Book Review
Jun. 3rd, 2011 08:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariCatching Fire
by Suzanne Collins
This is the sequel to The Hunger Games, and it's just as exciting as its predecessor. Although the Games are over and Katniss and Peeta are now free from want, they are not free from danger. Katniss' defiant and subversive actions at the conclusion of the Games, and the rebellion they sparked, have made her and Peeta targets of the Capitol's scrutiny and revenge. Collins expertly handles the tension, suspense, and action of the story while also delivering great character development. I couldn't put it down.
At first, I was a little put off by having Katniss and Peeta sent back into the Games for the Quarter Quell, but it turned out to be really amazing. Instead of being a retread of the first book and a cheap way to capitalize on it, Collins turned the reprise of the Games into something new - a conspiracy thriller wrapped up in a deadly puzzle. The whole thing is pretty clever and includes some very surprising plot twists, culminating with a breathtaking cliffhanger that made me extremely glad I waited until the whole series was out before reading it.
One of the things that really impressed me about this book is the way Collins handles the romance and the love triangle. She keeps things spare and realistic, never engaging in indulgent swoopiness. Katniss is conflicted and confused, and often kind of clueless about what's going on and how to handle it, which definitely resonated more with me and the way I remember things being. I especially love the way that her relationships with Peeta and Gale are based on friendship, respect, and shared experience. While these relationships are not necessarily perfect, they are basically healthy. Best of all is the way that the romance plot is fully integrated into the main narrative - it's a part of her life that Katniss has to deal with along with everything else - it doesn't exist in its own special space.
The social commentary and criticism is a little more subtle in this book, too. There's also more parallels between the Capitol and Rome as we find out more about both the decadent and the sinister sides of the Capitol. However, Collins also gives us a more nuanced view of the Capitol's citizens through the development of Katniss' prep team. The prep team, especially Cinna, also make a nice counterpoint to the chilling menace of President Snow. It all really drives home the way that Katniss and Peeta are truly trapped. They hate the Capitol, but still try to placate Snow because they are so desperate to protect their community from the harsh and brutal revenge Snow holds over their heads. And it makes Katniss' awareness of how futile that is all the more tragic. Thus, her final actions in the arena are that much more powerful.
by Suzanne Collins
This is the sequel to The Hunger Games, and it's just as exciting as its predecessor. Although the Games are over and Katniss and Peeta are now free from want, they are not free from danger. Katniss' defiant and subversive actions at the conclusion of the Games, and the rebellion they sparked, have made her and Peeta targets of the Capitol's scrutiny and revenge. Collins expertly handles the tension, suspense, and action of the story while also delivering great character development. I couldn't put it down.
At first, I was a little put off by having Katniss and Peeta sent back into the Games for the Quarter Quell, but it turned out to be really amazing. Instead of being a retread of the first book and a cheap way to capitalize on it, Collins turned the reprise of the Games into something new - a conspiracy thriller wrapped up in a deadly puzzle. The whole thing is pretty clever and includes some very surprising plot twists, culminating with a breathtaking cliffhanger that made me extremely glad I waited until the whole series was out before reading it.
One of the things that really impressed me about this book is the way Collins handles the romance and the love triangle. She keeps things spare and realistic, never engaging in indulgent swoopiness. Katniss is conflicted and confused, and often kind of clueless about what's going on and how to handle it, which definitely resonated more with me and the way I remember things being. I especially love the way that her relationships with Peeta and Gale are based on friendship, respect, and shared experience. While these relationships are not necessarily perfect, they are basically healthy. Best of all is the way that the romance plot is fully integrated into the main narrative - it's a part of her life that Katniss has to deal with along with everything else - it doesn't exist in its own special space.
The social commentary and criticism is a little more subtle in this book, too. There's also more parallels between the Capitol and Rome as we find out more about both the decadent and the sinister sides of the Capitol. However, Collins also gives us a more nuanced view of the Capitol's citizens through the development of Katniss' prep team. The prep team, especially Cinna, also make a nice counterpoint to the chilling menace of President Snow. It all really drives home the way that Katniss and Peeta are truly trapped. They hate the Capitol, but still try to placate Snow because they are so desperate to protect their community from the harsh and brutal revenge Snow holds over their heads. And it makes Katniss' awareness of how futile that is all the more tragic. Thus, her final actions in the arena are that much more powerful.
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Date: 2011-06-04 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-05 12:39 am (UTC)