Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Author website: http://suzanne-collins.com/

Price: Rs. 295 (discounted to Rs. 221 At Flipkart)/

 $ 9.80 at Amazon

Publisher: Scholastic

Published in: 2010

Pages: 390

Mockingjay is the third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, continuing the story of futuristic Panem and its people ruled by the harsh Capitol. This is one series I truly loved to read; it’s written so well that I couldn’t-just-stop-until-I-read-all-three-books! The basis of Mockingjay is the war that’s brewing between the districts and the power hungry Capitol. Katniss is ready to play her part as the Mockingjay, to act as the symbol of rebellion to bring all districts on their side.....

From the Book cover

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay- no matter what the personal cost. 

My Thoughts

Mockingjay is a book that’s fast-paced throughout. Since it mostly talks about the rebellion, there’s action everywhere: in District 13, in other districts, in the Capitol and that’s what makes this one maybe slightly different from the other two. Not that there wasn’t any action in the first two books, but that it was in plenty in Mockingjay, so that there was hardly any page going by without something happening! It might have been a put off for some readers, but because of so many things happening, I couldn’t put it down, being the action lover that I am!

Katniss is as strong as ever, just this time she’s accepted herself as the Mockingjay and understands her importance in the rebellion. I like that power that’s inside her, evident from the way she thinks and the way she acts, a strong force internal to her. There are some new characters into the story, mostly those who play an important part in helping Katniss and the rebellion in their favour and it was kind of interesting to see some people other than the regular characters. Peeta’s sad state gets kind of scary when we learn about the technique the Capitol people used on him, shocking it was and sent shudders through me. I seriously was afraid of the outcome (though I knew of course, it would be fine towards the end, or how else could the story make any sense, but still). Though, sometimes it seemed like a pain, dragging him along to the Capitol when he wasn’t totally sane yet, because he was there before and could help the others get into President Snow’s mansion; but also at the same time, gives a perspective of Haymitch’s mind and his mysterious strategies. And yes, Haymitch! No alcohol permitted in District 13, so he was usually grouchy about that fact, but otherwise is alert and “in action” throughout, which was good. I was bored reading about him being drunk and lost most of the time.

Overall, almost all characters are alive and very much have a role to consider for themselves: Katniss and her family, Gale, Peeta, Haymitch, Plutarch, Snow, Coin, Beetee (who turns out to be the wire meddling genius doing tricks to the Capitol’s system!), Johanna, Finnick and everyone who could survive the Quarter Quell. Though there’s a lot going on during their preparations, the action speeds up when the force reaches the Capitol, where there are dangers at every corner, literally! It could be a bit tiring, reading all that action in a go.

Even though it kept me hooked onto it till the end, there were a few things that were disappointing. Like there’s a lot of misery, darkness hovering all around and deaths, one of which I really didn’t want to happen and which made me really mad. Then there was the unsatisfactory ending. On second thoughts, maybe I wouldn’t call it unsatisfactory, but it could have been made better with some more explanation. It ended abruptly, with all closings cramped into a few pages. There are many questions in the reader’s mind, not only about what finally happened to the main characters, but to the other, small ones too. When those questions are unanswered, it can be disappointing, like it was in this case (though I quite liked the small epilogue :) ). There are just a few words that explain why Katniss finally chose the person she decided to be with, at the end, and those words were just beautiful!

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.”

Recommended for: Young Adult readers, dystopian lovers and those who like lots of action!

My rating: 4/5

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins

Author Website: http://suzanne-collins.com/

Price: Rs. 295 (discounted to Rs. 227 at Flipkart)

Publisher: Scholastic Books. Published in September, 2009

Pages: 391

*This review might contain spoilers for those who haven’t read the book yet*

Catching Fire is the second book in The Hunger Games series, continuing with the story of the nation of Panem, ruled by the Capitol. The Capitol’s furious at sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen for being smart enough to challenge the power of the Capitol in the annual Hunger Games. Even though what Katniss did was more from instinct and humanity, it started lighting the spark among the people in different districts, especially District 11, where Rue had belonged.  There’s a threat of rebellion and the Capitol would do whatever it can to subdue it.

A visit from President Snow from the Capitol is enough to make Katniss realize that the games aren’t over yet. They’re keeping an eye on her every move and it seems that her family, Gale and Peeta’s families aren’t free from risk either. The Victory Tour shows evidence that the other districts are trying hard to keep patience with the Capitol. Katniss’s sub-conscious move against the Capitol has stirred feelings of rebellion in the districts. The bomb’s dropped when the Quarter Quell is announced- a version of the Hunger Games that take place after every twenty-five years. That’s when the action begins! A new, dangerous arena where unique threats lurk at every corner, powerful tributes who have survived before and lots of surprises!

Catching Fire book cover

Review

Catching Fire being the second book, it took no time in re-introducing the characters, the situation and the danger. Readers can instantly connect with the book as soon as it begins. Though I thought it went a bit slow in the beginning, with lots of descriptions about people, places and what not. For me, the real thing began after about 100 pages, with shocks and surprises thrown at you at every page. That’s when I was totally hooked on to the book!

We come to know so much more about the different characters in this book, so that we can easily create a mental image of them. I liked the way Peeta’s been portrayed- strong, yet sensible, silent and understanding. He’s not impulsive like Katniss and takes it upon himself to keep her alive in the arena. Haymitch does a turn as well- boy, is he smart and clever! I could connect really well with the way Katniss feels all the time- vulnerable and lost before the Quarter Quell and confused during the games and after. Gale was pretty much lost from the book, only making an appearance in the beginning and the end, so I haven’t been able to understand him much. I so loved the way Katniss was being projected as the Mockingjay, the symbol of rebellion!

I loved the way the districts begin an uprising, how the Capitol tries hard to subdue them, the secret about District 13, the fear and desperation among people to survive, the love for each other that they feel, the breathtaking action, new discoveries in the arena and the intellectual way they tackle the difficulties. Though I personally found the arena in The Hunger Games far better. In Catching Fire,the Games had more of the ‘Sinister Game’ element. This time it was very short and far more cruel. But maybe that’s what it was meant to be. Now I can’t wait to read the final book in the series, Mockingjay, which will explore more on the uprisings, the secrets of District 13 and more action!

Recommended for: Teens and adults, those who love action and heart-pounding surprises!

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins

Author website: http://suzannecollins.org/

Find it at Amazon: The Hunger Games

Publisher: Scholastic Books (Published in September, 2008)

Pages: 374

I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this book-which was quite obvious, considering it's been made into a movie and many have tagged it as their favorite! I'm turning into one of those as well, I loved this book SO much! It's a book based in the future, with emphasis on poverty, oppression and reality TV, narrated from the point of view of sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen.

**Spoiler Alert: Ending + story revealed**

From the Book Cover

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the Nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to death on live TV.

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before and survival for her is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review

The book predicts a future where thousands of people are living as poor, where hunted meat and strawberries, blackberries, plants are traded for necessities like grain, oil and bread; where sugar is a luxury to be afforded only by the wealthy. Katniss, a sixteen year old is a strong teenager, who takes up the responsibility of taking care of her mother and sister when she loses her father in a mine explosion when she was eleven. I liked Katniss right from the beginning- strong, responsible, clever and a rebel (which is kind of like me! I am so opposed to anything unfair). The way she deals with her father's loss, her mother's inability to take care of them and her love for her sister, Prim, the way she takes up the challenge of surviving through each day in the Games, shows and proves her inner strength. 

The Hunger Games book cover

The story goes deep into the way reality shows are held. Maybe everything isn't true, but it pretty much explores what really happens- how participants are prepared for TV, for being charming enough to get supporters even though what they really feel is a thousand miles away from reality. In The Hunger Games, however, it's death sentence for 23 of the 24 participants, as the lone survivor at the end is the winner. Above everything else, I just loved the concept. A futuristic world with so many probable problems, the thrilling action and the desire and will to simply survive by a group of teenagers. The writing is such that all the while I was reading I thought I could understand what Katniss was going through, and that is really powerful writing! It made me feel as uncertain about Peeta and Gale as Katniss was and if the author's able to keep you in the characters, I think it's pretty awesome! I was totally hooked, going without food and water for hours and oblivious to what's happening around. I know it wasn't that awesome for some people, but for me it was 'I-haven't-read-an-awesome-book-in-a-long-time-and-this-broke-the-curse'! :D

What I adored

* Katniss. The general character, her mind, her actions.

* Peeta Mellark. Okay, I hardly ever read love stories, especially the mushy ones. I always go for action. Maybe, maybe that is the reason I somehow liked the story going on between Katniss and Peeta. I know, the first love story I've ever liked! That makes this book all the more interesting. ;)

* The descriptions about everything. I had the whole story running in my head as a movie and peculiarly, it matched the real movie. :P These are called amazing descriptions. :)

* The reality about reality TV. How everything's done for the audience and so not what the participant actually does.

* The arena. Thank God for trees, or really, where would Katniss sleep? :P

* Rue and the emotions associated with her.

* The point when the trumpet announced that there could be two survivors- from the same district. (I was 'Yay'! Now both can live!)

* The way Katniss is so easily able to understand what Haymitch, their mentor means to convey through the gifts.
* That Katniss and Peeta win the Games! :D

* The message in the story- of how hard it can be for some people to simply survive, to ensure their loved ones don't die of starvation, to keep on going till the end for those you love. And I've learnt so much about living in the wild that I guess I'll be able to spend a couple of days there myself :P Minus the killing part, of course.

What I didn't like

* The thing that kids in the Game have to die. That's gruesome, and the thought that other kids have to do it. But that's what the Games mean, right? :/
* Some grammar errors. I usually find them irritating, but I somehow let this one pass, I don't know why. I was just so into the story I didn't want to stop reading!

Quotable Quote from the book: "I've spent so much time making sure I don't underestimate my opponents that I've forgotten it's just as dangerous to overestimate them as well"

My rating: 5/5 !

Recommended for: Teens and Adults alike. There's some great story-telling. :)

P.S.: Find the complete book (set of 5 books in the series) here!