The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

On the Back of the Book

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

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

I never fell in love with the series and this book was definitely my least favourite of the series. Maybe it's me but for me this book was just a load of fighting stuck together and called a rebellion. There wasn't a story until the end, I mean there were parts that should have been in more detail, even if it had meant switching POV's. I would have rather had a really good multi perspective book that I fell in love with than what I got. The Hunger Games would have worked so well that way. All in all I wouldn't have finished this book if the author's writing style wasn't so easy to read.

I still wasn't 100% with the characters. Katniss had more of a human edge to her but I still don't like her, my main issues are with some of the other characters.

Peeta: I wanted more from him. I mean for an author so happy to describe graphic violence, why wasn't any of the book from his POV? It would have made interesting reading.

Prim: Prim's end wasn't right. It totally invalidated the whole series for me. What was the point? It should have been her mum.

My Rating

2.5 stars - This book was easily the worst in the series, it's just mindless violence. All they could think about was going to war. I gave this book its rating because the reading was easy and because Katniss was slightly less irritating in this one. I was feeling generous as well, on a bad day I'd have given this 2.

A Final Note

As with the rest of the trilogy, this book most definitely isn't for the squeamish. It's got some quite graphic violence in it. I was almost sick with the sheer horror. So people of a sensitive disposition this is one to sit out.

• Book Summary from Goodreads

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

On the Back of the Book

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in the Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense triumph. Instead they have become the poster boy and girl for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bulls eye for merciless revenge by the Capitol.

My Thoughts

I'm still not blown away by the writing and some things actually annoyed me. I mean a list without commas? Grammar's important! Well it is to me anyway.

I still don't like Katniss. She's in this love triangle that she doesn't want to be in, well here's a thought, tell them both no instead of leading them on like a common slapper. One thing which I'm finding really confusing is why do the boys have girl's names? Are you telling me that in the future all names become unisex instead of exotic? If so, that's boring.

However, despite my mini rant, I liked this one. It had more emotion and the sense of the uprising kind of gave the book a better grounding. In parts I actually felt for the character's and their situations. I still don't understand the mega hype though.

My Rating

4 Stars - While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book there were parts, of it that made me recoil in horror and I think it's pretty much safe to say that I'm not a fan of mindless violence.

A Final Note

As with book 1 there is quite graphic violence and if that isn't to your taste I suggest you find a different book. I read these things so you don't have to.

• Book Summary from Goodreads

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

On the Back of the Book

Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. 12 boys and 12 girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There's only one rule: kill or be killed.

When 16 year old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

My Thoughts

I'm going to be honest, I found the book really easy to read but in a way I was forced through it against my will. I lost hours at a time but I didn't actually enjoy what was on the pages and I can't tell you anything about the writing style because I just can't remember.

I didn't find Katniss very likeable and I spent the majority of the book only tolerating her. I respect what she did for her sister but other than that, everything she did was a part of the games. Everything she did was to get her back to her sister, in a way that makes her selfish because she isn't thinking of anyone but herself.

I have to be admit, I don't have the slightest idea what to think of this one. It grabbed my attention - in a bad way. I remember the story - in a bad way. That's just it, everything about this book rubbed me the wrong way.

My Rating

In the end I gave it 3 stars. It doesn't deserve any less, it grabs you and it won't let go. It has it's good points, Peeta is a lovely boy. Although for me the bad outweighs the good, I am part of a minority and practically everyone else who reads it adores it but if I put that I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread I'd be lying and that would contradict my reasons for starting my blog.

A Final Note

One last thing: this book has some very violent scenes that gave me nightmares for a week. If you're sensitive to things like that then step away from the Hunger Games. Seriously read some Enid Blyton with me. There's nothing scary about her books.

• Book summary from Goodreads