Catching Fire |Hunger Games|
The second book in Suzanne Collins's phenomenal and worldwide bestselling Hunger Games trilogy is now available in trade paperback.
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just earned for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules, and now there are rumors of rebellion in the districts. Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
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Readers say Catching Fire shows middle-book pacing but excels in deep character development, growing political unrest, and building suspense with a po...
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for [b:Mockingjay|7260188|Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)|Suzanne Collins|http:photo.goodreads.com/books/1294615552s/7260188.jpg|8812783]!!!!!!!!!!
Catching Fire has serious middle book syndrome. A lot of the plot builds toward the final book. The slower movement is worthwhile with exceptional character development, growing political unrest, and a cruel cliffhanger.
Katniss remains such a smart and calculated heroine. The book gives us the inner monologue that the movie cannot capture. I had forgotten how much strategy sits behind her decisions. President Snow is still completely awful. His obsession with power makes him more terrifying with every appearance.
I understand why Katniss and Peeta form such a strong trauma bond, but I still do not care much about their romance. Peeta spends a lot of time being protected, rescued, or used as bait. Katniss is a warrior, and I need that man to go to some strength and conditioning training.
Haymitch had my favorite character development. Katniss gives him hope for the first time since his own Games. Watching him become a hero again was beautiful. Buttercup also remains a flawless little sidekick.
Catching Fire functions as a bridge between survival and revolution. That final line is diabolical. I knew it was coming. It still made me gasp.
It took awhile to actually get into this book because the first 70 pages were, quite frankly, boring. I somewhat expected Katniss and Peeta to bond outside the arena, grow closer, and resolve Katniss's inner conflict with abandonment issues (after the death of her father).
Nah. Instead, she's cold-hearted towards everyone, including Peeta. Whatever.
After the assassination in Rue's district, the book began to have promise - not that I'm sadistic or anything. The scene just reinforced the lengths President Snow will go in order to maintain control over the districts.
Haymitch becomes a bit more interesting and his dialogue is peppered with even more sarcasm, which is one of the reasons I liked his character in The Hunger Games. As a tortured soul, his drinking is understandable, but the Haymitch Second Quarter Quell backstory further explains his crotchety indifference towards Katniss and Peeta. However, I really expected Haymitch to expound upon all the previous tributes he mentored in the years that followed and the descent into slovenly drunkenness.
After President Snow announces the zinger for the Quarter Quell, I was hooked. The new characters, especially Finnick, were entertaining. The reaping, however, seemed rushed; the training, redundant; and the arena, a bit uneventful compared to the first book. Writing Peeta as such a wimp was a tad off-putting. After Finnick resuscitates Peeta, I thought this was the Katniss-realizing-she's-in-love-with-Peeta moment I'd been waiting for.
Well, almost.
The descriptions of the island were sketchy at times and a bit confusing. I felt that the characters were just aimlessly running in circles, eating, and sleeping with no real threat from the other tributes. Seriously? Mags just walks into the poisonous fog to her death? Meh.
Despite all of that, it's really the last 30 pages that gets the 4-star rating. I never saw that plot twist coming. Good one!
I would probably be angry right now if I didn't already have the third book waiting for me.
Nah. Instead, she's cold-hearted towards everyone, including Peeta. Whatever.
After the assassination in Rue's district, the book began to have promise - not that I'm sadistic or anything. The scene just reinforced the lengths President Snow will go in order to maintain control over the districts.
Haymitch becomes a bit more interesting and his dialogue is peppered with even more sarcasm, which is one of the reasons I liked his character in The Hunger Games. As a tortured soul, his drinking is understandable, but the Haymitch Second Quarter Quell backstory further explains his crotchety indifference towards Katniss and Peeta. However, I really expected Haymitch to expound upon all the previous tributes he mentored in the years that followed and the descent into slovenly drunkenness.
After President Snow announces the zinger for the Quarter Quell, I was hooked. The new characters, especially Finnick, were entertaining. The reaping, however, seemed rushed; the training, redundant; and the arena, a bit uneventful compared to the first book. Writing Peeta as such a wimp was a tad off-putting. After Finnick resuscitates Peeta, I thought this was the Katniss-realizing-she's-in-love-with-Peeta moment I'd been waiting for.
Well, almost.
The descriptions of the island were sketchy at times and a bit confusing. I felt that the characters were just aimlessly running in circles, eating, and sleeping with no real threat from the other tributes. Seriously? Mags just walks into the poisonous fog to her death? Meh.
Despite all of that, it's really the last 30 pages that gets the 4-star rating. I never saw that plot twist coming. Good one!
I would probably be angry right now if I didn't already have the third book waiting for me.
A corrupt central government, shallow residents of the capitol, extreme reality TV, a very sympathetic, strong and upright heroine with two heroes who love her -- what is not to love about this book series? I can't help but compare Courageous Catniss with Brooding Bella and can tell you that I can relate far better to Catniss. And, to me the big question isn't Edward or Jacob but Gale or Peeta -- these young men do far more to deserve admiration.
This book is a great read -- its not just entertainment but it makes you stop and think about government, family, loyalty and survival. I fear that Hollywood will make a movie series from these books and cast some shallow starlet in the lead role and ruin the rough but sincere charm of Catniss.
This book is a great read -- its not just entertainment but it makes you stop and think about government, family, loyalty and survival. I fear that Hollywood will make a movie series from these books and cast some shallow starlet in the lead role and ruin the rough but sincere charm of Catniss.
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