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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins


This is the first Suzanne Collins book in the "Hunger Games" series that I have
r
ead, mainly due to the popularity of the books after the movie was released.
H
owever, despite the fact that my husband told me he couldn't make it through
t
he first book because he didn't like the writing style, I find Collins' style to be an
easy read, and finished the book in one day.
After seeing the movie, it was nice to see some things in print - namely, how to
spell Katniss and Peeta. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her actions after her
victory in the competition, and while it reads like Young Adult fiction in that part of
her struggle is with her love life, the story is most engaging when she is paired
with Peeta for a victory tour, and then later, for an anniversary version of the
Hunger Games they already endured.
I enjoy how the novel deals with the lifestyle changes Katniss endures, not only
in her romantic life, but how her new found fame brings with it rewards, and new
challenges. Becoming a famous television stare in Panem, this country where
she lives in District 12, does not only bring with it great clothes and food. It also
brings for her the difficulty of dealing with the invasion of privacy, as the current
government under President Snow is able to spy on her, and further to force her
to choose one romantic partner to save the life of another.
I enjoy reading about how Katniss endures each challenge, having only moments
of weakness when she sees those she loves, like her old boyfriend Gale or her
dresser Cinna, being hurt or even killed by the current government. I enjoyed
how she is mainly ignorant of the political movement that is brewing behind her
humanitarian actions, as it is plausible that media would be controlled in a
politi
cal state like Collins describes in this book. And I also enjoy how she learns
the secrets through her kindness to others.
In summary, while not a classic work of literature, this is a book to me on the
scale of Brave New World
, where a protagonist is forced to deal with forces
larger than herself, but through her own strong character and deep family ties,
she can endure and even tr
iumph through the worst of it. While I find the end
confu
sing, I'm sure all will be answered in the 3rd book, "Mockingjay," and will be
eage
r to read it when my time on the waiting list is up! 
Submitted by Gerti

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