The Unhealthy Obsession of The Hunger Games

by /u/epic_squid01<br><br>**Warning** - This is mostly a critique of the book. I will be discussing plot, themes, and writing, but I will not be spoiling anything I am not mentioning.<br><br>Though many of us have read it, as an ex-Hunger Games fan myself, I've really started to notice the every-present take of "this book rules, I wish I had written this". The obsession over The Hunger Games is unhealthy.<br><br>Collins is not the best writer. She's not even close. The writing in the Hunger Games is more on the level of a young adult novel, which shouldn't be a shock. This series was written for young adults. The writing is such that a middle-schooler could easily enjoy it. The writing is exceedingly simple, more narrative than descriptive. Collins is very rarely on that level of writers like Hemingway or McCann. <br><br>However, she is a very good plotter. Much like the media's portrayal of 1984, her ideas are pasted into our psyche. The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel set in a future North America, where the tyrannical and corrupt government makes 24 teenagers fight to death in a televised event once a year. This concept is utterly staggering, and many simply say "wow, I love it". I love it too, but I can think critically. This book is not the shining example people make it out to be.<br><br>Collins is nowhere near as good of writer as people think she is. However, her book is still widely popular. I've done a little experiment. I will post the same set of paragraphs on /c/nosleep and /c/writing_critiques, and see which one is more popular. The paragraphs are from The Hunger Games, and I will just say I am the author. I have done this before, with a few different books, and the results are generally the same. This book was far more popular on /c/writing_critiques, where I said it was my story. <br><br>The comments I got on /c/writing_critiques were exceedingly positive. Many said the story was great, and that I should finish it! A few were even asking for more. As I said, I told them I was the author. However, its popularity was not there on /c/nosleep. On that sub, it got 2 upvotes. Two. On /c/writing_critiques, it got 18. Eighteen. What does that mean? Does that make sense that a post from the same user, with the same content, is more popular on a chamber for writing critiques than it is on a chamber for short horror stories? It shouldn't be, but it is.<br><br>But, many will say, this book deserves to be exceedingly popular! After all, it is a best-seller! I've read it multiple times! However, I will say that there is a reason for that. The Hunger Games is a very surface-level book. The themes are far more shallow than people think, similar to 1984. The themes are pasted in our minds, and we won't really forget them. The Hunger Games is the same. Many will remember it, just because it is something we can think about. However, aside from that, many will say it is an amazing book. I've seen many people say that they think The Hunger Games is better than Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a better series than The Hunger Games, hands down. However, many will say The Hunger Games is better. But why? What makes it so good? <br><br>Some will say that the characters are interesting. I think not. The characters in Hunger Games are better than many seen in other works, but I would not say they're that great. I've seen many other works with exceedingly interesting and diverse characters. However, many will say that the characters in The Hunger Games are like that. I disagree. <br><br>Many will say that the themes are very deep, but I've already discussed those. The themes in The Hunger Games are far more surface-level than many will say. Many will say that the themes are very hidden, but I do not agree. The themes are just as shallow as the writing quality. <br><br>Many will say that the plot is very developed and interesting, and I think I will agree with this. But why? What is it about the plot that makes it so nice? I think the plot is interesting, but I don't think it's the best. I think that the plot is nowhere near as interesting as people think it is. The Hunger Games is a very popular book, and I don't really see why. I don't want to make it seem as if I hate The Hunger Games, I do not. But I don't think it's that great of a book either.<br><br>The Unhealthy Obsession of The Hunger Games is something that I will say should be stopped. The Hunger Games is not the best thing since sliced bread. The Hunger Games is just that, a book. It has its merits and flaws, and people should realize that. Just because Collins is a good plotter does not mean her book should be considered the greatest thing in existence. The Hunger Games is not that great.<br><br>However, that's just my two cents. I'd like to hear your thoughts. You can be as brutal as you want.