REVIEW: Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
Pages: 391

Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment. - Amazon. com

It didn't really take long for me to read this. I'm just now getting to the review. Finals week is really messing me up. ):

Anyways. This book is the 2nd in the Hunger Games Series. It delivered just as much of a punch as the first one. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have thwarted the system and both survived the horrid Hunger Games. In this book, Katniss matures as a character as she is forced to visit every district on the Victory Tour and face the families of the very people she killed. When she hears whisperings of a rebellion and a secret district, she is both astonished and empowered. She has become the very face of rebellion in Panem, and everyone is out to keep her alive and perserve her image for all of the people in the nation.

This book, honestly, I can say this is my absolute favorite book right now. It may almost be better than the Hunger Games! This book focuses more on Katniss and her relationships and importance to all the people of Panem. She learns what her act of rebellion has brought to herself, her family, her friends, Gale, Peeta, and so many others that live in District 12 and all the other Districts.

This book is, by design, slower paced than its predecessor. This is both a blessing and a curse. In the beginning, I was looking for all the action, turmoil and twists that the Games and being in the arena had brought. However, there is nothing even mentioned about the Arena until about half-way through this book. Instead, it is about Katniss's involvment in a rebellion, her reaction to this and her actions for her loved ones.

Originally, I was disappointed, but I was rewarded when the plot twisted. I was not expecting President Snow's announcement about the Quell Games, and I actually almost wanted to cry for Katniss and Peeta.

President Snow is someone to keep your eye on. He's sly and a tricky sort of fellow. I certainly can't ever tell what he's thinking.

Haymitch and Effie are also keeping in their respective roles, and I do come to admire Haymitch more. And Cinna. He's definitely one of my favorites. (:

Overall, I did quite enjoy this book. Maybe not as much as the first, because there was less rumble and tumble action, but it was a great sequel and really sped the entire fate of Panem, Katniss, and Peeta up. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Rating: 9 of 10

until next time,

Addy