Mockingjay Song

[redbrunja]

 I was so, so afraid that there would be a huge drop in quality with a sequel, but there really wasn't. Katniss remains the ruthless and flawed young woman that I fell in love with in The Hunger Games. I adored the first half unequivocally. Now, I have mixed feelings about Katniss returning to the games. It feels dangerously repetitive. I was super-pleased that the rebellion is now kicking off (I bet Cinna was/is vital to the uprising) and the destruction of district 12 is the perfect place to end a second book. Collins is now committed to the epic governmental overthrow that I think she was wary of committing to in The Hunger Games and much of Catching Fire. That said, I'm rolling my eyes a bit about Katniss making it out of the Games alive twice within a year.

I can't wait for August.

Comments

[nimblnymph.livejournal.com]

Okay, now I am going to HAVE to buy The Hunger Games. This is like the second or third post you've made gushing over it, and I've come to learn that if you gush I'll probably end up gushing as well.

[syl-luvs-silver.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're going to HAVE to. ;) I've given Hunger Games as a birthday present to two of my RL friends, and it's now on their list of favourite books.

P.S. Pretty sure I recced it to you eons ago... >:/

[nimblnymph.livejournal.com]

You probably did Syl and I just ... forgot because I'm not an elephant.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It's the second straight post, and please read it so I can have more people to talk about.

[syl-luvs-silver.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you decided to go ahead and read Hunger Games! Did I not tell you it would be epic? Do I not have the most fantabulous taste in books? 8D ... Ahem.

I would love to flail with you, but I've forgotten quite a few details. All I know is that the bit in the first book where Kat sings the lullaby to Rue and then is given the moon-shaped bread, was one of the most touching passages I've ever read. And Cinna is just amazing. I pretty much suck in an audible breath every time one of his masterpieces is revealed.

And isn't it great how Kat is so flawed- the fact that she was seriously contemplating escaping from the district in the midst of a revolution?

I noticed you talking about Graceling somewhere else, and just wanted to add my two cents- the storyline was great, but the writing style had me gritting my teeth.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, you have fantabulous taste and the book was epic.

The bit with Rue was heartbreaking and very touching.

And Cinna is just amazing. I pretty much suck in an audible breath every time one of his masterpieces is revealed.

Same here! And I am TOTALLY placing bets on him being an instrumental part of the revolution.

And isn't it great how Kat is so flawed- the fact that she was seriously contemplating escaping from the district in the midst of a revolution?

It's so great. And it makes total sense, too - because Katniss isn't a revolutionary, she's a pragmatist. She wants her family safe and secure. The president lost his country the second he looked at her and shook his head. If he had nodded, it would have taken much, much more and might have been impossible to get her to whole-heartedly throw herself into a rebellion.

I noticed you talking about Graceling somewhere else, and just wanted to add my two cents- the storyline was great, but the writing style had me gritting my teeth.

It was recced to me; thanks for the alternate opinion.

[babydolleyez.livejournal.com]

I actually skipped class the day Catching Fire came out (having read the Hunger Games just the previous week), and sat in B&N reading 3/4 of it.

:laughs: I did love what Suzanne Collins did there- make you think the latter plot of the book feels like a retread, then pull off one of the best last sentences I can remember.

I've gotta say, I also love the development of the secondary cast (Prim, Madge, Cinna, etc). I've always loved ensemble stories, so that's ALWAYS a plus from me.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

If I had had lead time, I would have done something similar. In fact, I pretty much plan to do just that when the third book arrives in my impatient little hands.

make you think the latter plot of the book feels like a retread, then pull off one of the best last sentences I can remember.

Well, it DOES feel like a retread; I don't think where she went with the storyline changed that. But the last line is epic.

I've gotta say, I also love the development of the secondary cast (Prim, Madge, Cinna, etc). I've always loved ensemble stories, so that's ALWAYS a plus from me.

Same here. I adored Katniss's prep team, and Cinna forcing them to get their shit together.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the sequel. I agree about the repeat of the games and about Finnick being awesome. I loved the slow reveal of who he really was.

But that said, I can't wait to August either, it should be awesome.

So awesome.

[afigureofspeech.livejournal.com]

So, I saw that you had a post about Catching Fire and decided, what the hell, I'm going to read it. Straight through. I finished it about an hour ago.

I enjoyed it so much. It kept me booking right along, tearing up in some places (my god, it's like Collins made a list of all the horrible things she could do to her characters, put them in order, and then said ha, you think this is bad? Same in the first book), and introduced some cool new characters who I hope we will see more of come third book. Also, Cinna is just about the most awesome person ever and I really, really want him to be alive.

Perhaps it's because I read it in mostly one sitting and didn't stop much to think about it, but I didn't really have much problem with going back to the arena. It did get a little repetitive, but hopefully Collins will tie it in more in the third book. In fact, I'm hoping for a lot of tying in in the third book. I also discussed it with my RL friend I told you about, and one of the reasons that she did not like the book as much (besides Katniss going back to the arena) was that Katniss was so angsty over Peeta (from the triangle "who do I love" at the beginning to basically the entire Game) and also seemed more immature this time around, as compared to her more capable and pragmatic self in the last book.

It's been a while since I read Hunger Games so I can't really say much by way of comparison, although there was quite a bit of angsting. This book has put me firmly on the "Peeta" side of the line however, though I personally understand some of Katniss's hesitance to do the same; from the fact that she's relied on Gale for so long, when she could not do the same with anyone else, to the fact that her entire relationship with Peeta being something mostly not her choice. But still. My god Peeta had better be alive.

Anyway, while it's not as omgfantastic! as The Hunger Games, I must say I am not unhappy with Catching Fire. More like, it's basically a bridge to the next book, which I absolutely cannot wait for. :)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a fun afternoon.

(my god, it's like Collins made a list of all the horrible things she could do to her characters, put them in order, and then said ha, you think this is bad? Same in the first book),

I know! You can tell that Collins is a true writer.

I also discussed it with my RL friend I told you about, and one of the reasons that she did not like the book as much (besides Katniss going back to the arena) was that Katniss was so angsty over Peeta (from the triangle "who do I love" at the beginning to basically the entire Game) and also seemed more immature this time around, as compared to her more capable and pragmatic self in the last book.

I don't think Katniss lost her pragmatism, but I do think the love triangle was much more in the spotlight and she was AWARE of it, which was a change from the last book. I can understand why it didn't work for your friend.

This book has put me firmly on the "Peeta" side of the line however, though I personally understand some of Katniss's hesitance to do the same; from the fact that she's relied on Gale for so long, when she could not do the same with anyone else, to the fact that her entire relationship with Peeta being something mostly not her choice. But still. My god Peeta had better be alive.

I am QUITE sure he is. And I have to say, by the end of the first book I was firmly in Camp Peeta. I think his and Katniss's relationship is so much more fraught; and I am a sucker for fraught. I also think that he's not comfortable fore Katniss in the same way that Gale is.

Speaking of people who might not survive, I wouldn't be surprised if Cinna died. Although I'm hoping we see a bit more of him when/if that happens.