Mockingjay (The Hunger Games)

I have mixed feelings about the book. I need to think about it more to sort my thoughts. This one is my least favorite of the trilogy.

A decent finale, but not quite as compulsively readable as the first two.

So not in the direction I thought it was going to go into. The book was so worth the wait. LOVED IT! I didn't care who she ended up with because that wasn't the only quality about her that makes her a person we came to love. SHe is so much more interesting in this book because of all her pain, suffering and joys. Then ending was totally justifiable and made sense. I will not give away anything because it was that good. :)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, the final chapter of The Hunger Games Trilogy, …ummm… left me speechless. I don’t even know what just happened.

So this is where everything is concluded. Something changed in the style from the first to the third. I can’t quite seem to put my finger on it, but it felt different. Perhaps it was the change seen in each of the characters or maybe the incomplete feeling I got from the ending.

Either way, this was definitely an exhilarating read. Even though the speed remained constant, no change there.

Warning: Spoilers! I tried to keep them at a minimum, but this is the finale to a series.

So, what exactly did I just read? The Hunger Games are over, the tributes separated, District 12 obliterated and a civil war unravels the nation of Panem. Our paranoid heroine has been deemed “mentally disoriented” and wanders the underground labyrinth of District 13. Her fellow victors are in no greater shape, snapping under pressure, suffering withdrawal from substance abuse, or confined to a hospital bed.

This was a promising start. A world in turmoil. Yet for a third time in a row, Katniss has become nothing more than a piece to be played and it feels like she hasn’t learned anything at all. She’s constantly struggling with her choices which makes it even more difficult to swallow. I think I stopped feeling sorry for her a long time ago. At this point she’s just irritating me. Hiding in random places, shutting out her family, making out with both Peeta and Gale, depending on whichever is closer. She’s like a giant ball of self pity.

Σ(ﾟ∀´(┗┐ヽ(･∀･ )ﾉ

The entire first half of the book is spent this way. I was honestly hoping the speed in which actions took place would get better. No luck there, but at least the twists were still incredibly enjoyable.

When the rebels finally retrieved Peeta, I was glued to story. Any uncertainty from before didn’t matter as the interactions took a wild turn. His complete 180 in the personality department combined with the mental instability made for perfect conflict. He is most definitely my favorite character in all 3 books. Haymitch comes up second.

Finally all of the talk is replaced by action when they’re sent into The Capitol for the final push. Another wonderful aspect to this series is The Capitol. The vivid imagery infused with the accented locals and wild alterations to both the city and it’s people fascinate me. Put together with the hovering threat of invasion and it becomes a riveting mix. I especially loved how they spun a web of traps through the city just like in each arena. This is good. This helps me forget Katniss and her increasingly aggravating inner monologue.

Of course nothing goes as planned and multiple deaths follow. A lot of death. Reading through the combat sequences was very exciting. This is one thing that was absolutely undeniable. I love the action scenes.

About 3 or 4 times throughout the book you get to go through Kat’s half conscious battle with near death. This was intriguing the first few times… in the first 2 books. Now it’s just repetitive. Her solitary confinement or morphling induced sleep states just lead to questions about everything else. This is normally alright since it’s counteracted by painful and sincere details from those around her. This time however, the only answers you receive are about two sentences that everything's fine. Rushed explanations to suspense that’s been building for well over 900 pages.

Then it’s over. Go home. You’re done. Kthnxbai. Seriously?

Oh wait an epilogue. Maybe I’ll get some closure. Or not. Maybe I’ll just get some muddled together mentions about the life Katniss and Peeta apparently made when no one was around.

The ending upsets me so now I have to remember why I gave this 4 stars instead of less. The conflict change between Katniss & Peeta, the unexpected tragedy, the battle in The Capitol, development of different characters, and the decision between Snow and Coin. I liked the book, a lot. I ended up disliking Katniss, but I’d still recommend the entire to series.

Beautiful and tragic. Graphic in its violence at points. A lot of heart. Several times, I thought I knew what would happen, only to be surprised. What a brilliant book.