Let Me Entertain You
A couple of years ago, these books appeared on my radar screen at school. They were in the Scholastic book order so I used my bonus points to get copies for my classroom. My junior high students loved them and they flew off the shelf. Even my “reluctant” readers were passing them around.
I never got around to reading any of them because they weren’t my preferred genre.
Mistake.
I didn’t really intend to see the movie. However, we went last weekend with our middle son and his wife.
Oh my goodness.
This movie is The Truman Show on steroids.
It is American Idol, Fear Factor, The Amazing Race multiplied, calculus-ed, trigonometry-ed to the 100th power. (Math was not my friend-but if it was yours, you probably have figured that out by now.)
Brandon and Lindsey liked it, Brad hated it, and I was disturbed by it.
There is the fact that the Catniss stood in as a sacrifice for her sister.
And that she didn’t want to kill any of the other kids.
The disturbing thing to me is that I can imagine a time when we stoop to that level for entertainment again.
It happened for real when Christians were thrown to the lions for sport.
We see it forms of it on the playground when children-especially girls- gang up on someone who was their friend yesterday.
We see it in the news when a bounty is placed on the head of someone who is pronounced guilty by society before a trial can be held.
Group think can be very dangerous and very seductive. We can easily be led down a path we never would have stepped foot on if we aren’t careful.
Now that I know more about what the book is about, I wish I had taken the time to read it and discuss the themes with my students. I wonder what their impressionable minds and hearts were telling them about it all. We could have had a good discussion, and I’m sorry we didn’t.
My 4th grade granddaughter has expressed the desire to read it. Thankfully, her mommy and daddy
closely monitor what their kids read and watch, and she was told no.
All I know is this movie makes me “hunger” for a time when goodness will prevail and the evil in men’s hearts is finished.
Have you seen the movie or read the book? What did you think?
Hugs,
No, I haven't read it-although my daughters have read all three. MyHero went to see it but I did not want to go. I had read the reviews and just did not think it was something I would enjoy seeing. xo Diana
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The whole time I read it, I thought, "I can see this happening"… which was scary… but you're right, I think it already is or HAS happened in its own ways…. scarier…
I haven't seen it or read it and from what you say don't know if I want to. I do agree that it is too close to truth and that is scary.
Really interesting post! I read and enjoyed all three, but yes, I wouldn't let my fourth-grader (if I had one) read them! And even at a later age, I'd want to discuss with them.
I did read two of the books and saw the movie. The plot of children killing children just didn't appeal to me. (Then again I never liked reading Lord Of The Flies either which was required in school.). It has prompted some good discussions with my teens though. And the movie was much tamer than the book. (Newest follower)
I have fourth graders reading this because their parents think it's okay. I have not read the books, but when they came out, two peers deemed them R rated, and they were sent to the middle school LRC.
The movie is PG-13. I teach 9 and 10-year-olds. I don't know what their parents are thinking, but I did stick with PG policy, which means they can't talk about it in my classroom to protect the kids whose parents do not want them exposed.
I'm so mean.