Catching Fire/ Mockinjay - Suzanne Collins

(This is going to be a two-in-one review as I read both books one after the other and the story line is continuous between them. So you’ve been warned...)

After the nightmare that was Blindness (I’m sticking to my story, even though it is officially considered a masterpiece- I hated it.) I wanted something I knew I would enjoy, something to cheer me up. So I chose The Hunger Games sequels. Because I’m a moron. What person in their right mind would pick post apocalyptic/Orwellian novels to cheer themselves up? I hear you say. And how right you are.

The thing with The Hunger Games books is that they haunt you. After you’ve read them you can’t just close the book and get on with your life. It stays with you.It’s been weeks since I finished the first book and I find myself still thinking through situations. What would I have done if I were in her shoes. Who would I believe. How would I go on about it. But I’m getting ahead of myself. The second and third books (Catching Fire and Mockinjay) are about ten times as powerful as the first one. Mockinjay in particular, where war is described in all its horror and glorious HD feels almost claustrophobic.

What I truly admire in the sequels is the fact that war is not made to look elegant or heroic or justified. War is nasty. People are horrible and there are no clear cut good guys. It’s not like Star Wars where the Rebels can do no wrong and the Empire is the source of all evil. It’s not even as subtle as Harry Potter. It is gory, unfair and confusing. That makes it feel real.

It’s very difficult to write this review without giving anything away. Not that I necessarily think people would want to read the books I review but if anyone does I would hate to ruin it for you. It will be like the person who halfway through Seven told me what happened in the end. I still hate that guy. What is tricky about The Hunger Games is that as already mentioned, it’s all about war. And since I do not want give away who made it out of the Arena of the first book alive even mentioning names is a spoiler. A heartbreaking spoiler mind you as some of the names remain hilarious. But it’s ok, we have more ridiculous names to make up for the ones I can’t mention. A guy is called Beetee. Beetee. As in BT. Seriously. Painful.

Aside from their silly names, the characters are perfectly portrayed. None of them is 100% good and has a halo when (s)he walks. you can imagine them as real people, making mistakes, changing their minds, being scared, being cruel. They are human. And that makes their moments of bravery exceptionally admirable. As an example, I don’t admire Harry Potter for doing the right thing as much as, say,  Dumbledore (who’s background is way more complex than presented in the movies)or even Ron who keeps changing his mind. I admire many characters in The Hunger Games because they do what they think is right especially when the answer is not obvious. I often felt that in their shoes, I really wouldn’t stand a chance. What is interesting is that even though I kept trying to put myself in their shoes it is a pointless exercise because they all grew up in a very different world to mine.

The most unexpected part in the books was the fact that some parts are actually written with humour and you really couldn’t help but laugh. I know I felt guilty when I laughed but some of the exchanges between characters are so humorous in a very subtle way that it was unavoidable. I’m not saying it cracked me up, because it didn’t, it’s just that perfect balance between irony and sarcasm.

Apparently there’s going to be a movie made out of the first book. So I’m assuming the other two books will be adapted as well. Some actors will really have some very big shoes to fill. I just hope they get it right.

And finally, I need to own up to the criticism in the first book about the love triangle that seemed forced and pointless. I take it all back. I am, after all, a moron.

Now I really need something lighthearted...

Enjoyed it: It was excellent.

Read again: When I recover from the devastating effects Mockinjay had to my psyche, sure!

311 days remaining – 14 books down, 1 unfinished,  86 left.