Book Review #2: The Hunger Games

This book has been disagreed-upon by many Christians today

This book is loved by many teens in our society 

This book was recently made into a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson 

Yep, you guessed it; this book is The Hunger Games.

Since the recent creation of the first Hunger Games movie, it is nearly impossible for anyone to NOT know something about Suzanne Collins's first book in her applauded series.  I mean, if you asked someone what The Hunger Games was you'd probably see a  horrified gaze and gaping mouth looking back at you through unbelieving eyes.  Okay, maybe not quite that dramatic, but lets face it, NEARLY everyone really does know SOMETHING about this book or the whole series.

Okay, so we have established that this book is hugely popular among teens today, but should it be popular (in a good way) in the Christian society of teens?  Is it even worth reading?

WRITING STYLE                                                          

After seeing the movie once shortly after it hit the theaters, I started reading the first book in the Hunger Games series.  I was pretty much expecting to dislike everything about the story and the writing style, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Though, in my humble opinion, Suzanne Collins writing style is very choppy and unprofessional, it is also intriguing if you don't mind using your creative powers more.  Collins writes from the main character (Katniss Everdeen)'s point of view.  The sentences are short and poorly thought-out because originally the book was actually supposed to be a script/story line for a movie (or so I have heard).  If you like to use your skills of imagination and picture yourself in the character's point of view, you may get a little more out of this book.  Beware. 

CONTENT REVIEW                                                     

Frankly, I don't know why people love these books so much.  Sure, the movies are enjoyable to watch because of the quality of acting and cinematography, but its just disappointing that people love these books SO much.  Let me explain myself.

LACK OF HOPE.  This book has no hope.  NONE.  AT.  ALL.  Really, the smallest of hopes in this book is that somehow Katniss and Peeta will make it out of the arena alive.  Good authors entice their readers with a glimpse at the light when the darkness of their story becomes oppressive.

WEAK (MALE) CHARACTERS.  The beloved Peeta is simply a weak character.  Throughout the Games, he is portrayed as the sweet, loving, and handsome boy of District 12.  Lovable and loyal though he is, Peeta really isn't a deep character.  This is quite unfortunate, really.  Collins had a good story line going and could have fleshed her characters out much much more yet stuck to a very basic way of writing. 

Similarly, when Gale tells Katniss that killing people in the arena will be no different than her usual hunting, we see a definite flaw in his character.  Sure, he is trying to soothe his friend, but really?  Elements like this make the Games a perfect example of the idea of SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

BLACK & WHITE                                                          

Some Christians claim that The Hunger Games shouldn't be read by Christian teens because of the 'kids killing kids' element of the story line.  Yet, while it is true that children really do kill other children in this book, it should not be cast aside as a 'bad book' just because of the bloodshed.  Rather, readers should realize that the BAD GUYS are the ones making the GOOD GUYS kill each other.  

Katniss is a strong character who simply does not want to kill anyone in the arena (who would?).  Yet she is prepared to defend herself so that she can get back to District 12 to take care of her sister.  Katniss soon makes a friend in a sweet girl named Rue.  They join up to fight the Career-ers, the kids who have trained for this moment.  Rue, however, is killed (*tears*).  Through this cold-blooded act, Katniss realizes that she NEEDS to get out of the arena as soon as possible and meets up with Peeta.  Really, the bad guys (the people of the Capital) are shown to be twisted and very sinful.  This, in my opinion, is a definite positive of the book.

Unfortunately (this is where it gets down-to-earth), people today literally adore Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as the characters who they portray.  Similarly, people adore the books, the story line, and everything related to The Hunger Games.  People have glorified these things to the extreme; to a point where they have put Hollywood on a pedestal.  Sound familiar?  You got it: Hollywood is the Capital-full of frivolous wishes, pointless gossip, gluttony, and selfishness.  And we are accepting that.

STORY LINE                                                                      

You've gotta admit, the story line of The Hunger Games is quite creative and (obviously) is now a very successful one.  It has a post-apocalyptic setting, good vs. evil elements, and is complete with a love triangle.  :)     

CONCLUSION                                                                    

Thus, since this book will most likely be debated within Christian circles for a long time, it is a good idea to read this book if you have not already.  Form your own ideas about the pros and cons of the writing style, characters, and story line.  Granted, this is not my favorite book by any means, but it is also a good quick-read.  If you love action-packed stories mixed with romance, this might be your book.  If you are desiring a deep, thoughtful, and beautiful book full of hope, look somewhere else.  

Photography T&T #4

For #4 of the photography tips and techniques series of my posts, I wanted to share with you a few pictures from a photo shoot of a friend last fall.  Granted, I have learned a lot since I took these pictures, but I also have a lot to learn!  With that, I will just be talking about each photo :)

This photo was taken on our property near a fence.  It is awesome that a simple (and ugly) barbed wire fence can look so natural in a picture!  I think we have talked about this before, but fences are great ways to draw the viewer's eyes to the subject of the photo.

I like this picture because it gives the reader an idea of the subject's personality.  It also matches with the theme of her clothes:  rustic, cute, simple, colorful, boho-chic sort of look

 Loving the wild-flowers!

and the fence again....

Here is another example of how I used the branches to make a sort of frame around the subject.  Though they did leave shadows on her, the branches helped to add a feel of coziness to a picture that could be awkward.

In this picture, I used the rule of thirds:  my subject is taking up about two thirds of the photo

What do you think of this photo-shoot?  Is there anything you would have done differently? 

Book Review // Little Britches

       Hello, readers.  This week I will be reviewing one of my all-time favorite books entitled "Little Britches-Father and I were Ranchers."  This first book in the series takes place in Colorado in 1906 and is actually written by the main character, Ralph Moody.  From learning how to do stunt work on a galloping horse to character-lessons from his father, Ralph describes his adventures as a boy who moved from New Hampshire to the wilderness of Colorado.  Many struggles haunt the Moody family, one of which being their new home.
     
       After being falsely informed that their new homestead was in good condition and with only $300 to their name, Mrs. and Mr. Moody must learn to survive in the wilderness and support a family.  Ralph helps his father repair their shanty and begin to create a lively-hood for their family.

       Even though my mother read this book aloud to me and my siblings when I was littler, the wonderful adventures and descriptions still draw me into Ralph Moody's world of the early 1900's.

Recommended age:  I'd say probably 8-88 for the whole series
Pros:  great message and quotes from Ralph's father about the importance of character in a young man
Cons: some language

Change

Hello, readers.  As you may have noticed, I have not posted here in a while.  Thoughts about this blog have been flowing in and out of my head.  I have learned that true and raw inspiring words are sometimes hidden in the small circumstances in our lives and are often hard to come by.  Sometimes, often actually, life is not full of "bangs."  Sometimes things are slow.  And so it is with my inspiring posts.  Sometimes they spike, but most of the time the ideas ferment in my mind but never fully come out on the blank page in front of me.  Sometimes, I look at other people's blogs and think, "wow, they know what they are talking about!  They have a purpose to their blog...and the design is actually pretty!"

 I have been contemplating the real purpose of this blog.  To narrow it down, lets start with the easy part.  The things that my blog is NOT:
-a place for me to talk about ME and only ME
-a blog packed with DIY and awesome tutorials
-a text-book blog

Okay, now this should be easier.  Here is what my blog is supposed to be:
-a place where I can inspire people in any possible way
-a place to show people God's love through the small joys in life
-a blank page for my thoughts, muses, and beliefs to flow through from my head to yours
-a place to share about my interests (photography, horseback riding, drawing, books)

Here are some things you'll find here:
-lots of pretty pictures :)
-(hopefully) inspiring messages about all sorts of things
-book and movie reviews-coming soon (yay!)

And so, friends, I have learned a valuable lesson.  Blogs, like people, reflect thoughts, interests, emotions, and life-circumstances.  They all aren't (and shouldn't) be the same.  Some are pretty, some are so basic it is painful (example: this blog...I'm working on that)  :)  but all are unique and reflect the character of their author(s) through the marvelous miracle of words.

Joy isn't only found in the complex and huge things in life.  Most of the time, the peace and the joy of the Lord can be spotted in the day to day journeys that we take.  As C.S. Lewis says, "Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different."  With that, I dare you to

find joy in the ordinary.