Review - "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA

Every year in Panem the Capitol shows the reality program "The Hunger Games" where two teen "tributes" from each of the twelve surrounding districts are put to fight to the death. Katniss and Peeta, the tributes from the poor district Twelve, have both survived the games the year before (read "The Hunger Games, book 1). In this extremely anticipated sequel Katniss returns to her district and finds out that she is more in the center of attraction than ever.

The president Snow from The Capitol pays her a visit, and Katniss starts to fear that even if she survived the games, she is still in danger. She has come to be known among all the districts as the one who defied The Capitol. In the last Hunger Games she was able to force The Capitol to accept two winners, and that way saved  her friend Peeta in the process. She has become a symbol of rebellion!

"Catching Fire" starts with Katniss and Peeta's mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, where Katniss - oblivious or not - ignites rebellios thoughts with the common people. Then there is the Qarter Quell coming up, and the preparations for the 75th hunger games. Every 25th year The Capitol holds a special surprise for that particular game. Finally there is the 75th games themselves. To avoid any spoilers I will not go into any further details, but the story definately evolves!

"The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol's plans. The symbol of the rebellion."

A fan made book teaser!

 My evaluation

This is a GREAT read! After reading the "The Hunger Games" I was afraid that Collins couldn't keep up with the same high standards, since book number one was so amazingly good. Boy was I wrong! The author manages continously to impress with even new twists and turns in the story. You an only wonder where she gets her ideas from.. The triangle relationship between Katniss, Peeta and Gale kept me excited through the whole story. Who would she choose? Based on what? And, what would I have done?

The focus in this number two in the series is very different from the first book. The plot is  much more complex and ambitious. There is a bigger picture of both corruption, manipulation and rebel tendencies present here. All the time with Katniss as the narrator. Catching Fire didn't just hold the same qualities as The Hunger Games, it even surpassed the first book in my opinion. The main twist for the 75th Quarter Quell is the really big surprise of the story! What a genious Collins is :-)

Read and enjoy! This is definately not a waist of time!

My rating

of 5

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 479 KB
Print Length: 391 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0439023491
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B003O86FMW

Pic of the day: Remnants of a summer... Malta

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