Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

   2010; 390 pages. Book Three of the “Hunger Games” trilogy.  New Author? : No.  Genre : YA; Dystopian Thriller.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    The flames of rebellion have come to Panem!  There are uprisings in every district, except maybe the coddled District 2, and Katniss’s District 12, which was recently bombed into oblivion by the Capitol’s hovercraft.

    It would be great to have a symbol to unite the rebellion, a Mockingjay, someone to put a face on the uprising.  Maybe we should ask Katniss, who’s recuperating from her wounds suffered in the recently-completed Hunger Games.  She’s the logical choice.

    Of course, what would be even better is a martyr.  Symbols can be stubborn sometimes, but martyrs never are.  Perhaps Katniss can be persuaded to become one of those instead.

What’s To Like...

    This is the third and final book in Suzanne Collins's blockbuster trilogy.  It is unique in that there aren’t any more Hunger Games being played, but that doesn’t mean Mockingjay is any less action-packed than the first two books.  Nor any less bloodshed; lots of people get killed here, both good folks and baddies.

    The first half of the book focuses om Katniss’s efforts to grow into the role of being the Mockingjay.  Photo ops do not come naturally to her.  The second half deals with a black ops mission that Katniss finagles her way into going along on, and will assuage anyone suffering from Hunger Games withdrawal.

    The storyline is well-structured and the character-development is topnotch.  I particularly liked the way Prim was handled.  President Snow’s demise felt just a tad bit clunky, but I quibble.

    Everything builds to a tense and satisfying ending, which in turn is followed by a short epilogue which is positively superb.  The Katniss-Gale-Peeta love triangle is resolved in what I felt was a refreshing manner.  So in a nutshell, if you loved Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you will be just as thrilled with Mockingjay.  This is a mesmerizing series, to be enjoyed by YA and adult readers alike.

Excerpts...

    This is what all of District 2, all of Panem maybe, must be seeing at the moment.  The Mockingjay at the mercy of a man with nothing to lose.

    His garbled speech is barely comprehensible.  “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t shoot you.”

    The rest of the world recedes.  There’s only me looking into the wretched eyes of the man from the Nut who asks for one reason.  Surely I should be able to come up with thousands.  But the words that make it to my lips are “I can’t.”  (pg. 215)

    “The impact ruptured your spleen.  They couldn’t repair it.”  She gives a dismissive wave of her hand.  “Don’t worry, you don’t need one.  And if you did, they’d find you one, wouldn’t they?  It’s everybody’s job to keep you alive.”

    “Is that why you hate me?” I ask.

    “Partly,” she admits.  “Jealousy is certainly involved.  I also think you’re a little hard to swallow.  With your tacky romantic drama and your defender-of-the-helpless act.  Only it isn’t an act, which makes you more unbearable.  Please feel free to take this personally.”  (pg. 220)

 “Fire is catching! … And if we burn, you burn with us!”  (pg.  100)

    There is a lot to like about this trilogy, but the one thing that stands out above all the rest (at least for me) is this : a very commonplace motif – a rebellion against a dystopian tyranny – is handled in a most non-standard way.

    Katniss may be the symbol of the revolution, but she is very definitely not its leader.  She is useful to those who lead the uprising; but she is also expendable.  President Snow may be a brutal tyrant, but those who lead the rebels aren’t choirboys either.  Katniss reminds me of the historical Joan of Arc:  a capable fighter, immensely popular with the ordinary people, but out of her league when it comes to politics.

    And that makes for a fascinating character in a gripping trilogy, fully deserving of all the praise it's been given.

    9 Stars.  Both for Mockingjay in particular and the trilogy as a whole.  For me, this was a great series, full of lots of action, lots of drama, and lots of topics – violence, poverty, suffering, sadistic entertainment, and when to rise up in revolt, to name just a few -  upon which to ponder.  This is the second trilogy I’ve finished this year already (the closing book of the other is reviewed here), which means it’s time to see what all the hoopla is about over Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy.

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

   2009; 391 pages. Book Two of the “Hunger Games” trilogy.  New Author? : No.  Genre : YA; Dystopian Thriller.  Laurels : Publishers Weekly : Best Book of 2009; Time Magazine : #4 on its "Top Fiction Books of 2009"; People Magazine : 8th best book of 2009.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    It’s going to be a busy year for Katniss Everdeen.  There’s the victory tour (since she co-won the Hunger Games) through all the Districts, followed by a gala celebration in the Capitol itself.  After that, it’ll be time to prep and preen for attending next year’s Hunger Games.  But at least Katniss will be a spectator this time, or even a mentor.

    But that tournament, the 75^th one, will be something special.  Every 25 years, the games are called the “Quarter Quells”, and the rules get bent in some novel way.  Last time (#50), each district had to supply twice as many participants.

    I wonder what twist President Snow has planned for this Quell.

What’s To Like...

     Catching Fire is, of course, the second book in Suzanne Collins’ megahit series, The Hunger Games.  I‘ve read the first book; it is reviewed here.  There is no gap in the storyline; CF begins immediately after THG ends, with Katniss back in her home District resting and recuperating.

    The writing and storytelling are once again superb.  Suzanne Collins breaks the book into three more-or-less equally-long sections : The Spark, The Quell, and The Enemy.  Think of them as “Home”, “Prep”, and “Fight”.

    All your favorite (surviving) characters are back – Haymitch, Peeta, Gale, Cinna, etc.  And the resourceful Head Gamemaker with the fantastic name of Plutarch Heavensbee, plays a larger part here.  But Collins also introduces you to some new folks – Finnick, Johanna, Twill, Bonnie, and my personal favorite, Beetee.  They are all developed nicely, and you'll enjoy meeting them..

    The backstory is fleshed out a bit more this time around.  Details about the origin of the Mockingjay, the catastrophe in District 13, and short bios of some of the past winners of the Hunger Games are added.  The terrain for this year’s tournament is much more complex, which is fitting for a Quarter Quell.  Katniss’ “love triangle” is not resolved; indeed it morphs into a “love quadrilateral”.

    The ending is great and completes Book 2’s main storyline.  Collins closes with a nice “hook” for Book 3.  As if anyone needed incentive to read the concluding book.

Excerpts...

    “This tour will be your only chance to turn things around.”

    “I know.  I will.  I’ll convince everyone in the districts that I wasn’t defying the Capitol, that I was crazy with love,” I say.

    President Snow rises and dabs his puffy lips with a napkin.  “Aim higher in case you fall short.”

    “What do you mean?  How can I aim higher? I ask.

    “Convince me,” he says.  (pg. 29)

    There’s someone behind me.  I’m alerted by, I don’t know, a soft shift of sand or maybe just a change in the air currents.  I pull an arrow from the sheath that’s still wedged in the pile and arm my bow as I turn.

    Finnick, glistening and gorgeous, stands a few yards away, with a trident poised to attack.  A net dangles from his other hand.  He’s smiling a little, but the muscles in his upper body are rigid in anticipation.  “You can swim, too,” he says.  “Where did you learn that in District Twelve?”

    “We have a big bathtub,” I answer.  (pg. 269)

 I really can’t think about kissing when I’ve got a rebellion to incite.  (pg.  125-126)

    There is no letdown from Book 1 to Book 2 in this series.  To mix metaphors, if you hungered for more after reading the first book, this one is going to be your cup of tea.  Katniss is still the star, but Catching Fire puts a bit more focus on the rebellion itself.

    My only quibble is that the book’s structure is identical to what was used in The Hunger Games – “Home, Prep, Fight”.  The first time around, it was a fantastic page-turning device.  This time, I could anticipate what was going to happen next.

     But that doesn’t mean Catching Fire isn’t still one heckuva fantastic read.   Hey, (as of today) 14,330 people took the time to review it at Amazon.  And since, inexplicably, Mockingjay is not on my TBR shelf, it appears I am going to have to make a trip to the bookstore this weekend. 

    9 Stars.  Add  ½-1 star if you think “Home-Prep-Fight” is a perfectly fine repeat performance, thank you very much.  And for the record, 21,116 people have left reviews of The Hunger Games at Amazon, with 15,779 of them doing the same for Mockingjay.  Wowza.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

2008; 374 pages.  New Author? : Yes.  Genre : Dystopian Thriller.  Book #1 of the Hunger Games trilogy.  Overall Rating : 10*/10.

    Woohoo!  Katniss Everdeen has won the lottery.  That means she gets an all-expenses-paid train trip to The Capitol, a whole new wardrobe, and she'll be eating better than she ever has in her whole life.

    The downside is that she has to compete in the Hunger Games.  24 teenagers (a girl and a boy from each of the 12 districts) fight to the death in a huge, artificially-rendered arena.  The event is televised nationally for the entertainment and punishment of the districts.  Be the last one alive, and your district receives extra food and other resources.  Be any of the other 23, and all you are is dead.

What's To Like...
    The Hunger Games will appeal to almost everyone.  It's a YA novel that adults will also enjoy.  It has Action, Drama, Romance, Thrills, and Kills.  Despite the inevitable ending, there are plot twists to keep your interest.  And plenty of Situational Ethics for you to ponder.

    Suzanne Collins handles the dystopian backdrop well.  She gives enough details for you to feel the misery and oppression, but not to the point of where the storyline gets overshadowed.

    The characters are complex and evolve as the story progresses.  There are good guys, bad guys, and a number of "tweeners".  Even the baddies evoke some sympathy, which is a pleasant surprise.  But in the end, only one can survive.

Excerpts...
    (W)e make an effort to keep on good terms with Greasy Sae.  She's the only one who can consistently be counted on to buy wild dog.  We don't hunt them on purpose, but if you're attacked and you take out a dog or two, well, meat is meat.  "Once it's in the soup, I'll call it beef," Greasy Sae says with a wink.  No one in the Seam would turn up their nose at a good leg of wild dog, but the Peacekeepers who come to the Hob can afford to be a little choosier.  (pg. 11)

    Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
    A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
    Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
    And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.

    Here it's safe, here it's warm
    Here the daisies guard you from every harm
    Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
    Here is the place where I love you.  (pg. 235)

"District Twelve.  Where you can starve to death in safety."  (pg. 6)
    So how good of a story is The Hunger Games?  Well, consider this.  The first third of the book is all about Katniss prepping for the games.  Which means it's all drama.  No killing, no action, no romance.  Yet it will keep you in your chair, turning the pages.  Then the games begin, the excitement kicks in, and you find yourself thoroughly hooked.

    There are a couple deus ex machinas, but they balance out all the "Bruce Willis Die Hard" injuries that Katniss sustains, so they're forgiveable.

    The Hunger Games is easy-to-read (it really is a YA novel), with an ending that's both happy and haunting.  The big challenge is for the other two books of the trilogy to maintain the high standard.  10 Stars.