Book Review: Book 3: Hunger Games series – Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins 2010.

The Final installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy – Mockingjay has turned out to be a phenomenal twist that I really didn’t expect. I thought there would be more war, more difficulties, more powerful blowing things up. But instead I was subjected to something more powerful in a sense.

The story restarts as Katniss Everdeen wanders through what was once District 12. She is damaged both mentally and physically, and Peeta is in the hands of the Capitol. District 13 exists run by President Coin, and the rest of the Districts are at war with each other. Katniss has lost her sister to one of Gale’s bomb traps, and she will never really be able to forgive him even though it wasn’t entirely his fault. He had no idea that the bomb would take out Prim. He merely planned to cause destruction enough to destroy a district and bring it to its knees.

Inevitably Katniss gets back Peeta, but not in the way anyone thought. He is no longer the Peeta we once knew, the young man who could bring audiences to their knees with his words and enchant armies to march against those they have so long obeyed. Instead Peeta has been programmed to destroy the one thing he has always truly loved. Katniss.

On release from the Capitol he almost  kills Katniss during their first encounter. Heartbroken by the scene she becomes the Mockingjay, but in a new light. Not the just the girl from District 12 that became a tribute in the Hunger Games and later on the 74th Hunger Games Victor along with a second Victor Peeta, something that had never occurred in all the history of the games. Katniss reinvented the role and truly becomes what she has been set up to portray. She becomes a powerful character in the war to destroy the Capitol’s hold on the Districts of Panem by countering their already influential propaganda aired in the sky above almost every home. Katniss destroys this hold which the Capitol takes for granted for decades, by giving District 13 the video footage used to give the districts at war hope, a reason to continue the good fight, and a promise of a brighter future.

Along the way Peeta is able to regain a majority of his own self, but not without enduring further pain and torture, including being burnt alive along with Katniss as a result of more bombs. Gale realizes that in the end his future is as a rebel and not at Katniss’s side, and takes a job in District 2 once the war has been won. But its Hamish and Katniss who return to District 12 to begin a new life of solitude. There was no real place for them in the Capitol. Unlike many of the other Victors. But they made do.

Eventually Peeta, as recovered as he is going to get and eventually returns to District 12 which results in the happily ever after ending where Katniss and Peeta finally find their peace, if it can considered that. At least its more than many were able to experience in Panem. As Katniss says… “There are worse games that can be played.”

Overall I have to rate this installment to the series a 8/10 stars. I really enjoyed the ending to the novel even though I had expected something so different. I felt the author gave the characters more than just battle worn heroes and heroines who need saving. Instead Suzanne Collins has given us characters with hearts and souls, who feel pain and emotions, and she portrays this uniquely and captures an audience unlike what I am used to. I really hope to enjoy more of her writing in the future.

Book Review: Hunger Games Book 2 Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, 2009.

The second installment to the series trilogy the Hunger Games, has given readers a set up for something more to come. This novel is based around the two heroes of the first book, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Malek. In a twist of events, although they had won the Hunger games from the year before which automatically makes them exempt from future games. Unfortunately this year is the 75th year of the hunger games and thus what is known as the Quarter Quell. Where by President Snow, makes an announcement which changes the Hunger Games rules, the tributes where to be drawn from previous years victors. Which in turn means that Katniss and Peeta are at risk of being dragged into the arena, again.

When the inevitable happens and they once again become district 12 tributes, they find that they are in a similarly dangerous arena, acting the roles of star crossed lovers, hoping to entice sponsors to help them during their time in captivity. But this time they have formed allegiance with other victors in a hope to survive the games. Both of them suffer both mentally and physically. Horror and danger surrounding them each time they turned a corner. Some unlikely allies become friends to the pair, but even so, it’s not always as it seems. There is still a hidden agenda that Katniss and Peeta remain oblivious to till the very end.

The relationship between Peeta, Katniss and Gale is explored further in this installment of the series. It gives a little more light to how Katniss really feels about both of them, and how it affects her mentally as well as physically. The torment. The torture. The will to live as long as there is hope.

The second installment gives a whole new chapter in the trilogy but overall, it feels as though it’s setting up something more. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy Catching Fire but I did expect more from such a creation from the first novel. The rating I give this book is 7/10 stars.

Book Review: Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins 2010.

The Final installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy – Mockingjay has turned out to be a phenomenal twist that I really didn’t expect. I thought there would be more war, more difficulties, more powerful blowing things up. But instead I was subjected to something more powerful in a sense.

The story restarts as Katniss Everdeen wanders through what was once District 12. She is damaged both mentally and physically, and Peeta is in the hands of the Capitol. District 13 exists run by President Coin, and the rest of the Districts are at war with each other. Katniss has lost her sister to one of Gale’s bomb traps, and she will never really be able to forgive him even though it wasn’t entirely his fault. He had no idea that the bomb would take out Prim. He merely planned to cause destruction enough to destroy a district and bring it to its knees.

Inevitably Katniss gets back Peeta, but not in the way anyone thought. He is no longer the Peeta we once knew, the young man who could bring audiences to their knees with his words and enchant armies to march against those they have so long obeyed. Instead Peeta has been programmed to destroy the one thing he has always truly loved. Katniss.

On release from the Capitol he almost  kills Katniss during their first encounter. Heartbroken by the scene she becomes the Mockingjay, but in a new light. Not the just the girl from District 12 that became a tribute in the Hunger Games and later on the 74th Hunger Games Victor along with a second Victor Peeta, something that had never occurred in all the history of the games. Katniss reinvented the role and truly becomes what she has been set up to portray. She becomes a powerful character in the war to destroy the Capitol’s hold on the Districts of Panem by countering their already influential propaganda aired in the sky above almost every home. Katniss destroys this hold which the Capitol takes for granted for decades, by giving District 13 the video footage used to give the districts at war hope, a reason to continue the good fight, and a promise of a brighter future.

Along the way Peeta is able to regain a majority of his own self, but not without enduring further pain and torture, including being burnt alive along with Katniss as a result of more bombs. Gale realizes that in the end his future is as a rebel and not at Katniss’s side, and takes a job in District 2 once the war has been won. But its Hamish and Katniss who return to District 12 to begin a new life of solitude. There was no real place for them in the Capitol. Unlike many of the other Victors. But they made do.

Eventually Peeta, as recovered as he is going to get and eventually returns to District 12 which results in the happily ever after ending where Katniss and Peeta finally find their peace, if it can considered that. At least its more than many were able to experience in Panem. As Katniss says… “There are worse games that can be played.”

Overall I have to rate this installment to the series a 8/10 stars. I really enjoyed the ending to the novel even though I had expected something so different. I felt the author gave the characters more than just battle worn heroes and heroines who need saving. Instead Suzanne Collins has given us characters with hearts and souls, who feel pain and emotions, and she portrays this uniquely and captures an audience unlike what I am used to. I really hope to enjoy more of her writing in the future.

Book Review: (Hunger Games Book 2) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, 2009.

The second installment to the series trilogy the Hunger Games, has given readers a set up for something more to come. This novel is based around the two heroes of the first book, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Malek. In a twist of events, although they had won the Hunger games from the year before which automatically makes them exempt from future games. Unfortunately this year is the 75th year of the hunger games and thus what is known as the Quarter Quell. Where by President Snow, makes an announcement which changes the Hunger Games rules, the tributes where to be drawn from previous years victors. Which in turn means that Katniss and Peeta are at risk of being dragged into the arena, again.

When the inevitable happens and they once again become district 12 tributes, they find that they are in a similarly dangerous arena, acting the roles of star crossed lovers, hoping to entice sponsors to help them during their time in captivity. But this time they have formed allegiance with other victors in a hope to survive the games. Both of them suffer both mentally and physically. Horror and danger surrounding them each time they turned a corner. Some unlikely allies become friends to the pair, but even so, it’s not always as it seems. There is still a hidden agenda that Katniss and Peeta remain oblivious to till the very end.

The relationship between Peeta, Katniss and Gale is explored further in this installment of the series. It gives a little more light to how Katniss really feels about both of them, and how it affects her mentally as well as physically. The torment. The torture. The will to live as long as there is hope.

The second installment gives a whole new chapter in the trilogy but overall, it feels as though it’s setting up something more. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy Catching Fire but I did expect more from such a creation from the first novel. The rating I give this book is 7/10 stars.