Good review. I would add that while it is true that the book does not explore the harshness of this world too intensely, this is, as you say, product of the target audience. But it is amply implied--I listened to this on audiobook, and I was on the edge of my seat. The youngest 'contestants' are 12, and it isn't just that they need to fight for survival, they literally have to kill each other for survival, all the while trying to be appealing and likeable for the sake of the gleeful, decadent audience they can't see (and in most cases, hate). This is considered entertainment. What's more, their families back home are required to watch. It's not uber-gory, but it was thrilling enough, again, given the target audience.

I found Katniss to be an interesting heroine. She comes to the games scarred by life, and her immediate assumption (which we the readers can see as somewhat flawed early on) is that everyone is selfish, out for themselves. I found Peeta's character to be an emotional core of the book, and an interesting contrast to Gale--Peeta is determined to be good, no matter the costs, whereas Gale counsels Katniss to do whatever is necessary to survive. It is her journey from the latter's viewpoint to at least appreciating the former's that drives the story.


More than reality TV, I saw parallels to Roman gladiators, the story of the minotaur (my Greek history is a bit weak, but isn't the story something along the lines of Athens/Troy/Thebes demanding that each year the conquered country send 12 youths and maidens to be devoured by the minotaur?) and the Spanish Inquisition. I've seen a lot of reviews focus on the reality TV aspect, but it is not for naught that all the citizens of Panem have Roman names (Claudius, Flavius, Portia, Cinna, etc.). I would agree that The Hunger Games didn't have too much new to say on the subject, but it is a sad reality that no matter how civilized our world may think it is, one need not look hard to find people reveling in the pain of other, as a form of entertainment (be it reality TV, or gossip magazines, or FaceBook). We are not so far removed as we might think.

It is worth noting that the sequels, while perhaps not as stellar as this first book, have increasing levels of brutality and harshness, as the world is more fully fleshed out.