A few weeks ago I saw a preview for The Hunger Games. It looked pretty cool so I figured I should read the book before it comes out next month. If I see a movie, I’ll never motivate myself to read the book (see: Lord of the Rings). Conceding that “The book was better”™ there are too many books out there to spend my time with one I already know the end to. This motivation is actually what got me to finally get through Atlas Shrugged after 2 false starts. But I digress:
The Hungry Games (as referred to by the Learned Daughter, who is henceforth to be referred to as Katniss on this blog.) was actually a pretty good book. I read it to her before bed for several nights. Juvenile fiction is often derided as being of little value, but I don’t buy it. I’ve gotten a great deal of value out of mountains of Heinlein juvenile fiction.
What was unique about this book was seeing the world through the eyes of a female protagonist. Moreso, it was really neat to see that in an action book. I guess this could be saying more about me than literature as a whole, but it isn’t often that I read a book from the eyes of a female. I could be wrong, but I think the last time I did that was in a Janet Evanovich book a decade ago, give or take a year or two.
If you have a daughter, BUY HER THIS BOOK! It provides a badass female lead who succeeds through brains, combative skill, and compassion. It isn’t overly deep, but it is entertaining and empowering for girls. It exposes a child to deep violence, but isn’t lewd.
If you have a son, BUY HIM THIS BOOK! I think any man, especially a teenage boy, could do well to be exposed to a powerful female, and see the world through her eyes. Too often powerful female leads in our culture are either sexed up Tomb Raider types (which has its own appeal) or a butch Michelle Rodriguez. Katniss serves as a real, believable person who is capable and competent in times of trouble. Honestly, I think it would have served well in my own education growing up to be exposed to a little more Katniss Everdeen and a little less Al Bundy. I’m poorer for my ignorance. Katniss is an outstanding model for what we should want in our warriors.
So without any real spoilers, I highly recommend it. And now I can go watch what looks like is going to be a really cool movie. The casting looks pretty solid too. Click below for the trailer:
