Follow Friday (14)

 

It's Follow Friday time again! Woo! Anyway... This week's feature is Little Read Riding Hood (@ Alison Can Read) and 
Book that Thing!(@ Parajunkee)! Go check' em out. :D

Now for the question...

Q: Have you had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with and then "broke up" with later on in either the series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her.

   Oh yes. Oooooh yes. Immediately,  a book came to mind and the certain character from it. Now, please don't hate me or tell me how horrible I am... (I mean, you can, but that would hurt my feelers.)

   For me, it was Katniss Everdeen from the ever-popular series, The Hunger Games. When I started reading the series, I loved Katniss. She was kick-a**, but not rude. She was tough, but not insensitive. She could handle herself, take care of her family, and still not break under pressure. I loved her. In Catching Fire, I loved her even more. I can't say I understand why she does get so gushy sometimes, given who she was set up to be, but oh well.
   However, when I started Mockingjay, I immediately thought, "Wait. Where's my Katniss?" In that third book, Katniss wasn't so up to being kick-a**, tough, and taking care of others. In fact, she broke under pressure and she was super sensitive. She didn't want to get back out there and DO SOMETHING. Instead, she let herself be the emblem of the rebellion. She could have been both and have done wonderfully. We all know it was in her, she just gave up. The whole mental problem from her injury may have factored into it, but I don't think that was the root of this. I think she changed because Suzanne Collins wanted her to, or she changed because there was this huge flaw in her character that Collins didn't show us earlier. And that, IMHO, is chicken poo. Sorry, but I'm pretty touchy about this subject. I just loved Katniss so much, and then Mockingjay happened.
(Also, Gale fits into this disappointment too. I loved Gale but then I was like, "Who are you!?". However, he didn't bother me as much as Katniss.)

Anybody feel the same or have some way explaining to me about what happened to Katniss (with a legit reason)?
 Because I would love to know.

Review: Mockingjay

 

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date:  August 24th 2010

Format: Hardback (Bought)

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

I loved The Hunger Games and I even loved Catching Fire. But I don't love this book. For one, I don't feel the ending was right. I think Katniss deserved to have more of a peaceful end after the Capitol and President Snow was overturned. I wanted to see some more elaboration about her little pieces of happiness.

But...when you start Mockingjay, there is no turning back. I couldn't put it down, even though I wanted to. It was incredibly slow at the beginning, and I was so frustrated with Katniss. She wouldn't rise and do anything for such a long time! Then should would and more problems would arise. I just generally don't like the story. Especially with what happens to Peeta and then how Gale turns out. I was unhappy.

The deaths are countless and some really good characters die. I won't say who, though. I also think that the plot could have been something better. I think Collins could have taken the plot in another direction, something that resulted in a more peaceful -- not necessarily happy -- end for Katniss. I gave the four stars because Collins still can weave a great story and creates such brilliant imagery. Her characters are gripping and I couldn't shut it because I wanted to know what happened to them. (I almost cried at Prim's part.)


Also, to state it again, I HATE love triangles. Especially this one. I became so conflicted, that I just wanted one of them to die so she'd be forced to be happy with the other. No lie.

And I don't know if I'm making sense on the ending part, but I'm not quite sure how to describe. Yes, I know all endings aren't happy. There was just something about it that didn't settle right with me...I just can't put my finger on it.


However, if you've started this series, you have to read this. There's no other way around it. Just be prepared to be totally broken to pieces.

I gave it FOUR out of FIVE Sporks!

 

Review: Catching Fire

 

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Author: Suzanne Collines

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date:   September 1st, 2009

Format: Hardback (Bought)

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster children for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...

It's taken me a long time to get my hands on a copy of the second book, but I am really glad I did. I loved this book, even if some of the thrill of the first one didn't fully transfer to this one.

Catching Fire takes us through a new adventure but with the Katniss we love and the Peeta we adore. Those two are thrown into all new perils as the Capitol wei'ghs down on them. It's the year of the Quarter Quells and that only spells trouble for them. When they're subjected to their new fate, I could only groan.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was another brilliant masterpiece and it's definitely among my favourite. The ending was great and I knew that it meant Mockingjay was going to be another thrill ride.



There's just one thing I don't like....the love triangle. Katniss infuriates me. Just choose one! I also dislike love triangles in general. They're ridiculous.

So, if you haven't caught onto the wagon yet for this series, I'd highly advise that you do. 

I gave it FIVE out of FIVE sporks!