Mockingjay is not only a status symbol, it's a way of life

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The country of Panem is a war. District 12 is destroyed, and Katniss Everdeen has been airlifted from the Quarter Quell, but her saviors have left Peeta behind. Not understanding her place in the rebellion, and not having faith in the new way of life, Katniss is in constant turmoil. She doesn’t know what to do without Peeta, she knows that she is being watched at all times, either the cameras are watching or the escapees of District 12 or the powers that be of District 13. Unable to place herself in the correct spot, she wanders until she has to make up her mind. Mockingjay is the perfect ending to one of the greatest series in young adult literature.

I recently reread The Hunger Games and Catching Fire in order to remember details that may have been lost along the way over the last year. This decision did not mistake. As I reread the first 2 books of the series, I relived the horror, suspense and phenomenon that was The Hunger Games Series. As this series is placed on the big screen, these books that already have a very large following will blow up. I anticipate the day that these movies come to fruition. This series teaches of politics and human nature. It is filled with love and longings that are magical. It also shows how important even the smallest player in the games can make a huge impact. Not everything is tied up in a nicely wrapped package at the end, but the ending was perfect. I wouldn’t have changed one single word. Collins had a vision and determination when writing this series and hopefully it will be effective in its message.

I love to read, especially on vacation. My friend Genie and I went up to Oregon to see my mom when Mockingjay was scheduled to be released, so I ordered my copy from Amazon, had it shipped to my mom’s house with 1 day shipping. It was expensive, but totally worth it. I finished Catching Fire for the second time, wrote my blog and dove into Mockingjay. I had it the last day of my vacation and then my travel day home. I read it on the first plane, the 4 hour layover in Denver, and then cracked it again on the 2nd plane that landed up in Dallas to end our trip (at 1 am). On the first plane leaving from Spokane, WA, a gentleman about my age pops his head over my seat and inquires about my book. Politely I tell him that I’m enjoying it. He then tells me that he has read the series and was excited that I had the last installment. Up to that point I was enjoying it, but during that first flight, craziness broke in the book and I just kept hoping that the guy in seat 13A would get his copy soon because it is an excellent read.

I really can’t efficiently give a detailed review without spoiling the end for everyone. I was happy with the way the series ended and felt that it was a great way to end a great series. I was upset with Katniss throughout almost the entire book, I wanted to slap her and was glad when Haymitch finally got through to her about how to best help Peeta through his horrible ordeal. I cried with Katniss as she relived the horrors of all the people she had lost, and I smiled as I closed the back cover on the last page. I will reread this series and I hope that you will give it a chance, email me if you want to chat about the details of the world of the Hunger Games, I would love to discuss! Leave me a comment! Are you ready to read, have you already read, or are you disgusted by the thought of the Hunger Games, I know Katniss would be.

The Girl on Fire Ignites

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire has survived the Hunger Games. As victors, she and Peeta are the stars of the show. All begins wrong when President Snow shows up at her home in District 12 and threatens everyone that she loves. She will soon start the victory tour and if she plays the audience right, then she'll save the ones she loves, if not then torture and death are immanent. Once the tour is over she wonders if she has played her part correctly, but is quickly derailed by more turns. Will she survive the impending doom that lays before her or is she just another piece of the Games?

Catching Fire is a great second novel. There are twists and turns that will surprise the reader at every level. I love that Collins has surprises at every level. I have no idea where the story is leading and then here comes a turn of events that I didn't see coming. It's very intriguing. Catching Fire will keep you on your toes and keep you reading until the last page. Even when the last page comes, you can't wait until the next book.

There are a couple of ideas that I’m excited to see come through in the third installment. I won’t go on until the series is over.

Somehow I was distracted after I read Catching Fire the first time. I never wrote my blog. As I anxiously awaited the release of the third book, Mockingjay, I thought that this would be a great time to reread this series that I liked so much. As I reread every word, the feelings of the first time came back to me very unexpectedly. I just assumed that I would read and go on, but there were a lot of details that I had forgotten in the Hunger Games and Catching Fire. It got me all fired up about reading Mockingjay. Now, a year later, here I am writing my blog and I still don't know what to say about the book. I've already given too much information in my summary and I don't want to give up any more details, so I'll just leave you saying, read this book. It is one of the best series I've read, ever.

Let me know what you think about this series. Leave me a comment.

“Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun…”

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


This book was Phenomenal. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. From beginning to end it was non-stop action. The story is so heart wrenching that I couldn’t wait to turn the page. Reading this book was easy, finding this book was a little harder. The way I found this book was through my online book reading community. The first time I heard about it, I saw it on Stephenie Meyer’s website about a year ago and I made a mental note to check it out. I even remember going to the library and searching for it, with no luck. For Christmas 2008, Simon and I received a gift card to Barnes and Noble, since we don’t have a B & N in our town, we had to spend it when we went to Little Rock a few months later. This was one of the books I decided to buy. Of course it has sat on my shelf for quite a while; until one not so special week I decided to pick it up. And I am so glad that I did. With the second installment coming out the following week, I thought what a perfect time to read it. Well, my reading went way too quickly, and then I got stuck with nothing to read for a couple of days.

The Hunger Games is set in the near/distant future, where 12 districts now live in a place called Panem that was once North America. The Capitol rules and no one dares to come up against them. Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl from the smallest most run down district, District 12, the coal district, doesn’t have a perfect life. Her life has not been easy, with her father’s death in the coal mines and her mother going through a deep depression, Katniss steps up to the plate to provide for her family. She manages to hunt outside the district illegally to provide for her mother and beloved little sister Prim. To keep the Districts in line, once a year, the Capitol hosts The Hunger Games. This event keeps peace in the Districts and keeps the civilians in their place. Every district has 2 Tributes drawn, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18, and they will travel to the Capitol to compete in the Hunger Games where, one person will be the victor and the other 23 Tributes will be dead. Every year the Districts assemble together to see which family will lose their child and which families are safe for another year. This year will be change Katniss’s life forever.

This is a story of war where no one truly wins. Even when the victor goes home to fame and fortune with a new life, they never really come home. Every victor has to live with the fact that they are now a killer and the only reason they survived was because others died. They may be the only ones going home, but they will never be the same.


It also is a story of love. There is a very complicated love triangle in the story, which Katniss is totally unaware of until she is faced with certain death. When Peeta Mellark’s name is called Katniss automatically is pained. Peeta has already saved her life in a way she can never pay back. He gave her a will to live when no one else cared and now they are matched up as enemies. The other part of this triangle is Gale. Her best friend in the world and he is left behind while she goes to the games to fight for her life. During the training before the games and during the event itself, Katniss is faced with a hard reality and she is totally blindsided by several revelations. I won’t ruin it for you because it is amazing writing that gets you to the point of no return.

Praise for The Hunger Games:
I have to start with writing style, Suzanne Collins does an amazing job. She writes with such description that I can feel the fire or taste the water. Whatever Katniss is feeling you will feel it along with her. Another concept that I enjoyed was Katniss and her inability to decide what she wants. Because she didn’t know what she wanted, I couldn’t make up my mind what I wanted for her. She was a great character and I enjoyed learning about her as the book went on.

Complaints about The Hunger Games:
One warning that I must include, is that there is quite a bit of political propaganda. There is definitely a political background to the story that could be overlooked, but was definitely underlying throughout the story. I’m never too keen on books that try to push their political views on me, but I found it quite easy to ignore. Therefore I ignored it and enjoyed the book.

So, for those who have read it, which is your favorite? Gale or Peeta? What did you think about the book? Have you read book #2 Catching Fire? Leave me a comment about your thoughts on the series or about my blog!