So everyone's talking about it.
Is it any good at all?
I want to try reading it, but there are so many bad reviews...
and my mom isn't exactly willing to let me read it.

So. People who have read the books... can you answer a few questions for me?

Is there any foul language?
Mature content?
Anything a kid shouldn't read? (I'm 15, but I'm sure if I read them, my lil sis (12) will want to read them also...)

Thanks!
~Feanor

It's been a year since I've read them, but I don't remember much foul language--if there was any, it was very mild. Mature content? There's some kissing, but that's it. However, I will say that the book is intense and pretty violent. I mean, these are kids that literally have to fight to the death. On national television while their entire country watches. So there is blood. However, I think they're good books--not amazing, but good. They're fast-paced and interesting, and I enjoyed them and am curious as to how the movie will measure up.

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Sig set and banner by the amazing Nurr!!

They are good books, but as Ara said there's violence. It can feel quite graphic at times. I wouldn't suggest that a 12 year old read them, though I think you would be fine.

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going on a journey through my old claims

Nurr, what is your impression of the philosophies in the story? I have not read the books yet, but I've heard Collins touted as a "disciple" of Ayn Rand. Is that true? How does that come out in the story? I'm very curious.

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I read part of the first chapter... (it was a free sample on the nook) and it sounds interesting.
The only thing is, my mom doesn't know if she wants me to read it! Argh!

I don't really know anything of Ayn Rand, so I can't help you out there. I personally see a lot of parallels between the ways of the Capitol and the ways of our wealthy societies. Plus there's all the interesting stuff that comes out of making a movie - for entertainment - of people watching this sort of stuff - for entertainment - it's so brilliant! She's definitely not saying sending children into gladatorial games is a good thing. There's also some really fascinating stuff bringing in the idea of military complexes and terrorist cells, and viewpoints of people in them.

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going on a journey through my old claims

Hmm. You might have seen my facebook status about the film, and the subsequent discussion of it, Nurr. Like I said, I haven't read the books, and left the film a little uncomfortable with the half-hearted condemnation of violence in it. Initially it seemed that Collins and the filmmakers were condemning all violence and aggression between humans, but then they showed Katniss killing without hesitation. I left with the impression that they endorsed utilitarian violence, which to me is much the same as endorsing violence overall, due to the completely relative definition of "utilitarian." So, I had mixed feelings about that. Does the book also reflect this mixed message?

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(Hadn't seen it, just read it.) I get the impression from the books that pretty much all violence is wrong, but that certain things might be construed as "more wrong" than others. Like, Katniss killing without hesitation. In the book, when Katniss comes up on Rue and the boy, the boy had already killed her and was going to go after Katniss when she shot him. It could be seen as a more self-defensive move than retaliatory. When she kills Cato, it is after he's spent an entire day being pulled apart by the dogs (they sped up the time in the movie) so it's actually viewed in terms of a mercy killing, because they were just playing with him.

In order to make the move PG-13, they had to downplay the violence from the book. So I think that's where the impression of halfhearted condemnation comes in. Through the progression of the books, you really basically see Katniss doing the things that she needs to do to survive, which sometimes involved killing. But I'd say the ending overall seemed to me to be against violence and for working things out in negotiations, etc. Are you willing to be spoiled about things in order to continue this discussion?

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going on a journey through my old claims

Oh, goodness. It sounds like they did not do a very good job of adapting the non-violence, then. If they did a good job, then I apparently have issues of perception. The movie made her seem downright ruthless.

I am quite willing for things to be spoiled, fyi.

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You really ought to read them

I have mixed feelings about the movie... just because of the way they handed the extra information. I understand that they can't put in all of the book, but I felt like they left out some vital stuff.

"Spoiler" Alert
The whole train ride - where Haymitch is drunk and basically doesn't give a care about their impending doom.
Training and Katniss's wariness about Peeta's kindness towards her (thinking it's a ploy to get her to let her guard down so he can kill her later)
All the information about the former games that runs through Katniss's head.
Peeta's injury the night before the games
Katniss's dehydration
The muttations don't kill Thresh... Cato does.
The muttations aren't just simply muttated dogs... they're something worse.
Peeta's reaction to finding out Katniss was playing up the romance for the cameras.

As for the mindless killing, at the beginning of the book you get the feeling that Katniss doesn't like the way things go, but she doesn't want to step out of her comfort zone to change them. However, by the end of the story Katniss is disgusted with the Capitol - so much that she's contemplating ways to rebel.

There's so many good details in the book about their way of life that you don't get from the movie.

Yes, the books are quite violent at points, I mean, it's kids fighting to the death. But as far as I remember, no language, not any overly mature content (there's kissing, drinking, etc.), and I think it depends on what you think your sister can handle reading. I think you'd be fine, but discretion is advised for younger readers.
The books are fast-paced, intense, and you get sucked into the story right from the beginning. (at least for me)

Idk if this helped, but I hope it does!

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"Loyalty, honor, a willing heart... I can ask no more than that."
Married Kili 12/27/12

Oh, I've read it by now.
It's pretty good, but certainly not as awesome as everyone claims.... I did like it though.

Cool!

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"Loyalty, honor, a willing heart... I can ask no more than that."
Married Kili 12/27/12

Now if the slowpoke readers ahead of me on the hold list for Catching Fire would hurry up! (Really people... you Do Not need 2 weeks to read a 200 some to 300 page book!)
I'm getting it on audiobook now, since no one has it... ugh it's going to take longer than reading it myself though... bleh.

*peeks in* Oooh you'll like Catching Fire. I found this one a lot more intense, I like the new characters in this one a lot too...but I can't go into as much detail as I want to since I haven't read it in a while and well, my memory sucks right now, heh. Also because... Finnick Odair. Is. In. It. *poofs out of thread with happy giggles*

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VITAM AETERNO; an original creature roleplay

I just finished reading Catching Fire yesterday! XD
It was pretty good. But I am seriously HATING the way this person ends her books!!! ahh!!!
The Beetee person kept reminding me of the doctor for some reason...