The Hunger Games Book versus Movie and my review of the author Suzanne Collins

I know this is a little behind the times, however my husband and I put off seeing the Hunger Games for over a year after it had come out because we aren't always fond of these teen movies that keep being popped out of the movie machine.  They all seem to be the same and from the trailers it seemed to me that The Hunger Games was a cross between Survivor and a short story I had read in high school called "The Lottery."  Anyway, we just watched it recently.  Then I wanted to read the book, because that's what I do...Often.

I have to say I enjoyed the book far more than the movie.  I did enjoy the movie, especially seeing it first, but it was easy to just have on in the background.  I got hooked by the book.  Couldn't put it down.  It wouldn't be at the top of my all time favorite read list, but it definitely was a page turner.  There was so much in the book that, frankly, I was disappointed that Suzanne Collins didn't add to the movie.  To the point that it actually angered me.  Collins had an opportunity that most authors don't have, which is creative authority over the screenplay.  There were many morality points that she wrote into the book that she didn't keep and I was greatly disappointed.  Remember the line from the Tobey Maguire Spiderman?  "With great power comes great responsibility?"  Well I think Collins was irresponsible.  In a day and age where being famous makes you special and kids think that being a celebrity is the ultimate dream the greatest line she wrote in the novel was "The problem is we're both still alive.  Which only reinforces the idea in your mind that you did the right thing."  This is the attitude of most teens, young adults, and most adults too today.  If it works out for me, then it means I'm right.  This leads to arrogance, and the know-it-all attitude that has led to the destruction of the morals and maturity of our world today.  Watch some old television shows from the 80's and 90's and see how clever and funny, but not unnecessarily raunchy or gory they were.  But most importantly see how they talked.  The spoke fluently and articulately.  Not like some totally rad kid from the like valley.  It's ridiculous our lack of vocabulary, or how lazy our speech has gotten.  Like have you seen like how fat Kim K got when she like was preggers?  Are we really so lazy we can't pronounce pregnant? Or say a person's full name?  Collins had a responsibility to point this out to teenagers, make them think when she has a platform to reach out the them and not just sell the movie, sell a proper lifestyle, but she sold out and got wrapped up in the same arrogance that she could have started a new revolution of her own, but real, of maturity and not led a real life uprising of coming of age, but coming back to proper, polite, cordial, caring individuals.  Shame on you Suzanne Collins.


The Hunger Games the Book
four out of five stars

The Hunger Games the Movie
three out of five stars

Suzanne Collins
one out of five stars

Supernatural Episode from 01/03/14

I like the show Supernatural and I liked the episode on last night.  It went back to the old style, instead of this new crap they've been spouting.  I don't like since they had the angels fall and Sam become inhabited with an angel.  Everything becomes too contradictory, especially with their past episodes.  If you've been a loyal watcher from the start, things become more and more confused when you go back and watch reruns because they contradict points of the plot so often.

Last night they had to fight Vesta a goddess who kills virgins who break their vows of celibacy.  It was nice to watch the Winchesters back in action as they hunted down the monster, worked out who/what it was, and then killed it just in the nick of time. I enjoy these episodes the most, especially when they do little shoutouts to their own writers with references to older episodes.  For example last night's episode contained a supposed porn star from Hotel Erotica which was also in the episode when the angel Gabriel told Sam and Dean about how to open the Gate in Hell to trap Lucifer in. Last night was good fun and bringing back the Sheriff was a nice change too.

Reviews by Day

My blog will be very simple.  I will post a review a day, whether it be about a book, movie, television show, or anything else I may hold an opinion on. 

Journey by Danielle Steel

Journey by Danielle Steel is an interesting novel about a woman who has gone from a physically abusive relationship to an emotionally abusive one.  It tells of Maddy Hunter, a famous news anchor, who is married to an emotionally abusive man who rescued her from her ex-husband who physically abused her.  Her contacts with the First Lady, and volunteering to work on a Commission on Violence Against Women leads her to the knowledge that her current relationship is abusive and starts her journey to freedom and the hardships that go with it.


I enjoy reading Danielle Steels novels.  While many of them follow the same basic guidelines and voice, I do enjoy them because despite the sometimes heavy topics, they are light and easy reading, not requiring too much thought.  Since I typically use reading to unwind, this is nice for me.  This book had me thinking though.  It made me take a look back at my own past relationships and really think about them.  Had I been abused before?  Had I been abusive before?  If it is hard for women to come forward from an abusive relationship, how much more so must it be for men?  I've had friends who have been physically abused, emotionally abused, both men and women.  It brought a lot of hard thinking, but all in all it was a good story line.  It was interesting.  It made me question things, and think; which I think is the purpose of a truly good book. A good read but not a must read.

I give it three stars out of five.