Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Dec 04, 2009 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, mundie-moms-review

*******SPOILER FREE******

Catching Fire left me in shock, and Mockingjay just wowed me. I'm not sure how else to describe it. Mockingjay takes us right into war, and it's not pretty, but when is war ever pretty!?! Suzanne Collins does a brilliant job at bringing to life a darker world with the ugliness of war, the politics, the lies, the suffering and yes, even the small glimmer of hope that comes from a movement backed by a few people, called rebels.

Mockingjay isn't a light-hearted read. It's th ...more

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Oct 03, 2010 Robin DeJarnett rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010-read

Mockingjay proved to be the book that delivered on the promise of revolution, but the carnage and games continue.

Of the three books, this one started the slowest, I think. There's a lot of anticipation, both of the battles to come and of who's going to die. After reading the first two books, I was expecting the worst, so was kind of surprised at who ended up surviving. Don't get your hopes up, though, there's no happy ending here either.

Many have spoken of the triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Mockingjay proved to be the book that delivered on the promise of revolution, but the carnage and games continue.

Of the three books, this one started the slowest, I think. There's a lot of anticipation, both of the battles to come and of who's going to die. After reading the first two books, I was expecting the worst, so was kind of surprised at who ended up surviving. Don't get your hopes up, though, there's no happy ending here either.

Many have spoken of the triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta, but I really didn't feel like it was much of a LOVE triangle. Maybe a LOYALTY triangle, but I'm not sure Katniss ever will understand or feel love for anyone but her sister, Prim. The resolution between Katniss and her two beaus is believable, though, and felt right to me.

As far as the story goes, I'm reminded of a quote from a TV show (a Star Trek episode, I think, but I can't remember): Everybody dies. No, this isn't a spoiler...but as is true in any war, everyone dies in some way, be it physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Including Katniss. I think that's the saddest part about the end of this series, is that the Katniss I loved in book one is gone.

There's two decisions that Katniss makes at the end of this book that I don't understand. Well, one I understand but would have liked to know that SHE understood it, and the other didn't really make sense to me. If you're curious which ones, drop me a line. And the consequences from those decisions seemed a little contrived, but that's probably because we're stuck in Katniss' point of view and really don't know what happens behind the scenes.

The one criticism I have is the epilogue. I really feel it was unnecessary. Perhaps it was an attempt to give the reader (or the editor) some kind of happy ending, but I don't think it was in character. After everything the characters went through and the thorough destruction of their trust in EVERYTHING, what is described in the epilogue is not really believable, no matter how much time has passed. Again, if you'd like specifics, message me.

This series is not a love story, it's the story of the ravages of war and the corruption of power. I think we'll be seeing the first book, The Hunger Games, being added to high school curricula in the future, and rightly so. And after reading all three books, I have a much greater respect for our soldiers returning from war, and the demons they have to carry for the rest of their lives. ...more

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Dec 03, 2009 Pixie/PageTurners Blog(Amber) C. rated it really liked it

Warning - this may contain some small spoilers.
Haunting, that is the only word, I can think to describe this book.
It's not a "traditional happy ending" to the end of a series. Mockingjay goes into the heart of war; you will experience it all first hand through Katniss.

Mockingjay is the darkest of the three books, after you've read it, you are left emotionally drained. It takes an amazing writer, to get you to feel that deeply, through their writing. That is why it has taken me over a week to ...more

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Sep 02, 2010 Sara Heacox rated it it was amazing

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The Capitol hates me. Peeta was taken prisioner. He is thought to be dead. Most likely he is dead. It is probably best if he is dead. . .

I read Mockingjay, no, devoured it on Tuesday and have had to sit and let it ruminate in my mind before sitting down to write this review. I cried/teared up at least five times while reading, my co-workers threw paper at me to get my attention as My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The Capitol hates me. Peeta was taken prisioner. He is thought to be dead. Most likely he is dead. It is probably best if he is dead. . .

I read Mockingjay, no, devoured it on Tuesday and have had to sit and let it ruminate in my mind before sitting down to write this review. I cried/teared up at least five times while reading, my co-workers threw paper at me to get my attention as I was still reading before a meeting, and my husband tried to talk to me on multiple occasions before realizing he wasn’t going to pull me out of the story!

I really liked Mockingjay but wanted more. More of Katniss figuring out the kind of person she wanted to be. More Katniss interacting with Peeta and Gale in her quest to figure out who she should be with. I also wanted more of the message that Collins was trying to send. What was she trying to tell her readers about a world like Panem? What was she trying to tell the young leaders of the world? This book is definitely darker than the other two with a high body count.

That being said, I still think this is a great book. Collins is a great story teller. She sucks you in and you feel the emotions along with the characters. And, her characters inspire readers to question and want to be better people. I really liked Mockingjay. I am not sure if I loved it but then again, it is always hard to live up to the hype. It was a fitting end to a brilliant series. What I am saddest about is the fact that the series is over. I have become so invested in the lives of Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Haymitch, and even the stylist team that I am sad that it is over. This is one of my favorite series and one I will reread over and over again. I will tell all of my friends that it is a series that cannot be missed and can’t wait to see what Collins comes up with next!

~Sara

oh yeah, my team won :)

This review is posted at http://evesfangarden.com/blog/2010/08...

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Feb 20, 2011 Amy rated it it was amazing

Things I loved:
•Amazing plot twists and a story that should become the new definition of a page turner
•The Peeta storyline -- didn't expect it but what a great way to "start" again for him.
•The cat.
•The ending. It felt right for the story and satisfied me.

Things I loved less:
•The violence, blood and gore. Followed by lots more violence, blood and gore. A certain amount is necessary to depict war, but for me it was a bit of overkill. (Pardon the pun.)
•Katniss' ability to verbalize and meditate o ...more

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Dec 03, 2009 Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-a-day, ya, dystopian

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This contains major spoilers....This is less of a review and more of a summary of my thoughts.

My initial reaction to MJ was that it was amazing. I think the anticipation and the excitement of reading it may have clouded things for me. Now that I have had some time to think about it I do have a cuuple of issues with the book and how Collins chose to wrap up the series. And as I said this is more my processing what I read rather than a real review and I actually expect my thoughts to change on a d This contains major spoilers....This is less of a review and more of a summary of my thoughts.

My initial reaction to MJ was that it was amazing. I think the anticipation and the excitement of reading it may have clouded things for me. Now that I have had some time to think about it I do have a cuuple of issues with the book and how Collins chose to wrap up the series. And as I said this is more my processing what I read rather than a real review and I actually expect my thoughts to change on a daily basis. So don't be surprised if this changes too.

First, I was disappointed in what Katniss had become - in how SC writes her. Katniss is a survivor and I know she has been through a whole lot but to keep hiding in closets, etc. bugged me. It didn't seem right. And she kept suffering from way too many injuries...it is one thing to have her get a few minor things but these were major stuff...so she was incoherent for most of the book. This seemed a waste of a wonderful character. I think SC could have still showed the results without resorting to so many injuries...just saying.

Second, Katniss knew she was a pawn...so do something...she never really asserts herself but in some ways continues to be used by everyone. And when she does it seems half-hearted. I wanted her to really stick with the spark after she threatens Snow. That was the old Katniss seemed to do more of but she just disappears. (Alex Bracken has a beautiful response to some of this in her blog post. Link coming later. And I might change my thoughts on this one.)

Third, - I am Team Gale. I know Team Peeta folks think he was perfect for her. However, I think relationships forged on extreme situations are really not true. In many ways, I would have preferred that she end up with no one if she really made that decision. However, she really never made any real decision in my opinion. I realized pretty quickly that SC was Team Peeta by the way she seemed to make Gale into something so different than he had been (I know we only saw him for a short time in previous books but I had a different feeling about him). I think Gale and Peeta's conversation that Katniss overheard is SC's explanation for Peeta but it stinks. Gale ending up in District 2 with some job?! WTH!! I still think in many ways there is a connection and an equality between Gale and Katniss that she and Peeta never had. You see this early on in MJ when they are hunting. Katniss has always tried to protect Peeta out of a sense of loyalty (and maybe more?). I am not saying she didn't have feelings for Peeta but I think the whole Games messed with her ability to make that decision. And to just disregard Gale or to blame him for everhting - killing Prim in a way - over the top. I would have been fine in the end with her choice of Peeta if she really claimed...said "I chose you because I can't live with you" or something in a way that seemed like it had some fire. And Peeta still seems like a bit of a wimp with Katniss...he just comes back in the end and kind of lets her tolerate him until she gives in or something. Frankly, if I were Team Peeta I would be peeved....there didn't seem any real passion there. (Again, if anyone can convince me that Peeta was her choice and she made the right decision - Bracken's post can do it...)

I loved Haymitch and his relationship with Katniss - it was the most real and true thing in the book.

I hated that District 13 was nearly a mirror image (albeit a Spartan one) of the Capital. I wanted hope. If you are going to drag readers through 1200 pages of war (thanks Daisy W.), find a way to be more hopeful to have some kind of sense of the new beginning and give readers a glimpse of that.

I thought Finnick and Bogg didn't have to die. I hated losing Prim; however, if she had to kill her - why not earlier and get Katniss so pissed that she became alive and not a shell of a human. Though I am afraid that how SC was writing it, Prim's death earlier would have made Katniss completely catatonic.

I don't blame Katniss for being so flawed...I loved that she wasn't perfect that she made mistakes, that her feelings, words and actions weren't always spot on, but something seemed off in that portrayal this time. I still can't put my finger on it.

I was a little confused by Bogg's statements...I thought we would understand more about that and also about President Snow's comment about "I thought we had promised not to lie to one another".

When Coin suggested another Hunger Games...I nearly wanted to scream...why all the fighting at that point.

As for the epilogue, I was left sadly unsatisfied. I always feel an author needs to conclude her story the way she envisioned it and not how readers might want it. I felt JK Rowling did that with HP whether I agreed or not and Stephanie Meyer did it with BD. But I think SC could have spent less time on the war and bombing children, etc. and a little more on building/showing the ending and more hope. It seemed so bittersweet. Some would say that there was hope there....I'm just not sure.

Overall, it was an interesting, intense, emotional ride. Collins ability to world build and create twists and turns is amazing. Unfortunately, at times I felt she failed to follow some of her own twists which would have resulted in a stronger story in my opinion. Did I like it - yes. Would I read it again...probably. I am still amazed by the world that Collins created and think that any book that could cause me to have this many intense feelings meant that it probably did what it was suppose to do. ...more

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Dec 03, 2009 Cynthia Lopez rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So I'm pretty sure that most of you have read Mockingjay by now and I'm sure you've seen Mockingjay reviews all over the internet and blogs. I finished reading it last Wednesday and have been trying to decide whether I wanted to review it or not. It also took me a while to let it sink in. If you've read it you know what I mean, if not then you really need to read it because this series is amazing!

(Some MINOR SPOILERS nothing huge!)
This book was incredible, there are really not enough words fo So I'm pretty sure that most of you have read Mockingjay by now and I'm sure you've seen Mockingjay reviews all over the internet and blogs. I finished reading it last Wednesday and have been trying to decide whether I wanted to review it or not. It also took me a while to let it sink in. If you've read it you know what I mean, if not then you really need to read it because this series is amazing!

(Some MINOR SPOILERS nothing huge!)
This book was incredible, there are really not enough words for me to describe it and I know that there's been a few that really didn't think so and were a little disappointed by it, but not me. It's not a happy book that will make you laugh and give you good feelings and sugarcoated rainbows that's for sure! The main focus on Mockingjay is about war, the war between the districts against the capitol. The rebellion and trying to get Katniss to become the symbol of it by getting her out there in the field and showing the rest of the districts why they should unite and bring the capitol down. The decisions that Katniss has to make, what she thinks might be good for her people, and her thirst for revenge on Snow. There is so much going on in this book, so many twists that keep you guessing and doubting about the people you thought were good or bad, and many surprises towards the end.

To me it was brilliant, and I know I cried several times while reading it. There's so many things in the book that will definitely bring out your emotions and not just of sadness, there was plenty of anger too. Of course like in almost every book there are things in Mockingjay that I did not like, I won't mention them because they're huge spoilers but I wish they hadn't been there or would have been different. The writing as always was just amazing, I remember thinking while I was reading it that this is the reason why I love to read. She can make you feel connected with these characters so easily and have all these feelings while reading that you might even forget you're reading fiction and start crying and sobbing like I did. The descriptions are always so very well done and the aspects of war and aftereffects of it seemed very real. I guess I'm a masochist because when I was getting closer to the end I wished this wasn't the last book in the series and I was already missing it, in my opinion I think the ending was a good one. Now I'm having withdrawal symptoms and feel like going back and reading the whole series over again, definitely one of my top favorites. Amazing! ...more

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Dec 14, 2009 Michelle rated it really liked it

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

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Feb 11, 2010 Heidi rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-literature

August 21, 2010 - I was so disappointed. There was not a happy thought or emotion in the nearly 400 pages I read. I kept waiting for something good to happen. Plus, it was so much more violent and bloody than the other two combined. It left me so depressed and unsatisfied. It was a realistic portrayal of the situation and well written, like the others, but I will probably not reread it. Definitely not what I expected.

2nd reading July 2012- I did not want to read this again but found that I had f ...more

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Jun 28, 2010 Deborah Andreasen rated it it was amazing

I was so excited to read the third and final book of the Hunger Games trilogy that I stayed up way, way too late to do it. I needed resolution, and I was not disappointed in the least.

The story is as gripping and gory as ever. There are a lot of deaths, and a part of me hopes they never turn The Hunger Games into movies because I think they'd have to be rated R for violence.

Katniss has always been a character that I love and hate, and I was so confused as to how two men could fall completely i ...more

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Jan 24, 2010 Paula from Reading Lark rated it it was amazing

Loved, loved, loved this book. The culmination of the journeys of the three main characters was extraordinarily heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. I especially loved that the characters were left changed by the traumas they have survived- that everything didn't end perfectly, but that the human spirit was allowed to overcome and thrive despite their circumstances. The ending scene left me with such a sense of hope. Ah, so nice not to be disappointed!!! ...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Emily rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, series, read-in-2010, borrowed, dystopia

Essentially it was a good ending to a great series, however it felt quite rushed and lacking in details. For my fellow Pensive Bookeater, Serena, and my full of spoilers discussion, check out our blog: http://pensivebookeaters.blogspot.com... ...more

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Dec 05, 2009 Jessica rated it it was amazing

It is impossible to write my thoughts on this book without spoiling it for everyone. I'll just say that I loved it. I laughed, cried, was completely horrified. The ending is not necessarily what I wanted, but it fits. It left me with a zillion questions, but it fits. ...more

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