Catching Fire

Of course you don't. But after receiving this book in the mail today, I got so excited, I immediately plopped down on to the couch (after five minutes of difficulty in opening the package), planning to read the entire book through without any interruptions. Of course, that didn't work out, what with dinner, and phone calls, and such, but I couldn't care less, because this sequel makes me want to explode. In a good way. I have been waiting for this book for such a long time, and so I read the entire book today, the day I got it. And I honestly have on idea where to begin. I don't want to mention any spoilers in this review, but it's not hard not to, so I AM going to mention spoilers from the first book, The Hunger Games, so I wouldn't advise reading this review if you haven't read the first book in the trilogy. So... let's start with the beginning, which isn't really much of a spoiler. Katniss sits in the woods, on the day of the Victory Tour, reflecting on everything that's happened to her since the Games, and all the new developments. She's got so much to juggle on her plate, and, thanks to her new home and new riches, which are all prizes and rewards for winning the last Hunger Games, she's got plenty of time to think about it. Before the Games, she spent all her hours combing the woods, hunting illegally for food, lest she and her family starve to death. Now, with all the newly gained riches, she doesn't need to hunt. With all that time left over, all she can think about is how complicated her life has gotten since the Games. And that same day, just before the Victory Tour, she gets a surprise visitor, and, suddenly, things get even more complicated, but now, they get dangerous, and not just for her, but her family and friends, who could be killed if she makes one wrong move during the Tour. Okay, enough with the summarizing, let's get to the review. Since the last book left off where it did, I was immediately hooked upon this book, clinging to every detail, reading so fast, I had to go back a couple of times so that I could understand a sentence. And starting from the end of Chapter 1, things started to get interesting (remember the surprise visitor?). This entire book is nothing but twists and turns that readers can hardly anticipate. I'm continually impressed by Ms. Collins and her ability to lead the readers one way, but suddenly throw them off completely by introducing yet another startling... er... revelation? At any rate, this book moves along so quickly (especially in the second half) and for some reason, the humor just gets cranked up and I can't help laughing, especially at the interviews, though they weren't really that funny (don't dwell too much on that last part of the sentence, because there's a tiny spoiler there). Okay, so I'm probably making it sound like I think this book is perfect. It IS extremely well written, the emotions are strongly conveyed, and the reader can easily get lost in to this book. The one confusing thing in the book is how much new characters are introduced. Some are easier to remember, like Plutarch Heavensbee (though I'm not sure if I spelled that right) or Finnick, but others, like Brutus (I'm not even sure if that's the right name), are harder to remember. But if you're not too lazy, it's less confusing when you reread the book (though I haven't done that yet). Okay, and now for the big finish, in both this review, and in Catching Fire. I DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING. Okay, maybe, I did, just a little. But still, even if I could've predicted that, it still leaves you in absolute shock, making you stare at the book, mouth gaping, for at least a full thirty seconds (that is, of course, unless you have a heads-up, like I did). The Hunger Games left off at the train station, with Katniss confused about her feelings towards Peeta. CF, on the other hand, well, this leaves off with a total cliffhanger. Not that the Hunger Games didn't, but CF is different than THG. What I mean, is that the last sentence in the book reveals something so shocking and astonishing, it's like being doused in water while sleeping - just so abrupt. It is a bit of an odd place to stop the book, but just the fact that... Wow, it's really hard not to say a thing about it, but let's just say that, that it's unexpected. Though it is pretty clever. A sure fire way to get people to read the next book, unless people hate this one. But with a cliffhanger like that, even if I hated this book, I would feel compelled to read the next book, because I would never be able to keep myself hanging like that. It's like I NEED to read the next book because, if I don't, I'll forever wonder what in the world just happened. Five stars for being witty, well-written, unexpected, and overall, just wonderful.

The second book or movie in a trilogy is usually the weakest of the three. This is true for almost every trilogy except for the original Star Wars, where Empire Strikes Back is the best of all the movies. After a perfectly average opening to The Hunger Games I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of the rest of the series. The only reason I kept reading was because I bought a kindle. This book was only seven bucks and near the top of the list in the kindle store so I figured "why not." Now I can think of two trilogies where the second book is the best of the series, Star Wars and The Hunger Games. Catching Fire kind of cheats though because it has two climaxes. For some reason that escapes me, the book one climax is in the beginning of book two. The book one climax occurs when Snow is talking to Katniss in her new house. It's a solid scene and made me excited to read the rest of the book. It's the scene that needed to end off the first book so that I would have been more eager to read the rest of these kid killing stories. The plot of the second book starts out with Katniss and Peeta (still the worst character names of all time, especially Pita Pit Peeta as I call him) going around to all the districts on a victory tour after winning the Hunger Games. I loved where it was going with this. They started at district 11 and what happened there was the most solid story telling in the trilogy. The only other comparable scene was at the beginning of this book with Katniss and Snow. If this is what happened at the first district then I couldn't wait to see what happened in the other districts. Too bad they don't really talk about it too much. Everything gets skimmed over. This is the beginning of a trend that plagues the rest of the books. Skimming. Instead of saying what goes on she just sums things up so that you know all the important parts and she can spend some unnecessary time trying to make me care if Katniss ends up with Peeta or the other guy. I'm sure he has a name but his role in the books is "the other guy." The skimming isn't as bad in Catching Fire but in the third book it is beyond an acceptable level. Despite this there are still lots of things to love about this book. Of course Katniss and Peeta end up back in the games fighting for their lives. I knew this would happen before I read the book. It's on the back cover isn't it? So I wasn't excited because I wasn't sure how the stakes could be raised any higher than they were the first time. The author was able to do that by, surprise surprise, being creative with the arena the game was being played in. The arena was amazingly entertaining compared to the first book where the location barely had a factor in how the game was played. She also raised the stakes by complicating the relationships between the people playing the game. Using the old victors as the tributes raised the stakes because they all knew each other and some were even good friends, but the added factor was that some of them weren't playing the game the way the Capital thought they were playing. It's all a little complicated. I don't expect you to understand what's going on. The protagonist doesn't even understand what's going on half the time. I love the very last line of the book. It sets up a massive cliff hanger which was absolutely perfect and ended the book on just the right level of hopelessness that the second part of any three part story needs. The Hunger Games in Catching Fire are the best of the series. The climax at the end of the book is the best of the series. The characters are the least annoying in this book. The settings are the most interesting, and finally, and most importantly the story is the most entertaining.

Just like the first Hunger Games book it was amazing I had to force myself to put the book down. I am a very picky ready but this series is one that will make me enjoy reading. The book is a brilliant read and such a page turner for me. I also love how the book is written in a way it dose not bore you but makes you what to keep going chapter after chapter. I really do love this book and I adore Suzanne Collins writing.

Solid 4 stars and most definitely recommended to every one. Not much to say except that I liked the second book in this series very much. Although, I admit that there was nothing new that author introduced in the dystopian side of the story( by which I was disappointed but I am willing to overlook it). As like the first part, story is gripping and fast paced. You can't help but love Peeta again. There are Hunger games to entertain the Panem city and as well as you. You can't help to think and feel the same way Katniss does, trusting no one, scared, confused and angry, since you are in her head. I would have liked the story to much greater extent if we could have gotten the glimpses of Peeta's mind(his POV, like the Game of Throne's multiple characters POV), then this would have been pure gold. There were some deaths which did not make any sense to me at all( but its again overlooked). I should warn if you don't have last part (book) of the series then you should not start this book. The ending of this part will keep you hanging in middle, you will die out anxiety before you can buy the last part.

Currently, I am re-reading the entire 'Hunger Games' series for the third time. With most trilogies, after having already read the books twice, they would be undeniably dull by the third time, but not 'The Hunger Games' and certainly not 'Catching Fire'. Katniss Everdeen has returned to District 12, living in a huge house in the Victor's Village, with all the food, money and luxuries she could want- her reward for being joint champion of the last Hunger Games, alongside fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark. But Katniss is far from happy. She is barely speaking to her supposed 'star-crossed lover', subsequent to an argument they had on the train, in the previous novel. Security has been heavily enforced in District 12, leading to increased suffering and punishments for all its residents. And there is unrest in the districts, stirrings of an uprising against The Capitol, that Katniss has unwittingly caused. With the threat of the snakelike President Snow hanging over her, Katniss knows she must face up to her actions and pay the price for the spark of rebellion she has created. And pay the price she does, but not in the way that she expected... An unexpected twist in the third Quarter Quell, the 75th anniversary of The Hunger Games, means that Katniss and Peeta are once more thrust into the arena, alongside 22 other tributes, all of them victors from past Games. This time, Katniss knows she has no shot at survival. Is this the end for the girl on fire? I really love this action-packed sequel to the brilliant 'The Hunger Games', although it is not as good as its predecessor, in my opinion. It does come a close second though. My favourite character is still Katniss, and she has really come along as a character, and the way she handles certain situations, such as her speech in District 11 and the news about the Quarter Quell are very mature and well-written, so it's as if you're experiencing each event through her eyes, and the same goes for all the horrors she faces in the arena. You forget you're sat against your radiator at home- Suzanne Collins' storytelling makes you believe you're fighting for your life in a ticking timebomb of an arena, alongside Katniss, Peeta and their team of allies. I have also gotten increasingly fond of Peeta, as well. His relationship with Katniss has developed a lot and a sweet friendship lies behind their ongoing staged romance. I liked the way Katniss was striving to sacrifice herself, so that Peeta could be crowned victor, whilst Peeta was determined to give up his life for Katniss. I loved the development of my other favourite characters too. In fact, one of my favourite parts of the whole book was when Katniss and Peeta were watching a replay of the second Quarter Quell, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Games, in which District 12's very own Haymitch Abernathy was crowned victor. I liked this bit because I discovered more about Haymitch as a character- how he managed to become champion, how the horrors he witnessed in the arena made him into the sarcastic drunkard he is today, and how there is actually a sensitive, emotional person underneath his cold, prickly exterior. I also liked the introduction of new characters, particularly Finnick Odair. He made a great addition to Katniss and Peeta's team, and within the space of a few chapters, he developed from the shallow, self-absorbed prettyboy that Katniss and the rest of Panem sees him as, to someone friendly and helpful, who has real feelings and a deep concern for others. I particularly felt for him during the jabberjay scene. I really liked the concept behind the book, particularly all the thought Suzanne Collins has clearly put into the arena and the horrors it contains. Each chapter brings a new key event in the story- there isn't a dull moment during the Games. But here comes the problem, just the little teeny problem I have with this book. The bit which is the actual Games only begins about 3/4 the way into the book. The book is 472 pages long, and the Games begin on page 321. Only the last quarter or so is in the arena. That leaves a big chunk of the book to talk about Katniss adjusting back to life in District 12, and her Victory Tour. Whilst all this stuff is engaging and interesting, I felt it was dragged out too much and I wish there had been more arena time. But that's the only issue I have and it isn't enough to drastically bring down my rating. Definitely a worthy successor to the incredible 'The Hunger Games', even if I did prefer the original. I would rate the book..... 9 stars out of 10.

I am once again blown away by this series. This sequel was so intense I didn't know what to do with myself. (Not to mention that I had the great idea to put the soundtrack of the movie as background music, which made it even harder for my heart to cope.) The plot was really surprising and fast-paced and I was always on the edge because I was terrified for the characters. I love Katniss and Haymitch but absolutely adore Peeta. The new characters (especially Joanna and Finnick) are also absolutely brilliant. The different plottwists throughout the story really make everything all the more exciting. As for the Hunger Games, they were simply horrifyingly amazing. The author created something completely mindblowing and I was as surprised as Katniss with each new incredibly smart thing she discovered. I am terrified for the third and final book, I'm not going to lie, but I also can't wait to get my heart broken somehow. I highly recommend this series! Best dystopian I've read so far. “You know, you could live a thousand lifetimes and not deserve him.”

Great story. Book arrived in perfect condition.