Suzanne Collins and Ransom Riggs

(Fuck shit, which language to use? The objects of this post are both pieces of English literature… wait! Better said: pieces of literature in English because they’re both American. But those who recommended them are Spanish-speakers; they both read English, however. And the other people who might actually read this post AND read the books are of a mix of both languages. As I said Fuck it! I’m gonna write this in English because the authors most likely don’t read Spanish) 

Those two objects are two novels. The Hunger Games (vol.1) and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I’ll talk about them don’t worry, shortly but I will. But about both: read them! Both are worth every penny, but take into account that I bough THG on a paperback and Miss Peregrine’s on hardcover. If it were the opposite wouldn’t dare to say so.  So! Let’s get this post rolling.

About The Hunger Games. I haven’t been so hooked to a book since Harry Potter 7 (well except maybe with Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle). It’s a delicious page-turner. It has it all: the overwhelming sensation of despair, oppression, unfairness—even slavery if I might venture—mixed with that feeling of there’s-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel. It is without a doubt a cocktail of emotions. Memorable books are just like good presentations, it doesn’t really matter what their content’s are: what’s important is how they make you feel.

I got to admit. I was looking forward more to a post-apocalyptic book and less to the story of an unfair economic system with a very sadistic tool for masses control. Two words on that. First: it is worth to note that if you increase the scale, the system described by Collins bears an astonishingly resemblance our own current neoliberal system: just replace the word “district” with “developing country” and “capitol” with “north”… just fodder for thought. Second: in spite of what the author may say, the Hunger—but mainly death—Games* very suspiciously resemble Koushus Takami’s 1999 Battle Royale. Does it smell like S.O.P.A. somewhere?

Final comment. I read the first tome on a different edition as the second. The edition I’m reading now is delightfully written in British English, I know because printed is stuff like favour, centre, etc. (and the price is only written in £); but most notably because there are some words that are unspeakable for Americans: metre, kilometre, etc. It’s a shame that I don’t know if Suzanne Collins opted for the metric system but if she did, she just got like a 1000 extra points because—to my opinion—going metric on a Sci-Fi story only adds realism of the story (Matrix did it, remember?). Almost forgot: thanks Fiti for the heads up, good one!

Anyway, you are going to read it. Better do it now before the movie comes out. You will not regret it. Now allow me shift to Miss Peregrine. This book is not just a book. Right about now you should be going to your nearest Amazon bookstore and buy it. It is not as quick paced as the Hunger Games but honest word it’s a must. I dare not say a lot from fear of spoilers but do let me tell you: this work is creative. It is a new way of writing and it's a marvellous work altogether. The use of pictures—on a non-children’s book—is totally justified, you just have to keep reading to the very last page to agree with me.

But when it comes to criticising a book I’m never just a hollow flatterer. Let’s face it: Riggs’ fantasy is anything but new, with its exceptions, we’ve seen those powers a thousand times. But I guess is understandable (again: pictures! Ehem: end-of-the-book) Anyhow Congratulations to Mr Riggs and thanks to Moka for the heads up!

There you go, two good books to start our 2012.

*The Hunger But Mainly Death Games is the name of a parody book of the series.