Spoiler Chat: Mockingjay Part 2

The end of an era is here ladies and gentlemen. The husband and I eagerly pushed ourselves into a movie theatre yesterday (weather be damned) and I brought two packets of tissue (because tears) for the special occassion. 

Mockingjay Review

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games) by SUZANNE COLLINS

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost (goodreads).

1/2

Review: 

Katniss never wanted to stand for something, everything she has done has been to protect a loved one, never did she dream of being the poster child of a Revolution. Now with Katniss out of the Arena for good and the war against President Snow raging on, Katniss has no choice but to be the symbol of hope for all twelve (er, thirteen) districts. 

The final installment to The Hunger Games and it does NOT disappoint. Not at all. While I thought that there would be more action than there was (you know...there being a Revolution going on and whatnot), emotions still flared and the death count continued to rise. Some deaths and actions downright took my breath away. 

We learn more about some of the characters, a lot more. This book nicely wraps up everyone's story (unless...you're Gale) and history. Along with further developing her characters, Collins introduces a new world, District 13. Besides all of the great characterization....something changed. By the end of the book I couldn't help but think "man, Katniss is a total bitch." Which I still stand by. She makes some decisions that have me wanting to scream "no no no! this is madness" but! I understand. After all that Katniss and Peeta have gone through, it is safe to say that they are not the same people we met during the first Hunger Games. They have seen tragedy, they have killed, and all before they turn 18. Katniss is progression to instability is almost beautiful.... because it happens to subtly. 

I am still not Team Peeta or Team Gale, frankly I wouldn't have a problem is Katniss ended up alone, but I completely understand what Suzanne Collins did (well not the Gale part). Quite personally I'm a bigger fan of Finnick/Annie than I am Katniss/anybody.

I think the writing is at its strongest here. Collins creates so many crazy twists and turns and accompanies them with beautiful songs. Collins really outdid herself, especially with the epilogue. The voice and so pained that it fits the story nicely. 

Mockingjay is an incredible conclusion with an amazingly comnplex female lead. If you're ready to cry your eyes out, read this book. 

Catching Fire Review

Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by SUZANNE COLLINS

Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn (goodreads).

Review: 

After touring all twelve districts with co-victor Peeta, the two realize that the districts are not as controlled as the Capitol makes them think they are. There are riots, escapees and somehow Katniss has become the face of the Revolution. In an attempt to squash the Revolution for once and for good, he sends Katniss back into the arena, in hopes that she won't come back. 

This book picks up right where The Hunger Games left off. Katniss and Peeta are preparing to tour the districts as victors of the 74th Hunger Games while dealing with their personal demons. The story flows well with Katniss are narrator and more of the Districts being revealed. When I first read the book, I was kind of annoyed to find out that Suzanne Collins was throwing Katniss, Peeta and ten other tributes back into the Arena; it felt kind of cheap. Upon reflection, I LOVE how it was handled (one line that comes to mind is, "there is no room for a Girl on Fire) and I loved the set-up of this Arena. I think I liked this arena more than the one of the 74th Hunger Games. I also liked that Katniss gave the audience a history of The Hunger Games which helped her understand her new enemies, as well as our beloved Haymitch. What made Catching Fire so memorable are the introduction to new characters. 

Finnick. Joanna. They are awesome and I am so happy that Collins created them. With the start of a new Hunger Games, comes new tributes and Game Masters. I felt more connected to these tributes (well...besides Rue and Thresh obviously) than I did for the previous book's tributes (there is a scene with a District 6 tribute that had me BAWLING). Katniss is still a strong heroine fighting a battle she didn't sign up for, Peeta is....there, we find out more about Gale, and we are given clues regarding President Snow's past. I also adored Madge, the old lady with a mean hook...literally.

I still love Katniss's point of view. She is so strong, so committed to helping others, and she is so REAL. Everythign Katniss feels, the reader feels, there is never a moment where Katniss knows more than the reader which I love. Suzanne Collins writing is still fabulous and un-put-down-able.

Overall, Catching Fire is a strong follow up to The Hunger Games and anyone who was a fan of the initial book will definitely love this one!

The Hunger Games Review

The Hunger Games by SUZANNE COLLINS

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

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 (goodreads).

Review: 


Katniss Everdeen has a lot on her shoulders. She has to provide for her family, avoid harsh punishment by her totalitarian government and now she has to fight 23 other kids to the death. The Hunger Games weaves an emotional novel full of heartbreaks, small smiles and hope.

When I was ignorant as to what this series was about, I asked a trusted friend of mine to give me the quick run down. Her response? "It's like Battle Royale, but in America." Now I"m sure we have all heard this tired argument of "Hunger Games is just a Battle Royale rip off and blah blah blah" and I'm not about to get into it. I just wanted to acknowledge that that comparison was my first introduction to the series and now that I have completed all three books, the arguments need to end. While both have the general idea of "kids killing kids for a brighter future," each novel reaches it's end point through very different means.

The Hunger Games moves at a very steady pace in order to create long lasting bonds, create world development, and enough hints at future plot points that will make you go "OOOOHH" when it all comes together. When the premise of a book is a bunch of kids fight to the death in an arena, you come in somewhat prepared for the horror and gore but...I really don't think anything can prepare ANYONE for the horror that is the 74th Hunger Games. There is one death in the book that ruined my day with how graphic and disturbing it was.

I think The Hunger Games' strongest point is the characters. Katniss is so ridiculously complex. It was hard for me to agree with her thought process, or hell even LIKE her, but I respected her. I loved her relationship with her sister, questioned her harsh judgment of mother and adored her love for one little tribute. All of the interactions pulled at my heart strings and made me FEEL something. To be quite honest, I didn't like Peeta, but I liked his interactions with the other characters. I understood why Collins created him, even if I didn't like him myself; that could be said for Katniss as well.

The Hunger Games is told from the first person point of view and I must say, I LOVED being in Katniss' head. She is so original and just so different. Her thoughts, her descriptions, and her feelings are addicting and I think this novel would have been a bit flat if Collins chose to tell the book from the third person.

Overall The Hunger Games is a must-read novel for anyone who can stomach the idea of innocent kids being forced to kill each other for the entertainment of a dominating government. Then only reason why I did not give this book a full five stars is because I could not get into the love story.

Recommended to everyone who likes an edgy and violent book!