The Hunger Pains: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon

Genre: humor
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 157
Summary:

Winning means wealth, fame, and a life of therapy. Losing means death, but also fame! This is the Hunger Pains.

 

When Kantkiss Neverclean replaces her sister as a contestant on the Hunger Games—the second-highest-rated reality TV show in Peaceland, behind Extreme Home Makeover—she has no idea what to expect.

 

Having lived her entire life in the telemarketing district’s worst neighborhood, the Crack, Kantkiss feels unprepared to fight to the death while simultaneously winking and looking adorable for the cameras. But when her survival rests on choosing between the dreamy hunk from home, Carol Handsomestein, or the doughy klutz, Pita Malarkey, Kantkiss discovers that the toughest conflicts may not be found on the battlefield but in her own heart…which is unfortunately on a battlefield.

 

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Previously, I read a book by The Harvard Lampoon titled Nightlight. It was a parody of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Once again, they've taken a beloved story and given it a funny twist. Titled, The Hunger Pains.

 

I am not a hater of The Hunger Games. I love the Hunger Games trilogy and I saw the movie when it came out and I loved everything about the books. But, even lovers of books must have some fun, and it comes in the form of The Hunger Pains. It's just meant to poke a little fun and make the book seem more ridiculous than it actually is. I must say, it is hilarious. It's a quick read that will give you a giggle. I recommend this to Hunger Games fans or non-Hunger Games fans alike.

 

The Cover: I'm a terrible person. I really like this cover!

Nightlight: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon

Synopsis: About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe. Second, there was a vampire part of him--which I assumed was wildly out of his control--that wanted me dead. And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, genealogically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me. And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon's hilarious send-up. Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon, looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events--Edwart leaves his Tater Tots™ untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snowball!--Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive?

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HELLO TO ANY TWILIGHT FANS (OR NOT FANS) OUT THERE!

I got this book for my birthday this year when I was still in my Twi-Hard stage of the books. My friend had read it herself and she thought it was absolutely hilarious. Me, too. This is the cutest/funniest parody's I have ever read (although I haven't read many parody's in my lifetime). It's only 154 pages (344 pages less than the actual Twilight book itself) but that's alright. They manage to squeeze in most of the scenes along with lovely little rewrites that left me rolling and laughing on the floor.

I actually like Belle better than Bella, because she puts herself out there. She thinks she's exactly like Bella in every aspect except that she doesn't have a vampire boyfriend. And that her mom is more immature than Bella's mom. And that her step dad is just as immature as her mother. Also, that he dad is the only window-wiper in their town. Which, I guess, is a big job. Belle has all the things that Bella had. She has the best friend whom she's never seen since she was small, she has the mom who doesn't really know how to care for herself, she has a step dad and her father is an important part of the community. Oh, yeah, and she thinks she's in love with a vampire.

Overall, I think that this book is really cute and funny. I would suggest reading Twilight first if you haven't already so you can get the jokes that The Harvard Lampoon is getting at. It's more of a quick read if you're in a lull on the library holding lists or you're trying to decide what to read.