Dystopian Reflections
I had an inkling that it would eventually "take off," and wasn't surprised when others starting making pop culture references to Katniss, the other tributes, and the notorious Game challenges.
I also remember the exciting storyline--and it's journey into a dystopian world. Suzanne Collins was not the first author to take us there, but she opened the portal to an even wider audience.
Traveling to a dystopian world (via the written word), will probably not be a fun and/or lighthearted experience. The purpose of such a fantasy is to express our societal and familial fears of what could go wrong should our government and "everyday world" collapse. We ask ourselves questions like, what would I do in that situation? Would I survive? And, to what depths would/could I go to keep my family safe? We also get to experience the shine that occurs when someone rises from the ashes, or discovers their true talents under diversity. Dystopian stories also allow us to root for the underdog--hoping that he or she will survive the ultimate tests of human suffering.
Interview
I recently stumbled upon an rare interview of Suzanne Collins about her thoughts and the background of The Hunger Games novels and movies. She offers some great insight here, if you'd like to take a read. I enjoyed the interview. It's always a small gift to see the gears turning in an author's mind, and to understand their take on the world they created.
So what's next?
Inspired by my memories into Collins's dystopian world, I decided to focus on having a Dystopian December event in our library. I'm hoping to create a dystopian display worthy of ruined buildings, crumbling societies, and shadowy adventures. More information to follow...just keep a look out for anything that looks a little dark and dingy, and perhaps with a twinge of hope.
Happy and Dark Readings,
~Mrs. Howell
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