Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #2): Review

Catching Fire

by

Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Buy This Book: Book Depository/Amazon

When Katniss pulled out those berries during the Hunger Games, she made history. For the first time ever there are two victors and her and Peeta both get to go home. Katniss just wants to forget what has happened and go back to life with her family, but it's not going to be as simple as that. Her stunt with the berries has been seen as an act of defiance and rebellion towards the Captiol and is causing unrest in the districts. Peeta and Katniss are about to embark on the Victory Tour, that will take them to every other District, and Katniss must show the people that the only reason she did what she did was because of how madly in love with Peeta she is. If she fails to calm them then she will have President Snow to answer to, and the consequences will be devastating, not just to Katniss, but to everyone she knows. 

I actually really enjoyed rereading this book before the movie. It is such a great sequel and is full of tension and action from the beginning. After reading The Hunger Games, I was certain that the second book could not live up to it, but it exceeded my expectations. 

After the horror of the Games I was really intrigued to see what would become of Katniss after that, it's quite obviously not something she can just get over. I was interested to see how it would affect her as a person and the people around her. What would become of her relationship with Peeta? How would her relationship with Gale develop now she was back home?

One of my favourite scenes in the book occurs near the beginning, which is when President Snow visits Katniss. He is such a great character as far as the villain goes; so easy to hate but so cutting and clever at times that you have to applaud him. He warns Katniss that if she is not able to calm down the other Districts and stamp out any thoughts of rebellion that her stunt with the berries has ignited; then she and the people she loves will suffer. He explains it so well:

"Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire, you have provided a spark that, left unattended, may grow to an inferno that destroys Panem."

The Victory Tour was really great as well, and I loved the visit to District 11; it had me choked up just thinking about poor Rue. It also provides us with many great Haymitch moments, as well as Effie ones. They are both hilarious characters for these books and both provide great comic relief during the tougher, more serious parts of the book.

The Peeta, Gale & Katniss love triangle is played out so perfectly in this book. I found myself changing my mind as much as Katniss did. In the first book we see minimal Gale because she spends most of her time in the Games, so it's nice to get to know him a bit better in this book. Gale and Peeta both show their devotion and love for Katniss so much during this book, you kind of feel bad for them both because she doesn't seem to truly feel that way about either most of the time. 

Gale gets a lot more time in this book, and so does the feelings that Katniss has for him. She switches between the two so much that it kind of makes your head spin a bit with trying to keep up. At one point I am almost certain that poor Peeta is going to have to forget any thoughts he has of himself and Katniss being together.

"Gale is mine. I am his. Anything else is unthinkable."

She changes her mind so often, or spends her time so indifferent to either of them that I found myself feeling so sorry for both of them. Katniss, well let's be honest, she didn't seem to deserve either of them. Haymitch said it much better than I could ever say it myself:

"You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him, you know."

Now the Quarter Quell, which happens every 25 years of the games, is something that we hear about during the beginning of the book, but it doesn't really become important until about halfway. Honestly, this is a 472 page book and the Quater Quell doesn't become an important event until about 200 pages in. I was actually surprised by this turn of events in the book, because of events that happened earlier on I was sure this wasn't where the book was going. Katniss meets two escapees from District 8, who plant the idea that District 13 may still be out there somewhere.The first time I read the book I was certain that this book would take us out of District 12 and follow Katniss as she hunted for District 13, not back into the Games. But I am really glad it did, because it all just worked so well in this book.

Something I really did love about this book, it finally answered a question I had been asking since book one. How did Haymitch win his Games? I didn't see how it had not come up before, or how Peeta or Katniss weren't desperate to find out from someone, anyone. I was really glad that we got an answer to that question in this book.

Sequels can be very hit and miss, especially when it's the sequel to a book as amazing as The Hunger Games. This book had a lot to live up to and it delivered for me, and still does every time I reread it. I am so happy that the movie adaptation did the book justice as well. As far as book sequels go, this really is one of my favourites. 

5/5 Stars

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - The Movie & My Thoughts!

Hello!

I have been slightly absent on the blog this week, apologies! It has been a rather hectic week for me. I have had work and if I wasn't working than I was having a Harry Potter movie marathon with my friend, to distract us from the wait to The Hunger Games double bill last night. I am seeing Catching Fire again tomorrow after work and so blogging won't resume like normal until Saturday.

So luckily I am from the UK and was able to see Catching Fire at midnight last night. It was actually incredible. I have to admit that the first time I saw The Hunger Games movie, I was actually really disappointed. It just missed out so many great things from the book but it also just seemed to lack something. It didn't completely capture the magic of the book, nor did it show the true horror of the games. But the more I have watched that movie, the more I can appreciate how good it actually is. Catching Fire, it impressed me from the beginning.

They miss things out, which is always the case with movie adaptations, but got so much right that I forgave the things that had been omitted. Watching the movie, you were able to see why they had left it out or changed things. They worked so well in the book; but those same things wouldn't have worked so well on screen. This movie had my heart pounding with fear one moment, then laughing, then on the verge of tears; just like the book.

This movie did the book justice so much that I am sure I will see it multiple times in the cinema. I'm actually going to see the movie again tomorrow! I love the new characters, they are all played really well. Personal favourites were Johanna and Finnick; they were really great and lived up to how much I loved them in the books. 

Johanna was especially well played. She had the right attitude and had me laughing as much in the movie, if not more so, than she did in the book. I was so happy they kept in the lift scene with her, I was so worried they would cut it from the movie! 

The whole love triangle aspect of the book is played out perfectly on screen. My friend and I, we found ourselves switching from Gale to Peeta so fast our heads began to hurt. The movie did a great job of showing just how easily Katniss could find herself with either of them. 

The Games are done a lot better in this. In contrast to the book, the first film made the Games seem much less brutal. This isn't the case here, you feel it a lot more; the fear and panic of the tributes. I don't even really know where to begin with expressing my love for this film. I am just so happy they did such a good job. One of my all time favourite book to movie adaptations, ever!

GO SEE IT! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want My Cousin To Read

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke & The Bookish. Each week they host a different top ten topic. This weeks is:

Top Ten Books I Want My Cousin To Read


My cousin turned eleven in August, and as her mum; my aunt, had passed away quite suddenly, we all wanted to do something special for her birthday. We took her to see Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and a meal out in London; but I wanted to give her a gift just from me. I couldn't think what I could do for her that would make the day special, all I could give her was what I know best, books. Books are the perfect gift, I wanted to give her a world so rich that she could get lost in it. I chose The Hunger Games, which is one of my all time favourites, and after my cousin finished it she honestly said: "I didn't realise books could be that good.", which I not only found adorable but it made me happy. Now I want to introduce her to more young adult book series that I love.


More Young Adult Series She Can Love

1. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

This has to be number one. The rest of the books will be in no particular, but Harry Potter has to be number one. I think it's one of the greatest worlds that I have ever lost myself in. This is a world I can revisit even now. I got lost in the whole world, the books, the movies, the studio tour, the walking tour, anything Harry Potter. I want to share this with my cousin, even if she says she doesn't want to read it.

2. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Lyra Belacqua, I love her. She stole my heart in The Northern Lights and still to this day I think she is one of my all time favourite lead characters in a book. This book gave me Pantalaimon, and the idea of dæmons, animal beings that stay with you throughout life; who doesn't want one of those. Such an amazing series and something I have to share with her. 

3. Noughts & Crosses Series by Malorie Blackman

I love these books. I love them! I fell in love with both of the main characters, Sephy and Callum and loved having both of their point of views. It was a book that had me proper sobbing, but although it's sad I still love it. I'm hoping my cousin falls in love with these books as well. 

4. The Sight Series by David Clement-Davies

This series is amazing, and one I read for the first time when I was about the same age as my cousin is now. It is a really great series and it's told from the perspective of wolves, wolves! A really great world to get lost in, but not a light and fluffy animal read at all. It's actually pretty brutal at time and had me in tears multiple times. I still reread these books now, would definitely recommend them. 

5. The Declaration Series by Gemma Malley

Another great series that I think she will like. I found these after I had read The Hunger Games and was dying to find more dystopian fiction. They are a lot more light-hearted than The Hunger Games, the female lead isn't as strong as Katniss; but I loved this series when I read it. I haven't reread it for years now, but I hope it's a series I'd still love now if I did.

6. The Matched Series by Ally Condie

Another great series that I found whilst trying to find more dysopian fiction that I could love. I believe it's another series my cousin can really get lost in and really enjoy. Although these love triangles are getting a little old in books! 

7. If I Stay Series by Gayle Forman

When I read If I Stay it really touched me, it's such a beautiful book. When a car crash kills Mia's parents and brother, she is the only one left alive, able to watch her remaining family as they grieve for her and hope she wakes up. But she has to make the decision of if she wants to stay behind, knowing how hard life will be without all the people she loves most. Such a sad but moving book. Where She Went was a great sequel as well.  

Stand-Alone Young Adult

8. Firebringer by David Clement-Davies

David Clement-Davies is a master at books told from the perspective of animals. I just fall in love with them and I would honestly recommend them to children and adults alike. My cousin has to read and love these books or I will have to disown her. 

9. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

I love this book, I honestly just want to recommend this to everyone. I'm giving a copy away in my Giveaway because I love it that much. But as it deals with some really tough issues and has a rather taboo subject matter; I don't think it'll be appropriate for her to read until she is a bit older and can actually handle it. Then she will probably hate me because it will make her cry like a baby. 

10. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

A really beautiful book that deals with the mourning of a loved one. I thought it was a really beautiful story and showed just how crazy and emotional loss  can make a person. At times I kind of wanted to shake or slap Lennie, but I loved her. I think it's a book she can really appreciate when she's a little bit older. 

So there you have it, some of the young adult novels I would want her to read. There are loads more, including adult fiction but for now these will do. Divergent by Veronica Roth would have made the list, but after reading the huge waste of time that was Allegiant, I can't do that to her. 

I would love to hear your voice, but most importantly I would love to hear one book that you think I have to read. Let me know and leave a link to your own Top Ten post so I can check it out.

Also This Week:

My WWW Post

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

My Weekly Book Haul

My Feature & Follow Friday

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I would also like to thank the people who followed me this week, thanks so much!

A Bibliotaph's Reviews, 2 Bookaholics, As The Page Turns, Home of a Book Lover, 

Confessions of a Book Addict, Moonlight Library, Book Beats, Donnie Darko Girl,

The Four-Eyed Cat Reviews, Dandelion Dreams, N J Kinny, Literary Chameleon, 

Jen's Book Bloggin, Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic, Bookish Findings, 

Blog the Eclectic, A Novel Idea, Go Book Yourself, Diva Booknerd,

Head in the Clouds, Elegantly Bound Books, Paper Cuts, Bookfever,

The Bookaholic Blurbs, Ruby's Books, The Reading Nook.

Thanks! 

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: The Review

The Hunger Games

by

Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic 

Buy This Book: Amazon/Book Depository

The country of Panem, a place that used to be known as North America, is all that remains after droughts, storms and flooding seas swallowed the land. The country banded together and Panem was built; the Capitol, at it's very centre and thirteen Districts surrounding it. But an uprising left District 13 obliterated and the other twelve at the mercy of the Capitol. The Treaty of Treason was created to keep the peace and The Hunger Games began. Every year each District is required to offer up one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 as tribute, to fight in the Hunger Games. Only one can win, it is a game of kill or be killed. Katniss Everdeen knows the odds are not in her favour, her name has been placed in twenty times this year, but she never expects her sisters name to be chosen. Katniss is unwilling to let her twelve year old sister to go and volunteers to take her place as tribute. She's not expecting to have to compete with Peeta Mellark, a boy who once showed her an act of kindness that saved her life. She leaves her family behind, with the knowledge that she will probably never return and the hope that her best friend Gale will watch over her family for her. 

This is a book that I find very hard to review. Not only is it one of my favourites, it is now so well known that I feel everything that can be said about it, has been said. But as I have just reread it for the movie, I really want to put my thoughts down about the book. But also some thoughts about the movie adaptation as well. 

One thing I love about this book is Katniss, she is such a strong lead character. She isn't the perfect, happy lead; she's flawed, moody and damaged. She's struggled through life in District 12, through her father's death, her mothers emotional abandonment, starvation and the responsibility of looking after her sister. All of these things have left their mark and it's clear in the way Katniss talks, acts and thinks. I like that about her, that she's a hard person to get close to but that she is fiercely loyal to the people she loves. 

The love triangle, I think it's something that gets overused in lots of series now, but The Hunger Games is honestly the first time I had ever come across it in a book series. This is one of the few books where the love triangle doesn't bother me and I think it's because you can understand why she would choose Gale or Peeta. Gale knows everything about her life before the Games, how much she has struggled since her father's death, her love of Prim and all the reasons she can't forgive her mother. But Peeta, he understands her life after them; he knows how it feels to kill another human being, to watch as people you care about die in front of you. Peeta can understand everything the Games will turn Katniss into. I think I enjoyed the triangle so much in this because I wouldn't have been upset whoever she chose, yes I had my preference, but I would have understand why she chose them. 

This book gives us such an abundance of amazing secondary characters, that it's actually really hard to know where to begin. Haymitch and Effie, the drunk and the one who seemed completely oblivious to everyone else's feelings or plights, but who really did care for Katniss in their own ways. Cinna, oh where do I begin with Cinna? I love him. He did all he could, everything that was in his power as a stylist, to ensure Katniss the best chance of survival in the Games. The other tributes also come into their own during the Games, once we are down to a smaller group.

 Rue completely stole my heart in this book and I wish more of her story could have been added into the movies. The moment where Katniss receives bread was such a touching moment in the book, it really choked me up, but in the movie it wouldn't have made as much sense, or had such an impact. Thresh was another tribute that I fell in love with in this book, I kind of rooted for him as well! The tough thing about reading a book about a fight to the death between twenty-four people is that you are going to see a lot of characters you like die. 

Something that the book did for me that the movie didn't, was show just how brutal and tough the Games are. The movie, which was much more subtle because it needed to keep a certain age rating, wasn't able to put across how harsh the games were; at least in my opinion. In the movie, the Games feel like they only take place over a matter of days whereas in the books it takes weeks. During this time, Katniss faces starvation, dehydration to the point where she is on the brink of death; something I never felt in the movie. I loved the adaptation, it was so great in so many ways but it did fall short on certain things. One thing I believe they got spot on is Jennifer Lawrence, I can't actually imagine anyone else playing her! She played her so well and really showed Katniss's surly, moody, damaged side really well and then was able to show her softer, more caring side that had me in tears many times. 

This book has fast-past action, emotional scenes, a tough female lead and strong, unique secondary characters that really bring the book to life. I love this book, love this series and can only really gush over them for so long. I would honestly recommend to anyone, as I feel that everyone should get to enjoy this amazing book. 

I recently gifted my cousin the series for her birthday, not sure whether she would enjoy them or not - she had just turned eleven and had only really read young junior fiction like Jacqueline Wilson and Karen McCombie. But honestly, when she read the first book and I asked her what she thought; she honestly replied: "I didn't realise books could be this good." That basically sums up the Hunger Games. 

5/5 Stars

Feature & Follow Friday #5

 

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog of the week. It is a way for blogs to gain exposure but also so you can check out and follow other blogs

If you want to take part you must follow both hosts and both featured bloggers. Then add your own link and go visit and follow some bloggers. If someone follows you, you follow back. Simple.

This weeks question:

Are there any book to movie adaptations where you think the movie is better than the book?

This is really hard for me, because when it comes to my all time favourite books - The Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games trilogy as two examples - the books will always be better. They let you into the minds of the characters in a way the movies don't, they give you all the detail that movies can't squeeze into 120 minutes of film. Don't get me wrong, I still love the movies; still go the midnight premières and get excited for them all. But to me, the books will always be better. So instead I'll do:


Movies adaptations that were as good as the book:


Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet

It's technically a play, but I'm counting it. I know this is vastly different from the original work of William Shakespeare, but I think it was a stunning, original adaptation and I absolutely love it. It was visually stunning:



Plus, Leonardo DiCaprio is gorgeous in it, Claire Dane's is spectacular and it made me forget in the orignal it's a 13 year-old marrying a 17 year old. I know Baz isn't for everyone, but I love him.



Fight Club

Based on Chuck Palahniuk's rather amazing book of the same name. I loved this movie adaptation, I absolutely loved all the portrayals and think Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden was just phenomenal. How this did not get him at least an Oscar nomination, I will never know! A bonus is the fact Brad Pitt is unbelievably good looking in this movie. This book and movie gives some of the best quotes ever.

Yes, please! 

Best quotes:

Tyler Durden: Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place, we have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off. 

Tyler Durden: It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.

Tyler Durden: You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.



The Road

The Road by Cormac McCarthy was a book I found beautiful, absolutely stunning. So when the movie was released, I was pretty certain it would be rubbish and I'd be left really disappointed. I wasn't. I really loved it, from beginning to end and I felt it worked well.



The Notebook

Based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. I'm not really a fan of Nicholas Sparks books, but after watching and loving The Notebook, I gave the book a try. It actually worked quite well and I enjoyed both. But the movie might actually be better in my opinion. Mainly for the gorgeous leads and the beautiful settings.



It also gave some really beautiful quotes:

Noah: The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that place a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever. 

Noah: I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.



And the ones I had to come back and add on because I forgot them!!!! 


Life of Pi

My god, this movie! This movie, my god! It was just incredible.Visually stunning and did the book justice so well. I found the book hard going, it was very slow and it wasn't till the end that the book blew my mind. This movie had me from the beginning and was so glad Ang Lee got the Oscar for Best Director, he deserved it! How did I miss this off?




Silver Linings Playbook

So very different to the book in so many ways; but I loved them both! Plus I love Jennifer Lawrence!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I loved the book and the film. This movie was a really great adaptations and Ezra Miller was absolutely fantastic in this! The trailer is also amazing. 

The Help

Loved the movie. Loved the book. Both made me cry! 

WOW! I thought of way more than I thought I would. But now, NO MORE adding on!

In most other cases, I usually always enjoy the book more!


If you follow, make sure to leave a link to your blog so I can come check out your post and return the favour!

To be honest, when it comes to book adaptations, I think Axis of Awesomes - Rage of Thrones explains my feelings best!

"What's wrong with you people? No one reads any more. Your imagination is a fun place to explore. Go to a library or a f**king book store. Take it from me, you'll enjoy the book more! Harry Potter, the book was better! The Hunger Games, the book was better. The Lord of the Rings, the books were probably better. The Cat in the Hat, the book was BETTER!"

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