The slow burn
Not the least inspired by various promotions for the second Hunger Games film, I just knew I had to continue reading the trilogy.
Katniss Everdeen has survived the 74th annual Hunger Games, a fierce and violent contest that serves to remind the country of Panem of what happens to those who rebel against the almighty Capitol. She and her fellow victor, the sensitive and quick-thinking Peeta, are still at the Capitol's mercy, forced to go on a victory tour and visit all the districts. Not everyone is happy that the two tributes from District 12 are alive, including the chilly and intimidating President Snow. Katniss is warned that she must commit to the pretense that she and Peeta are desperately in love, as that is the only reason either of them are still alive. She resents having to parade around for this media event, but soon her fake engagement to Peeta becomes the least of her worries. There is talk of revolution, of fighting the Capitol - a fight that Katniss has unknowingly began. Then, the unthinkable happens: Katniss and Peeta are roped into participating in the 75th Hunger Games. It is a devastating blow that all but guarantees that Katniss is being punished for her one moment of rebellion. But she also has a plan to get Peeta out alive - not only for his own sake, but for the sake of the future of Panem.
It's so nice to be able to settle into a story this passionate and all-consuming. Collins' well-rendered dystopia is so solidly constructed that it's easy to get immersed in this tale of struggle and destiny. Katniss, fierce and narrowly focused - sometimes to her detriment - almost loses her way in the beginning. But as the threat of violence on both sides draws near, she reasserts herself and the story gets back on track. There is a nice dichotomy between her personal struggle and the larger issue of massive rebellion, and the way the two rub up against each other conveys the themes of distrust and Katniss's tendency of missing the forest for the trees. A character who has proven herself capable time and time again, we feel her frustration as events are shaped around her while she feels unable to do anything but move with them. With this, and other scenes, we the readers are impressed with the scope of Katniss's world, which before now she wasn't asked to think much of. There are other small details that show her character's evolution, such as when she sympathizes with her snobby publicist Effie and acknowledges Peeta as more mature than her. We meet new characters in the form of tributes: the adorably nerdy Beetee and Wiress; my favorite Finnick, who combines sex appeal with a hidden heart of gold; and Johanna, whose prickly personality adds another dimension to Katniss's, which is fun to see.
Unlike its prequel, this book focuses more on the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and her best friend Gale. It by no means eclipses the rest of the plot, which is good, but for the most part it's tolerable at best. I like how things are complicated because she and Peeta share a bond that she simply does not have with Gale; only Peeta can comfort her when she's having nightmares about the Games. And she has a revelation about her feelings regarding Gale early on in the book. But it feels like much of that has been reset by the end. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think about it.
But as to the rest, Collins doesn't leave us in the dark, setting up great expectations for an epic battle and instilling both hope and fear into the reader. Katniss's true fate is still a mystery, but no matter what she may choose, it will be a thorny and dangerous path. Rating: 4.5 force fields out of 5.
It's so nice to be able to settle into a story this passionate and all-consuming. Collins' well-rendered dystopia is so solidly constructed that it's easy to get immersed in this tale of struggle and destiny. Katniss, fierce and narrowly focused - sometimes to her detriment - almost loses her way in the beginning. But as the threat of violence on both sides draws near, she reasserts herself and the story gets back on track. There is a nice dichotomy between her personal struggle and the larger issue of massive rebellion, and the way the two rub up against each other conveys the themes of distrust and Katniss's tendency of missing the forest for the trees. A character who has proven herself capable time and time again, we feel her frustration as events are shaped around her while she feels unable to do anything but move with them. With this, and other scenes, we the readers are impressed with the scope of Katniss's world, which before now she wasn't asked to think much of. There are other small details that show her character's evolution, such as when she sympathizes with her snobby publicist Effie and acknowledges Peeta as more mature than her. We meet new characters in the form of tributes: the adorably nerdy Beetee and Wiress; my favorite Finnick, who combines sex appeal with a hidden heart of gold; and Johanna, whose prickly personality adds another dimension to Katniss's, which is fun to see.
Unlike its prequel, this book focuses more on the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and her best friend Gale. It by no means eclipses the rest of the plot, which is good, but for the most part it's tolerable at best. I like how things are complicated because she and Peeta share a bond that she simply does not have with Gale; only Peeta can comfort her when she's having nightmares about the Games. And she has a revelation about her feelings regarding Gale early on in the book. But it feels like much of that has been reset by the end. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think about it.
But as to the rest, Collins doesn't leave us in the dark, setting up great expectations for an epic battle and instilling both hope and fear into the reader. Katniss's true fate is still a mystery, but no matter what she may choose, it will be a thorny and dangerous path. Rating: 4.5 force fields out of 5.
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