Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Publisher: ScholasticPublication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780439023511
Source: Purchased :)
Katniss has survived her second Hunger Games. She's now living in the mysterious District 13, part of a rebellion that she's been a pawn in without knowing it. Peeta was taken by the Capitol and she doesn't know what's happening to him. Will she be able to keep him, herself, her family, Gale, and everyone else safe or will she have to risk it all to be the leader of the rebellion?
Things I Liked:
After all the hype and the waiting, it was so great to finally pick up the final book. Just reading a highly anticipated book like this is an experience apart from the book. But, enough about that. I was happy for nearly all of the book (though the beginning was pretty slow for me). I loved how there were several plot twists that threw me, specifically Peeta. [Purposely vague to avoid spoilers.] It was, once again, really hard to put down and kept me on the edge of my seat for most of it. I love what Collins manages to do, creating this world full of horrible things and yet not making us despair because of the hopefulness and the happy parts. This book delves into Katniss' inner thoughts and emotions. We get to see just how raw and difficult it is to survive after all this psychological, emotional, and physical stress. It feels quite real to me. Exciting, non-stop, grueling, heart-breaking (oh the heartbreak in this book)! Favorite parts:
It isn't enough, what I've done in the past, defying the Capitol in the Games, providing a rallying point. I must now become the actual leader, the face, the voice, the embodiment of the revolution. The person who the districts - most of which are now openly at war with the Capitol - can count on to blaze the path to victory. I won't have to do it alone. They have a whole team of people to make me over, dress me, write my speeches, orchestrate my appearances as if that doesn't sound horribly familiar - and all I have to do is play my part. p 10-11
"Oh, no. It costs more than your life. To murder innocent people?" says Peeta. "It costs everything you are." p23Things I Didn't Like:
Right about when we hit chapter 25, I started to not like the book. Up to that point it was everything I hoped for and more. The rest disappointed and confused me. I just didn’t feel very satisfied with the ending. It felt half-hearted and vague and totally confusing to me. If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on this, do check out the discussion in Natasha's spoiler post. I didn’t much like the romance either, but that was just my personal preference. :)
Read-alikes:
Read the first two books in the series The Hunger Games and Catching Fire
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few (though I admit I wasn't paying much attention)
mrg-factor: X
romantic, but not much else
v-factor: ->->->->
again, quite gory and violent - there's a lot of blood
Overall rating: ****
Well, what did you think? (Note: spoilers in the comments!)
For more dystopian reviews, check out Presenting Lenore's Dystopian August celebration!
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
For more dystopian reviews, check out Presenting Lenore's Dystopian August celebration!
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Posts
I agree that the ending was a little strange. Rushed, still unanswered questions, people left hanging. I don't know. I'm a little sad....
ReplyDeleteI am of the opinion that Gale would never have given up on Katniss. Let alone taken a "cushy" job in 2. He would have come back to 12 to check on her. He was definitely written off to quickly.
ReplyDeleteThat said. I don't know. I was happy with the ending. She chose the way she did and I had to respect that. After all they had been through. I wanted it for the two of them. That space. That peace. I found it both incredibly sweet and painfully sad at the same time.
The book evoked in me the entire gamut of emotions and for that I love it. Flaws and all.
Suey, I'm with you - feeling a little sad.
ReplyDeleteAngie, I totally agree with you on Gale. He wouldn't have just disappeared from her life. But, the ending with her choice wasn't what made me sad, I'm quite glad she had a semblance of a normal life. What made me sad was how little part she played in the revolution, how little development and discussion of it there was. I thought something was missing from those chapters where Katniss is just lying around in a stupor (again). But, I can see why many people found it satisfying. It certainly does evoke a lot of thought and emotion and I think that's a sign of a good book!
I think the thing I've liked the best has been all the discussion it's raised. For some reason, books where people disagree about the ending are much more fun to talk about than ones that we all liked. :-D
ReplyDeleteMelissa, so true! It would be a short and sappy discussion if we all just said "awesome!" (Sorry it took me a month to respond.
ReplyDelete