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sun surfer · 09-02-2012, 01:05 PM

I just finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. What an excellent Y.A. read!

The first book was good, but this book is twice as good. If only all sequels could be!

What I love about this series too is the strong, brave female protagonist who is often saving the guys, but that she's also well-rounded as a normal girl who can also be in love and have conflicting feelings. Though the books are violent (way more violent than the film in my opinion) I still think it's a great read for teens and tweens, boys and girls, because of the way it portrays a strong female teen and the message that gives.

Spoiler:

As to the plot, this book is twice as good as the first because it's twice as inventive and surprising.

I read the first book last year so awhile ago, and had been wondering what the heck could happen the last two books now that Katniss won her games. Will the next book be her mentoring somebody? Or will some war start by book 2?

Unfortunately, just a week or two before I was hoping to start reading Catching Fire, I heard someone mention something out of the blue talking about a reality show along the lines of, "Oh, an All-Stars? That's be sort of like in The Hunger Games!" And my mind clicked two and two together immediately to realise the next games would be an All-Star match and Katniss would have to go back in.

It's so annoying for two reasons. One is that that's the biggest out-of-left-field surprise of probably the series and it was spoiled for me just before I was about to start reading it. So instead I spent the first 50-100 pages thinking "Would I have been able to guess it beforehand if I hadn't already known?" (my conclusion was no; it would've taken me by surprise)

Second, that the person talking had no reason at all to mention The Hunger Games. The conversation was about a silly reality tv show, and "All Stars" is not some exotic concept that one needs to relate to The Hunger Games to understand. All Stars shows happen all the time in real life on "real" reality shows. So for her to leap to having to relate something very normal to a plot point of a fantasy book series is strange, but ironically somehow just had to happen to spoil me right before I started reading!

Anyway, I thought the "all star" idea featuring players of all ages for The Hunger Games was very interesting, and the 80 year old lady volunteering in the one district made me tear up! (as did her sacrificing herself later on too)

Also, the course was very interesting. And the ending! I was trying to figure out what would happen; I knew something would happen before they all died. But no more District 12!

I haven't read book 3 yet but I have a feeling Catching Fire is the high point of the trilogy. Like Harry Potter, I can't imagine the final Hunger Games book can be better because it must be a little predictable - a war must come and the good guys win with some deaths along the way. Though I am interested to see what's up with District 13.

And I'd just like to say - I'm rooting for Peeta! It just seems like it's set up for Katniss to end up either alone or with Gale, and that Peeta will either end up dead or the head of a new society after this one is overthrown.

But I'd rather whatever happens, Katniss end up with Peeta. I think that's the way it should be and he deserves it dang it! (but don't tell me or give me any hints; thanks!

)

09-02-2012, 01:05 PM	#14118
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	I just finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. What an excellent Y.A. read! The first book was good, but this book is twice as good. If only all sequels could be! What I love about this series too is the strong, brave female protagonist who is often saving the guys, but that she's also well-rounded as a normal girl who can also be in love and have conflicting feelings. Though the books are violent (way more violent than the film in my opinion) I still think it's a great read for teens and tweens, boys and girls, because of the way it portrays a strong female teen and the message that gives. Spoiler: As to the plot, this book is twice as good as the first because it's twice as inventive and surprising. I read the first book last year so awhile ago, and had been wondering what the heck could happen the last two books now that Katniss won her games. Will the next book be her mentoring somebody? Or will some war start by book 2? Unfortunately, just a week or two before I was hoping to start reading Catching Fire, I heard someone mention something out of the blue talking about a reality show along the lines of, "Oh, an All-Stars? That's be sort of like in The Hunger Games!" And my mind clicked two and two together immediately to realise the next games would be an All-Star match and Katniss would have to go back in. It's so annoying for two reasons. One is that that's the biggest out-of-left-field surprise of probably the series and it was spoiled for me just before I was about to start reading it. So instead I spent the first 50-100 pages thinking "Would I have been able to guess it beforehand if I hadn't already known?" (my conclusion was no; it would've taken me by surprise) Second, that the person talking had no reason at all to mention The Hunger Games. The conversation was about a silly reality tv show, and "All Stars" is not some exotic concept that one needs to relate to The Hunger Games to understand. All Stars shows happen all the time in real life on "real" reality shows. So for her to leap to having to relate something very normal to a plot point of a fantasy book series is strange, but ironically somehow just had to happen to spoil me right before I started reading! Anyway, I thought the "all star" idea featuring players of all ages for The Hunger Games was very interesting, and the 80 year old lady volunteering in the one district made me tear up! (as did her sacrificing herself later on too) Also, the course was very interesting. And the ending! I was trying to figure out what would happen; I knew something would happen before they all died. But no more District 12! I haven't read book 3 yet but I have a feeling Catching Fire is the high point of the trilogy. Like Harry Potter, I can't imagine the final Hunger Games book can be better because it must be a little predictable - a war must come and the good guys win with some deaths along the way. Though I am interested to see what's up with District 13. And I'd just like to say - I'm rooting for Peeta! It just seems like it's set up for Katniss to end up either alone or with Gale, and that Peeta will either end up dead or the head of a new society after this one is overthrown. But I'd rather whatever happens, Katniss end up with Peeta. I think that's the way it should be and he deserves it dang it! (but don't tell me or give me any hints; thanks! )