Jayson’s Reviews > Mockingjay > Status Update

Notes:
(1) I'll take a bit of a break after this. I've been doing daily audiobook updates for two years and, frankly, I don't drive much because of lockdown, which was my main listening time.
(2) As for what's next, I have options. I could do a run of Neil Gaiman books (Neverwhere, Stardust, Coraline) or the James Bond novels. There's no natural successor like there's been.

Notes:
(1) More executioners should wear eyeliner.
(2) Great! As if the book wasn't grim enough, we get a whole chapter about suicide, night terrors, drug withdrawal and trauma.
(3) "Flame envelops the rose and devours it. Fire beats roses again."
- One last fire metaphor.
(4) "I have to remind myself that Gale's in 2 ... probably kissing another pair of lips."
- Seriously?

Notes:
(1) "I dump the pitcher of water in his face. [Haymitch] comes to with a gasp, slashing blindly with his knife."
- A nice callback to the start of the second book. Haymitch will always be Haymitch, war or not. He's the one constant.
(2) "Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now."
- And thus, we have the thesis statement for this book. How utterly nihilistic.

Notes:
(1) "I am on fire. The balls of flame that erupted from the parachutes shot over the barricades, through the snowy air."
- Enough with the fire metaphors! No, my mistake, she's actually on fire.
(2) Snow: "I wasn't watching Coin. I was watching you, Mockingjay. And you were watching me."
- Isn't that a line from ABBA? No, my mistake, that's "Knowing Me, Knowing You."

Notes:
(1) "The main thing I absorb is that fur underwear is a valuable trading item at the moment. Especially for people who left their homes underdressed."
- When it comes down to it, people will protect their loins at all costs.
(2) I've reached the point where THE death happens. You know, THE death that changes the entire series and renders it expressly nihilistic. Ugh!

Notes:
(1) "I'm running on hate. When the energy for that ebbs, I'll be worthless."
- I feel the same way when I'm out of coffee.
(2) "We hastily help one another apply thick layers of makeup, pull on wigs and sunglasses."
- Sounds like a slumber party.
(3) "The fire inside me has flickered out, and with it my strength."
- Okay, Girl on Fire. Enough with the fire metaphors.

Notes:
(1) "It's a long shot, it's suicide maybe, but I do the only thing I can think of. I lean in and kiss Peeta full on the mouth. His whole body starts shuddering, but I keep my lips pressed to his until I have to come up for air."
- The "only thing" she can think of? Apparently, kissing's her default solution in any emergency.
(2) Of all people, why's Gale still alive?

Notes:
(1) Peeta: "You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real."
Katniss: "Real ... Because that's what you and I do. Protect each other."
- Well, except those times those two tried to kill each other.
(2) "I think [Snow] might have recently had more work done ... his prep team really needs to use a lighter hand with his blush."
- Katniss Everdeen, cosmetics expert.

Notes:
(1) "A painted window shatters, revealing the ugly world behind it. Laughter changes to screams, blood stains pastel stones."
- That's some real teen angst poetry there. Katniss' totally emo.
(2) "I sprint across the intersections, holding up a hand for the others to wait while I look for trouble."
- If there's something Katniss is great at, it's looking for trouble.

Notes:
(1) "Squad 451 and the television crew collect dinner from the canteen and gather in a tense circle to eat. At first I think that Peeta is the cause of the unease, but by the end of the meal, I realize more than a few unfriendly looks have been directed my way."
- Even compromised and dangerous, everyone still enjoys Peeta's company over Katniss... well, except Gale.