Catching Fire |Hunger Games|

Catching Fire is another great instalment in the Hunger Games Trilogy. It picks up not long after the surprise result of the 74th Hunger Games, with Katniss and Peeta settled into their new lives at the Victor’s Village in District 12. They are soon to embark on a victory tour of the districts to reinforce the strength and domination of the Capitol, and remind the people of their place in the pecking order. With her success in the Hunger Games, Katniss has unwittingly created more of an impact than she realises and the rumblings of a rebellion are coming to the boil. As the name of this book suggests, the spark of defiance that she showed during the games is slowly but surely catching fire across the districts. Katniss has become the symbol of defiance and hope. President Snow (what a shifty guy) is keen to keep his hold on power and makes thinly veiled threats towards Katniss to ensure that she doesn’t promote any thoughts of uprising during the tour. She needs to tow the line to keep her family and friends safe, and continue the on-camera romance with Peeta. It’s a tough gig, but she has no choice. Suzanne Collins really captures the extremes in Katniss’s thoughts, and does a great job of enabling the reader to relate to her constant struggles with her conscience. It seems that the more Katniss tries to remain cool and calm, the more her charisma gives courage and hope to the downtrodden. The fate of the old man who saluted her from the crowd gave warning of worse things to come. Once the big twist is revealed and the victors find themselves heading off to the arena again, the pace and drama picks up. I had hoped that there would be some sort of united stand and refusal to play the game by the contestants. Without giving anything away to those who haven’t read the book I can at least say that I was satisfied with how things panned out in the end. This series is full of surprises and Johanna’s final act teaches that things aren’t always as they seem. I watched the movie after reading this book, and easily spotted the sections that had been dropped (eg. Katniss meeting some runaway girls in the cabin who were searching for the fabled District 13). So, which one did I like the best? Well, I try not to compare books to movies, and to just accept them as different ways of telling a story. Yes, books give more details of thoughts and settings and decisions than a movie, but a movie can show so much in an instant that would have taken a lot of explanation in a book. The main thing for me is enjoying the story. Each medium gives a slightly different perspective of the story, which I like. They both have strengths, they both have weaknesses. So, my favourite out of book and movie is… a tie. In a nutshell: A great second instalment in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I loved this one as much as book 1. It held me captive from start to finish. Recommended for anyone with a love of characters who overcome hopeless situations and exciting plot twists. Note: I don’t claim to be a pro-reviewer, I am a reader. My reviews are based on my personal thoughts around the story that the book is trying to tell. I try to focus on the story (which is the reason I read) rather than dissect the book and pass comment on typos, writing style or structure.

I read The Hunger Games series before I had a book review blog, so I never wrote a formal review for any of the books while they were fresh in my mind. But this series, especially this book, affected me so much that I'm glad I had the opportunity to re-read it upon the release of the movie and share my review with you today (I literally finished this book an hour before we left to the midnight showing of the film, which is why this review is posting late today! P.S. I'm sleepy.). The second book in Suzanne Collins' dystopian young adult series, Catching Fire takes place a few months after The Hunger Games ends, finding Katniss Everdeen back in District 12, this time living comfortably in The Victor's Village. Her relationship with fellow victor, Peeta Mellark, is strained at best and she's fighting feelings for her best friend Gale after he's kissed her, exposing something that's been building between them long before The Games. But choosing which boy with whom to invest her time is the least of this seventeen year-old girl's problems. When President Snow visits her and threatens the lives of everyone she loves if Katniss doesn't play along with the Capitol's agenda to sweep her act of defiance under the table, Katniss realizes that she'll be playing The Games her whole life and must decide if she's brave enough to stand up for the things she believes in. When I began reading this book, I had no idea what to expect, but Collins delivered everything I could have anticipated and more. For one, I started this book completely Team Gale, but Collins did an excellent job of taking Katniss and Peeta and allowing them to organically grow together as friends and companions that I didn't know which guy to love more by the end of the book. Katniss, while obviously selfless in her decision to initially volunteer for her sister, has acquired a strong sense of survival which she tends to misconstrue (in my opinion) as selfishness. In comparison, Peeta is completely selfless, thinking only of Katniss, even when it means helping Gale. I love to see how Katniss grows by learning from Peeta. I think the only reason Katniss is ever identified as "selfish" (even if selfish means only thinking of her loved ones versus the whole country) is because this story is told from her point of view making her transparent; but I think she is better able to decipher her values because of her relationship with Peeta and his value system. This adds a new dynamic to their relationship and uncovers a lot of who Peeta is (and why we love him! ;)). But as I mentioned in my synopsis, Katniss' boy dilemma is the least of her problems. Her struggle with her value system is what brings this supernatural story down to a human level. The inconceivable is processed by a teenage girl like a teenage girl. I hate complaints that Katniss is too whiny, too insensitive to everyone's feelings, too pre-occupied with herself; if I were in her shoes I would have eaten the berries on day one of the 74th Hunger Games! I think she's allowed to struggle and her struggle uncovers her heart and her drive. To keep my book review blog spoiler-free (as is always my goal), I have to refrain from discussing some of my favorite parts of this book, especially regarding Katniss and Peeta's public relationship and the premise of the Quarter Quell. In short, I loved the way this book had so many powerful little punches that kept me on my toes and at the edge of my seat. The pacing is incredible, especially coupled with how much emotion is compacted into each forward-moving segment. There are so many details I had forgotten about in the 2 years since I first read Catching Fire, and I'm so glad I was able to refresh my brain before seeing the movie. Speaking of the movie, like the book it was everything I expected and more! I think the Catching Fire movie is so much better than The Hunger Games, especially because it didn't try to be artsy (i.e. shaky cameras and super close ups!! Who else HATED that?!). It put out the story (cutting most of what I expected) but it didn't change much. My only complaint is that, similar to the first movie, Katniss and Peeta's relationship didn't translate to the screen as well as I had hoped for. I guess what can I expect in such a short time frame, but that was my only disappointment nonetheless. I mean, I didn't even believe they were romantic, why would the Panem public? They did make Peeta so much more of an alpha-male than he is in the book, which I loved!! Sometimes I question Josh Hutcherson as Peeta when I see him in the media, but then when I'm watching the movie I just love him. Also, bonus fact about the movie: I noticed in the credits that a guy my mom used to date before she was married was in the stunts! HOW COOL, RIGHT?! I am trying to convince my mom to get back in touch with him muahaha! ;) Bottom Line: This series changed my reading life and if you haven't read it, my biggest recommendation on this blog is that you read it NOW. And then go see the movie! If you need a refresh before the movie, I highly suggest taking the time to re-read it because I think you'll appreciate the movie even more! 10 out of 5 stars lol.

I'd promised myself after reading The Hunger Games (borrowed after substantial wait from the library) that I was going to wait for the second and third books of the trilogy to be available from the library before reading them. Two weeks later, tempted by instant gratification by Kindle, I bought and read the latter two books in one weekend, in a single sitting interrupted only by sleep. Yay for self-control. Catching Fire chronicles Katniss Everdeen's time (spoilers for the first book begin here) after having won the Hunger Games in the first book. If you recall, she won a high-stakes game of chicken against the Capitol to do so, threatening to poison both Peeta and herself and deprive the Capitol of any victor rather than play by the rules to produce just one. She belatedly attempted to portray herself as hopelessly in love with Peeta, caught in the throes of irrationality. Was she believable? No. Right off the bat she meets with President Snow, who informs her in no uncertain terms that she wasn't convincing enough and must step it up, particularly during a victory tour midway between Games. She tries, she really does -- but you've read how she does at acting in the first book, so you can guess how that goes. Things spiral downward as the Capitol grows increasingly (yet covertly, to start) antagonistic. Going any further into the plot now would be telling, unfortunately, so I'll have to leave it at that. The novelty of the idea of the first book may be gone. But other than on that point, I think this book is an improvement on the first. Katniss grows significantly as a character. In the first book she was almost unidimensionally concerned with the well-being of her family. She maintains that focus in this book, as one would expect, but she's thinking much more broadly about what that entails, in a world where the Capitol controls nearly everything. She also begins to more seriously consider what it would mean to rebel against the Capitol, both personally and as part of the District Twelve community. Even still, in some aspects she remains as immature as ever -- for example, in her treatment of Peeta any time the cameras aren't rolling. But she's not going to grow up overnight, so it's understandable. As far as the plot goes, it still has holes like the first one did. The idea of the Games as something the defeated districts would submit to remains implausible, although (given this is the second in a trilogy, and you can pretty much guess which direction things are ultimately heading here) at least we start to see actual resistance to that rule that you'd have expected from the start. The semi-obvious twist halfway through is also pretty implausible. It brings to mind a certain quote from Shylock, although I don't want to say any more to avoid spoiling it too much. :-) And on the topic of the Capitol, there are clearly far smarter (and more Machiavellian) solutions to Peeta and Katniss that seemingly were never even considered. And finally, what in the world could the Capitol have ever been thinking with what they permitted in that one district, and the results of it? (I speak as circumspectly as I can to avoid too many spoilers, of course.) All in all, though, plot holes aside, this is better than the first book. If you read the first book, it's definitely worth continuing to the second.

Hunger Games is a fascinating story about a post-war society in which the known world is divided into 12 districts. Service and manufacturing labor is divided among these districts solely for the benefit of the Capitol, the governing body of the districts, who enjoy a leisure yet empty lifestyle. Control by the Capitol is based on the enforcement of harsh and arbitrary laws that engender fear and distrust among the people. Children between the ages of 12-16 are required each year to engage in a lottery drawing that requires a boy and a girl from each district to participate in a fight to the death where only one child survives. These are the hunger games. The "games" are televised as an annual media event that elicit a frenzy of entertainment, betting, and even sponsorship of favored participants. Starvation drives some children to enter their names multiple times in order to quality for a meager ration of food, increasing their chances of being picked for the games. The story follows two characters, Katniss, a virl who has developed skills of survival in order to feed her family, but along the way has been toughened by the rigors of staying alive, and Peeta, a baker's son whose family enjoys the privilege of having enough to eat. The two become participants in the games and form an alliance as unrequited lovers in order to stay alive. They capture the imagination of the viewers. Feigning a willingness to commit mutual suicide rather than kill each other, both survive the games. However, the ruse goes horribly wrong. The opening of Catching Fire finds Katniss being confronted by the president of the Capitol who discloses that he is not convinced by the unrequited lovers angle and he threatens her with harm to her loved ones if she fails to be more convincing. Katniss only wants to return to the life she had before the games. But slowly she realizes that the rest of her life will be in support of the fiction created by the ruse she developed and year after year she will hand over children such as herself and Peeta to the games to be chewed up in the machine created by the Capitol. She will live under constant surveillance and fear until she succumbs to bitterness and alcoholism like her mentor, Haywitch. By a turn of events, she realizes that the worst will be done to her loved ones anyway, and so she becomes at first an unwilling participant in the burgeoning rebellion of the districts. Ultimately, she becomes the very symbol of the struggle. Humans are capable of adapting to the most incredible strains of deprivation as long as their basic needs are met and they can convince themselves that continued survival under those conditions make sense. But when they realize that even continued complacency becomes just as costly as struggle and their lot will continue to deteriorate, revolution becomes their only option. Unremitting hunger and want; government-mandated sacrifice of one's children; government-sanctioned public beatings against those whose only crime is seeking food becomes the basis for the stand. This is a story of war between good and evil, but also a story of enduring love and hope, the requsites for the survival of the human race. We are not only reminded of the clear lines between good and evil, but how war, no matter how just, or what side we choose, piece-by-piece strips away at the human soul and damages the spirit. That is the true cost of war as embodied in Katniss and Gale, her lifelong friend. Peeta embodies hope and the promise of posterity. Together he and Katniss meet a future they have helped win for their children. I loved this book and the way Suzanne Collins brings her characters alive. I recommend it to anyone who is ready to be reminded of why we love, why we struggle, and on what terms we are here.

Title: Catching Fire - 2nd Book in the Trilogy Author: Suzanne Collins Warning - Spoilers My personal feelings - LOVED this book! LOVED it. Truly. It's weird, because there is a lot of revisitation, but it's done right. I felt like she was true to Katniss and Peeta throughout. My only beef is that I never really connected with Gale in the first book and still struggled to do so in this one. I give it 5 stars. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this story Katniss finds herself adrift in the Victor's Village with Peeta and Haymitch, in an uneasy place with her former best friend, Gale. Though he kisses her once, that is their one moment and then they must retreat back into their roles. Gale now works in the coal mines, like all men from the Seam. And Katniss just tries to survive the calm after the storm. Everything changes when a personal visit from President Snow let's her know that all is not well. The Capitol did not like her outsmarting them with the berries and there is unrest in some of the other districts. He warns her to convince the world that she was in love with Peeta, despite the fact that she is not. It is clear from his threat the the lives of the remaining people she loves hang in the balance on her ability to tell the right story and save the Capitol face. Which brings me to the Quarter Quell. You'd think that revisiting the Hunger Games would be redundant, but it was actually pretty fantastic. You meet all the other Victors and even fall in love with a few. A dangerous thing that, to care for a character in this series. They tend to die off at an alarming rate. The Quarter Quell Games are truly diabolical and disgusting, but all of the preparation leading up to them gives you hints of a hidden pattern, an organization. Though Katniss seems oblivious, even she begins to sense something different in the conversations and interactions with others around her. In the midst of the Games, alliances are forged and Katniss once again has to place her faith, and her life, in Haymitch's hands. Her only goal is to save Peeta's life, a repayment of debt for his sacrifice in protecting hers in the prior Games. Despite her surety that she does not have the same feelings for Peeta that she has for Gale, under the cover of night and in the middle of Hell, they reconnect once again. This time there is no pity, no sickness, no cameras, only Peeta and Katniss and hunger. To say that this leaves her confused is to imply that this is a romance novel. She's not confused, she has no time to be confused! She is trying to stay alive people! So it's a moment, just a moment. When her alliance begins to figure out the Game Arena, they start to manipulate what they can. They craft a plan to electrocute their two most dangerous remaining opponents, but <<<<SPOILER - DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE NOT DONE!!!>>>something goes terribly wrong. Katniss is badly cut by a supposed ally and she returns to the site of the trap to find that it has broken down. She puts together all the pieces that have been floating in her mind and fires a shot right through the Arena force field and it explodes. When she awakens, she is in the custody of the legendary people of District 13 and she is safe, but she finds out the Peeta is not. He's been captured by the Capitol and she is bereft, confused, and angry. The only person she will talk to is Gale. Unfortunately, though he assures her that her family is safe, he also has to tell her that there is no more District 12. The Capitol bombed it off the map following her stunt in the Arena. Katniss is devastated. No matter how low a home it may have been, her only home is now gone.

Well this is my first book review. And just to be clear: Yes I have read The Hunger Games, and yes I have seen the movie. I was instantly hooked after reading the book and the movie Exceeded my expectations as an adaptation. I think Jennifer Lawrence is excellent and well chosen to play Katniss. You know there are days when the sky is blue, and then we have days of rain and storms. In Catching Fire it takes place a year after Katniss and Peeta changed the games forever. I will not go really deep into to detail because Catching Fire is such a good book that it would be ridiculous for me to spoil this story for those who have not read it. Basically things are not quite the same ever since Katniss and Peeta's victory. Yes they have won, and both their lives are better than they previously were, but there is an unmistakable dislike of the way things are by The Leader of the the Capitol President Snow. He does not like that Katniss has encouraged people in the Capitol to resist and rebel. And therefore he sets some things into motion and just when you think things are already weird and you fast forward a few chapters, something unmistakingly unusual happens. And things are not just weird, but things get REAL. Catching Fire has vivid description, extremely good use of advanced vocabulary, and great characterization. I also like the overall tone and theme that this book has. And fortunately for all the people that read this review, English was a class I excelled in so I will break it down further in parts. The exposition is a lot like I thought it would be; But expect even more surprises than the first book; both good and bad. The Rising action is intense, suspenseful, and more time consuming than a lot of books,(once it reaches this point, you will not want to put this book down) The Climax is shocking and unpredictable And towards the unforgettable conclusion, just like that Katniss Everdeen and her Mockinjay become the new beacon of hope. You'll just have to read Mockingjay for the Resolution. My Consenus for Catching Fire: EVERYONE Should Read It

In this second installment, the journey continues with the celebration of the Hunger Games' seventy-fifth anniversary, but with much more horrifically appalling events taking place. Surprisingly, the contenders for this year events are no strangers to the game, which is a tragedy in itself. But it's the Capitol's President Snow who seeks retribution for what occurred in the previous game and he's the one who sets the rules. So it's no surprise that the events in this story are unpredictably horrifying. At the same time, the previous years' events sparked unrest amongst the District's citizens and it can be felt throughout. So much so, that the President Snow grows more violent in his actions and decisions. Undoubtedly, President Snow blames the insurgency on Katniss for her rebellious berry-eating stunt she pulled in the previous games. In this episode, he has threatened her by annihilating all those closest to her if she did not suppress and halt the uprising by convincing the audience how much she loves Peeta . For you see, Katniss is now looked upon by the citizens as the revolutionary trailblazer for the people, and the "Mockingjay" symbol as hope for change. And so the games begin, along with all the turmoil, tragedies, and devastating, dark days that await the transformation of current-day civilization. In this book, many new characters are introduced; all previous winners of the games. One of importance is Finnick who will be a key player in the games. Gale is not presented as much in this book but he does have an essential role as the adventure continues in the final book. As for Peeta, his character has become more charismatic and fierce and he has grown more dynamic--to the point that you know he will be the key source for the outcome of the revolution. Katniss has so many crossroads, and whichever road she chooses, it will have a lasting effect on the current human life and civilization. Her character has come a long way and she will always fight to the bitter end. This book is truly a brilliant transition for the finale of the Hunger Games; couple that with all the profound characters and the extraordinary foundation of the story, and you have one remarkable adventure...just an overall overwhelming read! Highly Recommend!

The book was in great condition and it arrived fast. I read the first one in two days. Couldn’t wait for this one to come! I literally read it in one sitting it was so good and compelling. Just ordered Mockingjay. Excited for it to come!

Capa bastante fina, sem orelha. Muito bonito e chegou rapidamente. Amo Jogos Vorazes!!!

Currently, I am re-reading the entire 'Hunger Games' series for the third time. With most trilogies, after having already read the books twice, they would be undeniably dull by the third time, but not 'The Hunger Games' and certainly not 'Catching Fire'. Katniss Everdeen has returned to District 12, living in a huge house in the Victor's Village, with all the food, money and luxuries she could want- her reward for being joint champion of the last Hunger Games, alongside fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark. But Katniss is far from happy. She is barely speaking to her supposed 'star-crossed lover', subsequent to an argument they had on the train, in the previous novel. Security has been heavily enforced in District 12, leading to increased suffering and punishments for all its residents. And there is unrest in the districts, stirrings of an uprising against The Capitol, that Katniss has unwittingly caused. With the threat of the snakelike President Snow hanging over her, Katniss knows she must face up to her actions and pay the price for the spark of rebellion she has created. And pay the price she does, but not in the way that she expected... An unexpected twist in the third Quarter Quell, the 75th anniversary of The Hunger Games, means that Katniss and Peeta are once more thrust into the arena, alongside 22 other tributes, all of them victors from past Games. This time, Katniss knows she has no shot at survival. Is this the end for the girl on fire? I really love this action-packed sequel to the brilliant 'The Hunger Games', although it is not as good as its predecessor, in my opinion. It does come a close second though. My favourite character is still Katniss, and she has really come along as a character, and the way she handles certain situations, such as her speech in District 11 and the news about the Quarter Quell are very mature and well-written, so it's as if you're experiencing each event through her eyes, and the same goes for all the horrors she faces in the arena. You forget you're sat against your radiator at home- Suzanne Collins' storytelling makes you believe you're fighting for your life in a ticking timebomb of an arena, alongside Katniss, Peeta and their team of allies. I have also gotten increasingly fond of Peeta, as well. His relationship with Katniss has developed a lot and a sweet friendship lies behind their ongoing staged romance. I liked the way Katniss was striving to sacrifice herself, so that Peeta could be crowned victor, whilst Peeta was determined to give up his life for Katniss. I loved the development of my other favourite characters too. In fact, one of my favourite parts of the whole book was when Katniss and Peeta were watching a replay of the second Quarter Quell, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Games, in which District 12's very own Haymitch Abernathy was crowned victor. I liked this bit because I discovered more about Haymitch as a character- how he managed to become champion, how the horrors he witnessed in the arena made him into the sarcastic drunkard he is today, and how there is actually a sensitive, emotional person underneath his cold, prickly exterior. I also liked the introduction of new characters, particularly Finnick Odair. He made a great addition to Katniss and Peeta's team, and within the space of a few chapters, he developed from the shallow, self-absorbed prettyboy that Katniss and the rest of Panem sees him as, to someone friendly and helpful, who has real feelings and a deep concern for others. I particularly felt for him during the jabberjay scene. I really liked the concept behind the book, particularly all the thought Suzanne Collins has clearly put into the arena and the horrors it contains. Each chapter brings a new key event in the story- there isn't a dull moment during the Games. But here comes the problem, just the little teeny problem I have with this book. The bit which is the actual Games only begins about 3/4 the way into the book. The book is 472 pages long, and the Games begin on page 321. Only the last quarter or so is in the arena. That leaves a big chunk of the book to talk about Katniss adjusting back to life in District 12, and her Victory Tour. Whilst all this stuff is engaging and interesting, I felt it was dragged out too much and I wish there had been more arena time. But that's the only issue I have and it isn't enough to drastically bring down my rating. Definitely a worthy successor to the incredible 'The Hunger Games', even if I did prefer the original. I would rate the book..... 9 stars out of 10.

All three books were great and this was no exception

Most people picking up The Hunger Games books probably already know the general premise or have seen the films—but the books offer something deeper, especially for readers old and new to the dystopian genre. Firstly this is an affordable paperback edition. When I purchased it, it was on sale at $12. The stakes rise sharply in this second book. We see more of the political undercurrents and unrest in the districts, and Katniss is increasingly caught in the role of a reluctant symbol for the rebellion. The Quarter Quell twist is genuinely clever and escalates the tension. A great trilogy.

Continuing part of Suzanne Collin's trilogy involves the reader again in a thrilling drama taking place in the future state of Panem. Being totally unpredictable this story of Katniss and Peeta being forced again into the Capitol's arena is almost as heart-stopping and entertaining as the first part. Katniss and Peeta have survived the unhuman hunger games and now are facing the aftershow, which means again appearing on TV as the Capitol's love-toys and doing their Victory Tour through the districts. By breaking the rules in their first tournament Peeta and especially Katniss have become a serious threat to the power of the Capitol. Snakelike President Snow visits Katniss and tries to blackmail her with the lives of her family and friends. When the oppressed districts start to revolt the Capitol uses cruel violence against the people and finally sends Katniss and Peeta again into the arena fighting against the victorious tributes of the last years. Facing the arena Katniss desperately wants Peeta to survive ... For me the book reveals the trilogy's true character as a classical allegory of war and peace and how love and humanity can survive in war. The overwhelming power of the Capitol leads to the beginning of a revolution. Katniss and Peeta stand for all the human beings who don't lose their humanity in times of violence, hatred and war. The book is full of despair, romance, cruelty, hope, friendship and hate. It shows how permanent oppression transforms people and that no power can oppress people against their will forever. The story-telling is terrific, the characters are thoroughly described and believable, the language is moving and compassionate, but never trashy. I'm sure a lot of people will love this book, girls as well as boys and surely also adults. For me the trilogy is one of the outstanding highlights for readers and already a classic.