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[Review] Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
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
Mockingjay - what can I say. I know other book bloggers have posted their review of this book 2 years ago but since I'm way behind the times and have a huge backlog of reviews and other stuff to do, I only got to finish and review the book now.
I share my thoughts with the other bloggers: I was hugely disappointed with the third book. I honestly felt that it was all over the place, and the prospect of the war between the districts and the Capitol was not entirely enticing for me. The latter part of the book and the conclusion seems written quickly: I felt it had no real structure, leaving gaps and more questions all over the place.
It was disappointing given that it was the final book of the series, I honestly thought there would be more answers, and not more questions (unless another spinoff series would be created that would address those gaps - which I'm not sure if there wold be). *Spoiler* Sure, Peeta and Katniss did end up together eventually but what happened to make Katniss change her mind when she was choosing between Gale and Peeta? Where was the spark that ignited between the two of them from the first two books?
Why kill off so many characters in a span of a few pages without giving much dignity to some of their deaths (like Rue)? Why???
What happened to District 13? And to the other districts after Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta went home? WHat happened to the other characters? I want to know!!
Surely I sound affected by these characters and events as I was reading the third book to the point of exaggeration. I find that it took me much longer to read this book than the first two. Maybe because some parts were extremely dragging, whilst some were just... plain confusing.
So, what did I think?
Rating: 3.5/5 - It was good but not good enough.
Bought from National Bookstore.
Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster children for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...
I initially read this book way back in early 2011. It was until I left for London that I had to leave the book behind (I had a hardbound copy) since it was too heavy for me to bring along. I completely forgot that I didn't get to finish the book until later in the year (after I got back) and then I got hooked to the story (again).
I was drawn sooo much to Peeta this time. I love that Katniss and Peeta were doing everything just to save each other. Awwww......
Very fast paced book, I literally could not put the book down at some parts, even if i was meant to be sleeping! The characters blended so well together, and I loved that there are new characters to get to know in this book. It makes it all the more interesting given that I also got to know more about the other districts and how the tributes lived their life there. It adds to the dynamic of the whole tale.
Spoiler - I even thought that Finnick was going to be one of Katniss's admirers. Imagine, three boys all after one girl! (Only to be proven wrong in the latter part of the book. Ha ha).
This was a good build up to the third book, Mockingjay. I've also already finished the third book and wait out for my review of it!
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Review: The Hunger Games
First off, I do apologise for not blogging and taking an unannounced hiatus. I had two events [non book blog related, mostly concerts] that I had to attend to - write blogs and upload photos, and a bit of sorting out some videos but I'm back to blogging about books now.
So, what happened when I was away? Well, I finally got to write my review on "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.
The first book in the Hunger Games trilogy, the story revolves around Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old girl who lives in Seam, the poorest region of District 12. In their world, North America has been destroyed, and the only liveable part called Panem, divided into 12 districts, each with their own trades/specializations, and being controlled, albeit unjustly by the Capitol. As a pasttime, and to remind people not to uprise against the Capitol, the Hunger Games are a yearly televised event wherein one boy and one girl from every district, between 12-18 years old are chosen, placed in an arena, and are asked to fight for the death until one winner would emerge. When Katniss' sister, Prim was chosen, Katniss volunteers in Prim's place, and along with the boy tribute from District 12, Peeta, fight for their life in the arena, and eventually, other complications arise.. will they make it out alive?
Absolutely amazing book. It's one of those books that I can't stop reading. The dynamic between Peeta and Katniss are soooo unbelievable, I can't stop imagining Peeta in real life. *sigh* Oh, young love. The way Suzanne Collins created her characters were so believable, they were so alive! The world she had presented in the Hunger Games seems so unreal yet real at the same time. Unreal because of course we don't know a country that forces their people to tune in to the telly to watch the tributes of the districts kill each other. That's absolutely horrible, and real because we all know that there are some people who are fighting for their rights against being opressed. The book truly is a page-turner. Just when you think one event is going to happen, the story completely takes a 360 degree turn and leave you hanging. As I finished the first book, I find myself looking for the second book, "Catching Fire" and trying to find out what will happen next.
The book does address a lot of real concerns that may be boggling society now: has reality tv gone too far? How far will we go for love? Do we just keep silent when we are being oppressed? Being a young adult book, I wouldn't expect these subjects to be tackled in, but it was presented in such a manner that makes the killings and the story lighter than what I expected and imagined. I totally feel for the characters and the situations that they are in, Suzanne Collins really is a wonderful storyteller. Definitely worth the time in reading this book, definitely worth thinking over the subjects that were being presented, and definitely, definitely worth getting a copy.
I can't wait for the movie! I hope that the screenwriters won't butcher the movie though! But given that Suzanne Collins is writing the screenplay I guess it's safe to say that it might not move too far from the book. I just hope that RPatz and Kristen Stewart NOT be cast as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. Puhlease.
Published: 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Available from: everywhere!
Read it if: You have to read it! Everyone should read this!
Book was acquired from: Peter [KyusiReader] --> Thank you so so so much for introducing this book to me! Thanks also to Blooey!
fickle fan/overall rating:
The above post is featured in Cym Lowell's Book Review Wednesdays.