Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Apr 10, 2011 Rhiannon Frater rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: disturbingly-awesome, lingers-in-my-psyche

Be advised that this review is for the entire series of THE HUNGER GAMES. I have broken it down into segments to share my thoughts in a more orderly fashion (since I tend to ramble).

Be Warned: Spoilers Ahead

THE HUNGER GAMES
The first book has an excellent plot and immediately sets a vivid setting for the rest of the series. It is a very well-written, suspenseful and exciting novel that was full of poignant moments, vivid characterization and plenty of action.
Though the premise is not a new one ( ...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So this book is another one of those books that I should have read ages ago, but decided against it as to be completely honest the whole Hunger Games Trilogy isn't really my favourite series. It is a good dystopian teen series and all and I did enjoy it, but there are better things I should be reading and wasting my time with than this book. I have finally read it though as A) to finish the trilogy and B) because the Mockingjay Part One movie is out and I am the type of person who prefers to re So this book is another one of those books that I should have read ages ago, but decided against it as to be completely honest the whole Hunger Games Trilogy isn't really my favourite series. It is a good dystopian teen series and all and I did enjoy it, but there are better things I should be reading and wasting my time with than this book. I have finally read it though as A) to finish the trilogy and B) because the Mockingjay Part One movie is out and I am the type of person who prefers to read the book first, then see the film unless I'm oblivious to the fact it was a book first then a movie. I kind of had a fair idea about this book and how it would go , of course after the Quarter Quell finished we saw Katniss injured and delivered to the now "District 13" after her hometown was destroyed, she believed that Peeta was dead but turns out he was really kidnapped by President Snow and brainwashed into believing Katniss is the evil one. We read the aftermath of the rebellion in the Quarter Quell with bombings, murder galore. We moved on to planning to get Peeta and the other's who weren't so lucky in getting out without being harmed back. Katniss became the symbol of hope for the future - The Mockingjay. President Snow has his whole "White Rose" thing going on. We all knew it was coming , the sad part where Katniss's sister Prim was killed and then of course Katniss hating Gale and him not forgiving himself as it was one of his bombs -possibly that killed her. Katniss trying to kill President Snow , only to have it backfire as of course we all know he can't be trusted and is a big fat LIAR but then again he will get his revenge on him. What I didn't expect though was the fact that they all voted that the Hunger Games continue - this part made me go WTF you went through all that mayhem, hurt and rebellion to stop the games and now you want to continue them. I am all for Symbolism but I'm sure there is another way like how about a month of fasting , no makeup etc. One thing that did make up for this book though was the Epilogue - to me this would have to be my favourite part as it was so beautifully and poetically written.
So now readers, I am off to see the film and will report back my thoughts. ...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Garima rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopia

I changed the rating for this final installment in the series about 3 times. My feelings towards it have slowly changed from liking it to being quite disappointed. The build up to this was huge, so I had high expectations but it fell flat for me in too many places. Here is why I thought it wasn't a great book - Katniss's character changes. She is suddenly too much of a weepy, falling apart heroine. From what we have seen earlier, she is a survivor. But in this book she is constantly falling apar I changed the rating for this final installment in the series about 3 times. My feelings towards it have slowly changed from liking it to being quite disappointed. The build up to this was huge, so I had high expectations but it fell flat for me in too many places. Here is why I thought it wasn't a great book - Katniss's character changes. She is suddenly too much of a weepy, falling apart heroine. From what we have seen earlier, she is a survivor. But in this book she is constantly falling apart. I get her initial break down. Or some of it in the other places as well. But the book is full of too many of them. Why doesn't she do anything to resolve her problems - get Peeta back, do something more than being a puppet. Things start looking up when she seems to be getting back in to the middle of things. But then it all falls apart. There are too many pointless deaths. Not enough action. And the whole pointless love triangle, which really just does not exist. After her breakdown over Peeta - its about time the girl realizes her feelings. She seems to barely spend time with Gale or treat him the same way she does Peeta. So what's the confusion. It seems so stretched out. I am completely pro Peeta in this book. The author has managed to convince me that he is the better hero. However, that moment doesn't happen for Katniss until the last chapter paragraph. Even then it's all messed up. She doesn't seem to be making any choices. She might be a girl in the middle of a war but she is also a teenage girl. Maybe in the author's effort to not have a emo Heroine, she has stunted too many of her romantic feelings. Infact, despite the numerous break downs and angst filled pages, she seems to have no real romantic feelings.

I strongly disliked parts of the climax, esp the one to do with Prim. Very pointless. The end otherwise, instead of seeming realistic, seems a bit too negative. Where is the final uplifting joy, the feeling of freedom that should come at the end of a series that's about war and rebellion and freedom. I understand wanting to highlight the trauma and that there is no right side in a war. But a book about a survivor should leave you feeling uplifted. This just left me unsatisfied. I like the epilogue, but wish it had a strong survivor feel to it instead of a desperate one.

I wouldn't completely diss the series. But wish it had reached it's initial potential. ...more

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Feb 12, 2010 Roshio rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. well the final installment of the Hunger Games series has left me feeling empty. What wasn't wrong with this book? Admittedly I raced through it to get to the end, but honestly it wasn't even compelling enough for me to slow down. And the end, aargh! We had just read 2 fantastic books building up to the end of the rebellion and true killing Coin was superb, but I needed to know what the world was like now. All we get at the end is Katniss marries Peeta and has two kids?! Ah Suzanne Collins, you ...more

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Apr 01, 2010 Ashley rated it liked it

Shelves: series, post-apocalyptic-dystopian

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ***Possible Spoilers***

After so much build up, I have to admit that I was a little let down by this book. When I started, I thought that Katniss would be a willing leader of the rebellion. But, she ended up a pawn. The rebels she was used by, in a lot of ways, were just as bad as the Capitol and the Katniss herself seemed very fickle. But then again, she was only 16.
I did enjoy the series as a whole, but I do think it started on a high that it never really ot back up or exceeded the high points ...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Nairabell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star, teen-ya-dystopian, read-in-2012

Katniss Everdeen has managed to survive two rounds in the Hunger Games but she still isn't safe. A rebellion is unfolding and it seems everyone contributed to the plans apart from Katniss herself. District 13 is alive and they need Katniss's help in their rebellion against the Capitol. Katniss must become their Mockingjay no matter what the cost.

This is the third book in the Hunger Games series (after The Hunger Games and Catching Fire) and one I was really looking forward to after the dramatic Katniss Everdeen has managed to survive two rounds in the Hunger Games but she still isn't safe. A rebellion is unfolding and it seems everyone contributed to the plans apart from Katniss herself. District 13 is alive and they need Katniss's help in their rebellion against the Capitol. Katniss must become their Mockingjay no matter what the cost.

This is the third book in the Hunger Games series (after The Hunger Games and Catching Fire) and one I was really looking forward to after the dramatic end to the previous book. Unfortunately this failed to live up to my expectations and I was left feeling very disappointed. Parts of the storyline didn't work for me and while the tension did build towards the end, I was beyond disappointed in that.

The rebellion has been something that has interested me for a while so to see that in action was brilliant. The idea of dressing Katniss up was a clever way of playing on the Capitol's concepts and reclaiming the spectacle usually reserved for the Hunger Games. That said Katniss struggles to be more than a pawn in their plots and it was disappointing to see her exchange one manipulative group for another.

The love triangle was a problem for me again, even when Peeta isn't there. There were moments where I genuinelyy felt for Katniss but again she seems incapable of deciding what she wants. Gale is caught up with the rebellion and Peeta is caught with the Capitol so it is almost like the triangle is a way of showing the larger rebellion on a small scale. This is never really shown well which is even more disappointing to me as a reader.

The ending is the part of the book that I was most disappointed in. It is hard to discuss without spoilers but suffice to say I was horrified by the deaths of certain characters and even more so by the conclusion of the love triangle. Katniss entirely fails to make a decision at all and instead just goes along with what everyone else decides. Never before have I seen a love triangle concluded by what is geographically convenient and I truly hope never to see it again.

All in all this was an okay read and I'd recommend it if you are a fan of the series.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 7/10
Ending: 6/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 33/50 ...more

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Feb 02, 2014 Rachel Willis rated it it was amazing

I hate this book. Abhor it. Almost wished that I stopped at Catching Fire. But it is so well written, such an honest account of what happens during war. You don't get to choose who you lose in dystopia. The bad don't always die and sometimes the good ones go.

The moment I finished this book I slammed it on the table. I'm left feeling rage, hopelessness, and a desire to rail against the universe for all its inadequacies. I hate this book because I loved it. Collins made me fall in love with a wor ...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Jen (jlkish) rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, urban-fantasy

When compared to the other 2 books in the trilogy, I have to admit this book was a little bit of a letdown. It just seemed to drag a bit, especially the first half of the book, but it was an enjoyable read. To be honest, after the first 2, I wasn't sure how the author was going to be able end the trilogy in a way that satisfied everyone, but I think she did a really wonderful job with the ending. ...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Caroline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite-series

Excellent finale to a fantastic trilogy. Really loved these books.

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Mar 27, 2010 Katyana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, favorites, kleenex-required, dystopian

I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could.

The final book in the trilogy doesn't disappoint. I read the book straight, in a single sitting. Finished it at 3am when I had to work the following morning. I had a box of kleenex at my side, and believe you me, I used it.

I have been thinking all day about what to write in my review. I have a bunch of friends still reading this book, so, in order to avoid spoilers, it is hard to say much. Let's just leave it with this:

Real or not real?

Real.
...more

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