Why The Hunger Games is better than Twilight

Today’s Guest Post by Monique Fischle:

I was a little bit late to jump on The Hunger Games train, having only just read the trilogy in the last month despite the first book being published back in 2008. I started reading THG (by Suzanne Collins) for the same reason I started reading Twilight, I wanted to know what everyone was talking about. Never one to shy away from gossip, I wanted to know who or what the hell “Katniss” was and be able to contribute to the discussion.

I ended up reading all three books (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay) in a week. I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long to read them because they are fantastic. For those who are unaware, THG is set in post apocalyptic Panem (where North America used to be) and each year, a boy and a girl from each district (there are 12 districts and then the Capitol) between the ages of 12-18 are selected as tributes to fight to the death in a startling reality television show, The Hunger Games. Messed up, right?

After District 13 planned an uprising against the Capitol and was demolished, The Games were created to remind the Districts that the Capitol will always control them and will annihilate anyone who tries to start a rebellion. On the day of the Reaping (when the tributes are picked) of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in place of her 12-year-old sister Prim.

The first book in the trilogy has been made into a major motion picture starring Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence as ‘Katniss’ and Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth (Mr Miley Cyrus) as ‘Peeta’ and ‘Gale’ respectively, the leading male characters in the series. THG has been described as “the next big thing”, the “new Twilight”. And I agree, it will be the next big thing. But it won’t be the new Twilight.

Why, I hear you ask? Well, I’ve come up with a list of why THG is better than Twilight (despite the fact that I actually do love Twilight).

1. More Original

With all the vampire chic-lit currently available, THG is a breath of fresh air and is more exciting and original than Twilight. And I say original, even though author Suzanne Collins copped some flack after THG was compared to the novel, Battle Royale. But having never read Battle Royale, it was original to me.

2. Katniss is a far better role model for women

In Twilight, we are introduced to Bella, a girl who wants to die when the boy she loves leaves her and is willing to give up her entire life to be with him. In THG, we have Katniss, a teenage girl who has witnessed so much pain and suffering, through the death of her father and having to assume the role of head of the family as her mother struggles to cope. She then risks her life to save her little sister, Prim. She fights to stay alive and to make a better life for her family.

3. It isn’t all about boys

While they tried to start “Team Peeta” and “Team Gale” for THG, it hasn’t really kicked off in the same way that “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” did. This is due to the simple reason that the series isn’t about whether Katniss will end up with Hunger Games companion Peeta or best friend and hunting buddy Gale. It is about survival, courage. It is about showing the Capitol that they don’t own you. For me, personally, the Peeta/Gale side story was merely just a blip on my radar.

4. It isn’t just for tween girls

TGH was written with a more mature audience in mind. Granted, there are plenty of Twi-hard Mums out there, but THG doesn’t fall into the romance/chic-lit genre. It’s aimed at young adults and there is more than enough in the story to entice both male and female readers. I think it’s fair to say that come March 22 (when THG the movie premieres to audiences across the globe), there will be more than enough males dragging their female partners along to watch the action packed flick.

5. Even Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t see the comparison

According to US magazine, the film’s leading actress, Jennifer Lawrence, said “Hunger Games is not ‘Twilight’, it’s really premature to say that it will be the same phenomenon”.

There has been some hype in the media of a rivalry between the casts of Twilight and THG, however, JLaw (as she is being called), put the rumours to rest:

“I wrote her an e-mail, because there was this huge like, article about a ‘Twilight’ and ‘Hunger Games’ feud, and we’ve never met before and never spoken . . . I was like, ‘Oh my god. If she reads this, she’s going to think – what if she thinks it’s true?’ . . . I just shot her an e-mail, and was like, ‘Hey, can’t wait to see more as this feud unfolds!’ . . . She wrote me back, and she was like, ‘It’s fine. Welcome to the world where everything you say gets turned into [something it’s not]’ . . . So, she understood,” (Source: Examiner.com)

Even though JLaw is being super sweet; in my prediction The Hunger Games will kick Twilight’s ass come opening night. I’m not alone, early reviews from the film’s premiere in LA and London have praised the film with insiders suggesting that The Hunger Games will have the biggest opening weekend since The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One grossed $138.1 million.

Which do you prefer, The Hunger Games or Twilight? Harry Potter? Or something else entirely?

Photo: Source Unknown