Catching Fire
Ratings2,350
Average rating4.1
This is going in my “was not expecting that” list. After coming to an abrupt and unexpected ending in The Hunger Games, I had no choice but to move swiftly to the next book. Ah, the benefits of reading popular series years after they were released! To put it simply, I was excited for Catching Fire because I thought the entirety of the book would take place during the Victory Tour. I imagined we would go with Katniss and Peeta to visit all of the other districts; we would get an inside peek at how they all work, their industries, the landscapes, what the people are like, and their relationship with the Capitol. I had a sort of anthropological curiosity about it.
But no, Catching Fire is not a travelogue of their trip round Panem. I was startled to find the Victory Tour over in a minute, and besides the fiasco in Rue's district, we didn't get much information on the other districts at all. It's interesting, because Katniss and Peeta have this newfound understanding of the other districts, at least on a superficial level. They have seen people gather, they have walked on a beach, they have gone across the whole country. Yet us readers are still pretty much left in the dark about what goes on in these places.
I think that ultimately us not coming along for most of the tour was beneficial, because our complete lack of knowledge about most of the districts mirrored Katniss's lack of real knowledge about the districts. Sure, she saw what their center squares were like, and she looked into the faces of a gathered crowd. But this is surface-level. What she really wants to know, and what I really want to know, are about the lives of these people. Are they as discontented with the Capitol as Katniss? What do they really think about the Games? Are they willing to rebel?
Our understanding of the situation in other districts doesn't come from their staged Victory Tour. No; it comes from the people we meet and the connections Katniss makes, which are woven tightly into the story as a whole. When we meet Bonnie and Twill, or accidentally see the news on the Mayor's television, or get to know Finnick and Beetee and Wiress, we begin to put the pieces together about the Districts they are from. Through these characters we get a far deeper understanding than if we simply witnessed Katniss and Peeta on the victory tour. Thus I am glad I didn't go along with them, because learning about the Districts through the characters was far more satisfying.
Oh yeah, and they go back into the arena. I most certainly didn't see that coming when I first picked up the book, but then I heard a sort-of-spoiler about it. I thought Ha! No way. Wouldn't Collins want to explore them in a different situation?
But the hints of the Quarter Quell were concerning. And then the yellow envelope came. If I hadn't heard the half-spoiler, my mouth would have dropped open. Maybe everyone else saw this coming. Alas, since the seed had been planted in my mind, I just thought, “Oh, wow, well, okay. Here we go again.”
It was more of my favorite: Katniss in the (simulated) wilderness, us discovering with her how this environment works, what in it will save her and what in it might kill her. Yet it had a whole other dimension, a different flavor, and different stakes. Finnick really grew on me. I hoped and hoped there would be a rebellion starting from within the arena (the only way it seemed both Peeta and Katniss could come out of this alive), but we're still too close to the events to understand how they will affect the greater whole. Everything is still so immediate. And then the book ends.
And yes, I was fooled again! You'd think I would have learned by now that the Hunger Games trilogy on Kindle does not end at 100%, because there is a preview of the next book to follow it. But no! I thought I had a whole 8% left!
“Katniss, there is no District Twelve.” THE END.
SUZANNE!!
I <3 Finnick! This book is worth reading just because he's in it. lol jk really the book would be great without him.... it's just MUCH better with him
This re-read brought back all the same memories! <3 This story just as much as when I first read it.
“Until one time, I open my eyes, and I find someone I cannot vlock out looking down at me. Someone who will not plead, or explain, or think he can alter my design with entreaties, because he alone really knows how I operate.
“Gale,” I whisper.
“Hey, Catnip.”
The first 2 books in the series a great but that last one was a chore to read. I hated 90% of that book.
If you'd like to read this review on my blog.
Rating 5/5 stars.
Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games, picking up after the games through Katniss' point of view. She's now back at 12th in her new home. But the games may not be over, and she might not be as safe as she though.
This book is one of the most amazing young-adult books I've read. And you might think it's because I haven't read further into young-adult or that I'm not mature enough or something like that. But it's not any of those things. This books is literally so well crafted and with so much character development that I can't but love it and put it in the top places. Fast paced but not rushed. And all the things that happened were so unique and original and sometimes mind-blowing. It really was amazing.
Starting by Katniss and her very special mind. I have to confess, I don't really like Katniss. I mean, I love her, don't get me wrong, she's one of my favorite characters of all time. But I wouldn't have her as my friend. She's not likable. She's not friendly or funny or interesting. And she's crafted this way, on purpose. All this is mentioned in the book. And yet Suzanne Collins finds the way to make us like her, and to make us understand why she's like this and that we can relate to her actions. And that, my friends, it's what I called an amazing character development.
Then we have Peeta. I really don't agree when people say that Peeta is useless. I think that we're so used to have a knight in a shining armor as the love interest of the main character, and that's just not true. Not every man is as smart, strong, pretty, etc, as their counterpart. They can be weak, they feel, they can be scared. And that's exactly what Peeta represents. He's not useless, he does the best he can with the skills he has and he does a damn good job out of it.
Also, the rest of the characters are amazing as well, not really going deep into them, but they're worth the mention. Gale (idiot), Haymitch, Cinna, etc.
About the plot, I found it to be super interesting and fast-paced and action-packed. There were times where they weren't doing much, but all the talk and thinking that Katniss did, kept me super gripped. Some people say those parts were boring and I don't see it, I though they fit perfectly with the book and read it super fast.
Of course, I found myself highlighting so many parts that I loved and made me scream and shriek and curl on the floor with all my feels. And maybe, just maybe, I shed a few tears for a dear friend.
Overall, Catching Fire is the best sequel you could ask for in a series, specially one that came from such an amazing first books as The Hunger Games. And I can definitely say that this is my favorite book in the whole series and that I'd read it a hundred times (like I already have) over and over again. And, yes, I do recommend it to anyone who wishes to read.
PD: surprisingly, I don't have a review up for The Hunger Games, but maybe soon I'll do one?
The Hunger Games series is set in a dystopia society where lands are separated into districts and must do a lottery to decide who will fight to survive in a lethal televised event, called the hunger games. Change comes from a girl who only wanted to protect her family has to decide if she wants to be the symbol of revolution. Katniss has to make some tough decisions in this incredible thought provoking series.
A bit boring. in comparation with the other two, this one is the worst but it's also cantastic.
85/100
Catching Fire is a definite improvement on the first book. While The Hunger Games had a lot of general appeal, I felt that Catching Fire was much more human in its presentation of what was happening to the characters. The victory tour portion near the beginning did drag a little, but it really wasn't long, I mostly just think that the things that Suzanne Collins thought would make things interesting during that part didn't work because we already knew the Capital sucks. Everything past this good, though; whereas the human elements of the first book felt slightly manufactured, this did not because it more closely relates to real world situations. (I understand that the existence of the hunger games is supposed to mirror the iraq war and how it was portrayed in the media, but the concept still doesn't closely relate to what happens to real people in practice.) This book has depictions of fear and violence that mirror real life in ways that the drama-focused angle of the first book can't. I'll say that there is a thematic reason for this, in that you realize over time that the threats she's been dealing with do show up in some form in our own world, but the credit still goes to books 2 and 3 for conveying that theme. The Games portion of this book is very well done, but I find the middle area more compelling, all the way from Gale's whipping to Katniss' preparation to enter the Games. The drama is just extremely well done and captivating. The Games portion is smart, much more smartly written than anything in the first book, and the twist at the end is something I did NOT expect, that had me rereading the ending to really realize the magnitude of what it meant. It explained some things that I initially was weary about and was just a good way to wrap things up and make the stage for the finale. I do want to say that there are a couple parts I don't like. this applies to the first book arguably more than it does here, but I mention it here and not in my The Hunger Games review because it has a much better reason not to exist here, and it's the convenient life-saving that happens during the Games. I understand that there was a need to keep Peeta and Katniss alive that was understood by the ally group, but it got a bit eye-rolling, especially at the part where she's about to be eaten by monkeys and suddenly they all die. Like wow, cool way to solve the problem Katniss, you did absolutely nothing and just got away. That's not frustrating, predictable or contrived at all. The reason I say this has a much better reason not to be present in this book is because to me, its lense is supposed to be less manufactured and more raw, exploring the real, grounded consequences of the superficial nature of Panem's government. This scene, while still kind of sucking, would be excusable in the first book because it's still in the “fight to the death + drama” era of the series. Shit like this shouldn't be happening 3/4 into the second book. Overall though, it's a great read. I admire its structure, presentation of character drama, its depiction of the warning signs of the revolution and the shining personality as well as emotion that Katniss' narration brings.
Contains spoilers
some things are really funny on reread like Finnicks seeming obsession with bread and Katniss being oblivious to everyone flirting with her.
Beetee, Wiress and Mags are Sooo good. the bit where it describes Haymitchs games is iconic. I love and hate it.
there's so much nudity in this book?? like not only is there the famous Johanna scene but she's also naked during training and at one point the main characters all lose their outer clothes and are just in underwear for the rest of the games? what??
I simply couldn’t stop reading, even though I already knew what was going to happen because I had seen the movies. Incredible!
I love how dark and twisted it is, but the pacing isn't as good as the other books in the series.
There are some additional layers and dimensions to this sequel that create a great pace, picking up right where the last left off and giving visbility into the phase of what the aftermath of the Hunger Games looks like. The action scenes continue to be extremely well-written and there are some interesting evolutions of both story and character - with some surprises to boot - that gives the reader the perfect blend of treading new ground, keeping with the premise, and setting things up for an even bigger conclusion in the Book Three.
Summary: Katniss finds herself once again in the arena, this time because she is an enemy of the Capitol. As she tries to survive and fight against the ruling powers, she forms some unlikely alliances and learns that not everyone is exactly what they seem.
Gonna save the bigg ass review for the last book, MockingJay. So excited for that bitch...
This is one of those books where you wonder, “at the beginning of the book,” - why is there a second part to the story? But as you read along, it feels more than the author wanting to write a second book because the first one was popular - unlike Ready Player Two. As the story unfolded, it brought me back to the world of the 12 districts, the capital, and the story of the Hunger Games. As the book ended, I was speechless because so much happened in the last few chapters. So much! I was dumbfounded, and I just wanted to start the third book. The reason I gave this book 4 stars is because of the feeling and the slow pace in the beginning. But as the pace picked up, there was confusion, excitement, laughter, anxiety, and so many more emotions that I felt.
Given that I didn't know if I liked the ending of the first book, I think this book was necessary to make me know more about the story.
Much like the first book, it was good. It was interesting and I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed returning to the world and seeing the next Quarter Quell but in the end, it is kind of forgettable (don't hate me for that) Overall, the characters were good, and it was a good second book where it didn't fall victim to an info dump. I think this was the best book in the trilogy and was ready for the change that was to come for their society.
The book was very good! It was very intense and I was so sorry for what they had to go through.