Hunger Games Review!

***I am going to reveiw the Hunger Games Trilogy Books.... DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT ENDINGS SPOILED!!***

I don't understand the hype.

I know, many of you are now shocked by that statement because these books are all the rage for young kids and adults alike.   

I'll admit, the first book had me hooked.  I liked that Katniss volunteered to take her sister's place in the Games and I even found the prep team quite amusing. I had to skim quickly through the killings because some were very graphic and I didn't like the images in my head, plus in the back of your mind you remember that these are kids doing this (all 12-18 years old).  They had done nothing wrong, committed no crimes and yet were forced to fight their way to be number one in the arena.  Of course, once Peeta said he loved Katniss I was re-hooked.  I like love stories.... I like seeing couples protect each other no matter the cost-those portions of the book were very sweet and I almost forgot they were in an arena to kill each other.  I would have even been perfectly happy if the book had ended when they announced Peeta and Katniss as the winners because I thought the idea of the berries was very Romeo and Juliet sweet. 

My problems with the book started when Haymitch warned Katniss that the berries had been a sign of rebellion to the Capitol and that they were angry with her.  I didn't see that twist coming and from there the twists kept coming and coming!  Using past victors for the Quarter Quell Games, using the jabberjays to confuse Finnick and Katniss about their loved ones, District 13 being real, the constant battle of knowing who is good and who is bad..... so many twists in books 2 and 3! Some of the twists were good, like when they airlifted Katniss out and she was now safe with people who had started the rebellion.  The worst twist was when they realized Peeta had been "hijacked" and that he now hated Katniss and wanted to kill her. 

The other elements I didn't like was that Haymitch relied heavily on alcohol and at one point encouraged Katniss to sedate herself to avoid the pain of possibly losing Gale and Peeta.  The mentions of Annie being "mad" and then Johanna losing control also made me sad.  These were just the after effects of being tortured in the games and caused them into what the book called "mental disorientation", but we know it as Post Traumatic Stress.  I guess having met one man who actually has this condition from being at war made me very sad.  The man I know gets angry and scared being in crowds, he doesn't always know what's real and not, who's after him and who's not.  It's very real and very sad and that's all I kept thinking about as the different characters experienced levels of this insanity.  President Snow, the mutts and the tortures scared me half to death and unfortunately I read these at night after Caylee was asleep-- there's a reason I don't watch scary shows at night and shouldn't be reading scary books!!!  I did not like the ending at all... I felt a lot was left un-said and un-finished between Gale and Katniss.  I also felt sorry for Peeta and Katniss who both still experienced the after effects, but yet tried to be as normal as possible. 

Overall, the books left me sad and relieved they were over!  I know there were good aspects of the book... the people finally rebelled and won so that these Hunger Games would never have to take place again, Peeta and Katniss' love fought through the hard times and won out, evil lost, etc.... but the mental images I got while reading the book were too graphic (especially since I was reading books that I have seen 3rd graders talk about!).  The books were well-written, definitely attention grabbing and there was no foul language.  They were written for young adults, which in my mind is about 18-25.... I wouldn't want anyone under 16 to read them without an adult reading with them to explain stuff.  Some of the books contained areas of truth about the after effects of war, the effects of alcohol and drugs, the emotional toll one's body takes when up against a strong force etc....Who knows, maybe I've met too many crazy people in my life to put these books aside as being completely fiction.... but I was not impressed and definitely don't think they should be in elementary schools.  I think I'll stick to my happy romantic comedy books that have happy endings! I don't intend to see the movies, I really don't like scary thrillers/psychological twists etc, too much thinking and my body always hurts afterwards from being tense the whole time!   

I'm sure that's not the review people expected, but oh well!!