Mockingjay is the third and final book of the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. This book was intense all the at through...until the end. I can't really say much about the plot line without giving away the ending to the other two books. I will say three things:
1. I loved the book over all.
2. This series is one of the best (and some of the best books individually) that I've ever read.
3. I was fairly disappointed with the last chapter and the epilogue of this book. I can't really explain why, I just expected...more.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Catching Fire (Book Two of The Hunger Games Series)
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The first book had me on edge. This book had me constantly wanting more.
I finished this book in literally 29(ish) hours. I started reading it at 8p.m. New Year's Eve and finished at 1a.m. today. Talk about a crazy ride!
The first book, The Hunger Games set the stage, showing a futuristic America which is under strict control of the Capitol after a rebellion 74 years prior. Each year the Capitol holds The Hunger Games as a way of entertaining the members of the Capitol society and as a way of reminding the citizens of each districts that they are at the mercy of the Capitol after their failed revolt. Each district sends one boy and one girl to fight in the games; a fight which can only be ended when all but one of the players is dead. In the first book, however, two winners, Katniss and Peeta, are crowned after they threaten to attempt a double suicide and almost succeed, which would have left no winner for the Games.
In Catching Fire we follow Peeta and Katniss as they make the tour of the districts to celebrate their win. As they make their rounds they realize that they have actually started something through their show of rebellion in the Games the previous year. It becomes apparent that some of the districts are beginning uprisings, and Katniss in particular is to blame for them. President Snow is determined to make an example of Katniss, showing that rebellion will not be tolerated; but he must do it somewhat discreetly. This years Games, the 75th, marks a Quarter Quell (every 25 years). Each Quarter Quell has a special circumstance meant to remind citizens of the power of the Capitol and the failure of the revolution. This year, the Quarter Quell is meant to remind citizens that even the strongest among them cannot overthrow the Capitol, and thus the Games will be played by winners of past years.
I can't say that this book reminded me as much of other books as the first one did (although I'm sure if I really thought about I could think of a book or two that it relates with). I definitely saw some scenes from "Roots" with the new Peacekeepers put into place. And it seemed obvious to make connections to the Holocaust. This time there was a lot of rebelling on purpose. The big questions throughout the book: How much should one person risk the life of another and how much should they risk their own life to save another? We see Katniss's relationship with Gale grow, but we also see her confusion between choosing either Gale or Peeta. The Capitol is obviously pushing for Peeta, but can she deny any freelings she has for Peeta?
I'll be honest with you: at the end of this book, while I was (and still am) iiiitching to start the next one, I found myself being fairly angry with Katniss. Granted, she's under a lot of pressure, and she didn't really have much choice in the role(s) she has been pushed into...but really? I feel like her actions at the end of the book were quite childish for what I expected them to be. Guess we'll see how the next book goes!
The first book had me on edge. This book had me constantly wanting more.
I finished this book in literally 29(ish) hours. I started reading it at 8p.m. New Year's Eve and finished at 1a.m. today. Talk about a crazy ride!
The first book, The Hunger Games set the stage, showing a futuristic America which is under strict control of the Capitol after a rebellion 74 years prior. Each year the Capitol holds The Hunger Games as a way of entertaining the members of the Capitol society and as a way of reminding the citizens of each districts that they are at the mercy of the Capitol after their failed revolt. Each district sends one boy and one girl to fight in the games; a fight which can only be ended when all but one of the players is dead. In the first book, however, two winners, Katniss and Peeta, are crowned after they threaten to attempt a double suicide and almost succeed, which would have left no winner for the Games.
In Catching Fire we follow Peeta and Katniss as they make the tour of the districts to celebrate their win. As they make their rounds they realize that they have actually started something through their show of rebellion in the Games the previous year. It becomes apparent that some of the districts are beginning uprisings, and Katniss in particular is to blame for them. President Snow is determined to make an example of Katniss, showing that rebellion will not be tolerated; but he must do it somewhat discreetly. This years Games, the 75th, marks a Quarter Quell (every 25 years). Each Quarter Quell has a special circumstance meant to remind citizens of the power of the Capitol and the failure of the revolution. This year, the Quarter Quell is meant to remind citizens that even the strongest among them cannot overthrow the Capitol, and thus the Games will be played by winners of past years.
I can't say that this book reminded me as much of other books as the first one did (although I'm sure if I really thought about I could think of a book or two that it relates with). I definitely saw some scenes from "Roots" with the new Peacekeepers put into place. And it seemed obvious to make connections to the Holocaust. This time there was a lot of rebelling on purpose. The big questions throughout the book: How much should one person risk the life of another and how much should they risk their own life to save another? We see Katniss's relationship with Gale grow, but we also see her confusion between choosing either Gale or Peeta. The Capitol is obviously pushing for Peeta, but can she deny any freelings she has for Peeta?
I'll be honest with you: at the end of this book, while I was (and still am) iiiitching to start the next one, I found myself being fairly angry with Katniss. Granted, she's under a lot of pressure, and she didn't really have much choice in the role(s) she has been pushed into...but really? I feel like her actions at the end of the book were quite childish for what I expected them to be. Guess we'll see how the next book goes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)