Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
This topic is about
Catching Fire
Buddy Reads: Current & Upcoming
>
Collins,Suzanne Catching Fire - informal Buddy Read beings 15 June 2024
Just finished my reread. I really like Finnick and how the other tributes banded together to help move the rebellion along and Katniss kept dropping the hints people were dropping. I get that she's 16 (and I live with two teenagers, so you'd think I'd be used to it), but the issues she has around seeing the bigger picture are just frustrating. She's the protagonist, I want to root for her. But she says she has to protect Peeta and then keeps losing track of him. I picked up the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and am hoping the prequel will shed some light on why things are the way they are.
I agree with Angela ‘s comments about the tension felt when Katniss discovers the mayor’s stream and the heartbreak she feels when she has to reenter the games. I am listening to this on audio and really enjoying . I do feel so sorry for Gale.
It takes Katniss sooooo long to look around & see what's happening to all those people who aren't among her immediate circle of family & friends, to look outside herself. This is a girl who has had a hard-scrabble life, not a prissy, modern snowflake, & she is a hunter, so she really should be more aware of what's going on around her. Now she is being forced to become aware of the outside world, a slow awakening but not a moment too soon. Snow's visit & what has happened to Gale may finally get her to think.
Mod
Reality is hitting her hard as the quagmire she's standing in becomes clearer to her. I have to keep reminding myself she's 16. It's a bit creepy that everyone is trying to marry off a pair of 16 year old kids to be honest. I know in this world 16 is basically an adult. But still.
And to be honest, I don't think Gale actually wants to marry her. Bang her, sure. Marry her? Eh, I don't think so. On this second read Gale is coming across as more of an entitled jerk. And so butthurt about her smooching Peeta he is ignoring the fact she's not exactly mentally holding it together.
To be fair, I don't think Katniss has any business being in a relationship with Peeta either. Homegirl is not okay. I actually think without the emotional/physical support of Peeta and her immediate family, Katniss would of turned into Haymitch 2.0.
I’m 3/4 of the way through and am finding it just as good as the first time round. When the attacks happen in each section I forgot how long it takes Katniss to realise what is happening. It is also very apparent that there is something else going on here that will be revealed by the end of the book.
This is my first time reading any part of this series other than the first book. I've been hesitant for years as while the quality of the writing is strong I just don't love the premise. I do feel for Katniss and Peeta. They thought they'd be free to live their lives but of course the Capital won't let that happen. President Snow is just plain evil.
I'm a third of the way in, but if there's one thing that's surprised me it's that Katniss doesn't pick up on the significance of the hidden Mockingjay. She discerned Haymitch's hints so easily in the previous book. I was surprised she didn't question it more.
Katniss is definitely dealing with some pretty debilitating PTSD as well. There's no real way to find your way back to normal after what she went through.
I find this one a bit of a grind before we finally get to the Quell & start meeting some of the other contestants - I would have liked more about them. I do like the scene where they all hold hands & show a united front against what is being done to them.Katniss, self-centred as always, forgets what her little acts of rebellion could cause her family - I understand why she'd want to cock a snook at the Gamemakers with her little Seneca Crane act, but it seemed a rather silly thing to include something so gratuitously stupid - once I remembered who Seneca was, anyway. I don't think she's terribly bright but I didn't think she was quite that obtuse. Luckily the ramifications were minor at that point & she only got to "scream her head off" over a non-family member later on.
Cinna is a bit of a mystery, a clever character who took responsibility for his own actions, even though he may have underestimated possible reprisals. I don't understand his attention to Katniss as anything more than a subject for his best work. Yes, he didn't like what the Capitol did to the District young, but the personal interest he took in her felt somewhat false. A bit of a cipher at best, young Cinna.
The action in the arena is very entertaining & moves rapidly, such clever tortures have been devised for the poor tributes.It's a relief to be finished this one as Katniss' maunderings get harder to take - let the whole world burn but for Peeta, Peeta, Peeta, oh, hang on, I've got family, doesn't matter, Peeta, Peeta, Peeta, not even sure whether I like him but because I wants it my precious that's what has to happen. I'll rakes him with ma claws... . Ugh! nausea-inducing. Then there's the end - I'll just starve myself to death, that'll show 'em.
Suzanne wrote: "I've REALLY liked learning about the other districts - I had forgotten a lot (although having the challenge has helped with that). Things in the district seemed a lot more brutal to me than they di..."I really liked that as well. To hear about the districts and what they're known for and especially the characters - that was really nice. I had forgotten pretty much everything about this book and the characters so it was really nice to get reminded of it all again.
The whole time everyone was like they love Finnick and I had completely forgotten about him. Or at least I forgot everything but his name and district lol
So many characters again that I loved and that sadly passed away then.
Judy wrote: "The whole thing about President Snow's breath smelling like blood is still sooooooo gross to me! I know I've read this book at least twice but thought more than that? But so far (admittedly only ..."
About the blood breath - I remembered that he would come to her house but didn't remember anything else about that scene.
So when the bloody breath part came up, I was so shocked, then I remembered again and then I was just really grossed out. Like how disgusting is this? I mean obviously the things that happen in these books are awful and can be gross, but this really is on another level
Fiona wrote: "Judy wrote: "The whole thing about President Snow's breath smelling like blood is still sooooooo gross to me! I know I've read this book at least twice but thought more than that? But so far (adm..."
Oddly, that was the one thing (besides the 'clock' nature of the games and the "quell twist") that I actually remembered before I started!
Just finished part 2.I found this a little more interesting, but also found it more strongly highlights Katniss' selfishness. Quite aside from the part where she thinks about that herself after the quell announcement, there are just so many times where she makes everything about her and never stops to think what this could mean for other people until it is pointed out to her.
I don't dislike her per se, but I just get so frustrated with her. That's when I need to remind myself that she is a teenager. Despite what she has been through, she lacks time on the planet to mature emotionally.
Has there been a teenage girl in the history of the world that hasn't at least once stomped off in a mood when things didn't go her way? 😆
Working through part 3 now.After reading the Hunger Games in June, my edition had an interview with Suzanne Collins at the back that I read, and she had some insights about Gale and Peeta that is influencing how I read book 2. She said that Gale represents hostility in the face of oppression and hardship and Peeta represents diplomacy and she hopes to inspire thought and discussion around the two viewpoints and values.
Would you guys say Katniss is an unreliable MC or just uninformed? With what she doesn't know about the rebellion and how the districts are gathering and responding, she feels powerless and at first resolves to run away. She's acting and responding out of hurt and mistrust.
I also forgot that District 13 is mentioned in book 2, I kind of thought based on my recollection that Katniss has no idea about 13 until after the end of book 2. But she's told there may be a District 13 in part 2 of Catching Fire.
Also I'm blanking on what Plutarch Heavensbee was trying to achieve by showing Katniss his timepiece with the hidden mockingjay. Is he trying to tell her he's on her side? Obviously she's oblivious.
Still working through part 3 so I haven't finished it yet.
Sammy wrote: "Just finished part 2.I found this a little more interesting, but also found it more strongly highlights Katniss' selfishness. Quite aside from the part where she thinks about that herself after t..."
She kind of alludes to this at one point - that all she thinks about is how certain things will impact her. She tries to be selfless in her actions but she wonders is it still to an end that benefits her? ie - protecting Peeta because SHE can't live in a world without HIM? I do enjoy her introspection but it's interesting how many times she comes up empty and can't answer herself.
Mod
After reading the Hunger Games in June, my edition had an interview with Suzanne Collins at the back that I read, and she had some insights about Gale and Peeta that is influencing how I read book 2. She said that Gale represents hostility in the face of oppression and hardship and Peeta represents diplomacy and she hopes to inspire thought and discussion around the two viewpoints and values."
I find this really interesting and something I'd never heard before. I can see that in how it plays out in the choices of those 2 characters. Though I think it further shows from the beginning Collins never intended Katniss to end up with Gale. I don't think she could survive a life with someone that hostile and angry with all the trauma she's living with and not coping well with having.
I think it is a bit refreshing that Collins has the trauma continue and not have Katniss and Peeta be magically cured after a couple weeks or whatever.
The author is also very good at creating the atmosphere of paranoia and fear no matter where the characters are or what they happen to be doing.
Judith I think you’re right. In part 3 I can feel the terror and fear when the threats present themselves, and could feel it whenever the government killed someone for even a show of rebellion. It was almost hard to understand how a rebellion could start at all, but I thought about the sheer numbers and how one little spark can set off a huge reaction. I also remember how much I hated the plot the first time around because it was so heavy and depressing.
Again this didn’t disappoint. When Katniss is taken from the games and realises who is involved in the Rebellion tied up the loose ends. The clues were always there for Katniss to see. When the arena is destroyed the retaliation from the Capitol is to be expected. However the destruction of District 12 may only serve to fuel the Rebellion, can’t wait to start re-reading Mockingjay
Just finished the book, and thought the third section seemed so much shorter than the first two, but that may just be because there's finally some action and the pacing has drastically improved.Favourite character overall: Finnick. Don't think he was last time I read this (not long after it came out), but after the ick of the initial interaction between him and Katniss, he actually turned into a decent character, so seemed less dense and selfish than Katniss and not as cringingly cheesy as Peeta. Mags would probably have been up there too had she been around a bit longer.
Cinna got me again. I knew it was coming, but... I think it would have been even more impactful had he had a bit more meaty a role in this book. As it is, it's really living off the residual feelings about book 1 more than this one.
All-in-all I enjoyed this well enough, about the same as last time, I think. I would probably have LOVED this as a teen.
Mod
Just finished chapter 15, and I forgot how we finally find out about how Haymitch won the games!
Also, I notice that Katniss still refers to "President Snow". I find it fascinating that for someone she despises she still uses the Title rather than just calling him "Snow" (or perhaps another word 🤣).
I am enjoying this more 2nd time around. I think I can appreciate how it becomes a part of the larger series
I will separate my comments into parts.Part One
I don’t know what drives people to want to keep reproducing when these children are possibly going to be sacrificed. It is such a bleak world. I am not a love triangle fan and I really do not like Gale. Guess I am team Peeta. He seems to really care for Katniss. However, if I was Katniss, I would just feel trapped. That conversation between her and Snow was disturbing on many levels but to basically be told that you must marry and have kids with someone must be suffocating. I do admire how Katniss has cast a wider net on the people she cares about and wants to protect. That scene in District 11 is very emotional.
Part Two
I loved the scene where Katniss outsmarts the electrified fence and when she gets home everyone immediately knows to jump into the story lie. The guards unable to do what they were hoping was satisfying. That satisfaction didn’t last long when we learned that the Quell will be a game with each district past winners. This was an obvious change from what was originally planned. It had to be. It was clearly made to get Katniss back in the games. What was absolutely dumbfounded was why was it just accepted? I thought the winners don’t have to compete again. They just go with it. I doubly hated the fact they had elderly tributes playing along with the younger. It gave me such a big ick. Also, Cinna :sobs: What a way to put Katniss off her guard before the games began. A final point that kind of upset me was when Peeta told the world Katniss was pregnant. I don’t know why it just bothered me. I wish they communicated better.
Part Three
While I still think everyone needs to communicate better, I did laugh at the line about why Katniss is never told anything. I still hated that they had elderly players in the games. I did like the cooperation that happened in the stealth ways during the game. I just wish everyone was on the same page. I forgot about the field being a clock. I thought that was clever. I found myself wondering what was happening back in the real world while the games were happening. The first book incorporated that more than book two but that ending… can’t wait to re-read book three!
Mod
I know I've read this book at least twice but thought more than that? But so far (admittedly only ..."
I've just started my read and the blood breath has caught me too. I'd want to be out of his presence pronto just for that. Utterly weird thing to choose to smell of.
Part 2 - I do feel that this part drags on a bit. We eventually find out about the Quarter Quell, but it's rather dull leading up to all of the action. My heart breaks for Katniss when we read of her preparing her good byes to her loved ones that she never gets to deliver.
Sophie wrote: "Judy wrote: "The whole thing about President Snow's breath smelling like blood is still sooooooo gross to me! I know I've read this book at least twice but thought more than that? But so far (adm..."
I wondered how does one's breath smell of blood if not a vampire or something like that lol
Mod
Mod
This quote from chapter 3 currently sums up how I feel Katniss is dealing with everything that has happened since she volunteered as tribute. A lot of stuff in a short time that while she's managed it physically, there's no way she's emotionally dealt with any of it.
Mod
Strangely enough I'm finding the second bout in the arena to actually be more interesting than the first. I think it's maybe because...1. I'm not as horrified as they're not all children
2. It's actually a team up and so it's not just living in Katniss' head the whole time
3. There's actual reasoning being done to figure out what's going on.
Sure the situation is still horrid and not my favorite, but while the first half of the story plodded a bit, this part is flying by.
Melindam wrote: "My narrator is Tatiana Maszlany. I believe there was another narrator before her (?)."I'm so I glad I paid attention and realized there were two narrators. I listed to The Hunger Games read by Carolyn McCormick and she was just a bit too stilted? Emotionless?
This time I made sure to pay attention to the narrator and picked Tatiana and the experience is so much better.
Part 1 ~ Chapters 1-9A bit of time has passed since Katniss & Peeta won the games and now it time for them to go on their victory tour.
For this part of the story, I had to continually remind myself that Katniss is a 16-year-old girl that has been thrust into situations she's really not prepared for because otherwise I may have wanted to shake her.
I've always admired how strong she was in the face of all the things that happened to her, but she is definitely not that bright when it comes to strategizing. She acts on her emotions without thinking things through or about the consequences.
When Snow pays her his surprise visit and tells her she has to convince him of her love for Peeta, she should have known (or someone she told should have at least brought up the possibility) that there was no appeasing Snow. He doesn't believe you, hell he knows you're lying, so nothing is going to convince him.
Once realized though I think it gave Katniss a freedom that she didn't have until that moment. And I didn't remember that Peeta was the one to express doubt about them trying to subdue things in the districts. I sometimes think that he should have been the one that everyone followed because things came to him more naturally. If not that, I wish that they could have been more of team, instead of him being initially kept out of the loop on things.
I think that if he had seen the watch from Plutarch he would have known or at least suspected what it meant.
Then her deciding that Gale was hers and all that crap after he got hurt. I didn't even remember her decision to choose Gale, but that was another emotional decision. In all honesty she is not emotionally developed enough to know which of these young men she loves or wants to be with.
Then she has those moments when I'm like this is the Katniss that I'm rooting for, like when she gave her speech in District 11.
Melindam wrote: "What struck me for the first time -and I owe this to you guys, participating in this buddy reads- how actually Katniss developed. At the start of book 1 all she -understandably- cared about was Pri..."You are so right. That also goes back to her immaturity a bit and the fact that she had to basically support her mom and sister and Gale helped her with that, so that is all she had room to care about at the time.
Then she went to the games and got acquainted with more people and that opened her world up a bit more. All the people who impacted her life in a semi-positive or positive way or who showed her some compassion.
I wish we could know how Katniss would have treated these people if she hadn't been put in this situation. IMO she would have had disdain for Effie and crew, not given Peeta another thought, and would have continued to just worry about her mother, sister, Gale and his family.
I started my reread last night and I can't help but wonder if everyone who showed Katniss their Mockingjay 'merchandise' actually knew about its secret meaning or if there in fact were people who just wore it because it's 'cool' and they love Katniss and want to show their support for her without actually knowing what was going on behind the scenes. Capitol people were obsessed with her after all, and they were all brainwashed into thinking the Hunger Games are a FUN thing to happen, never questioning teens and kids having to frickin K!LL each other in order for one of them get out of the arena in the end!!
I'm a bit torn on this book at the end of the day. The first half of the story is slow and didn't hold my attention all that well. Katniss annoyed me with her flip flopping attitudes about both boys, the revolution, etc. But the second half of the story once we get to the Quell definitely picks up and I was more invested in the outcome in the arena. I liked seeing the tributes all stand together before they were all put in the arena. The clock was an interesting device to add to the games as well. Ultimately I felt for Katniss as everything spins out of control and she finds herself as the face of a rebellion. But the cliffhanger ending and the seeming lack of care of what happens to Peeta by the rebels is frustrating. Peeta's done nothing but sacrifice himself and do his best for those around him. At times he seems like the only really good person in this story.
Just finished part 1 and Katniss has just received the wedding dresses which President Snow had signed off of - she's wondering why he even still wants her/them to go through with the wedding. I can't help but think it's a dare basically. "Play the happy couple and get married, or stand up to me and finally, 'officially', give me a reason to k!ll you". I honestly think he's challenging her.It would be funny she'd actually be oblivious to what's been going on with the rebellion and stuff and he'd just be paranoid for no reason hah. Not this kind of book though ..
part 2 I really didn't remember much of this at all...I wouldn't have even realized there was going to be another set of games in this book if I hadn't gotten some small spoilers from this discussion thread after reading part 1.
It does seem clever of Snow to put Katniss and Peeta back in the arena to "take care of his problem with them helping to incite rebellion" but its even sweeter to see how his actions are just leading to worsening of his problems (view spoiler)
My heart is breaking for Katniss at the end of Part 2. (view spoiler)
I'm looking forward to part 3 - I wasn't expecting all the water ...
Part 2 ~ Chapters 10-18I'm with Lisa about forgetting about the forgetfulness. I kept asking myself if they went back in the games in this book or the next. You would think I would at least remember something from the movies since I've seen them more recently than I read the books.
If I forgot that you can also imagine that I forgot about Bonnie & Twill and the insights they gave Katniss, and that we found out how Haymitch won his game (and I'm still waiting with bated breath to get his story).
This part of the book reminded of why I like Katniss. She is a fighter, and a protector. I think she shines the most when her back is against the wall, and she doesn't have time to second guess herself or worry about what other people might think.
My favorite parts of this is seeing her let her guard down with Peeta and acknowledging in her way that she cares about Effie, Haymitch, Cinna, and the rest.
That part before she is launched into the arena always guts me. Snow was very methodical about the ways he tried to play mind games with Katniss (and the rest of the districts who were rebelling).
I always wonder at this point in the story did he feel like he has finally encountered a worthy adversary, even though in the beginning she wasn't trying to be, but he ended up making her that way.
I wonder later if he realized that his actions after their games, during their victory tour, and up until the quell help make Katniss a formidable person to go up against. Had he just left them in peace she would have never felt the need to fight because the people she cared about at that time would have been safe.
Another thing that I love is they bond between Haymitch and Katniss. These two can communicate sometimes without saying a word. I honestly think he knows her better than anyone else. Maybe they are a lot more alike than we know, since we only know this version of Haymitch. I always thought that he sees himself in her and that's why he always knows what she' thinking.
Katniss of the arena: "This is no place for a girl on fire"
Song playing in my head of course is Alisha Keys "Girl on Fire"
Shan ~A~ wrote: "If I forgot that you can also imagine that I forgot about Bonnie & Twill and the insights they gave Katniss, and that we found out how Haymitch won his game (and I'm still waiting with bated breath to get his story)."It's coming next year, in case this means you didn't know yet!! nerdist.com/article/new-hunger-games-...
Christina wrote: "Shan ~A~ wrote: "If I forgot that you can also imagine that I forgot about Bonnie & Twill and the insights they gave Katniss, and that we found out how Haymitch won his game (and I'm still waiting ..."It's coming next year
Thanks! A torturous wait.
Part 3 - Chapter 19- endThe shining moment in this part is the real heart to heart that Katniss and Peeta have. They both have noble pursuits that are at cross purposes.
I also realized that up through this part. I actually like book Gale. Never as a romantic interest for Katniss. I never felt the level of intensity with them that she ends up having with Peeta due to them having this experience together.
Both of them give her something that the other can't, but what Peeta has to give her is more of what she needs. He's completely devoted to her in a way that no one else is.
The romance aside, I really liked the pacing of the action in this part of the book. The person I actually like the most in the portion was Joanna. She was like fuck it I'm tired of not letting Katniss we're doing this for her. Yes, I agreed with the plan, but that don't mean I have to like it. (of course, this is me imagining what may have been going through her head due to her actions.) I always imagine that she was happy to have the job of getting the tracker. Doing what she promised by also being able to inflict pain.
And honestly with the way it takes Katniss to really think through things, and the fact that she acts based on emotion first. It was a good thing she didn't have the details. That's been proven in several situation throughout this series so far. It best to let her response be real and it always ends up being what is needed at the time. Like I said before she thinks better under pressure or when everything is on the line.
It gets so good during this part that by the time we got to the end of part 2 I felt bereft.
I can't wait to experience the last part of their journey all over again.
Finished Part 1 and wow I did not remember this book lol. I had honestly forgotten how late in the book the Games actually show up - for some reason I thought a lot more time was spent in the arena?I remember finding Katniss very annoying in this on my first read, with her indecisiveness and love triangle and being a bit self-centred, but I am appreciating her character more this time round. It definitely feels as though she is trying really hard to cope with events that are bigger than her and doesn't really know how to do that. Plus the trauma from the Games must be horrendous and on top of that finding out that it's not over and you need to go through it all again... I can't even begin to imagine what that must feel like.
I haven't compeltely changed though as Gale still annoys me, especially how possessive and controlling he gets. And I still find it so unfair how Katniss and Haymitch keep cutting Peeta out instead of all working together as a team.
Part 3 I finished part 3 today. I knew both Peeta and Katniss would need to survive to make it to book 3, but I had no idea how that was going to happen until it did. I'm glad several of the tributes survived and that Katniss managed to foil the capital by destroying the force field.
I think the arena was quite clever with both the idea of the clock being the theme as well as all the different tortures for the different wedges. The fog was quite creative and horrifying.
I'm on edge with Peeta being separated from the group...
Part 1most interesting event in this section is President's Snow arriving at Katniss home.
As discontent is rising and evident during the victory tour, his casual arrival emphasises the power asymmetry at a more personal level.
Hints at potential for uprising, but much of it is at a remove from the central characters. they seem to be symbolic rather than actually driving
feeling more sympathy for Peeta as the fake romance continues, not so much for Katniss
as first time reader it does keep my attention and flows well from book 1
Part 2 doneI had completely forgotten that we found out about Haymitch's games in this book! Now I'm even more interested in his book coming out, so we can get to know him better. I really like his relationship with Katniss - it's like they just get each other and maybe they are more alike than they'd like to think. But in general I liked how Katniss started widening the circle of people she cares about and recognising the good even in those who might previously have only upset or angered her.
The way President Snow's cruelty is revealed each time a little more really got to me, especially how he so clearly employed it to play games with Katniss's mind (view spoiler) I also wonder, like others have mentioned, if this wasn't a case of him making the situation worse for himself and creating his own enemy: if he hadn't intervened and threatened Katniss so openly, ripping all future hope for her, she probably wouldn't have grown into being the symbol of rebellion in the way she does. The way things were going, she would have been oblivious to everything in District 12, happy because the people she cared about were finally safe. But the way things turned out because of his involvement and threats are exactly what lead her to embrace the rebellion as she feels she has nothing to lose anymore... what a way for a plan to backfire! I still really love this aspect of Katniss's character, how protective of her loved ones she is and how she never backs down from a fight. The scene with the tributes holding hands was really powerful.
Beatrice wrote: " I also wonder, like others have mentioned, if this wasn't a case of him making the situation worse for himself and creating his own enemy: if he hadn't intervened and threatened Katniss so openly, ripping all future hope for her, she probably wouldn't have grown into being the symbol of rebellion in the way she does. The way things were going, she would have been oblivious to everything in District 12, happy because the people she cared about were finally safe. "I fully agree with this. I don't think Snow realized what he was doing to himself. There's no way Katniss would ever have known about the rebellion or at least how bad it has gotten and how spread it is. (She probably still would have found out about District 8 from the girls/women? by the lake, but still) She never would have needed to be made into the mockingjay; it was all his own doing.
Also can I just say how I absolutely canNOT stand Gale??? He's so possessive of Katniss and clearly does not care about her feelings at all like wth
Finished the bookI liked this book much better than the first one.
Things I liked: 1. The mockingjay imagery I think this really was a great addition to the book 2. Peeta! 3. President Snow 4. All the action in the arena
I of course cried during the sad part…: (
What I didn’t like Gale?
Okidokii y'all, finally catching up with this read! Soo it's been over 10 years since I've read Catching fire, but I just recently watched the movie again, so it's interesting to see the details in the book that get lost in the movie-fication-process. The tour through the districts hits so hard, with the trauma that Katniss has endured and the renewed fear that she now has due to Snow's pressure and threats. Their visit to district 11 was just heartbreaking, and what I like about the book is that Katniss' thoughts are more detailed and we get to see the insights of her thought processes, rather than in the movie where everything just seems to happen instantly and Katniss appears more cold (imo).
And after Katniss and Peeta got publicly engaged to appear like the love birds they should be in front of the capitol and all the districts, she said 'I thought that's what Peeta wanted' and Haymitch replied 'But he wanted it to be real', that one hit hard! I feel sorry for Peeta, and him now realising how much was actually just acted out from Katniss in the first games, even though for him everything was real. I just want to hug him!
Mod
I enjoyed that Katniss is getting better at talking to other people about her problems and concerns, but it's frustrating how dense she can be about seeing what's going on if it doesn't fit her preconceptions.
Forgotten about the Game Maker giving her that hint too!
The trauma that Katniss and Peeta are struggling with is also done well
Just finished and my first thought was I actually enjoyed this a lot more this time round - I think it's mostly thanks to all of you for sharing your insights and actually having someone to allow me to elaborate my thoughts as I was reading! But this time I really did appreciate a lot more of the details and the character growth.The area was horrifying of course, but it was also really clever. The ingenious ways in which people can find ways to inflict pain on each other will never stop surprising me - and not only in fiction sadly... I liked how everything came together at the end, and the comment about Katniss not being allowed to make plans actually had me chuckle a bit because it's so true: it's amazing how smart she can be and yet be so oblivious at the same time. I was really curious about what must have been going on in the world outside the arena and... that ending! I can't wait to jump into the next one in a few days.
Finished and still find this one exciting! I love the first book but found this one so much more creative. Lots of time in the beginning spent on how awful the new situation is and planning a wedding but soon once the candidates are back in action against previous winners, what!?! Suzanne Collins you are devious.I love the clock idea of torture. But have to admit towards the end I start to get bored with the discussion of District 13 and all of the politics. I dread The Mockingjay because it seems to get so ugly (uglier?) so quickly.
Still love the series and must finish with the 3rd book.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Mockingjay (other topics)Mockingjay (other topics)
Mockingjay (other topics)
Mockingjay (other topics)
Catching Fire (other topics)
More...
This is always my least favorite part of the books because I am not a heavy action reader. I enjoyed this less then the first one because of the heavy influence the Gamemakers had in the arena with the force field, monkeys, fog and so on. I do enjoy seeing the dynamics between the players in the arena, especially as they relate to Peeta and Katniss. I was also wondering how much they could trust the alliance they had built with the other victors and when they should break it up and go their separate ways.
I have read a lot of people in this discussion did not particularly like Mockingjay, so I am really curious to continue on to see how I feel about it.
I am so very happy taking part in Book Games has finally "forced" me to start this series because I am really enjoying it quite a bit.