The Hunger Games. Book? Movie? Yes? No? What?

This might be the first post I've written in which Ink will disagree with me. It's ok. Our relationship is very solid and can take it, though you probably would have loved to been in our living room watching the volley of debate during and after the movie. And I promise you this post won't make it to his Flotsam and Jetsam. :)

When dear Claire and I arrived at the hospital last week, I had nothing with me, so my Beloved brought up a small bag of some essentials. What did I find tucked away in that bag but a copy of The Hunger Games.

I smiled big at my son's hint to just read the book. You see, he plows through lots of books a year, and while I'm a big reader, too, my books often take detours among diaper changes and sibling quarrels and meal planning and house cleaning and discipleship, etc. But here it was 3 in the morning, my ankles were as big as an elephant's from such stellar hospital sleeping accommodations, and I decided to just plunge into this very controversial book.

I finished it five days later and was impressed by Collins style of writing, which I though well-suited the main character and the story itself. This is not Dickens here, nor should it be. I was drawn into the story and even found myself attached to some of the characters. I was most annoyed with the constant kissing in the latter part of the book, mainly because I had already gotten the point, and found Collins' descriptions to be overkill.

That said. Would I recommend the book? Yes. (And no, I'm not going to write an essay justifying that recommendation. Search the internet, and you'll find plenty of others who have taken the time to do that as well as those who will tell you it's a vile sin to visit the pages of this book.)

Of course, my finishing the book was part of my preparation for watching the movie. And that we did last night. I braced myself for a cry-fest since the book really did move me. Instead of crying, though, I found myself slightly frustrated and wanting to cry, "Foul!" more times than not.

Here are my observations about the book and the movie:

1) If you read this book and watch the movie just a couple of days later, you might be frustrated at the significant details that were left out, details that I think affected character development and the entire tone of the story.

2) If you watch this movie with others who read the book MONTHS ago, they will wonder why you're annoyed. They've forgotten many of the details, but you haven't, and it might be wise to keep your objections to yourself. I think my fellow viewers might have been calling me "killjoy", in their heads, of course.

3) If you're wondering if you should watch the movie or read the book first, this is one story I'd tell you to watch first. Then, you won't be so angry during the movie and you'll end up pleasantly surprised at what a different story it really is after you read the book.

4) I'm 38 weeks pregnant. You can just poke me, like the Pillsbury Doughboy, and tears will flow. But, the only time I cried during this movie was when Katniss volunteered for Prim. Even the scene with Rue, which they didn't get right, didn't move me like it did in the book.

5) If you've only watched the movie, you don't really know the story. You don't know enough to even have an opinion on the story, I'd say. (Ink is bristling at this point. Sorry, son.) You don't know Katniss and her thoughts through this disgusting ordeal, you don't even know the other characters, and you've missed out on so many essential details.

Details like Rue's arm reaching out to Katniss from the net, the crown being broken in two, Cato dying a slow death, the bread from District 11 being given to Katniss, Cato's coming at Katniss first instead of the mutant dogs, how Katniss got the mockingjay pin, the amazing feast delivered to Katniss and Peeta in the cave, Katniss and Peeta actually putting the berries in their mouths, etc.

6) This is one case in which I think the book and movie tell different stories. Of course, it's the SAME story, but reading the one will make a strong impression and bring many questions and reflections, while watching the other will leave you a bit entertained, disturbed, and somewhat indifferent.

With love,
Trisha