In Preparation for Hunger Games, Get Yourself a Hunger Name

For all of you midnight showing folks (unfortunately, not me), make sure you stop by this fun site - Hunger Names - before you go.  That way you'll have your name and how you were killed (or if you survived) in your own Hunger Games.  Here are a few I picked up:

Your name is Finnick Hodgepodge
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 8 tribute in the 2nd Hunger Games!
You were killed by natural causes.

Your name is Westych Rabbledeen
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 8 tribute in the 15th Hunger Games!
You were killed by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Your name is Dabble Dondlebree
Congratulations! You had the honor of being a District 12 tribute in the 46th Hunger Games!
You were killed by a thousand paper cuts.

I'm particularly partial to the paper cut death - that sounds about right for a librarian.  Stop by and then come back to let me know your name (and death)! 

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication 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." p23

Things 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

*Insert Squealing Here*

I was very happy (possible understatement) to see the good news from Scholastic this morning!  I will be posting a review later this morning, so check back, but I had to comment on this.

See the pretty new cover (and title)?

I think it looks lovely with the other covers, especially with the beautiful message of the bird being set free (which I admit I didn't see until we got the third cover).  I think the color choice is bold, since it doesn't quite fit with the darker and more vivid colors of the first two.  Perhaps that's part of the message too?

   

Any predictions for the plot of the third book? Thoughts on the cover? Declarations of team spirit?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fireis the exciting sequel to The Hunger Games (in case you have been living under a rock). Katniss must deal with the consequences, both expected and unexpected, of her actions in the Games. She tries to understand her conflicting feelings for both Peeta and Gale, not to mention the constant threat that the Capitol will exact revenge on her family and everyone she cares about. All this and more when the new rules of the 75th annual hunger games are announced.

Things I Liked:
It lives up to the hype. It is packed with excitement, adventure, twists, and terror. I loved the parts about Katniss questioning her motives for her actions in the last games. Did she do it out of concern for Peeta, was it selfishness, or even an unconscious act of rebellion? I adore the dystopian world Collins has created. Not only is this an exciting page-turning novel, it also addressed ethical and social issues in an interesting way. Oh, and I just love Katniss. One of my favorite quotes about her:

"So it's you and a syringe against the Capitol?" p. 384

Things I Didn't Like:
I admit, it was a bit of a slow start, but I enjoyed being able to learn more about the characters, watching their interactions. I also wish we knew more about the world!

Read-alikes:
Other excellent dystopian books:
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: none
that I recall

mrg-factor: none
except kissing

v-factor: ->->->->
there is a lot of this - hunger games, what do you expect?

Overall rating: *****

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Gamesis an adventurous tale of a future society rebuilt in North America. Katniss has been obliged to take care of her family and their ever-present hunger since her father died. When her younger sister Prim's name is drawn as a "contestant" for the government-required hunger games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. All she has to do to return to her family is be the sole survivor of these horrifying games.

I can't remember the last time I read a book (at least one this long) in one day, but I just COULDN'T put this down! It is not a "classic" or a totally literary book, but it was intense and well-written and very interesting. While I did see some parts coming, it didn't detract at all. I would highly recommend this book for someone looking for a thoughtful and page-turning good read.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !
Actually, surprisingly few - I don't even remember any, but just in case :)

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->->
This does have some really intense scary parts. It isn't graphic or gory.

Overall rating: *****