The Hunger Games Trilogy

Suzanne Collins' trilogy is a story told before in other places; places distanced as much by centuries of history and geography as by even its media (literature, reality television, and film). It is a fundamental error of Man to believe that we ever create anything truly and authentically new. Take for instance the premise of the Hunger Games -- the combatants are selected by a totalitarian government, forced to battle to the death, and then are glamorized by the entertainment value promoted by the capitol. A selection process as tainted as the Ancient Romans used. Their gladiators comprised most of the amusement craze for their insatiable immoral and inhumane desires.

What Collins accomplishes in her books The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay is a literary cobbling of history, classic mythology, and universal human depravity. She employs a proven formula of plot development: take the character through conflict. Good old-fashioned conflict. Internal, external and so many possible mixtures of both. Collins crafts a plot bombarded by an onslaught of conflict. And her characterization is plausible. Katniss, for all of her strong sense of self-reliability, her wrestling with the questions of morality and ethics, her self-doubt regarding emotional attachments, all of this a reader can accept as possible.

Many aspects of the story were discussed amongst my family, but Katniss' act of sacrifice and the weave of ethical struggles seen throughout the series were those we dissected. How does Panem's society construct and the Capitol's mandates and subsequent oppression of the people compare to our global history? In what ways do we treat others in similar fashion? Do we carry an attitude of self-righteousness where it's our way or no way?

I picked up a review of The Hunger Games some time back and now have some words to offer as an articulate response. The review targeted Katniss' act of sacrifice and her role as the savior of Panem. The review compared her action as similar to our Savior Jesus Christ. Misguided! And so misleading. Katniss took her sister's place, yes, but her later actions leading the rebellion to overthrow the Capitol and restore the goodness of Panem's humanity were part of a path she hardly chose for herself, obediently or otherwise. She was clouded by enormous malcontent, propelled by vengeance, and moved with disobedience to rules and structure -- and she lost her sister in the end.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay are stories of humanity -- depraved, broken, and in itself, its own hero and savior (tenets of humanism).  Self-reliability, trust in no one, conditional morality, and judgment based in momentary feelings are all shaky foundations to construct a life; an exhausting effort chasing those moving targets.

A piece of fictional literature survives the test of time if it causes its readers to think. Thumbs up to Suzanne Collins for provoking my mind and for the discussions it generated with my children.

Ranger's Apprentice Series Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan

Flanagan, John, Ranger's Apprentice Series:The Ruins of Gorlan. Penguin Group, 2006. 

ISBN13: 9780641930522

ages: 9 to 12
Awards: New York Times Best-Selling Series

Description:
Will is fifteen years old, small for his size, and an orphan living at Castle Araluen upon the good graces of his benefactor, the Duke Arwald. It is in this setting that Will is selected as a Ranger's apprentice during the fiefdom's traditional Choosing Day when young men and women are selected for their life-long vocation. The Rangers are protectors of the kingdom though the locals revere them as magical and somewhat suspicious. Will is reluctant to commit to his new life to the unknown, but interaction with the Master Ranger Halt begins to shape his identity, sense of belonging, and life’s focus in a way he never expected.
 

Critique:
This first book of this series is well-written, and speaks the language of boys in a way that motivates courage, loyalty, and honor in their own thinking. The details of Battle School sword drills, Ranger target practice, and battles give a deeper dimension to the story and character development. John Flanagan expertly develops the characters as individuals, some minor ones having characterized personalities like the Castle Araluen's Master Chef who is round in body and gruff in tone. The story is full of characters to enjoy, and plenty of physical action to keep a boy interested in the plot. Will's story, and those of his comrades, have light moments of humor, tests of loyalty, and situations that highlight the need for brain over brawn. I am looking forward to the progression of the story and Will’s character through the series.