Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - Review

Product Description:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge!

This is the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy, and just like the first it's an emotional roller-coaster ride.

After winning the The Hunger Games together, much to the Capitol's distaste, Katniss and Peeta must deal with the aftermath of their defiance. Katniss has become the symbol of the Districts unhappiness with the Capitol, and uprisings are threatening to occur. The Capitol must crush the rebellion, and to do that they need Peeta and Katniss to play by their rules. The pair tries, but it seems that nothing they do can squash the stirrings of a revolution. 

In a plot twist so horrible and heart breaking that you would never have guessed (and that I won't tell you about), they must again fight for their lives and everything and everyone they hold dear.

Catching Fire has all the qualities that made The Hunger Games such a thought provoking and wonderful book, the same elements are there, but I have to say I liked the first novel a little more. I cried reading it, but not as much as I did in the first one. The story is still powerful, brutal, engaging, and there is a little more humor in it, but not much.

My only complaint about it is that Katniss can't make up her mind about which guy she wants. This is a very popular plot device in YA books, but one that annoys the hell out of me. It's been done a lot, but that doesn't make it any less irritating. Am I the only one that thinks this way? I just like my heroines to know what and who they want. I don't even care if their choice is the one I would make, but the indecisiveness gets on my nerves. This brings me to my favorite quote in the book:

"You know you could live a thousand lifetimes and not deserve him."

Hear, hear, I say.

The book ends with an evil cliffhanger, something that makes me want to beat someone to death. What is it with authors and cruel cliffhangers? I'm looking at you, Karen Marie Moning!

All in all, the book is a must read, like the first one. I'm counting the days to the release of Mockingjay, the third and last installment in The Hunger Games series. It is scheduled to be publish in August 24th, 2010.

My rating: 

The Hunger Games Trilogy:

 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Review

Product Description:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before -- and survival.

This book has been in my TBR pile for a long time, so Friday night right before going to bed I decided to start it. That was a mistake. I read the book all night long, I just couldn't stop. When I was done with it in the morning, I started the second one in the series, Catching Fire, and read it all day long. I read both books back to back, no breaks. That should tell you something about how good these books are.

I won't do my usual recap of the book before writing my impressions because I don't want to spoil you, even a tiny bit. I was spoiled about the ending a little while back (Missie, I'm looking at you), but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of reading this novel. I'd probably have enjoyed it a little more (although I don't know if that is possible), if I didn't know how everything would turn out, nonetheless I'll spare you the details.

At first, I had a little trouble getting into it, because it's all written in the present tense, but after a few pages I got used to it and so will you. The story just sucks you in.

This is the first Dystopian Fiction novel that I've tried, but I've enjoyed it so much that I'll be looking into more of them.

Katniss Everdeen is a great heroine. She is a survivor. She is fierce. She is strong, courageous, determined, skilled, an all around bad-ass in the best sense of the word. But to me the heart of the book is Peeta Mellark, the boy with the bread.

Peeta and Katniss are the tributes from District 12, the boy and girl who are going to participate in The Hunger Games. They knew each other from school, but they have never been close. However, Katniss owes Peeta, since an act of kindness on his part a long time ago saved her and shaped her to be who she is now. Katniss is all hard edges, but Peeta delivers some of the much needed heart warming moments in the novel.

I really don't understand how this can be labeled as an YA book. This novel is dark, heart-breaking, and brutal. In my opinion, this is an adult book, and a very overwhelming one at that.

I cried all throughout the book. I really did. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to add that I'a cryer. I get very emotional reading books, or watching movies, although I'm not so emotional in real life. Go figure. Anyway, the book really moved me. It's engaging, fast paced, action packed, very violent, and gut wrenching. It's one of the most powerful books I've read in ages. It's the type of book that once you are done with it, it stays with you for a long time. You just can't stop thinking about it.

It's a must read. So, grab a box of tissues, clear your calendar, and get comfortable, but please read it as soon as possible. You won't regret it. Just remember to have the sequel, Catching Fire, close by because you'll need it.

My rating: 

The Hunger Games Trilogy: