The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Genre: Young adult, Dystopian fiction
Don’t be fooled by the genre “Young adult fiction”. The Hunger Games speaks out to older age groups and it can get emotionally intense, grim and at times disturbing.
The book takes its readers to a time in the future, when the US was destroyed and it was renamed “Panem”, consisting of 13 districts and a Capitol City, ruled by a totalitarian dictator. The districts had rebelled against the Capitol City and were defeated. As a punishment, each district had to send a boy and girl to participate in the annual Hunger Games for the entertainment of the Capitol residents. In this battle for survival, only one winner lives.
The first book in the trilogy “The Hunger Games” speaks of the savageness of the games. In the second book “Catching Fire”, the people of the districts begin to demonstrate dissent against the dictatorship while the games go on. The final book, “Mockingjay” illustrates the horrors of the war between the Capitol City and the returning rebels to great and grisly detail.
Suzanne Collins is not afraid to portray harsh realities, even if it means killing off likeable characters in ways that hit very hard. The emotions and tragedies portrayed in the story are very real, with clear implications of the horrors that come with war to everyone involved, regardless of its purpose and whose side one is on. Reading a dystopian story may not be a cheerful way to enjoy the holidays, but it will certain inspire you to count your blessings and appreciate the world you live in.
The trilogy set can be purchased from all major bookstores in Singapore. Alternatively, the separate volumes are available at several public libraries, including Bishan and Toa Payoh Public Library, with the common call number English COL.
Amazing Gracie: A Dog’s Tale by Dan Dye, Mark Beckloff
Genre: Dog literature
Amazing Gracie is a story about the author Dan Dye’s experience with his late canine companion Gracie, a deaf and partially blind Great Dane, whom he credits for inspiring his and co-author Mark Beckloff’s successful ”Three Dog Bakery” business.
Gracie has a delicate constitution and almost died on several occasions by the time she was eight weeks old. For her good health, Dan, who was never good in the kitchen, decided to personally cook for Gracie. This spelt the early beginnings of Three Dog Bakery, a pet food store with unique, healthy treats for dogs.
Mark’s two dogs, Sarah and Dottie, joined Gracie in becoming the bakery’s mascots (hence the name ”Three Dog Bakery”) and taste-testers. The business grew and became a full-scale franchise, with stores operating across several states in the US. Dan discovered what he wanted to do with his life, while Gracie went from throwaway pup to a canine hero of national celebrity status.
The love that Dan has for his dog can be found in the humorous tone he adopts when describing his dog’s misadventures. The engaging writing style, coupled with cute doodles in the book, enables the reader to picture the scenes taking place right in his house. The story offers many heartwarming moments and life lessons. The last pages of the book will bring some tears especially if you have had the experience of accompanying an older dog through its last days.
This is a perfect read for dog lovers, and it will change the mindsets of those who aren’t dog lovers. This book can be purchased from all major bookstores in Singapore.
– These book reviews first appeared in a lifestyle magazine
