My Take On Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.




Ever read a book that so good, it felt unnecessary to write a review? So good, that the whole world must already be aware of it, and to say so would just be redundant? Well, that's how it was with Catching Fire.
I'll admit I was a mite worried that it wouldn't live up to the awesomeness that was The Hunger Games, so I put off reading it for a little while, but I need not have worried. From page one, I was, once again, Katniss. I felt her fear, anxiety, and resentment. I lived her life. Suzanne Collins has a style unlike any other I've read. Reading her books is an intense experience, and her characters and the world she's created are wonderful and, in some instances, frightingly real.
There was less action than the first book initially, but it picked up very quickly, and like a juggernaut, it just kept gathering momentum. The plot was also a lot thicker than the first book, and we were pulled deeper into the instability in the Districts. The old characters were really expanded on and a lot of depth was added, also a bunch of new ones were introduced.
Now, I don't want give too much away, but I will say there was a lot more Gale/Peeta time1. Poor Katniss is stuck between a rock and hard place, in the love department2. On top of that, she's stuck trying to get in the good graces of the hideously evil President Snow in order to ensure the safety of her loved ones, and handle all the pressures that come with being a champion, including a tour of the whole country where she and Peeta witness the instability of the population and the Capitol's hard handed control methods. And, O, the twists this story takes! And the ending? Amazing! I read the last few pages over at least five times before I even thought about setting the book down, it was so... what's a word meaning, "Whoa, dude, I did not see that coming!"? Not "shocking," that's not nearly big enough. If you like an unpredictable thrill ride that really pulls you in, you must, must, must read this series!


I give Catching Fire...
...Five Zombies! I cannot wait to get my greedy little mits on the third installment!

Happy Reading,
Zombie Girrrl

footnotes_________________________________________

1 Whooo!

2 Choose you side now, Gentle Reader, because there will definitely be some boy rooting going on! I was on Team Gale in book one, but you really got to delve deeper into the characters in CF, so now I'm torn. Peeta or Gale? Gale or Peeta?

3 Are you reading it yet? No? Well, what are yo waiting for?!

****I won this book in a contest, and am not receiving compensation for this review. Individual results may vary.***