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I wish we could give half stars because although I enjoyed this book, it doesn't measure up to the first one. It was still compelling and I couldn't put it down, but the plot was basically the same as the first book. It started off slow and by the time the action started, it felt rushed, as if the author knew she was telling the same story again.

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37781.Things_Fall_Apart?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JBs1PWs0CT&rank=1

Ms. Nystel has read this book!

Dammit! Now I have to go buy the third one.

***DO NOT READ if you have not read The Hunger Games. This is the second installment of the series and you will either be lost to referenced events or character development.***

Refer to my review of The Hunger Games at https://www.libib.com/reviews/566-387445

 

The best description for this book/series in 10 words or less:

"Girl with savior's complex and trust issues kills to survive." 

 

I have read The Hunger Games series so many times that I lost count on how many times I have read it. I feel like the first book is full of so much world-building that you don't see as much of Katniss' growth as you can see it here. There is still some more world-building when it comes to seeing the other districts outside of District 12, but it's more character development and plot development that you see in this installment.

The twists and turns of this entire book were so good, which is why Catching Fire is my favorite book in the trilogy. I thought the arena was absolutely clever in how Suzanne Collins structured it. The part that really intrigued me was how much the other victors truly hated the Capitol. It makes sense but the things they do and say when they go through their pre-arena process. I liked being able to see Katniss' growth as she gets to know and work with the other victor tributes.

The first few times I've read this series I was all Team Gale, but as I get older I have become much more Team Peeta. I think it was Gale's boldness I liked but realized it's more of a boldness out of hatred of the Capitol rather than a real boldness for Katniss. Sure, Peeta never said anything to Katniss until their reaping and (coincidentally) found that the last time he could express his true feelings was then.

I think the star crossed lovers piece in this book is much easier to swallow because you start to see that it may not be entirely fake on either end. Peeta definitely softens Katniss' rough edges and you can see that through her time in both arenas with him.

And boy, that ending! I never saw that coming when I first read the series, but I won't give that away.

I think this book and series deserves all the praise it gets. It's usually one of the first book series I recommend to people who want to get into reading because it takes you for a wild ride.

 

Refer to my blog for a different view of this review:

https://axarr.blogspot.com/2020/06/review-wednesday-catching-fire-by.html

School Library Journal and Common Sense Media: The violence includes deaths by stabbing, shooting, animal attacks, and poison, as well as torture, threats, and explosions. The language includes "s--t," and one bleeped out use of "f--k" and other expletives.

 

Series (#2)

I enjoyed the series, moderately, when I read it three years ago. This second book continued the critique of the Bread and Circuses system, shown in the first book, that pulls resources from the Global South (i.e. particularly Districts 10, 11 and 12) to the developed former colonializing nations (Capitol), still protraying the USA as imperial Rome.

This second book brings into relief the details of the Roman Gladiatorial system, which readers and viewers may not identify with modern life. Perhaps football players and ballerinas 'ruining their bodies for the entertainment of others' comes to mind, similar to the most popular gladiators in Ancient Rome.

But, the revolutionary scenario neglects the difficulties of persuading the elites and semi-elites, Districts 1 and 2 being like some developing countries in terms of rising access to resources, and Gramscian alliances with the Capitol to prevent revolution in the first place.

Overall, while appreciating the references to PTSD, I found the second book more of a thriller than the first book, and a bit less interesting.
ShiraDestinie
U.N. Date: Monday, October 23, 12014 H.E. (Holocene/Human Era)

- Quote: Aim higher in case you fall short
- Thoughts: Way better than the movie, wich I truly can't remember anything in part 2 and 3. This probably means I got a really good nap at the theater at the time.
Well, I got some philosophy out of this book that of course I can't write here nor at any public place for not living in a free country, don't get me wrong though, it wouldn't be the government that would get back at me for saying my mind, not for this, I would simple be heavily harassed by people with different mindsets that don't like some truths. So I'll just shut up.
A lot of Catniss not knowing what she want though, probably good for teenagers
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These are my personal opinions, you may discord, my final rating of the book is not necessarily linked to this system and may diverge from it.
Book Storyline
- Originality: 5/5 stars
- Development: 4/5 stars
- Enjoyment: 3/5 stars
- Writing stile: 3/5 stars
- Funnyness: 1/5 stars
- Epicness: 3/5 stars
- Scaryness: 2/5 stars
- Smartness: 3/5 stars
- Addictiveness: 3/5 stars
- Plot twists: 4/5 stars
- Pace: 2/5 stars
- Storyline planning: 4/5 stars OR /5 negative stars
- Ending: 4/5 stars OR /5 negative stars
- Holes: 2/5 negative stars
- Self contained (Y/N): ✓
- Cliffhanger (Y/N): ✓
- Adult (Y/N): ×
- Mystery (Y/N): ×
- Treasure Hunting (Y/N): ×
- Violence level: An arena to kill everyone else
- Tech level: higher than current
- Religion level: not at all
- Main genre: dystopian
- Subgenre: romance, love triangle, teenagers
- Point of view: Catniss
- Aftertaste: Not exactly for me, but it's solid, I'll rate it a 5 stars on Goodreads.
World
- Originality: 5/5 stars
- Variety: 5/5 stars
- Consistency: 5/5 stars
- Impact on the story: 5/5 stars
- Maps: -/5 stars
- Real world (Y/N): ×
- Fantasy based on real world (Y/N): ×
- Journey (Y/N): ×
- Main scenario: District 12 and the arena
Characters
- Total amount: ~30
- Points of view: main character storyline
- Main characters: Catniss (not sure how to spell it from the audiobook, feels like there should be an 'h' in it)
- Secondary: Finnick, Heimanch, Pita
- Ordinary: The others
- Overall quality: 4/5 stars
- Main: 3/5 stars
- Secondary: 5/5 stars
- Consistency: 4/5 stars
- Connection: 3/5 stars
- Dialogs: 4/5 Stars
- Interactions: 4/5 Stars
- Romance ( Y/ N): ✓
- Underworld Crew (Y/N): ×
- Training (Y/N): Some
- Notable best characters: The old lady from district 4
- Notable worse characters: Nuts and Volts, that other girl in the arena
Setting
- Historical importance: 2/5 Stars
- Historical deep: 2/5 Stars
- Historical score: 2/5 Stars
- Geopolitical importance: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical variety: 4/5 Stars
- Geopolitical score: 5/5 Stars
- Setting overall score: 5/5 Stars
- Tension: 4/5 Stars
- Atmosphere: 3/5 Stars
- Supernatural (Vampires, werewolves) (Y/N): ×
- Superpowers (√/○): ×
- Non-human races (Y/N): ×
- Virtual Reality (Y/N): ×
- Monsters (Y/N): ×
- Historical relevant period: Something about District 13

The second edition to the trilogy was ingenious. A perfect addition and was heart wrenching, rage filling, anxiety filled story. It was beautiful.

WOW!!! Just amazing how she fights so hard one way then gives in and goes towards her natural inclination of rebellion. The social elements were very well done and stirring enough to make me rebel. I can not wait for the next one.

Only one draw back it is so similar to Uglies that it made me want to reread that series. AHHHH!!!!!!

OK, I admit it - I judged a book by its cover in this case. I had purchased [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267255754s/2767052.jpg|2792775] awhile back for my teen, and had never really given it a second thought. The cover looked cheesy, and just didn't draw my interest.

On a whim, I decided to give it a try - and couldn't put the book down! The Hunger Games was good, but Catching Fire? This is the 1st in a very long time that managed to keep my hanging onto every word, and even caught me off-guard on several occasions.

My only disappointment is that I didn't wait to read these titles. I see it will be several months before the final book is to be released, and I could have easily completed the Trilogy one after another over a weekend.

To satisfy my thirst for the finale, I am off to begin [b:The Maze Runner|6186357|The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)|James Dashner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1243347999s/6186357.jpg|6366642], as I have heard this fares right up there in intensity.