Mockingjay
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anyone find the last book disappointing? a little rushed?
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Hayley
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rated it 4 stars
Jul 20, 2011 05:39PM
The ending to Mockingjay wasn't really clear to me. Prim's death, Peeta getting better, and Gale's future should have been explained better.
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i loved the katniss in the beginning she was a true replica of wat a women should be....she was a true hero and i loved her but in mockingjay she lost that heart....i lost respect for her because she almost gave up and the story does go on and on so wen u get to the ending it just disappoints....i dnt dislike it becoz it didnt have an amazing happy ending to it but becoz it went wayyy too fast....like she just wanted to hurry and finish the series.....i didnt care who she ended up with i just would have liked to have the ending a little more elaborate if im gonna sit there and read a story that jut goes on and on and in complete circles it needs to detail the aftermath!
Yes to disappointing. No to rushed. I was not pleased with the final chapters.
The first and last lines of a book are so important. Think about all the classics: Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, and Harry Potter (in my mind it is a classic). I just recently read a book where the last line left me wanting and I gave the book a low rating. The last line of Mockingjay is beautifully written. I think Collins implied that Panem is a better world, and that the Hunger Games no longer exist. The story is from Katniss' point of view, and is limited to what she sees, hears, experiences, and feels. Katniss always seemed to be introverted, and she only had one friend (before the Hunger Games), Gale, and he left. So, unless Gale wrote her a letter about what he was doing we wouldn't know, we only knew what he was up to because someone told her.
I'll admit I wanted Katniss to end up with Gale, and I was disappointed that he just abandoned her, maybe because he felt guilty about the bomb and all the emotions that it implies, but Peeta is the only person that will ever know the horrors she feels and know how to comfort her--Haymitch too, but I don't see that happening.
I was not disappointed at all in this book, and as emotionally wrecking as it was I think it was probably my favorite in the series. I do agree with others concerning the "change" in Katniss, but you have to think...anyone would be changed after enduring what she has since she volunteered for the games. She has lost pretty much everything and watched Peeta give up everything for her as well. That is enough to make a person go crazy! As for being rushed, I thought at one point (about the time Katniss sees Prim in the capitol) that the ending was not going to satisfy, it would be completely rushed...but Collins surprised me. I think the ending was pretty spot on. It left me feeling closure to the story.
I never looked at this series as a "romance" so I didnt expect a happy fairy tale ending between Katniss and one of the guys...I will say I was happy she ended up with Peeta. They are good for each other. Gale would have never given her what she needed and it would be hard for him to understand what she endured.
For being a teenager and doing what she did, she's pretty strong, and seems to be well adjusted as an adult, or at least trying to be.
it made me hate all the characters more at the end except for Gale. just glad Prim got what she deserved. you have to admit she was pretty annoying in the book and she was a really weak character.
I have to disagree with most of the readers. I thought Mockingjay tied things up appropriately for the series. This is rebellion and revolution, and the truth of it is ugly and depressing, especially for one so young. Life, for Katniss, is out of control and despite all her attempts so reclaim it, it remains out of her control. That's war and tragedy for you - she becomes shockingly like her mother in some ways. Present but distant by the end.To provide a simple happy ending would have been a let down. Why end up with Peeta? He's the only one who can truly understand her - the pain, the emptiness, and the internal struggle she faces daily. Why not tie things up with Gale? Because that's how some friendships go - we often break with people in our lives and don't end up knowing their path. Gale made a direct choice to be a part of the destruction in a way that forever separates him from Katniss, and the break is permanent - as it should be given the circumstances. As for Prim - the catalyst of all her actions in the beginning - her death just shows how we can't prevent the inevitable for anyone. For all her choices, Katniss still loses the very person she fought to save - why? Because that is how it works out sometimes, especially when one is the pawn - as Katniss has been from the moment she won the games (and probably before that).
Are their things Collins could have done differently in the book? Sure. But this ending fits the tragedy of the entire series and shows the continuing struggle to remain resilient in the light of hope. Resilient, but never fully healed. That's the tragedy of war.
I dont think these books represented a sense of reality...and not all fiction is happy or sugary sweet. From the get go, these books have been anything but happy. I wanted Katniss to find happiness, and the ending reflects the sort of happiness Katniss and Peeta are able to build together. Its not going to be much because lets face it, they lost EVERYTHING basically. But the fact that Collins gives you that glimpse and shows you Katniss as a mother, wow that is quite a feat for Katniss -- the girl who didnt want children and would never marry. The ending wasnt hollow by any means and I like to believe that Katniss did what she wanted, what made her happy...after all it is her story :)
JoEllen, I can totally see what you mean from your perspective. I don't know if I read for a sense of reality, but I want any text I read to make sense on some level. I would have found a happy ending for Katniss' sake because she deserved it too expected. I think that she finds safety with Peeta again, is a happy ending and takes her life in an unexpected direction. I will admit that as an educator, I read from that perspective, especially YA literature and what it presents to young people. For teens, this is really a book about resilience and a realistic sense of happiness (compared to the disproportionate amount of unrealistic romantic endings too many provide - let's face it, not everything should be tied up neatly). As a former English major, I like that which diverges from the norm. Hm, perhaps I am a bit too realistic! :-)
Jeff wrote: "I think that those with military experience, particularly those who have deployed, can probably better relate with Katniss in this third book. She is essentially going through her THIRD Hunger Gam..."I agree, both Katniss and Peeta experienced two Hunger Games, essentially a form of combat for children. They experienced loss of family, betrayal and torture. The Hunger Games series was not a love story. They are about the horrible consequences of abusive governments, manipulating propoganda and media, and the tragic effects of war on families (especially children). Katniss and Peeta are symbols of survival and love in the very worst of times.
I thought Mockingjay was okay. I tired of the endless Capital mutts and traps during the mission. It was also incongruous to Peeta's rescue. His rescue team seemed to get in and out of the Capital so easily; did they not encounter any of the pods? Finnick's death was so tragic and unnecessary. I do think Prim's death was ironic. Katniss started her journey into the Games just to save her. I would have liked more post-war details. What was Paylor's government like? Was Panem now a democracy? Also, I would have liked more details on how Peeta and Katniss grew back together and healed.
i feel as though it isnt over yet... that another book sould be made.....
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...
I was most assuredly disappointed in the third and final book of The Hunger Games, which is surprising as the first two books in this series were positive gold for me. I found it to be agonizingly slow, so much so that at times I could have cared less if Katniss was able to pull herself together or not. The whole climatic ending in the Capital and the dumping of poor Prim into the final battle was way too contrived. I was equally letdown by the outcome of the whole love triangle, which was anti-climatic and unsatisfying at best.
It took me such a long time to get through that final book . . . I thought the last 50 or so pages were good, but it sure took awhile to get there . . .
I think it's funny.People complain about Breaking Dawn, because the ending is too perfect and too happy. Now people complain that Mockingjay lost its soul with the change that Katniss experienced.
I think it was the most depressing book out of the whole series, but I also thought it was the best. That is what war is really like. People change psychologically. That's why we have things liked PTSD. People sometimes make choices that damage relationships in a way that can never be fixed again. (i.e. Gale and Katniss)
In the end, the series was always about the tragedy of war. If you live in a war torn country or watch the news you see that the good guys don't always win. They die, they become broken, sometimes they can't live out their happily ever after.
Sure, I was upset when Finnick and Prim died, but it made sense in the grand scheme of things. Any other ending probably wouldn't have worked and would have seemed fake. (And we'd all be complaining that the ending is too easy and too perfect and too happy a la Breaking Dawn).
I think those who are disappointed, became so invested in certain characters that to think that suffering is part of their final outcome or death is unthinkable. You want Prim to live. You want Katniss to be strong, but that's not really what war is like. It kills people emotionally. War kills on more than one level and I think Collins did a great job of explaining that point.
It was difficult to see just how broken Katniss was, but it seemed to be such an authentic ending. She is still trying to find joy in her life and the fact that she can at least attempt to be happy after all she's been through and the psychological break she had...well that's good enough for me.
wow i never thought of it like that... you are so right
Everything about the end of this book was rushed. I had to read the ending 3 or 4 times to understand what was going on. And all of the deaths at the end were soooo unnecessary. Sure people die in war and I didn't expect a completely happy ending, but why kill Prim off, and Finnick? The whole point was to protect her sister from the beginning of the book. Life doesn't always give you what you want, but that completely changed the meaning of the books for me. Her sister was everything to her and that was just cruel to kill her off like that. Not to mention her mom just dumps her at the end. I didn't need that much reality.I was ok with the whole Peeta thing and she did need someone who understand what she'd been through, but it felt like she just ended up with him and didn't really choose him. I couldn't even tell when he got over the whole hating her guts thing.
The author didn't stay true to Katniss's character either. I don't think the real Katniss would have abandoned all her ideals to start the Hungergames over for all of the capital kids. She had been through a lot and would be affected by it for the rest of her life, but I don't think it would have changed her heart. Not like that. She hated the death. Why would she cause more?
So, all and all, kind of disappointing. I think the whole ending could have been thought out way better.
Kelli wrote: "Everything about the end of this book was rushed. I had to read the ending 3 or 4 times to understand what was going on. And all of the deaths at the end were soooo unnecessary. Sure people die in ..."The author stayed very true to Katniss's character. Remember that right before Katniss agreed to one last Hunger Games, she and Haymitch exchanged looks. That was when Katniss made up her mind that she would kill Coin instead of Snow, and Haymitch agreed. But, to make sure that Coin would get clued in on their plan, she verbally agreed to another Hunger Games. But, she never intended for it to take place.
Again, the whole story of the trilogy was survival and what it takes to survival and what one is willing to do. Katniss volunteering for Prim just simply set the story in motion. It wasn't the entire plot of the trilogy.
I liked this book the least also. I did feel like the author rushed to pull together all of the loose ends and it was kind of boring in all the parts where she was wigging out.
Liza wrote: "I think it's funny.People complain about Breaking Dawn, because the ending is too perfect and too happy. Now people complain that Mockingjay lost its soul with the change that Katniss experienced..."
I agree with you on a lot of points. I wasn't disappointed with what happened in the last book (deaths, who Katniss ended up with, etc.) but more how the story was told in the last book. It seemed there was so much build up and detail to get to the end of the book, but then the end just happened so fast. I would have liked more detail at the end.
Amanda wrote: "I feel like the author abandoned the katniss character that we all loved, she was moody and self obsessed & seemed like a girl who needed to be saved rather than the one who saves everyone. The e..."
After surviving two Hunger Games, losing one of her best friends (Peeta) to her worst enemy, and being betrayed by mentor, I think Katniss has the right to be a little "moody and self obsessed". All her life, she's the one saving others--first her family, then Prim, Peeta, and now an entire nation. Saviors need to be saved as well. And perhaps you forgot (since I kept forgetting) she is merely a teenager--granted a more mature, responsible, and badass, but a teenager nonetheless.
Out of the three books, this is in a close competition with the first one as my favorite in the trilogy. Prim was the catalyst for all the events, and her death perpetuated the need for the end of the war--something that only Peeta recognized. I agree the last bit was hectic with so many dying and different plans going into effect, but I support Collins' ending. I think she did a brilliant job depicting the tragedy and chaos of war. Unfortunately, wars kill good people and doesn't give happily-ever-afters.
JoEllen wrote: "That's true about her getting best after a mental breakdown...but here is what your forgetting-ITS FICTION!!!!!!!!!!!! It doesn't have to be realistic all it has to do is satisfy and it doesn't pla..."I don't believe in the excuse, "It's just fiction." Even in fantasy novels we suspend our beliefs only so much and adhere to the rules of the world those characters live in.
Imagine if in the last Harry Potter book, Voldemort said, "I'm sorry. I was just jealous and angry all the time because I never got a pony for Christmas." And to top it off all the characters that died were just vacationing and too stressed from fighting Voldemort and helping Harry. Hey, but it's ok because Harry is happy and it's just fiction.
Fans would have been furious.
Even in the Cinderella example you used, those two versions (the Disney and Grimms Brothers) have realistic endings. In Disney the step sisters and evil step mothers are left behind and Cinderella ends up with her prince. That's the world in which all Disney movies operate. The heroine always wins and finds true love.
In the original, the antagonists have their eyes pecked out by birds and one step sister chooses to cut off half her foot to make it fit in the slipper. That is logical for that world, because those original fairy tales have realistic endings where great tragedies and violence happens to teach an ethical lesson or display human greed, emotions, etc.
Besides, we're talking about the writing of book 3 and not the idea that we believe these events are happening in our world, which is the whole point of this thread.
When teen fans get mad that the actor Robert Pattinson is no longer dating Kristen Stewart, because Bella and Edwards are "forever," then I think the line, "It's just fiction" is completely appropriate. Or if there is a friend waiting for her vampire or half demi god boyfriend to appear, then yeah we should say that and then lovingly tell that person, maybe she needs to talk to a professional, because it's just fiction.
I think if any published writer says, "It's just fiction," I would get upset, because to me that shows laziness on the part of the writer.
I still think Collins did an excellent job and was able to do what some other YA authors have not, which is write an ending that is honest, while giving the protagonist the happy ending that makes most sense for that character based on the events they endured.
You have to be a brave and excellent writer to know that Katniss will most likely experience more tragedies and be permanently changed by the war once the resolution is reached. Too many authors cave into pressure by fans, thus no longer being true to themselves and the story.
If anything, you can be disappointed by the book, but still respect Collins for the effort that she put into this book.
I'm just fortunate, that I actually love this book.
Melissa wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Salena wrote: "The last book was okay but i hated the ending!!! She picked the wrong guy!!!"EXACTLY
TEAM GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..."
I agree she should have ended up with GALE somehow it seems wrong katniss and peeta. I wonder what happened to Gale in the last book? Doesn't say much.
Melissa wrote: "Salena wrote: "The last book was okay but i hated the ending!!! She picked the wrong guy!!!"EXACTLY
TEAM GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..."
It blows my mind that you would write an obnoxious reply like this. But, what I really don't understand is if you agree so much why you gave it 5 stars.
Lisa wrote: "I strongly disagree with most of the opinions on here. I loved Mockingjay and the reason I liked this series was because it wasn't your typical happy ending. How can it be? After all Katniss has be..."I agree!
I hated the ending! She did such a good job with the first to book and then just lost it all with the ending.And I'm totally TEAM GALE!
This team stuff is stupid. But I'll join in, totally should of been Team Johanna. It'd of made much more sense.
I did find it sort of rushed. It may have just been that I was reading too fast, but it was very fast. Although, I thought it was a good ending. I mean, after a battle for the good of the Earth, someone has to be forever scarred and a couple people have to go. If Suzanne Collins didn't end the book the way she did, it would have been too happy and predictable. I mean, she did get the guy, and they did live to have two children. There were no more Hunger Games, which was the spark for the fire. It was a little bittersweet, but I thought that even though it took a while to get over Prim, I was pretty satisfied.
There are a LOT of complaints about the epilogue, but I think i can understand why the author did what she did. The entire story is told from Katniss's perspective, from start to finish. But by the end of the third book, this broken and irreparably damaged girl simply doesn't care about all those details that we aren't given. The state of the capitol doesn't concern her, nor the districts. The only thing that matters to her at this point is that she has a peaceful life with the only man who could understand the pain she has experienced, and that she is living in a world where her children will never have to live through the things she did. The epilogue, while it may leave many details vague, is true to the character that Collins has developed. To break away from it and give a sweeping summary of the state of panem, would be shallow compared to the rest of the trilogy.
I agree and disagree...Although I did feel it was rushed, I did feel like it ended the right way. I was angry at first, but when Katniss explains how Peeta is her warm spring dandelion, I felt more at ease. I wish that the last couple chapters had been double in length. Especially the fact that the majority of the book centered on Katniss killing Snow, to just have him die without having anyone really know who or what caused it.
Tim wrote: "There are a LOT of complaints about the epilogue, but I think i can understand why the author did what she did. The entire story is told from Katniss's perspective, from start to finish. But by the..."Poetry. I totally agree.
Tas wrote: "Disappointing?
I personally found the ending of Mockingjay OUTRAGEOUS! I was emotionally traumatised (practically!) and all Katniss could tell me was she went to back to D12 and got married withki..."
Jeff wrote: "I liked it. I think the reason it's the lowest rated book in the trilogy: By the time you start the third book, most readers have an idea of how the book SHOULD end. The fact that so many things..."
See that what I thought to i was lke WOW! it just ended
I personally found the ending of Mockingjay OUTRAGEOUS! I was emotionally traumatised (practically!) and all Katniss could tell me was she went to back to D12 and got married withki..."
Jeff wrote: "I liked it. I think the reason it's the lowest rated book in the trilogy: By the time you start the third book, most readers have an idea of how the book SHOULD end. The fact that so many things..."
See that what I thought to i was lke WOW! it just ended
Xperfumex wrote: "what do you think?"Hugely disapointing. Worst finale ever. Even worse than Breaking Dawn, and that is saying something.
^Ehhhh.......even if I did agree that the book wasn't good, I wouldn't take it that far. Breaking Dawn is one of the worst books ever written (it's the worst I've read to date). Atleast Mockingjay had the huge battle at the end that was promised, which can't be said for Breaking Dawn.
Dani, I agree that Breaking Dawn was terrible for different reasons, ie, HUGE ANTI-CLIMAX. But Mockingjay was depressing and anticlimactic in its own way. There was a huge battle but Katniss was not a part of it at all. She was barely there witnessing it but took no part in ensuring the victory. And the victory was a hollow one. The reader was left feeling empty. None of the fun or excitement from the previous books. Ug. I hated it.
Aaron said "But Mockingjay was depressing and anticlimactic in its own way. There was a huge battle but Katniss was not a part of it at all. She was barely there witnessing it but took no part in ensuring the victory. And the victory was a hollow one. The reader was left feeling empty. None of the fun or excitement from the previous books. Ug. I hated it."Exactly!!
Melissa wrote: "yeahcollins shouldnt have included the epilougue. she should have just ended the series when peeta asks katniss "u love me, real or not real?" and katniss answers "real""
I totally agree.
In general, I found Mockingjay to be a disappointment, but the epilogue was what really ruined it for me. Still, I enjoyed the series. The first book was definitely my favorite, though.
Aaron wrote: "Dani, I agree that Breaking Dawn was terrible for different reasons, ie, HUGE ANTI-CLIMAX. But Mockingjay was depressing and anticlimactic in its own way. There was a huge battle but Katniss was no..."Well, when I read I kept in mind all the mess Katniss had been through in the two previous books and the fact that she's only 17, still a kid, so I could understand how after all of that she would begin going through PTSD. But of course, I respect your opinion.
Yes I love love love the series and I really enjoyed Mockingjay (although Catching Fire was my favorite) but the ending of this book was completely lame, and I honestly was disappointed in the ending. As for picking the right guy in the end I just don't know who I liked better for her, I really was a Gale fan, but I love Peeta too.
Tas wrote: "Disappointing?I personally found the ending of Mockingjay OUTRAGEOUS! I was emotionally traumatised (practically!) and all Katniss could tell me was she went to back to D12 and got married withki..."
I completely agree!Finnick's death was completely empty with no point and no resolution at all, just boom...he's dead...that's it. Just because Katniss is just standing there in a trance state doesn't mean the others wouldn't say "Hey, this is getting a bit crazy let's climb this ladder and get out of here!" They wouldn't all just stand there dying, waiting for her to snap out of it. The resolution of the book seemed lazy, like the author was just ready to be done so she skipped most of the follow up with the characters and left it with bare bones.
I loved it, even the ending !
I think she pick peeta was her best choice, the ending kindda short but the best guy won afterall.
I loved every minute of it. Even though it left a lot of unanswered questions, it shows that Suzanne Collins did not want them to be answered. I got over it, and so should you... so stop ranting, children. :)
I thougth the book was as big a letdown as I've ever encountered in a series. The novelty that made book 1 so fun was retread in book 2 and lost it's shiny exterior and was flat out overdone and boring by book 3. I wish I had stopped reading after book 1.
Well the thing is i was Team Gale all the way up to the last couple of pages in the last book... He designed those bombs that killed primrose. and im pretty sure that if he waited for katniss o go back to him then she probably would. but he left to district to. after that i didnt necessarily go Team Peeta but i think he did the right thing. so i think she picked the right guy. so.........im still confused and the read the books about 8 month ago
yes i agree it was rushed! i wanted her to patch things up with gale and be friends again instead of him going of to district 2. his ending was SO UNSATISFACTORY!
Daryl wrote: "I thougth the book was as big a letdown as I've ever encountered in a series. The novelty that made book 1 so fun was retread in book 2 and lost it's shiny exterior and was flat out overdone and b..."How so? Mockingjay was completely different from The Hunger Games and Catching Fire...
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