The Hunger Games!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was one of those books I read before my blog existed. It was back when I still worked with books and one of the few times I wasn't involved in the children's or YA books. A friend of mine had taken over that position and she would push all her books on me. This is the friend I have told you about before. The one who pretty much reads YA exclusively. She does occasionally make a foray into the grown up world but it's rare and usually comes as a surprise to her when she does. Back then I still devoured YA so I was usually happy to read the books she recommended (apart from the times she managed to get zombie books past my radar but that's another story).

The Hunger Games was one of those books that I was actually reluctant to read. I was sure it had been done before and so I wasn't interested. I really wish I had kept a book journal back then so that I could look back at what I was thinking as I read but alas I didn't. When I finally agreed to give it a go it was with a determination that I wouldn't like it (which is unusual for me). My friend was right though and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had it's faults but I could ignore that for the most part. That scene with Rue (you know the one) melted my heart and from then on in I was hooked. I loved the next two books too. I think I probably enjoyed the third book more than most of the fans did. I think most people were expecting more of the same thing and were disappointed when it took a different turn. I would have been disappointed had it not taken a new direction.

So when the film came out I didn't want to see it. Now this is not unusual. I hate films that destroy my favourite books and it has happened so many times in the past that I now have trust issues. So I didn't go and see it and I have managed to avoid most advertising for it when the DVD came out. I then made the mistake of joining netflix and last week I gave in and watched it.

It has to be one of the few films that I have loved as much as the book (that's two in a row with Perks being the last one). One minute I was thinking I'm not going to enjoy this the next I was holding my breath because I knew what happened next. It was very well done and Jennifer Lawrence was a perfect choice for Katniss (something else I very rarely agree on). There were certainly things missing but I had read the book so long ago that I probably didn't notice half of them. Then the moment I was not looking forward to came. Yep, that scene with Rue and I sobbed my heart out. I mean proper sobbing. It would have been mortifying had I not been on my own.

So now I am eagerly anticipating Catching Fire. Of course I won't be going to see it in the cinema as I remember crying reading that book too.

Top Ten Tuesday - Dystopian

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from the Broke and The Bookish. It's a fun prompt for listing books. In this week we get to pick a genre and list our top ten books. I've chosen dystopian. Although I have a funny feeling I have done this before. It's been a while since I have taken part in this. I actually meant to take part in last weeks top ten book covers but forgot.

1. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley. This was the first book that introduced me to dystopian and I have loved it since. In this society people are cloned and from that their lives are determined. Happiness is mandatory. Sex and drugs are used to encourage this.

2. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury. My second introduction. A world where thinking is done for the people and as a result books are banned. The fire brigade in this society is there to burn any books.

3. 1984 - George Orwell. Anyone who loved dystopian is going to have read this. Probably one of the most famous. Big Brother is watching your every move to ensure you to not stray from their way of thinking.

4. A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess. The streets are ruled by gangs of violent teens. This is seen through the eyes of one teen, Alex. I was surprised by how much I loved this one. Couldn't put it down.

5. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood.  I love Atwood and love all her writing styles. In this one women are forced to have children for the rich and powerful. Those who can't have a darker future.

6. We - Yevgeny Zamyatin. Where ever citizen has a number rather than a name. Their homes are made of glass so they can't be hidden and they walk in step with each other. To have any emotion is against the rules of the state. I enjoyed it although it was a little slow going.

7. The Chrysalids - John Wyndham. After a world changing event society has returned to a feudal state with the population practicing fundamentalist religion. Anyone who is different is a blasphemer and their life is in danger. So when children began developing gifts of mental abilities they have to hide it in order to save their lives. I love John Wyndham. He truly had a talent for sci fi.

8. The Book of Dave - Will Self. A society and religion that revolves around the ravings of a long dead, London, cab driver. The most unusual of all my favourite dystopian reads.

9. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro. Humans are bred entirely for their organs. Probably the one that disturbed me the most and one of the most moving.

10. Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde. Place in society is determined by where you can see in the colour spectrum. Grey being the lowest and purple being the highest. I loved this book and the use of colour in it. For example the colour green is used as a drug.

The Book Of Dave - Will Self

Dave is a London cab driver who suffers from depression. When his wife leaves him for another man and takes his son with her his mental health spirals. He alternates between moments of rage and complete depression. In one of his rages he writes a book and in it he suggests an alternative way to live. A world where dads have equal time with their sons and the mummies know their place all mixed in with his views on cabbing. Years later in an England that has clearly been devastated by some kind of flooding this world has come into existence. Daves book was found and it becomes the way in which everyone lives. A world where the Driver is the priest and the cabbing Knowledge is the word of Dave. To speak against Dave is blasphemy and the punishment is a horrible death.

This is probably one of the most original dystopian books I have ever read. Such a fantastic idea, a whole world where the cab driver word is law and there is a whole religion based round it. The priests, called Drivers, even wear mirrors on their forehead so that they can see all that is behind them. I think that is one of the things that I loved about this book, it's originality.

I have to confess though that it did take some time for me to get into it. The book is written in chapters which alternate between present day and the future. Present day is easier to read but the future is written mainly in a dialect which mixes cockney and text. There is a glossary at the back but it doesn't cover everything. It's mainly for words that have been changed to fit in with the view of the cab driver. So it doesn't help all that much. As a result I did read two other books in between. This book really needs time devoted to it and I didn't have that when I first picked it up. I do worry though that anyone from outside the UK might have problems reading it. It would be a shame if that were the case because it really is a fantastic book.

Dave himself isn't the most likeable of characters. We aren't really meant to like him. He has natural obsessive tendencies. It started with cabbing and ended with his son to the extent that he wrote this book. He comes across as a bit of a slob and when seen through the eyes of his wife a little repulsive. He also has fits of rage which can end in violence. Not a man you could easily admire. Yet I felt so sorry for him. Clearly he had mental health issues for a long time and the health system failed him. Hi wife, whilst didn't deserve his treatment, was really the one who ruined his life. Mind you, if it hadn't been her it probably would have been something else. So whilst I didn't like him I felt so bad for him and hoped that he would get it together in the end.

As for the future world. It was certainly fascinating. I wouldn't say there was any particular character that I liked or disliked from that future. I must admit that I looked out more for the changes that were affected by Dave.

If you like a dystopian then I imagine you will like this. This one is certainly now high up on my list of favourites within that genre. Or if you just want to try something a little bit different then it's worth giving it a go.

A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess

Fifteen year old Alex is the leader of a small gang. He loves nothing more than to spend his time harassing and beating up the weak and the wary. His crew and himself get kicks out of it and they make some money in the process. Egged on by his gang he ups the ante and decides to do a proper break in and steal as much as he can. Things don't go quite as planned and he ends up in prison. After two years he is the model of good behaviour in the hopes that it will get him out again. He even wishes to take part in a trial that will ensure his freedom in two years. However, he isn't quite prepared for what this trial will entail or for the end result.

Another book that I was reluctant to read originally. I have seen this advertised on numerous television show as a book and as a movie. It's always listed under cult classic, controversial or banned books. The banned books should have got me interested but it didn't. Mainly because all I ever heard about it was the violence. Reading about a bunch of teens who dress strangely and beat up the locals didn't appeal to me. I couldn't have been more wrong about this book. In my defense it just hasn't been sold to me properly. Describe it as a disturbing dystopian and I would have been there.

For that's what it really is. The violence is only a part of it. Teens are terrorising the streets and Alex is just one example of that. As a result he is then made an example of. The powers that be discover a way of inhibiting the violence. They take away Alex's choice. He wants to react in violence but he can no longer do it. I found the whole section of the treatment to be disturbing (in a I can't stop reading way). You are seeing it from Alex's point of view but when you read of the terror faced by his tormentors you are left to wonder if the means justify the end. It was certainly very interesting.

Meg of A Bookish Affair mentioned in a comment that Burgess changed some words to get it past the censors. I had no idea to what extent the author went to. In fact I worried at first if I was going to be able to get past that aspect of the book. As I said it is written from the point of view of Alex. The teens of that time have their own way of speaking and Alex narrates using this way. After the first few pages I sort of got used to it and it has it's own lyrical quality. It certainly wouldn't have been the same book without it.

I very much enjoyed this book and I'm glad that I opened my mind enough to read it. I can see myself reading it again at some point in the future. Plus how could I dismiss such a highly praised book from one of my favourite genres - dystopian. Mind you, a number of years ago I read "Earthly Powers" by this author which I loved. It should have been no surprise that I would like this one too.

A little note on the cover. This was part of a series that Penguin brought out called Penguin classics. They published the most popular books of each decade and gave them all these fantastic covers. A Clockwork Orange represents some of the literary genius of the 60's. This was another charity shop purchase but I think I am going to have to look out for more of these covers.

Gone - Michael Grant

Sam is sitting in class trying his hardest not to gaze out the window when his teacher suddenly disappears. It is soon discovered that everyone aged 15 years or over has gone. Not only that there is now a barrier surrounding the area preventing the kids left behind from leaving. Panic ensues and everyone looks to Sam to lead them. It's a responsibility he doesn't want but soon those who want the power are taking over including the psychopathic kids from the Coates school. Sam must now step in to stop kids from getting hurt. Plus he is one of the kids who has discovered he has a power and possibly the only one strong enough to stop Caine.

Yes, my second attempt at reading YA to get through some of my tbr pile. This time success. I actually enjoyed it. I held my breath for those first few chapters (well, almost). I'm not sure if it's because I have been talking about Stephen King a lot but at the start I was reminded of him. It felt like it should say on the cover - If King wrote YA. Indeed my enjoyment plummeted a little when the barrier was discovered but that was the only real resemblance to Under the Dome (one of the few King books I haven't enjoyed). The book is described as dystopian but to me dystopia should always be set in the future or an alternative world. This isn't the case. It's set in present day time but the kids have been displaced or enclosed by something. Obviously thanks to the super powers and talking animals it has an element of fantasy to it.

Yep, that's right, talking animals. I have to say that this could have bordered on the ridiculous. Talking coyotes and flying snakes and a malignant force (and I believe there are razor toothed worms in the next book) and yet it sort of worked. Animals, along with the kids, have mutated and it seems to be not in a good way. The jury is still out on that one. It was fine in this book but I have a feeling that it could go either way.

There were aspects of the book that reminded me a little of "Lord of the Flies" what with the whole power corrupts and kids running around causing mayhem. The few mature kids seem to manage to keep things together by taking control. Even the kids on the side of the bad prevent the kids turning into little savages (for the most part). It will be interesting to see how that plays out too. Clearly food and power will become a problem and I wonder how they will behave once most of their comforts are gone. I think that will happen in the next one since it is titled "Hunger".

I have book 2 there already as I am sure I bought both at the same time. Whilst book 1 was good and I enjoyed it I am still wary of some aspects of it. We'll see what happens when I get round to reading it. I am hoping that I will be pleasantly surprised.