Posts Tagged "Suzanne Collins"

“Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.”

This August there was only one word on everyone’s lips – Mockingjay. Have you got it? Have you read it? Have you seen it? Reviewers, readers and fans alike were camped outside their letterboxes and bookstores, poised for the moment the conclusion to the Hunger Games series finally arrived. However none of the excitement or anticipation could’ve prepared us for the emotional roller coaster 455 pages could bring.

Mockingjay brings us to Panem a few months after Katniss was rescued from the Hunger Games arena by the District 13 rebels. This fact also reminds us that Peeta was not. He is still in the hands of the Capitol, under known conditions.

The rebellion has begun in earnest now. However there are still Districts under the control of the Capitol and there is a disjointed feeling among the rebels. They need a symbol, something to unify them and lead the spirit of the cause. They need the Mockingjay, Katniss. But after all she’s been through can she find the strength be that face? Can she bear being a puppet on show again? How far does she have to go just to be free?

It’s a good thing I had time to process just how I felt about this book after I read it otherwise it would’ve looked like Kanye West took over the blog, writing a review strictly in caps lock. I was only a few pages in when I realized I should’ve eaten or gone to the bathroom beforehand because I was so entranced, engaged, engrossed, totally sucked into this book I knew I wasn’t going to be able to move till I read every last word.

Was I disappointed? That the series was over, yes. By the book itself, no.  The story is so emotional it leaves you feeling shell shocked. The pace of the plot means Katniss never really gets a break, she’s always in the thick of the action which you can see slowly wears away at her already frayed nerves. This also takes its toll on everyone else as the strain and fear push them to breaking point.

There’s no doubt that what the characters face is an outright war and Suzanne Collins gives us everything that goes with it – the heroics and the aftermath. Facing the kind of sights these characters do means you can’t remain unaffected, which is what gives the story a very raw, realistic quality.
Collins never comes across as preachy about the war but she does make you question, just how far are you willing to go and where do you draw the line?

The realism that she brought to the story meant Collins definitely had a no holds barred approach to her characters and nothing was sacred. As a reader I was constantly kept on my toes, not being able to predict what would happen next, you’re left guessing the whole time.

I promised to keep this spoiler free, so highlight the text if you want to see it. (Don’t say you weren’t warned)

My only complaint with Mockingjay is that the ending felt rushed. There needed to be more detail particularly between Peeta and Katniss. The book was so starved of him already; we needed to see that reconnection.

There are no winners or losers in a war, just survivors left to pick up the pieces. But throughout all the pain and despair, there is still hope and love. Katniss has been an incredible character to follow, her bravery and strength never ceased to amaze me I felt so proud of her in Mockingjay.

This book hit me on a new level where I was left nothing but stunned afterwards. I’m DEVASTATED that it’s all over but it’s been an amazing ride with an amazing series. If you’re looking for a happy ending, you’re not going to find it here. You will however find an incredible story that’ll stay with you days later, you won’t be the same again.

Pages: 455
Publication Date: August 2010
Rating: :

Teaser Quote: “So, what do you think they’ll do to him?” I ask.
Prim sounds a thousand years old when she speaks.
“Whatever it takes to break you.”

Happy Mockingjay release day! After many months of patiently waiting, the third and final book of Suzanne Collins’ brilliant The Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, has arrived in store! No doubt this book will be flying off the shelves as we finally find out the answer to so many questions after Catching Fire.

But remember, give everyone a chance to read it before posting spoilers on twitter/forum/facebook etc. Or you will be taken out Hunger Games style.

Be sure to look out for our review, we’ll keep it spoiler free, promise ; )

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.

After Katniss and Peeta won the Hunger Games, their lives changed forever. They’re now totally loaded, for one, and Katniss and her mother and sister moved out of their old shack into newer, more desirable living quarters in District 12. That means no more scavenging just to make ends meet; no more hunting for food; no more cold showers. They’ve got everything they could possibly need in the district. Everything except freedom, that is.

Even though they’re home, the Capitol still controls their every move. It’s less obvious at first, and life assumes some kind of normality for Katniss and Peeta for a little while. But then the Quarter Quell is announced – another version of the Hunger Games – and Katniss, Peeta and Hamish find themselves in the middle of another Capitol scheme to ensure complete and utter control over all citizens everywhere.

But the people aren’t having it, and those with enough guts and manpower are revolting against the Capitol’s regime – and they’re using Katniss as their inspiration. If Katniss can defy the capitol in the arena, like she did with the berries, then they can too. If Katniss can manipulate the Capitol through her ‘relationship’ with Peeta, then surely they could find a way to do the same. Their freedom, their quality of life depends on it. Katniss hopes like hell they do, because in the meantime, her and Peeta are the Capitol’s pawns. They have to do what the Capitol wants, or they risk the lives of the people they love.

Love.

It’s certainly an issue that is dealt with in Catching Fire. Although he seems to have accepted that Katniss’s affections for him in the arena were fabricated, Peeta still loves Katniss. And it’s not that Katniss doesn’t feel for Peeta, it’s just that she feels for another, too. Does she love Gale? It’s clear that Gale loves her. It seems no matter whom she chooses, someone she cares about is going to suffer. Then the Capitol picks up on to Katniss’s little dilemma and interfere in a way that makes life almost impossible for her. Can’t choose? No problem. Katniss’s choice is made for her…

After the hugely popular The Hunger Games, I bet a whole stack of you have the Mount Everest of expectations for Catching Fire. No problem. Suzanne Collins takes those expectations, stamps all over them, and proves that she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Her prose is effortless and her characters shine brightly in a world of chaos. Katniss is brave, logical, and she certainly has her priorities in order. When the going gets tough, she doesn’t forget what the important things in life are. She’s an outstanding role model for teenagers everywhere.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll gasp, and your heart will break. I can’t wait for the third book. Pity the release date is so far away!

Rating::

Loved The Hunger Games? Want an early copy of Catching Fire? Head on over to Linus’s Blanket to enter the competition!

Click here to enter.

This is the official summary of the ever anticipated book 2 of the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire:

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.

The book will be published on September 8, 2009.