Meredith Holley's Reviews > Battle Royale
Battle Royale
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Everything about this book makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth. I say again, "yuck yuck yuck," both to the absurd violence and the shallow emotion of this story. Every time the plot turned toward something interesting, it was quickly replaced by a turn toward Lame. I get why SO MANY people compared The Hunger Games with this book (which is the reason I picked Battle Royale up in the first place) because of the basic Lord of the Flies, kids-will-be-kids premise. I, however, found Battle Royale nowhere near as disturbing or thought provoking on a personal level as The Hunger Games. The violence is ridiculous, and even from the first chapter the plot is so obvious, even the way various characters will meet their tragic ends is so obvious, that the only conflict it caused for me was whether to give in to my stubbornness about finishing books or just give up after the first hundred pages.
I'm not prepared to defend the violence in The Hunger Games, or comment as to whether I thought it was cheesy or not, but in that book it is not the sole focus of the story. I think the violence is basically boring in both, but in the Hunger Games there is at least less of it, so I have less to be bored with.
For me, the value of the Hunger Games is in presenting a model of a girl action hero who is genuinely there as a female perspective and not ultimately an object of male desire like most female characters who are set up as being girl action heroes.
I think that is why the comparison of the two doesn't seem very valuable to me. Battle Royale obviously does more with the violence, so if that is something that is a draw to a reader, that reader will definitely prefer Battle Royale. Hunger Games does more for changing the narrative of female protagonists, so if that is a draw to a reader, as it is to me, that reader might prefer Hunger Games.
The descriptions were very anime, which makes me think that if the writing had been beautiful, or if any of the emotion had seemed deep, I may have liked this book. The end was plot-twist after plot-twist (you thought they were dead?! No! Alive! No, wait, dead. Like that part in Eddie Izzard, Dressed to Kill), and half of the twists gave me hope that they would redeem the story. The other half killed those hopes. My advice is that if you think you feel like reading this book, maybe you actually feel like watching Cowboy Beebop. I don't think you'll regret it.
I'm not prepared to defend the violence in The Hunger Games, or comment as to whether I thought it was cheesy or not, but in that book it is not the sole focus of the story. I think the violence is basically boring in both, but in the Hunger Games there is at least less of it, so I have less to be bored with.
For me, the value of the Hunger Games is in presenting a model of a girl action hero who is genuinely there as a female perspective and not ultimately an object of male desire like most female characters who are set up as being girl action heroes.
I think that is why the comparison of the two doesn't seem very valuable to me. Battle Royale obviously does more with the violence, so if that is something that is a draw to a reader, that reader will definitely prefer Battle Royale. Hunger Games does more for changing the narrative of female protagonists, so if that is a draw to a reader, as it is to me, that reader might prefer Hunger Games.
The descriptions were very anime, which makes me think that if the writing had been beautiful, or if any of the emotion had seemed deep, I may have liked this book. The end was plot-twist after plot-twist (you thought they were dead?! No! Alive! No, wait, dead. Like that part in Eddie Izzard, Dressed to Kill), and half of the twists gave me hope that they would redeem the story. The other half killed those hopes. My advice is that if you think you feel like reading this book, maybe you actually feel like watching Cowboy Beebop. I don't think you'll regret it.
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Reading Progress
March 2, 2009
– Shelved
Started Reading
March 31, 2009
– Shelved as:
punching-tour
March 31, 2009
–
Finished Reading
July 24, 2009
– Shelved as:
utopia-dystopia
August 1, 2010
– Shelved as:
reviewed
Comments Showing 1-50 of 215 (215 new)
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Rosa
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rated it 3 stars
16 oct. 2009 14:31
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You should still write your review! We can gang up on the loyalists.
I wouldn't say Suzanne Collins writes the most complex characters ever, but for whatever reason, she gets me every time. I always have some moment of self-reflection in her stories that is really devastating or at least revealing. The characters in Battle Royale are so unrealistic that, even though they are possibly more extreme, they don't have any relation to actual humans or social systems, so it's less effective in my opinion.
Other Collins: I love love love the Gregor the Overlander series. It's different than the Hunger Games, but I love it as much.
True stories: Coming of Age in Mississippi and The Glass Castle are wonderful stories, full of action, and about amazing women. I think they're really entertaining books, too. I love them.
Coming of Age: I Capture the Castle is a really wonderful coming-of-age story, but it is more domestic. There are some screwball-comedy adventure moments, but it definitely tends more toward describing family life, not dangerous adventure.
Action: You might really like The Golden Compass if you haven't already read it. It's pretty action packed, and has a creepy, but cool, heroine. I really love the first book (it's a must-read), and don't care so much for the rest of the series. People also really love Ursula Le Guin. I haven't really gone into her books yet, but some people I trust really love her.
Hmmm. If you've read those, I'll think of more!
I think that's true and a really good comparison. I still kind of want to see the movie. If I remember right, the book is one of those where you might as well be watching a movie - the author only describes the external action, nothing internal. And it has those conventions that work out well in movies but seem lazy in writing - like, the way the characters die is predicted by the first description of them. I think, going into it, I didn't realize it would be just a horror story and really nothing else. Horror works better for me in the movies.
I'll agree that this book is more gory than Hunger Games, but it jumped between characters so much that I didn't feel any attachment to them. I just had a sense of ick. I probably did miss a lot of the subtleties, as it felt pretty sledge-hammery to me.
I don't really think anyone ever reads anything from a neutral standpoint, and I certainly wouldn't if I went back and tried to read it again already hating it. But, that's good that you enjoyed it. It would be sad to have a book without an audience.
I laughed and almost snorted my morning coffee. Thanks, Meredith!
"Aw, you and your book, together forever, keeping each other company."
I'm sure you meant to be civil.
I just read more into it, since I would have responded less kindly to suggestions that I reread two books so I could magically find agreement with some guy on the internet and a sense of neutrality that apparently I'm lacking because that some guy and I don't see eye-to-eye on which escapist, apocalyptic youth novel is more compelling.
Battle Royale, good movie. I'm never going to visit the book as I suspect whatever backstory/exposition didn't make it into the film is probably better lost.
In any event, should I read the Hunger Games?
I think Hunger Games is objectively worth reading. It is far less of a commitment than Battle Royale, but in that way, the violence is less about describing the violence, and more about what the violence means emotionally to the characters. That doesn't have universal appeal, probably. It would be interesting to hear your perspective on it. Caris liked them. I have a huge emotional attachment to the third book, so I don't usually like to recommend it because I think it is meaningful to me for pretty specific reasons that are not universal.
I've heard the movie of Battle Royale is good. I'll probably watch it at some point. There's not really that much back story to the book. I bet the movie just cut some of the characters out. As I recall, most of the book is just how all of the bazillions of characters met their maker.
Thanks for the recommendation. I may check the Hunger Games out eventually.
Yeah, I am always nervous about making recommendations, but it's at least a quick read, even if you don't like it.
I think you need to read "How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships." Obviously, you missed the point of one of your favorite books.
No, I was actually thinking about what it would mean to feel so emotionally attached to this book that you'd reprimand somebody about it. I think maybe it would just mean you're a 14-year-old boy (or were one when you read the book), not necessarily that you have emotional issues and crave gore. Definitely that character development isn't at the top of your list of requirements to enjoy a story.
Meredith is whining about Battle Royale being what the author intended it to be, pulpy entertainment. See the problem there? The author did not intend for it to be a literary masterpiece, so why is the elements that make it what it is (and of course better suited to the target audience, namely not you, Meredith) being so scrutinised because it didn't live up to your copied, sappy chick-lit cry me a river version?
Why base your review on comparing Battle Royale to a completely unrelated (and at the time of publishing non-existent) text? In the fact that this was written prior to The Hunger Games and it's not the authors fault if someone later copies his ideas. You see the error there, right? Although you could do it in reverse and comment on The Hunger Games being derived from Battle Royale but toned down etc. But this is for Battle Royale.
but i love it when kids kill other kids in books i read, so i am never objective ♥
I don't love kid murder, though. Lord of the Flies is one of my most hated of all time. I probably gave it a guilt 3 stars, but I still hate it.
that's because you have hope for the human race. and that's adorable.
my condescension is also meant to be adorable because you know ilu.
I don't know if I have hope for the human race, but kid murder is so emo.
speaking of skinny, I'm still pissed about that pie-t-shirt guy. I forgot to say it on the thread. Who does he think he is?
although right now, i can only fit into an extra-large tarp.
It is definitely because of your boobs.
a scientist should study this.
I don't love kid murder, though. Lord of the Flies is one of my most ha..."
I hate geriatric love. Kid murder I'm okay with.
Beards, fishing.
The Old Man and the Sea?
Moby Dick?
Also Karen, it is food. It went to your boobs. I learned about that stuff in science class. Boob science. If only boob science helped me communicate better with Travis. Alas...
I go on vacation, and look at this wonderful thread! Good job, guys.
I love the post apocalyptic landscape, the shift between Romanticism and Modernism, and zombies. Especially zombies.
I love the post apocalyptic landscape, the shift between Romanticism and Modernism, and zombies. Especially zombies.