After competing in the Hunger Games for the second time, Katniss returns in this sequel to Catching Fire. She is turned into the face of the rebellion, but with her new symbolism comes grief, anger, and devastation as she watches her world and everyone she's ever loved begin to crumble under the pressure of the war. The third and final book of the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, was everything I hoped it to be. It perfectly described Katniss' emotions, laying her soul out raw on every page. Suzanne Collins is a truly gifted author with talents I can only ever hope to compare to. I love her writing, love her books, love the world that created. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is simply one of those books you just HAVE to read at one point in your life. ;)
Review by Sianatra (LibraryThing), August 1, 2011 ** spoiler alert ** This final volume left me devastated. I knew there was no way for this to end happy, that in war people die, but my god was this difficult to get through at times. Yet at the same time, it's so well written and the pacing is so on that it's even harder to put down. The confusion and discombobulation of Katniss is so easy to fall into along side her, the fear and the pain stemming from everything she has to go through. This book made me hate adults, which is kind of sad because I am a...moreThis final volume left me devastated. I knew there was no way for this to end happy, that in war people die, but my god was this difficult to get through at times. Yet at the same time, it's so well written and the pacing is so on that it's even harder to put down. The confusion and discombobulation of Katniss is so easy to fall into along side her, the fear and the pain stemming from everything she has to go through. This book made me hate adults, which is kind of sad because I am an adult (sort of). But with the exception of Katniss' mother, all the adults in this series are puppetmasters, never telling the trust and always pulling everyone's strings to manipulate them to do things that they (the adults) don't want to do themselves. It's very upsetting. And in the end, the one person I didn't think would possibly die... does. That's what finally got me. Everyone else, to me, had a clock over their heads that was quickly running out of time, except one. Obviously after a night's sleep, I'm still not over this. It's so good yet so painful. I'm going to have to rethink how I recommend this to others.
Review by flouncyninja (LibraryThing), July 5, 2011 Summary: My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead. Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans- except Katniss. The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lifes, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay- no matter what the personal cost. This is such a wonderful story and I love it so much. This is my second favorite in the trilogy (The Hunger Games being the first). I love how each of the characters developed throughout the trilogy. I do have to say, I was very dissapointed that Prim died. Also, in the beginning of this book Peeta annoyed me and made me want to strangle him, which is why, and kill me if you must, I was very dissapointed that Katniss ended up with Peeta at the end of the book. Other than those minor dissapointments I felt that this book had an amazing plot, the pacing was good, and I was never bored for a second! Keep reading!
Review by GeeblesLovesBooks2 (LibraryThing), July 4, 2011 I thought this book was the best of the trilogy simply because it leaves the reader with an ending that they can walk away from. All loose ends are tied up wonderfully and after so much heart rendering suspense, I felt that it was all worthwhile.
Review by sophie120 (LibraryThing), June 29, 2011 I approached this book with some trepidation based on the mixed reviews and was blown away by what an excellent read it was! I guess it helps to set the bar low. Seriously...it was tightly written, well edited, and the perfect ending to the trilogy. And, yes, I admit... *Spoilers* I was pleased with the Katniss and Peeta ending (nice nod to her parents -- Town and Seam). Honestly, it was great that Gale got some character development in Book 3, but it seemed to be limited to being jealous of every male Katniss ever interacted with -- Darius, Finnick, c'mon, pretty soon he was going to start in on Haymitch and Beetee. "Because something is significantly wrong with a creature that sacrifices its children's lives to settle its differences." That is the quote for the trilogy -- it's not about the love story it's the human story and the subsequent cost of the few in power making decisions impacting the lives of the many. This is perfectly captured by the reality of the characters with all their flaws and no happy endings. Just the cold hard truth -- it's Haymitch, the broken mentor, who is Katniss's constant, not her mother; Peeta, who is all that is good and noble in a person, ending up the most broken after torture at the hands of the state; Finnick, the pretty boy who is revealed to have fronted for years as a player when really serving as the sex chattel of the Capital, who is killed in combat after finding personal happiness; Johanna, once an erstwhile ally to be tolerated becomes (almost) a friend; Gale, the one trusted the most, lets Katniss down the in the end...the list goes on...but that is the reality of war and human nature. Collins is skilled in weaving this fabric of shocking moments of horror in the midst of snatches of happiness (e.g., Boggs's death and subsequent blood bath), bringing out the unexpected in the characters (e.g., Beetee, the bombmaker tribute does not support the precedent of another Hunger Games -- very Oppenheimer esque moment), and uncommon valor (e.g., the capital film crew staying through the end of the assassination mission), and capturing the horrors of combat (e.g., no time to grieve Finnick, et al in the quest to keep the remaining survivors alive). Through it all, there is a heroine who is real and raw -- who does not want the mantel of rebel leader foisted on her and yet is a voice of courage while facing her own doubts and demons. Collins's characters and themes seemed to become stronger once she left the arena and moved things into a broader setting whether fighting in the Districts, the Capital refugee flood, or life in District 13. So...why the four stars. First, the the loose threads, and, honestly, length constraints seem a cop out because [as JK Rowling has already proven] no matter how long, if it's a good story people will read it, regardless of their age. Namely, the connection between Peeta's father and Katniss's mother never discussed/alluded to further after its heavy play in book one, Katniss's mother and Madge's aunt's friendship/impact in book two, what prompted Cinna's (and Plutarch's for that matter) participation in the rebellion, why was Pollux an avox (and why did Castor and the rest of his family live to tell about it) are among the first that come to mind. It's as though what seemed to be "Easter Eggs" in the plot served no purpose, while the foreshadowing that was there beat the reader over the head (e.g., girl on fire -- you knew there was some burning to come in book 3). Paylor's ascension to the presidency works...but aside from the scenes in Districts 2 and 8 the reader doesn't get a sense that she is a military leader who would be political leader (i.e., she gets more regional than national play for her role in the rebellion). Sadly, she's one of the few new characters that receives poor development (as opposed to Boggs who was one of the most compelling new characters). Second, Collins has overall done a great job of incorporating some great literary allusions -- "The Hanging Tree" song was eerily reminiscent of the "Chesnut Tree" song in "1984," the reaping concept was a nice a tip to "The Lottery," the genetic mutations bring "Oryx and Crake" to mind -- in essence, she does right by the distopyian masters. So why does it seem she is taking from "Schindler List" with the girl with the lemon yellow coat, which seems to mirror the girl with the pink coat scene... it felt vaguely familiar and took away from the reading -- because I was trying to remember what it reminded me of -- Collins has already shown she can do right by the masters, so it seemed out of place to have a similiar scene versus a reference scene (probably would have worked better if it was a little boy with a lemon yellow ball cap). Finally, the epilogue. Quite frankly, the book could have perfectly ended on the last page. However, the epilogue was a nice treat for the readers, except it told us nothing. We have no hint of where things stand politically (beyond no more Hunger Games), no names for the children (though I suspect the girl is named Prim and perhaps they boy Boggs or Cinna), no indication if they're still living in the Victor's Village (and how they explain that one). Overall, a great read that reverberates with the reader for a long time following its completion. The few negatives stand out so glaringly because the rest is so well written. Sorry that it's over -- the author ought to consider a companion book about the inception of the Hunger Games, there would certainly be a wide audience.
Review by peleluna (LibraryThing), June 18, 2011 The final book in The Hunger Games Triology finds the rebels fighting a war against the Captial. Katniss is their symbol of hope, but what will happen as her world begins to unravel?
Review by Kathdavis54 (LibraryThing), June 6, 2011 Katniss Everdeen has been moved to district 13 after district 12 was destroyed. She has now become the Mockingjay, which is basically a symbolic thing. She is forced to go to war against the capitol. She goes to the other districts to recruit some more troops, but things don't go as planned. She finds herself in the middle of a war zone. She ends up in the capitol, which is not a good thing. In the end, she does something terrible, but I won't say what it is.
Review by Brennan.Pankratz (LibraryThing), May 30, 2011 A joyful romp. An uplifting tale of survival against all odds. ... Just kidding! It's probably one of the most depressing books I've ever read. But it is very true in its darkness and a great ending to a very good series. I came away from Mockingjay feeling that I only fully appreciated the first two books in the series once I knew how everything ended. If you think about the connections between this vision of the future and our present at all, it becomes a deeply uncomfortable read. Plenty to think about.
Review by spidermansays (LibraryThing), May 29, 2011 There is sometimes a feeling of loss when you finish a good book and that is what I felt on finishing this one. I had read all three books in just over a week and been totally immersed in the story. Although I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two, I think it was because of the feeling of it being the last and therefore the story came to an end. There is definitley enough room there for the series to continue, but for now I guess we just treasure that it was written at all. This is definitely a series I would recommend whether you are 10 - 12 - or 112! It bears reading again and could very well become a classic in time. Once again....buy it....read it....enjoy!
Review by Neverwithoutabook (LibraryThing), May 20, 2011 While I could read the first 2 books in The Hunger Games series really quickly, I couldn't do the same with the final book. Everything about it was so sad, passionate, tragic, painful, shocking… still, so GOOD, that sometimes I just needed to come back to reality, to take a deep breath and make sure it’s all fiction. To wipe my tears and kick everyone out of my room, because I was so obsessed with it. (Yup, I’m a drama queen)With all the new characters and all the things that happened, I found it very well action packed and easy to follow. But I didn’t like that just when I thought I understood some characters and they grew on me… bang! They died! So I was sad but, in the same time, I knew that everything happened for a reason, no matter how heartbreaking that was. I really admired Katniss because despite everything, she didn’t really stop fighting. She didn’t forget her final purpose. She always tried to find the best solution. She was still caring, smart and brave. Maybe even more so. I wasn’t surprised when, close to the end, she was falling apart. The deaths, the destructions, the uncertainty, the pressure, the feelings… It was too much for her! And unfortunately there weren’t many people she could count on. I’m not a fan of the love triangles, but I liked Gale and I was glad he was there for her. I felt sorry for his broken heart, but I knew that things would get better for him too, eventually. But Peeta… Oh, Peeta! How could they do that do him? To sweet, adorable, loving Peeta? I really didn’t see that coming. I hoped that when he got back from the Capitol, he could help and support Katniss with his love… But he was even more devastated. There was something dark about him, but at least he was trying to fight it. Even with his messed mind and memories, he was still trying to figure Katniss out, to remember if/why he cared about her. He was still trying to help, even if sometimes that meant to stay behind, to risk to be caught.But the biggest shock for me was Prim’s death. I just couldn’t (refused to) believe it! Why?! Why her?! She was supposed to be Katniss’ anchor, not what pushed her over the edge completely! Because how could her sister ever recover from something like that? So I wasn’t disappointed with how the book ended - on the contrary. It was the most realistic, hopeful, reasonable happy ending. After everything that happened, a sweet, cheerful happily ever after would have been inappropriate. But at least Katniss and Peeta were together, recovering, building a new life in their old home as good as possible, given the circumstances. Oh, but there was one think that kind of annoyed me in this book: the world was falling apart, people were dying, the end was close and they cared about the stupid camera and about making a TV show?*slaps forehead* Oh well… It’s still one of my all times favorite books. For once, I agree with the majority when saying IT IS a very good series, with good voice, good storyline, good characters, good action, and I’m sorry I haven’t read it sooner.
Review by Deeutzas (LibraryThing), May 10, 2011 Review: So this book finds Katniss adjusting to a new life in District 13, the base camp of the rebel movement. District 12 has been destroyed and any survivors moved to 13. Katniss has a lot of trouble at the beginning dealing with losing her home, with losing Peeta (he's still being held captive by the Capitol), and the rebels asking her to be the Mockingjay, to lead the rebellion. They feel that if Katniss is the face of the rebellion, it will help people develop the will and strength to fight the Capitol forces. She doesn't necessarily want to do this, but what choice does she have? She can't just sit by and do nothing while Peeta's life hangs in the balance and everyone's future is at stake. Luckily she has Gale and her family for support, and she does confide in Finnick at times (who I personally love). I'm having a hard time writing this review, because I really don't want to give anything important away, any crucial details to the plot. I will say, for all you Peeta lovers out there, that he does make in an appearance in this book. In what capacity and how much I won't say, but I will say this: he is not the same boy that Katniss grew to know, trust, and love. Being held captive by President Snow has definitely changed him. I won't say any more than that though! We certainly see Katniss gain her strength back as the book progresses, she has to be strong to unite everyone to fight the Capitol. And ultimately she wants to be the one to kill President Snow. There are some major heart-pounding moments, and extremely sad moments. I admit, I cried during this one! Add it to my list of books that make me cry! I loved it because the story wasn't predictable. I couldn't tell what was going to happen next, what twists and turns were going to appear, or what the ending would bring. I will say I wasn't exactly thrilled with the ending, but that didn't really detract from my love of this book and the entire series as a whole! So if you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? Go out and pick it up, I guarantee you won't be able to put it down! Rating: 5/5 stars
Review by JamesterCK (LibraryThing), May 3, 2011 Though it was not my favorite of the three, this book still takes the reader through a series of thought processes. I found myself making guesses as to what would happen next and every once in a while I would be wrong, and I delighted in being wrong. Collins is very talented, the series is excellent. I hope that the interpretation onto the big screen will do her work justice.
Review by richardsonmichelle (LibraryThing), May 2, 2011 Comig this summer to a book store near you: Mockingjay! Starring: Hallee Steinfeld as Katniss Everdeen Jacob Zachar as Peeta Mellark Liam Hemsworth as Gale Jeff Bridges as Haymitch Billy Bob Thornton as President Snow Directed by Michael Bay (there's more than enough stuff blowing up to keep him interested) Having survived 2 Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen is back, and she wants revenge. The Capitol have kidnapped and tortured her friends, they bombed her home and they tried to kill her sister's cat. Katniss is through playing games! I am aware that the first Hunger Games book reviewed here is being made into a film and I also suck at fantasy casting, but after reading Mockingjay I just had to do that. I've mentiioned in my reviews of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire that Suzanne Collins writes in a very cinematic style. This is so obvious in Mockingjay that it was almost like reading a film script rather than a novel. Just as well she does write such good action, because her dialogue could have been written by George Lucas...okay maybe it's not quite that bad, but you get where I'm coming from with the comparison. In Catching Fire Katniss survived the Quarter Quell Hunger Games and was spirited away by the rebels in the fabled District 13 to spearhead their rebellion. All Katniss really wants is to kill President Snow and have her family and friends left to live their lives in peace and safety, but as the poster child for the rebelllion; the Mockingjay, that's never going to be allowed, and it appears that she is in danger of exchanging ne tyrannical leader in Snow for another in the leader of the highly militarised and rigidly disciplined District 13's President Coin. Most of the story centres around the rebellion and as the story has always been told in present tense first person, if Katniss isn't present, then the action takes place off screen and isn't covered in any depth. I felt Collins struggled to give her post apocalyptic North America any real complexity or sense of reality. District 12 is mining, District 7 lumber, District 3 technology, etc... Readers never really got to know much about any characters aside from Katniss herself and her 2 love interests; Peeta and Gale, as a result when someone important is killed there's no real sense of loss or shock as there should be. As I've read a few similar things over the years the ending came as no real surprise to me. Overall the series was relatively bleak and desperately needed an injection of humour, which was tried with the character of Finnick, but never quite came off. Given that this is a YA series Collins attempted to give it a happy ending, which to my mind didn't exactly work for the tone of the series. Overall I think it would have been better finishing after The Hunger Games and letting the readers imagine how things could have played out. There just wasn't enough there to sustain a trilogy. The three books are very readable and I can see why they've captured the minds of both male and female teens, but I can't see them living on as fondly in memory as some other recent YA phenomenons.
Review by EJAYS17 (LibraryThing), April 26, 2011 i LOVE this series. after almost every chapter i would sit in my chair for about 3minutes just thinking. taking in all the information collins has just hit me with. i used to hate reading but with this book i want to read it all day but i dont because i want the book to last all long as possible. GREAT JOB SUZZANE COLLINS!
Review by GodOcookies (LibraryThing), April 7, 2011 After reading the first two of the series and loving them both so much, I was hoping this third and final book of the trilogy would be able to live up to the first two--and be able to give the series closure. It lived up to my expectations and more. I absolutely loved it. This series is one of my favorite books I have ever read. It was able to end the story so well--even after a few days I am still thinking about it! This series was written with so much creativity, suspense, and detail, I will be thinking on it and remember it far into the future. I actually can't wait to own it for my own library and read it again soon!
Review by booksandbutter (LibraryThing), April 6, 2011 I read this book in two days, but the story, the writing, and the intensity will be in my thoughts, my dreams, my nightmares, for weeks.I love this book so much. Suzanne Collins creates such genuine characters, and it is easy to find yourself slipping away from the everyday, and right into the world she has created. My only dissapointment with this book is it marks the end of the series. I'm not ready for it to be over! I do have a few remaining questions, so I'm hoping Suzanne Collins does some sort of a q and a so I can get my few answers that I want!This book is sad though. If you read and enjoyed the first two, you might have expected the final book to be sad. I won't ruin anything for you, I'll just warn you to keep a box of tissues handy!My mind is still reeling from this story. It is amazing. Read it! Devour it! Enjoy it! And when you resurface, nothing will ever seem the same!
Review by Suzanne520 (LibraryThing), April 6, 2011 The story, Mockingjay, is about Katniss going to District 13 which she thought had been blown up which was just a government lie. Katniss and her friend, Gale assigned a mission to kill the Ppresident Snow, who is a murderer. During the search, they try to find Peeta who was taken by Snow, interogated and tortured. She finds him, and finds that he has been "highjacked" or poisoned with tracker jacker venom, and he thinks that she is a mutation. Loved this book!
Review by billybobjoeysileo (LibraryThing), April 6, 2011 If I had to give Mockingjay an award, I would call it The Delivery Award, because that is precisely what this book does. While I’m no expert on the subject, I’m ninety percent certain that Mockingjay is one of the most anticipated young adult novels of 2010. Friends, I have not been disappointed. Collins is a prolific writer, and while this trilogy has come to a close, I don’t think it will go forgotten and unread anytime soon.I remember reading Catching Fire and being amazed by how carefully it was plotted out, and how Collins seemed to weave every detail together. In this respect, Mockingjay blew me out of the water. Rest assured that Mockingjay is not an easy book to read. I left feeling that Collins had not only done an excellent job of researching the topics she writes about, but did a fantastic job of applying them to her characters and the nation they live in. There were several points where I felt goosebumps or froze in my set as the action on the page unfolded before me and as I turned the final pages, Collins had tears formulating in my eyes. While there is a lot of action, this is also a very psychological, intense and honest story. This aspect reminded me of nothing I’d read before, and I applaud Collins for dealing with it so frankly. I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to teams, I’m not a particularly reliable person to have around, because I am incredibly indecisive. Collins had me waffling throughout the entire novel, not entirely sure which side to be on. I was constantly asking myself that the same questions as the characters, which I loved doing. Yet by the end, she had me convinced that the outcome was perfect and what I wanted for the characters, not to mention back on my original team.Collins kept me glued to the story while still providing the closure I sought as a reader. Reading this novel has been an emotional roller coaster, and the characters feel as alive as ever to me. I know, having already heard that some people have been let down, that not every reader will agree with Collins’s choices as much as I did. Mockingjay is a book that will leave me thinking for a considerable amount of time to come, and I look forward to seeing the discussions it brings about.
Review by lizpatanders (LibraryThing), April 4, 2011 Mockingjay is a story about the horrors of war, and it doesn't shy away from depicting the brutality that leaves people dead or broken. Collins' characters change under the pressures of battle, at times becoming ugly as they wholeheartedly embrace death and destruction. The thoughtless brutality of war is shown on both sides; neither side of the conflict is saintly or heroic, the rebel leaders have their own selfish agendas and are capable of the same atrocities as the Capitol. Katniss' confusion, being a teenaged girl caught in the middle of everything, thrust into a key position through circumstance, is excellently portrayed. The result is a tightly written, edge-of-your-seat action/adventure story that propels the reader from District 13's underground military base to the war-torn streets of the Capitol. This was a great book. I kind of liked and hated the ending at the same time though. I hated how short the ending was and it just cut you off, i felt like there was still more to the book, but i like how it ended too. I really don't know now you can end such a great series like that, so i think Suzanne Collins did a great job. I can't really think of words to describe this trilogy, but they are so intense and keep you interested all the way through.
Review by caitlin.dougherty (LibraryThing), April 1, 2011 I cannot say enough good things about this book! I have read - and loved - all three books in this series. I found them to be compelling and riveting. They're not exactly feel-good stories, but the characters will really stick with you. I was very happy about the resolution of the book, despite being very sad along the way as I read all three books. I'm a big fan of dystopian YA Literature, so if you like books like "Uglies," "1984," etc. then this is a must-read for you. Start with the original, The Hunger Games, then move on to Catching Fire and finally Mockingjay. You won't regret it!
Review by jessecreations (LibraryThing), March 31, 2011 There's a war going on in Panem. Katniss is now living in District 13 - the one that no one knew existed - reunited with her mother, sister and Gale who escaped an attack on District 12. She has no idea what happened to Peeta following her rescue from the Quarter Quell arena and the rebels want her to be their Mockingjay - the face of the rebellion - to unite the districts against the Capitol. It was interesting to read about how District 13 differed from 12, with everything being very regimented and structured, and also to find out more about the first war in Panem - the one that led to the start of the Hunger Games to remind the people of the districts that the Capitol is in charge. The author doesn't hold back in writing about the aspects of war and the part where Katniss visits a hospital in one of the other districts is particularly heart-wrenching. There was a change in dynamics between the characters in this final part of the series. Katniss is more withdrawn into herself following everything that has happened, which is completely understandable. She spends more time with Finnick and Johanna, who she collaborated with during the previous Hunger Games, probably because they get how she's feeling more than most people can.. There's still the tension between Katniss, Gale and Peeta but it takes a different angle as this time Gale is the one who's around for more of the story and Peeta's not quite himself (I thought this was a great twist to the story, although I'm not going to reveal the cause of it). It's also interesting to see how the two boys react when they're together, knowing how they both feel about Katniss. A fantastic finish to an amazing series, Mockingjay was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. In fact, that was the case for all three books. I read the first two back to back but then put off reading this one for a while, I think because I didn't want it to end and because I didn't want to be disappointed by it. Fortunately that wasn't the case. I loved everything about this book. My only complaint ... the series being over.
Review by trillian711 (LibraryThing), March 14, 2011 Here's where the Hunger Games trilogy comes to a climax, as Katniss Everdeen and her fellow rebels wage open war against the capitol. This book is just as fast-paced and irresistible as its predecessors. It's also extremely grim and dark -- this is not one of those adventure stories where the bad guys are defeated and then everything is golden, ever after. Katniss has been forced to kill over and over just to survive, and (to her credit) she is sickened by this. She may be the least cuddly, most morally complex young female character in the YA canon. Let's hope the movies don't soften the edges of this trilogy. It only got better as it went along.
Review by subbobmail (LibraryThing), March 9, 2011 Katniss' story concludes, and it makes me sad. The whole thing is so addicting and horrifying and hopeful and heartbreaking. You want happiness and peace for Katniss, yet you know that more terrible things will happen before she can rest. She's such a strong, respectable character, and I loved reading about her. Even in her weakness, she was genuine and striving to be better. I don't have much more to say that hasn't already been said, and much better than I could put it, so I'll just add my voice to those who highly recommend this series to everyone ever.
Review by EmScape (LibraryThing), March 7, 2011 This is the third book in the Hunger Games series and while I enjoyed it I didn't think it was as good as the first two. This book begins with Katniss recuperating in District 13 after the rebels rescued her and a few other competitors from the Quarter Quell. As District 12 had been annihilated as retribution to Katniss' actions in the Quell, some of the survivors lead by Gale have also managed to make it to District 13 and are attempting to forge a new life. All the Districts are actively rebelling against the Capitol and District 13 is using Katniss as the catalyst to continue the rebellion. I don't want to give away much more for fear that I would spoil the story for others. I dragged the reading of this book out because I didn't want the series to end. This book pulled my emotions in every direction and made me tear up in a few places. As I read that last page I was struck with the thought that......it ended as it should. What a fabulous ending to a great series! All I can say is have a tissue or two handy for a couple of parts and immerse yourself in Panem!
Review by Kwidhalm (LibraryThing), March 3, 2011 I put off writing this review for the longest time, because I was absolutely furious at the way Collins ended the series. Or should I say, at the way she wrote this book and ruined what could have been an incredible trilogy. I'll write the review now, furor slightly abated, and though I suspect I won't remember ALL of the triggers that made me want to throw the book across the room, at least this review won't simply consist of me spewing venom. I hope. Yes, ***SPOILERS AHEAD***. Let me just say that I thought [The Hunger Games] and [Catching Fire] were incredible. The twist in [Catching Fire] made me gasp and screech, and the obstacles thrown at the characters -- and how they overcame them, Katniss in particular -- were mind-bogglingly incredible. Loved them. And now I wish I'd just stopped reading after book two, because this third one ruined everything. My first issue with [Mockingjay] is the way the book begins. Things have happened in between books two and three, and we don't get to see them happen or discover it along with the main character. This is a little off-putting, especially when you consider that the books are written in present-tense, which means we learn what happens as it unfolds, along with the main character. By not including us in the shift to District 13 and learning about the district with Katniss, we're cheated out of the narrative. It feels like there was a book missing, or chapters missing, in between where we left off and where we pick up. My second issue is the biggest one: Katniss becomes an observer in her own life. In the previous books, our heroine was put up against the worst, most dire circumstances imaginable, and she took action to change the course of what seemed like an inevitable destiny. She changed the stakes. She refused to be manipulated and charted her own course, regardless of the potential consequences. She acted. In [Mockingjay], Katniss doesn't do anything. She's swept along in the tide of events, whining about this or that or feeling sorry for herself, and the strength and resolve she'd developed in the previous books has disappeared -- with the exception of two circumstances. She takes an active role in the story on only two occasions: In District 8, and at the end of the book when she shoots the 'wrong' person. What kind of a hero doesn't act? A character who reacts instead of taking action isn't a hero. Character Building 101. Problem Three: Unnecessary deaths. Collins starts killing off characters, but barely even spares them a second glance when it happens. Finnick dies in one sentence and then we move on. Heck, I've talked to people who didn't even realize he was dead until the list of people who died at the end of the book! Does such an important character deserve a half a line before he vanishes? And no one really reacts... no emotion, nothing. He's there, then he's gone. Yes, this happens in war, but writing character deaths that way is cheating your readers of their emotional investment. And don't even get me started on Katniss' sister. That was cheap, and completely unnecessary. And the way it was written (without mentioning her name), I actually didn't know it was her until 10 pages later when I read a line and said "Wait, WHAT?!" There was no rational reason for Prim to be there at that moment. None whatsoever. Fourth issue: Gale vs. Peeta. Or should I say, Peeta vs. No One, since Collins obviously made up Katniss' mind for her at the beginning of this book, and then decided to turn Gale into a warmongering lunatic. Who never talks to Katniss again after things are over, even though they've been best friends since childhood. The 'choice' felt forced and overplayed. And can I mention how half the book, Katniss just sits in a corner and whines about how she thinks she's a terrible person and can't choose between the two of them? I can't even count how many times she 'falls asleep alone' and then 'wakes up' in this book. It all contributes to what, for me, was the fifth major issue of the book... It was boring. The action didn't inspire awe or terror or fright the way the events of the previous books did. Too much introspection from our carried-along-by-the-tide 'heroine' caused this book to feel flat, lifeless, and dull. I didn't even want to finish, because nothing was really happening most of the time. What happened?!?! I could say more: About how it doesn't make sense for Katniss' mother to not visit her, how it's a cheap cliche for Finnick's lady to be preggers once he's dead, how it didn't make sense for the President to be killing his own people after enacting an order that was supposed to protect them... the motivations in the book were unclear, murky, and contradictory. Characters acted out of character (ie. Katniss, who doesn't really act at all), and plot points didn't tie together in a logical way. How this book passed the editing rounds without being torn apart, I have no idea. All I can say, this book was a disgraceful ending to what could have been the YA trilogy of the decade. What a waste.
Review by dk_phoenix (LibraryThing), February 19, 2011 Weitere Rezensionen: Seite 1 | Seite 2 | Seite 3 | [Seite 4] | Seite 5 | Seite 6 | Seite 7 | Seite 8 | Seite 9 | Seite 10 | Seite 11 | Seite 12 | Seite 13 | Seite 14 | Seite 15 | Seite 16 | Seite 17 | Seite 18 | Seite 19 | Seite 20 | Seite 21 | Seite 22 | Seite 23 | Seite 24 | Seite 25 | Seite 26 | Seite 27 | Seite 28 | Seite 29 | Seite 30 | Seite 31 | Seite 32 | Seite 33 | Seite 34 | Seite 35 | Seite 36 | Seite 37 | Seite 38 | Seite 39 | Seite 40 | Seite 41 | Seite 42 | Seite 43 | Seite 44