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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I decided to check this book out since my friends kept bragging about watching the movie and whatnot. While the ending is fairly predictable it's the middle chapters you want to read for. Since it has been translated from Japanese the translation might seem a bit off. Don't let that stop you from...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “It goes on for wayyyyyy too long” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Dark, violent, and depressing but extremely well written is how I would describe this book. Although I knew how everything was basically going to turn out (I had watched the movie that this was based on) I was still completely drawn into the story and the characters. A really well written book”
Laura E wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“It goes on for wayyyyyy too long”
Kate wrote this review Sunday, April 14, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This is an action thriller better than the Hunger Games in which a selected class must kill each other until there is one last standing. I consider this novel realistic fiction and all should read this book. ”
Martin wrote this review Tuesday, April 2, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A decade before The Hunger Games, there was Battle Royale. More intimate (killing your classmates rather than perfect strangers from other districts, out of the public eye rather than for sport and spectacle), and therefore much more disturbing. ”
iyadls wrote this review Thursday, March 7, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Same storyline as the Hunger Games, but more descriptive and gory. Recommended for Hunger Game lovers. ”
Clare L wrote this review Sunday, March 3, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In an alternate reality where Japan is a totalitarian government called the Republic of Greater East Asia, 9th grade students are randomly selected to participate in 'The Program' where they are expected to kill each other off until there is only one student left standing. A predecessor to 'The Hunger Games', there are striking similarities between the two stories, the entertainment aspect being the only real difference. The Hunger Games telecast the 'games' like a horror-filled reality series, whereas Battle Royale only telecast an interview with the lone survivor at the end. Both depict the fear and horror very well, sometimes the gory descriptions go into such detail, I found it hard to continue. Overall, it was a good story, but compared to THG, I find the latter better. The characters in BR seem almost like caricatures. They are 15 year olds who intellectually think like adults but emotionally behave like children. There were situations which were too fantastic to believe, like a kid MacGyver-ing a bomb with a detonator he just happened to be carrying and a car riddled with over 250 bullets, but the kid survives because he has a bullet-proof vest. I guess that's the fantasy aspect of this story. I still like THG better.”
Mimi wrote this review Monday, February 18, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“In the Rebublic of East Asia, the government chooses and random ninth grade class and forces them to fight to the death. They are provided weapons that range from guns to paper fans. Shuya Nanahara's class is chosen for thue game and they are kidnapped from the bus and taken to an island. Only one student can survive this game. 42 students remaining”
Annabel Buick wrote this review Wednesday, January 23, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“It's well written. But a crazy read. ”
Thomas Dale wrote this review Monday, January 21, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The original Hunger Games, but even better, in my view. There's a more heart wrenching effect in the knowledge of knowing that these 42 students have known each other for a long time. This is different from the Hunger Games, since the tributes had no other feelings for the others instead of "MUST KILL!". Loved this book, left me speechless, angry, happy, relieved and sad...all at the same time. ”
In a Carriage of Immortality wrote this review Friday, January 11, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
