Catching Fire...

[fajrdrako]

I spent the morning reading (and finishing) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. It's the sequel to Hunger Games - the second in a trilogy.

I'm so glad I have a copy of Mockingjay, the third book, so I can start reading it right away. I'm not sure what makes these books so compelling, but the action is amazing. I thought Catching Fire was even harder to put down than Hunger Games. In both books, I liked the parts outside the games arena better than the parts inside.

I kept thinking how visual it all is: the amazing costumes, the vivid characters, the odd settings - both staged and unstaged. It reads like a good movie. A lot of the action is in Katniss' internal dialogues, which might be hard to film, but I don't think that would be much of a hindrance: usually it's in reaction to some part of the action, or in anticipation of more.

The only thing I thought was better in Hunger Games was in Katniss' understanding. There, I was with her all the way. Here, there were several times I was ahead of her - in figuring out who to trust and why, or in figuring out what the little bit of metal was for, for example - she didn't seem quite to sharp this time. But feisty. Always feisty.

I love so many of the minor characters: every one so vivid. Prim and Mother perhaps less so - I'm thinking of people like Cinna, Haymitch, Finnick, even the long-dead Marsilee.

I loved the theme and action surrounding the wedding dress.

Okay, on to the next book...

Comments

[cleverthylacine]

I have a funny story to tell you. We have a local SF/F/horror bookstore, a few blocks from my house. Yesterday I went there straight from work with a copy of Catching Fire in my hand that I was obviously reading from, about 20 pages out from the end.

I know I looked wild-eyed and desperate because I made that bookstore clerk's day, glancing around madly until I found the lone copy of Mockingjay and plunking it down on the counter with a look like I just shot a grooseling MYSELF.

Also during the games scenes in Catching Fire I kept making these odd little sobs as Snow proved just what a shit he was and people on the train kept looking at me and I'd point to the book so they'd know I wasn't getting a call over my earphones saying my mom died or something.

I ah, finished Mockingjay a little before midnight last night and then it took me a while to calm down enough to go to sleep.

I really love the books but am anxious to hear what you think because the ending took a lot of courage to write.

[fajrdrako]

Well, yes. Very, very interesting and engrossing books. What a writer she is! There were some things I didn't much like - I'm not sure I ever really liked or admired Katniss as a person - but the setting - the action - the suspense - were quite amazing. And never predictable.

Now I want to read Colins' other books.

[cleverthylacine]

That's funny, because I adore Katniss as a person. She's totally at the top of my Fuck You She's Awesome list :) I think she cares more about her kills than Elli Quinn ever did. Even the final one. But, hah, aren't you the one that loves Peter Petrelli and doesn't understand why I love Nathan? My love for morally ambiguous hardasses is immeasurable and uncontrollable.

I am sorely tempted to write Katniss/Gale/Peeta OT3... in my copious free time, lol.

(Also poupeegirl is blocked here at my job but if you go to my poupee - it's in my DW profile - she's currently dressed up as Katniss...)

[fajrdrako]

Well, yes, I'd agree Katniss was awesome - it's just that I admired her without liking her much, if that's possible! And yes, I adored Peter Petrelli in first season Heroes, less so later on - and sort of appreciated Nathan after the fact.

I would certainly like to read Kayniss/Gale/Peeta. I really would.

Will check out your profile!

[cleverthylacine]

I hope you already got to it because now she doesn't look a thing like Katniss! We have to dress up every day or we lose points.

[fajrdrako]

Yes, I saw it - she made me smile.

[cleverthylacine]

yay! I hope you saw it during one of the times it was loading correctly. Last night I found out that the flash code was screwed up and the flames were coming out from behind the wings instead of the dress--and it's not my code to fix! If the wings were in front, it should have looked more like this: http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/azalaismalfoy/poupeedressups/100929poupee-katniss.png

[fajrdrako]

That looks better.