Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) in Read by Theme

Jul 05, 2012 Amara Tanith rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012, reviewed, genre-scifi

Honestly, I'm still trying to decide whether this deserves two stars ("okay" by the scale I use) or three ("enjoyable"), because frankly... I'm not entirely convinced I enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised by The Hunger Games; I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, and I ended up giving it four stars, which is rarer for me than I'd really like to admit.

But this...? I just don't know what to think. I guess when it all comes down to it, I was simply shocked by Collins' plot choices. I rea Honestly, I'm still trying to decide whether this deserves two stars ("okay" by the scale I use) or three ("enjoyable"), because frankly... I'm not entirely convinced I enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised by The Hunger Games; I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, and I ended up giving it four stars, which is rarer for me than I'd really like to admit.

But this...? I just don't know what to think. I guess when it all comes down to it, I was simply shocked by Collins' plot choices. I really don't understand why she set things on the path she did. (view spoiler) To me, that felt like a cop-out; like she was falling back on a proven plotline, and then only put in a mediocre effort.

Still, I suppose I could have pardoned that if it hadn't felt so rushed. There was just too much plot crammed into too few pages, and so nothing got to develop at a proper pace. I didn't get to know the new characters, though I could tell I would have liked them if I had--these were characters I wanted to get to know and yet didn't have time to, which ironically is a problem the first installment didn't have.

And I could even have pardoned that if the last chapter(s) hadn't been so damn abrupt. Suddenly so much happened in so few pages that even though the supposed twist could be seen a mile away--especially considering the multitude of spoilers about this trilogy that permeate the internet--it still seemed to come out of left field entirely, throwing itself in the face of all that came before it. There's no word for my feelings toward the ending other than dissatisfied.

In the end, I've opted with three stars. I'm mostly running on the idea that the third installment will bring me enough satisfaction that I'll be able to pardon the shortcomings of the second. If it does not, however, this might just settle with a final star rating of two. Pity.

Update: Well, I still don't know whether this deserves a two or a three, so let's go with a twee. You heard me, a twee.

I do, however, finally know what exactly I disliked about it. And as I have no interest in writing that entire essay twice, you can find it in the non-spoilered half of my Mockingjay review. ...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Elizabeth Qualia rated it really liked it

Shelves: booksiown

This is my second favorite of the series. I like it almost as much as the Hunger Games, though I am struck with a craving for bread when I read this book. Kind of like when I read HP & the Prizoner of Azkaban I begin to crave chocolate.

Read #2 August 2011
Read #3 August 29 2012
#4 February 28, 2013
#5 March 16, 2014

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Mar 10, 2012 Linda rated it really liked it

This is a very good book. It starts off a little slowly, compared to The Hunger Games, but keeps pace very well, I think. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending was totally unexpected to me. I would definitely recommend this book as well as the series to everyone. On to the next book!!

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Mar 06, 2012 Molly rated it it was amazing

It takes a lot to continue the awesomeness from the first book in this series, but I believe Catching Fire delievered. I've read these stories before and I still found myself surprised by certain events or getting upset for the characters. ...more

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