Book Club Mondays: Mockingjay

I have finally completed the Hunger Games series. Mockingjay, the third book, definitely kept up the expectations created by both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I will say, of the three books, Catching Fire was likely my favorite.

Mockingjay did a great job of maintaining the excitement level of the series. It chronicled Katniss' evolution from a two-time Hunger Games participant into a main player in Panem's new rebellious attitude, becoming the rebels' own Mockingjay. It chronicles life in District 13, once thought to be uninhabitable, but where all the members of District 12 were moved after the firebombing after the Quarter Quell in the second book. Katniss and Gale join the rebel army, go through training, and set off to kill President Snow.

The book kept my attention just fine, but I almost felt like the ending was rushed, especially for such a thought out and fleshed out trilogy. Still a wonderful end to a great trilogy.

Book Club Mondays: Catching Fire

After reading through two of the three Hunger Games books, I can now definitely understand why they're such a big deal and why so many people have fallen in love with them! The way Suzanne Collins writes is almost addictive; you can't put down one of the books when you start reading them. 

Catching Fire is the continuing story of Katniss Everdeen, shared winner of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, as she gets used to life in the Victor's Village, and as the only surviving female from District 12 in the history of the Games. Considering she didn't come from much, the life change into a place where she didn't have to worry about much was definitely confusing for her - though she got used to it as easily as she could. It seemed as if life was getting back to normal, until President Snow decides that they need to do something 'special' for the 75th annual Games, and calls for a 'Quarter Quell', in which former winners are called back into the arena for a second go-around. At this point, Katniss doesn't seem to care about much but keeping Peeta alive, and the adventure she goes through in this book almost encapsulates the drama of the first book. 

Suzanne Collins is definitely a wonderful writer, gifted with the ability to open up an entire world with her words and ignite a fan base for her writing that's barely been seen before. Since YA fiction seems to be heating up, it's a good time to be a Hunger Games fan!

Have you read it? What do you think?

Book Club Mondays: The Hunger Games

Okay, I did it. I kept hearing about it, and hearing about it, and hearing about it, and I finally decided to see what all the fuss with The Hunger Games was about, since hearing all about the movie's upcoming release. I was absolutely not disappointed.

I was enticed by the promise of a story, that, for once, featured a strong woman. No sparkly vampires or emotional abuse in teenage relationships, just the story of a young girl forced to make difficult decisions by the world around her.

Katniss Everdeen is a talented hunter and archer, and is forced into competing in the yearly Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a fight to the death between two tributes (one boy, one girl) from each district in futuristic Panem, with Katniss coming from District 12 (of 12 total districts). When the name of Katniss' younger sister, Primrose, is pulled at The Reaping, it does not take long for Katniss to volunteer herself as tribute so her sister does not need to feel the carnage that is The Games. Along with baker's son Peeta Mellark, the two go into the arena for the 74th Annual Hunger Games. The cast of characters surrounding them (eccentric emcee Effie Trinket, mentor Haymitch Abernathy and stylist Cinna, to name a few) bring a certain humanity to the story that I'm not certain would have been there without them.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me just say that if you've been thinking whatsoever about checking out either the books or the film - definitely do it. The Hunger Games is definitely worth your time - I started Catching Fire as soon as I could after finishing it!