is easy! It's [font color=white] text here [/font], but with the angle brackets instead of the square ones.
SPOILER Oh yeah, so much that with Gale. And the resolution of their relationship was kind of perfectly heartbreaking, because of course they can't be together after that. END SPOILER
Victory~ (And yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if the books are on hold for a while, they're very popular.)
And yes. Yes they are. In fact, they get better. And by better I mean worse. But worse in a good way. You know what I mean. (And yes, so much to sink your teeth into! Collins is great at teasing out just enough about the world to keep us hooked and reading, and oh god the fanfic possibilities just kind of explode in my head.)
THAT SERIES WAS MY CHILDHOOD, I'm not kidding. When I say that series was ridiculously formative, I mean it.
All of the themes you've highlighted do, in fact, play a big-ass part in the series as it progresses. So it's good that you like them, because they remain important! (I know what you mean about the OMGWANTTOWRITE thing, though, I kept getting bombarded with ficbunnies as I plowed through the books.)
Oh my god I am SO GLAD I am not the only one who did that. If I ever saw animals appear in clumps of six, I would protect them with my life because they were our only hope against the Yeerks.
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And Katniss could whup Shuya's ass. In a heartbeat.
(Also, the reality-TV show element is apparently not present in the original story, which I missed out on at first because I'm mostly familiar with the English translation of the manga. Which added that in for -- I don't even know why they added that in.)
But yeah. Similar-ish premises, really different reasons why that premise exists in-universe, really different ways of looking at the event itself, really different characters -- and the Hunger Games ends ( ... )
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I live five hours away from the nearest bookstore (which is ages out of date) and no one in our family has a credit card WHY YOU DO THIS TO ME.
But seriously, thanks. Will pounce on these books given the first opportunity.
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I even liked the obligatory love-triangle that YA books are apparently contractually obligated to have now days. I mostly had no doubt that Katniss was going to end up with Peeta, but there were times in the third book I actually thought Collins might kill him off.
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I kept wondering about that one, especially in the first book when Katniss (and therefore I) had no idea what Peeta's deal was. SPOILER I was kind of resistant to the idea of her ending up with Peeta in The Hunger Games and in first part of Catching Fire because I was all NO THAT'S WHAT THE CAPITOL WANTS YOU SHOULD BE YOUR OWN WOMAN KATNISS but then he had to go and hammer my devotionkink ridiculously hard. And go crazy. He totally became my type after he went crazy. ...this says interesting things about me, I know. END SPOILERS
Reply
THIS IS KIND OF SPOILERY FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE READING COMMENTS
I was surprised that I ended up caring about Katniss and Peeta's relationships because he had the "devotion just 'cause" thing going which is just not my thing. I guess if the books hadn't been told entirely from Katniss' pov, I might have understood him better. But I did grow to like them a lot towards the end.
I was also surprised that Gale ended up being really well developed in the last book. Before then, he just seem to be there as the third wheel for Katniss and Peeta's relationship. I also liked that he wasn't demonized in order to make Peeta and Katniss end up together. Gale basically won me over when he turned down Katniss advances when she was completely emotionally destroyed.
Reply
SPOILER Oh yeah, so much that with Gale. And the resolution of their relationship was kind of perfectly heartbreaking, because of course they can't be together after that. END SPOILER
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
And yes. Yes they are. In fact, they get better. And by better I mean worse. But worse in a good way. You know what I mean. (And yes, so much to sink your teeth into! Collins is great at teasing out just enough about the world to keep us hooked and reading, and oh god the fanfic possibilities just kind of explode in my head.)
THAT SERIES WAS MY CHILDHOOD, I'm not kidding. When I say that series was ridiculously formative, I mean it.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Oh my god I am SO GLAD I am not the only one who did that. If I ever saw animals appear in clumps of six, I would protect them with my life because they were our only hope against the Yeerks.
Reply
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