Helpful Score: 18
People planning on reading this book will be totally unaffected by any reviews. At this point, you either love the series or you don't, and if you don't, you probably won't pick up the book regardless of what anyone says.
On that note, I love the Hunger Games series. It was one of the best series I've ever read. It was beautiful, I waited and waited for Mockingjay to come out, and here it is.
Now to the book- Mockingjay. It was okay. It was depressing and slightly boring. I didn't like the ending. I can't say much more since it will spoil it for those who have yet to read it.
Back to the series, did I mention I love the Hunger Games series? Regardless of what I felt about Mockingjay, the series was incredible.
Series 10 stars out of 5. (Yes, I did write that).
Mockingjay- 3 stars out of 5.
On that note, I love the Hunger Games series. It was one of the best series I've ever read. It was beautiful, I waited and waited for Mockingjay to come out, and here it is.
Now to the book- Mockingjay. It was okay. It was depressing and slightly boring. I didn't like the ending. I can't say much more since it will spoil it for those who have yet to read it.
Back to the series, did I mention I love the Hunger Games series? Regardless of what I felt about Mockingjay, the series was incredible.
Series 10 stars out of 5. (Yes, I did write that).
Mockingjay- 3 stars out of 5.
Helpful Score: 13
A somewhat disappointing follow-up to Collins' previous Hunger Games novels. Katniss is basically trapped the entire time: hospitals, bunkers, rooms, etc. Collins doesn't allow her to do what she does best - fight. The bloodbath at the end rivals only that of the final Harry Potter book.
Her point - and I understand it - is that war is ugly and horrid and to be avoided, innocents die along with the guilty; everything comes at a cost. The entire book left me cold and feeling isolated and alone. I know this was the author's point.
***Contains a spoiler***
Collins somewhat redeems herself for the lackluster novel with a touching three, final pages, in which she tells of the future, which, despite the scars the survivors bear, is not dark at all. This book needed that final positive note; otherwise, it would have been something to read to psych you up for suicide.
Her point - and I understand it - is that war is ugly and horrid and to be avoided, innocents die along with the guilty; everything comes at a cost. The entire book left me cold and feeling isolated and alone. I know this was the author's point.
***Contains a spoiler***
Collins somewhat redeems herself for the lackluster novel with a touching three, final pages, in which she tells of the future, which, despite the scars the survivors bear, is not dark at all. This book needed that final positive note; otherwise, it would have been something to read to psych you up for suicide.
Helpful Score: 11
This is the third, and final, book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. If you read the first two books, you will read this one. All I can say is to be prepared for one heck of a ride. A lot happens in this book and Collins doesn't hold off on killing off a lot of people.
The book starts where Catching Fire left off. Katniss is in District 13 with Gale, her mom, and her sister Prim. The Rebel group based in District 13 is trying to get Katniss to take up the Mockingjay symbol and become the face of their revolution. Katniss is unsure if she wants to go this route or not. Peeta is still missing and presumed captured by President Snow and being held in the Capital. Katniss's journey eventually leads to the capital itself and a final face-off with President Snow.
This is a hard book to review without spoilers but I will give it my best shot. The pace of this book is relentless. Collins does not pull punches when it comes to killing off large groups of people, as well as people we love and care about. This is a dark book, and that is putting it mildly.
As far as characterization goes we begin to see even more of what defines Katniss as a character; she is not sentimental, she is a survivor foremost and that it what sets her apart from others. A lot of the decisions made by Katniss in this book are driven by that personality trait. In fact at one point Gale and Peeta are discussing Katniss and who she will "choose". Gale sums it up perfectly when he says something to the effect of "Katniss will choose whoever she can't survive without."
On to other characters. The ruthlessness we saw in Gale at the end of the Catching Fire is built upon in this book. Gale is ruthless and practical to the point of dislike at times. He begins to look like a character that likes what Katniss stands for, rather than who she is. At the end of book two I was Team Gale all the way. I thought that Gale and Katniss had more in common in survival instincts and could pull off a good relationship based on those characteristics. As this book starts and continues, we see a side of Gale that is more ruthless and dispassionate than ever before.
In order to avoid spoilers I won't say much about Peeta, except that he is back in the story for the second half of the book.
Collins does an excellent job at showing both sides of the story. You get to see both the good the rebel forces do, and the harm they cause in rebelling against the Capital. As Katniss and team enter the capital, Collins relates the Capital takeover as yet another type of dome just like previous "Hunger Games" this is an interesting idea and ties the three novels together well. In each of them we see our teams of characters struggling to stay alive, doing things no one should have to do. In each book there are brutal deaths.
There's quite the twist at the end of this book. People may be surprised at who Katniss kills. All I have to say about this is that I was satisfied with the choice Katniss made, and had actually been hoping that Collins would have it play out that way. Katniss's actions at the end seemed like the best way to follow Katniss's beliefs, while trying to ensure the best ending for humanity as a whole.
The epilogue was interesting. It was kind of nice to get a definitive ending to everything that played out before. It wrapped things up nicely. Still, I didn't think the epilogue was necessary and I think the book would have actually been a bit better and more thought-provoking without it. As with the previous books the writing style of this book was incredibly readable and engaging; no matter people think of the plot, you have to admit Collins is one heck of a great writer.
Overall I thought this was an excellent conclusion to the series. Readers may not like how some of things play-out; but I thought they played out realistically and I liked the decisions Katniss made at the end...I thought her decisions really stayed true to the core personality trait of her character, which was to survive. I am eagerly awaiting whatever Collins comes up with next.
The book starts where Catching Fire left off. Katniss is in District 13 with Gale, her mom, and her sister Prim. The Rebel group based in District 13 is trying to get Katniss to take up the Mockingjay symbol and become the face of their revolution. Katniss is unsure if she wants to go this route or not. Peeta is still missing and presumed captured by President Snow and being held in the Capital. Katniss's journey eventually leads to the capital itself and a final face-off with President Snow.
This is a hard book to review without spoilers but I will give it my best shot. The pace of this book is relentless. Collins does not pull punches when it comes to killing off large groups of people, as well as people we love and care about. This is a dark book, and that is putting it mildly.
As far as characterization goes we begin to see even more of what defines Katniss as a character; she is not sentimental, she is a survivor foremost and that it what sets her apart from others. A lot of the decisions made by Katniss in this book are driven by that personality trait. In fact at one point Gale and Peeta are discussing Katniss and who she will "choose". Gale sums it up perfectly when he says something to the effect of "Katniss will choose whoever she can't survive without."
On to other characters. The ruthlessness we saw in Gale at the end of the Catching Fire is built upon in this book. Gale is ruthless and practical to the point of dislike at times. He begins to look like a character that likes what Katniss stands for, rather than who she is. At the end of book two I was Team Gale all the way. I thought that Gale and Katniss had more in common in survival instincts and could pull off a good relationship based on those characteristics. As this book starts and continues, we see a side of Gale that is more ruthless and dispassionate than ever before.
In order to avoid spoilers I won't say much about Peeta, except that he is back in the story for the second half of the book.
Collins does an excellent job at showing both sides of the story. You get to see both the good the rebel forces do, and the harm they cause in rebelling against the Capital. As Katniss and team enter the capital, Collins relates the Capital takeover as yet another type of dome just like previous "Hunger Games" this is an interesting idea and ties the three novels together well. In each of them we see our teams of characters struggling to stay alive, doing things no one should have to do. In each book there are brutal deaths.
There's quite the twist at the end of this book. People may be surprised at who Katniss kills. All I have to say about this is that I was satisfied with the choice Katniss made, and had actually been hoping that Collins would have it play out that way. Katniss's actions at the end seemed like the best way to follow Katniss's beliefs, while trying to ensure the best ending for humanity as a whole.
The epilogue was interesting. It was kind of nice to get a definitive ending to everything that played out before. It wrapped things up nicely. Still, I didn't think the epilogue was necessary and I think the book would have actually been a bit better and more thought-provoking without it. As with the previous books the writing style of this book was incredibly readable and engaging; no matter people think of the plot, you have to admit Collins is one heck of a great writer.
Overall I thought this was an excellent conclusion to the series. Readers may not like how some of things play-out; but I thought they played out realistically and I liked the decisions Katniss made at the end...I thought her decisions really stayed true to the core personality trait of her character, which was to survive. I am eagerly awaiting whatever Collins comes up with next.
Helpful Score: 6
*** PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. PROCEED WITH THE UTMOST LEVEL OF CAUTION!*****
It's always an odd feeling for me when I come to the end of a series of books like this. The world I'd spent so much time in is gone as soon as the spine closes and the book is placed on the dusty bookshelf...The characters I'd bonded with, those I'd grown to love, admire, and in some cases despise, are gone for good, off to delight other eager readers. And I move on to another book and before long forget about 95% of what I'd read.
It's even an odder feeling for me when the series ends on a flat note, as I feel was the case with "Mockingjay". Perhaps Collins had set the bar too high with her first two books. I freaking loved "The Hunger Games" and while I was not blown away by "Catching Fire" I still thoroughly enjoyed it. As "Catching Fire" rumbled to its chaotic, cliffhanger ending I was certain that "Mockingjay" would be the proverbial icing on the cake, finishing out the trilogy in a spectacular, mind blowing finale. My friends, the cake was not iced and my mind was unfortunately not blown.
This is not to say that I didn't enjoy "Mockingjay." I did, although it was as flat as that open can of soda you placed in the fridge simply not to waste it, only to drink it the next day and immediately spill the rest of it out because it was...well...flat. Sigh. Anyway, you get the point.
A few things that bothered me:
- Gale's quick departure at the end of the book - After all of the build up around who Katniss would end up with it seemed odd to me that he was just simply removed altogether in the manner in which he was. I'm not one for sappy love stories but after reading 1,100 or so pages peppered with the Peeta vs. Gabe conundrum it just felt way too abrupt, as if even Collins herself got tired of waiting for Katniss to make up her damn mind.
- The Portrayal of Finnick's Death - I completely understand that Collins was trying to paint a picture of the horrors of war throughout the book...and honestly I think she did a great job of it. Hell, we saw a good deal of characters meet their demise in "Mockingjay." With that said, the manner in which Finnick's death was described, almost as if it was an afterthought really irked me. He'd become a rather important character, had finally been reunited with the love of his life, was awesome at tying cool knots, had saved the lives of Peeta and Katniss multiple times, and all we get is something to the effect of "Oh, and by the way, back there in the sewer Finnick's head was just ripped off by one of those rose scented lizard mutts. Carry On." I'm not saying I needed him to live (even if he was the Fabio of Panem)...it is war after all...but damn, let the guy die in honor.
- The Pearl - Am I the only one who thought that Katniss should have given Peeta the pearl to try and break him out out of his tracker jacker induced hysteria?
- The Propos - Didn't they get tiresome after a while? After reading two books filled with the tense fight to the death Games it grew rather monotonous reading about them acting like they were engaging in actual combat. I understand the rebels' need for the propos but this didn't necessary lend itself to thoroughly engaging reading.
- The Lack of another Hunger Games - Ha! Ok, I understand that there was no way in hell another Hunger Games could be held during this book. I honestly think though that what I found most engaging during the previous two novels was what unfolded during the Games. I'm not really sure what that says about me...enjoying all of the gory details of 12-18 year old boys and girls fighting to the death in the most deviously conceived environments, but there you have it. While Collins tried to equate the mission through the booby trapped Capitol to the previous Games it was not nearly as exciting or entertaining.
When all is said and done though this really wasn't a bad book. As I said earlier, I did enjoy it however I think my error was simply expecting way too much after the spectacular foundation that Collins built with the first two. The trilogy as as a whole was ridiculously entertaining and I'm thankful Collins took the time to create this world for us...even if she did rush a little through the last book.
It's always an odd feeling for me when I come to the end of a series of books like this. The world I'd spent so much time in is gone as soon as the spine closes and the book is placed on the dusty bookshelf...The characters I'd bonded with, those I'd grown to love, admire, and in some cases despise, are gone for good, off to delight other eager readers. And I move on to another book and before long forget about 95% of what I'd read.
It's even an odder feeling for me when the series ends on a flat note, as I feel was the case with "Mockingjay". Perhaps Collins had set the bar too high with her first two books. I freaking loved "The Hunger Games" and while I was not blown away by "Catching Fire" I still thoroughly enjoyed it. As "Catching Fire" rumbled to its chaotic, cliffhanger ending I was certain that "Mockingjay" would be the proverbial icing on the cake, finishing out the trilogy in a spectacular, mind blowing finale. My friends, the cake was not iced and my mind was unfortunately not blown.
This is not to say that I didn't enjoy "Mockingjay." I did, although it was as flat as that open can of soda you placed in the fridge simply not to waste it, only to drink it the next day and immediately spill the rest of it out because it was...well...flat. Sigh. Anyway, you get the point.
A few things that bothered me:
- Gale's quick departure at the end of the book - After all of the build up around who Katniss would end up with it seemed odd to me that he was just simply removed altogether in the manner in which he was. I'm not one for sappy love stories but after reading 1,100 or so pages peppered with the Peeta vs. Gabe conundrum it just felt way too abrupt, as if even Collins herself got tired of waiting for Katniss to make up her damn mind.
- The Portrayal of Finnick's Death - I completely understand that Collins was trying to paint a picture of the horrors of war throughout the book...and honestly I think she did a great job of it. Hell, we saw a good deal of characters meet their demise in "Mockingjay." With that said, the manner in which Finnick's death was described, almost as if it was an afterthought really irked me. He'd become a rather important character, had finally been reunited with the love of his life, was awesome at tying cool knots, had saved the lives of Peeta and Katniss multiple times, and all we get is something to the effect of "Oh, and by the way, back there in the sewer Finnick's head was just ripped off by one of those rose scented lizard mutts. Carry On." I'm not saying I needed him to live (even if he was the Fabio of Panem)...it is war after all...but damn, let the guy die in honor.
- The Pearl - Am I the only one who thought that Katniss should have given Peeta the pearl to try and break him out out of his tracker jacker induced hysteria?
- The Propos - Didn't they get tiresome after a while? After reading two books filled with the tense fight to the death Games it grew rather monotonous reading about them acting like they were engaging in actual combat. I understand the rebels' need for the propos but this didn't necessary lend itself to thoroughly engaging reading.
- The Lack of another Hunger Games - Ha! Ok, I understand that there was no way in hell another Hunger Games could be held during this book. I honestly think though that what I found most engaging during the previous two novels was what unfolded during the Games. I'm not really sure what that says about me...enjoying all of the gory details of 12-18 year old boys and girls fighting to the death in the most deviously conceived environments, but there you have it. While Collins tried to equate the mission through the booby trapped Capitol to the previous Games it was not nearly as exciting or entertaining.
When all is said and done though this really wasn't a bad book. As I said earlier, I did enjoy it however I think my error was simply expecting way too much after the spectacular foundation that Collins built with the first two. The trilogy as as a whole was ridiculously entertaining and I'm thankful Collins took the time to create this world for us...even if she did rush a little through the last book.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Helpful Score: 5
I absolutely love this Dystopian series! I just burned through all three books. This final book was more about the strengths and weaknesses of humanity and parts were devastating. I was left stunned but I liked the ending. Amazing series! I will miss these characters and this world.
Helpful Score: 4
Not What Was Wanted But....,
Suzanne Collins created a series where the possibilty of a happy ending for all the characters was impossible. We just have to accept the fact that this story wasn't about happiness, it was about a struggle to change a way of life that existed for generations. I was disappointed because I wanted more of that relationship between Peeta and Katniss to be at the fore-front in some way. We got an ending, it might not had been the one we all wanted, but it was a realistic one for the situation. I applaud Suzanne on this wonderful series. :)
Suzanne Collins created a series where the possibilty of a happy ending for all the characters was impossible. We just have to accept the fact that this story wasn't about happiness, it was about a struggle to change a way of life that existed for generations. I was disappointed because I wanted more of that relationship between Peeta and Katniss to be at the fore-front in some way. We got an ending, it might not had been the one we all wanted, but it was a realistic one for the situation. I applaud Suzanne on this wonderful series. :)
Helpful Score: 3
What happened?
The first book was amazing, the second not half bad but this was junk! the series started out with Katniss as a strong, likable heroine but in this book she turned into a absolute wimp that couldn't face life. also the writer fell into the old, cheap trick to make the story seem more serious to kill of lots of minor charctures and a few likeable ones. a good book would have just killed one or two but made the deaths more importent, it would have touched the reader more that way, and been more effective.
Elena Fritsche (14)
The first book was amazing, the second not half bad but this was junk! the series started out with Katniss as a strong, likable heroine but in this book she turned into a absolute wimp that couldn't face life. also the writer fell into the old, cheap trick to make the story seem more serious to kill of lots of minor charctures and a few likeable ones. a good book would have just killed one or two but made the deaths more importent, it would have touched the reader more that way, and been more effective.
Elena Fritsche (14)
Helpful Score: 3
While I was reluctant to read the first novel in this series because of my aversion to what I felt was a sensational kids killing kids plot, as soon I started it I overcame that initial prejudice. I was skeptical about the second volume but soon found that one engrossing as well. Then the third installment... I was once again skeptical, feeling that the author had written herself into a corner but was soon just as surprised as before.
I expected this one to be bleak. How could it not be after the ending of the second book. But it once again surprised me. And the third installment does bring a sort of closure even if its only in the closing chapters. The final chapter of this reminded me a bit of How Tolkien ended his opus with the cleansing of the shire and the departures across the sea. Some people are too wounded by what they experience in their lives to ever return to "normal" and in this trilogy, where the folks started was hardly "normal."
I thought that the prose was riveting and the story flowed well. The characters came off as truthful and with the exception of one unexpected death, this one played out pretty much the way it had to.
In retrospect, this story told a fascinating tale, presented some moral issues to consider and even suggested aspects of mercy, duty and love that often go overlooked. I judge it a success and well worth the reading time. I fully anticipate revisiting this trilogy again sometime.
I expected this one to be bleak. How could it not be after the ending of the second book. But it once again surprised me. And the third installment does bring a sort of closure even if its only in the closing chapters. The final chapter of this reminded me a bit of How Tolkien ended his opus with the cleansing of the shire and the departures across the sea. Some people are too wounded by what they experience in their lives to ever return to "normal" and in this trilogy, where the folks started was hardly "normal."
I thought that the prose was riveting and the story flowed well. The characters came off as truthful and with the exception of one unexpected death, this one played out pretty much the way it had to.
In retrospect, this story told a fascinating tale, presented some moral issues to consider and even suggested aspects of mercy, duty and love that often go overlooked. I judge it a success and well worth the reading time. I fully anticipate revisiting this trilogy again sometime.
Helpful Score: 3
After The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Collins had set herself up to write an amazing third and final book in the trilogy. To be honest, though, she fell short. Don't get me wrong, it was a very, very good book, but I can't help but feel disappointed.
The plot was interesting and twisted me around in a million different ways. The characters grew a lot from the first book, and new one's were introduced. The issue I had was how the book made me feel emotionally (sounds sappy, I know). I like books that make me feel good and give me closure. This book? Not so much.
It starts where Catching Fire left off: With Katniss and Gale and District 13. Peeta is in the capitols clutches and time is running out for everybody, but Katniss soon realizes there is more than one threat pushing her into a corner. She struggles for what is right, just trying to stay alive.
The real excitement doesn't start until much farther along, whereas the majority of the book is filled with pointless details and things we've been over a lot in the previous books.
This being said, it is no doubt a great series that should be read by anyone who can get their hands on it.I will keep a watch out for any more books that may be written by Collins, and in the meantime keep this series on my "Favorite Books" shelf.
The plot was interesting and twisted me around in a million different ways. The characters grew a lot from the first book, and new one's were introduced. The issue I had was how the book made me feel emotionally (sounds sappy, I know). I like books that make me feel good and give me closure. This book? Not so much.
It starts where Catching Fire left off: With Katniss and Gale and District 13. Peeta is in the capitols clutches and time is running out for everybody, but Katniss soon realizes there is more than one threat pushing her into a corner. She struggles for what is right, just trying to stay alive.
The real excitement doesn't start until much farther along, whereas the majority of the book is filled with pointless details and things we've been over a lot in the previous books.
This being said, it is no doubt a great series that should be read by anyone who can get their hands on it.I will keep a watch out for any more books that may be written by Collins, and in the meantime keep this series on my "Favorite Books" shelf.
Helpful Score: 2
Though I do wish this book would have went a little faster, it was still a good ending to the series. Granted I wish some scenes would have played out better like the final choosing of who Katniss wanted to be with, but all in all still good.
Helpful Score: 2
Katniss has been rescued by the rebels and is living in District 13 along with refugees from District 12, Haymitch, Johanna, and Finnick. Peeta and Annie are still in the clutches of the Capitol, and every day Katniss is plagued with thoughts of what torture they must be suffering at the hands of President Snow. The rebellion is sweeping across Panem, and the leader of the rebels, President Coin, wants Katniss to be the symbol of the revolution--the Mockingjay. It is as if the arena has consumed all of Panem, and there is no escape for Katniss.
Collins struggles to tell a cohesive action tale without the structure of the Hunger Games arena. It also is evident she got a bit of a guilt complex over the violence in the series, and therefore gets too caught up in constantly telling the reader the emotional pain the characters are in. Katniss can only have so many emotional break-downs before it stops being interesting and powerful and starts being annoying and distracting. The writing continues to be sophomoric, but with the plot issues, this is more noticeable in this entry in the series. Thankfully, Collins handles the love triangle with grace and presents a choice that gives teen readers insight into the true emotions in adult relationships. It is a tear-jerking choice no matter whether you are Team Peeta or Team Gale. Overall, Mockingjay is a satisfying end to the series, but does not live up to the power of the first two books. Fans will by no means regret having started the series, however.
Check out my full (spoiler-free) review.
Collins struggles to tell a cohesive action tale without the structure of the Hunger Games arena. It also is evident she got a bit of a guilt complex over the violence in the series, and therefore gets too caught up in constantly telling the reader the emotional pain the characters are in. Katniss can only have so many emotional break-downs before it stops being interesting and powerful and starts being annoying and distracting. The writing continues to be sophomoric, but with the plot issues, this is more noticeable in this entry in the series. Thankfully, Collins handles the love triangle with grace and presents a choice that gives teen readers insight into the true emotions in adult relationships. It is a tear-jerking choice no matter whether you are Team Peeta or Team Gale. Overall, Mockingjay is a satisfying end to the series, but does not live up to the power of the first two books. Fans will by no means regret having started the series, however.
Check out my full (spoiler-free) review.
Helpful Score: 2
The 3-series book is GREAT. A must read. Hunger Games is much better as a book than the movie is.
Helpful Score: 1
I can honestly say I will not be recommending this series to anyone. I'm not a fan of 1st-person-present-sense, so maybe my annoyances were from that. Still, though, this is one of the stories that deserves third person. It would have been much better if it were written differently. We could have "seen" more of what's happening outside of only Katniss' panicked, fearful, confused, teenage head. A majority of the third book was told through Katniss watching a t.v. screen or her hearing stories of what could have happened (hearsay). To me, it felt awkward and lumpy. Suzanne Collins is a brilliant storyteller, don't get me wrong. I'll still see the movie because the story intrigues me, but the writing has too many holes for me. Oh, and I did not appreciate how Katniss only ended up with that guy (I won't say who) because the other guy got a job in another district (and, why did he abruptly stop caring about her? It didn't add up!). It felt like she was simply settling rather than actually having to choose. Throughout the story she was forced into things, there was no choice. The only choices she made of any sort were made to keep her alive. I wanted her to make a non-life-preserving choice for once. Oh well. At least I finished the series. Now I can move on. :)
Helpful Score: 1
And the Games go on!
Hmnn...there are a lot of reviews out there saying how this book was the worst out of all three, but to be honest I don't completely hate it. Not that I've been in one, but it gives a pretty good overview of war. In fact, to paraphrase Guns N Roses: "Everyone is fighting for the promised land."
More specifics and onto the book, right?
Well...right away one jumps from a Dictatorship to a Totalitarian society. Is there difference? Katniss doesn't think so. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she does much about it except sleep. Not that anyone can blame her since other characters also have breakdowns, but strangely enough bounce back at intervals.
Other thoughts that readers might not want to think about: Gale would have won the Hunger Games and then some if he was born in District Two and reaped. Yes! He would have been an awesome "Career" no doubt. (Suzanne Collins does an excellent job on the juxtaposition of him and Peeta.)
Impact of the Trilogy: Death, Hunger, Power, Rape, Cruelty and (at the end) a sense of closure.
Hmnn...there are a lot of reviews out there saying how this book was the worst out of all three, but to be honest I don't completely hate it. Not that I've been in one, but it gives a pretty good overview of war. In fact, to paraphrase Guns N Roses: "Everyone is fighting for the promised land."
More specifics and onto the book, right?
Well...right away one jumps from a Dictatorship to a Totalitarian society. Is there difference? Katniss doesn't think so. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she does much about it except sleep. Not that anyone can blame her since other characters also have breakdowns, but strangely enough bounce back at intervals.
Other thoughts that readers might not want to think about: Gale would have won the Hunger Games and then some if he was born in District Two and reaped. Yes! He would have been an awesome "Career" no doubt. (Suzanne Collins does an excellent job on the juxtaposition of him and Peeta.)
Impact of the Trilogy: Death, Hunger, Power, Rape, Cruelty and (at the end) a sense of closure.
Helpful Score: 1
** spoiler alert ** The author did a great job here. As my friends know, I hate stories with loose threads at the end and Collins tied up everything nicely. She leaves one question unanswered but I think that the lack of an answer works in this context. The book was wonderful in raising the philosophical questions about war in a way that is unforgettable. How much violence is it okay to perpetrate to prevent an even larger disaster? I was very sad to see this series end, but of course, poor Katniss had the stuffing knocked out of her in each volume so it could not go on, and on, like that.
So why did I drop the final star? Well, Collins did something that I hate - SPOILER ALERT - she killed off a minor, but beloved, character who had endured much and was just about to enter into a wonderful phase of his life. And I think the death was unnecessary. In case you have read on, I am talking about Finnick. I think Collins could have arranged for him to be around at the end of this book, and I thought his death was just cruel to the reader. I felt exactly the same way about J.K. Rowling killing off Lupin and Tonks - unnecessary, and fairly manipulative. Unlike many of the other minor characters, both Rowling and Collins spend time making the reader understand how lonely and sad these guys' lives were, as they pined for te=heir true love, and then, the authors bless them with happiness, only to snatch it away a book later. Shame on you Suzanne and JK!!
So why did I drop the final star? Well, Collins did something that I hate - SPOILER ALERT - she killed off a minor, but beloved, character who had endured much and was just about to enter into a wonderful phase of his life. And I think the death was unnecessary. In case you have read on, I am talking about Finnick. I think Collins could have arranged for him to be around at the end of this book, and I thought his death was just cruel to the reader. I felt exactly the same way about J.K. Rowling killing off Lupin and Tonks - unnecessary, and fairly manipulative. Unlike many of the other minor characters, both Rowling and Collins spend time making the reader understand how lonely and sad these guys' lives were, as they pined for te=heir true love, and then, the authors bless them with happiness, only to snatch it away a book later. Shame on you Suzanne and JK!!
Helpful Score: 1
Hmmm, I'm not sure how I feel about the ending or the conclusion of the romantic triangle. It was all so damned bleak but if it were all wrapped up with a tidy little bow I suppose I would be complaining. I did not enjoy the way one particular character was almost villainized in order to force Katniss into choosing one boy over the other. In the end, it wasn't much of a choice at all and I felt bad for the boy who ended up with Katniss. He deserved her whole heart and I felt he won by default.
So many characters die in this story that when the end comes it is almost a relief. Mockingjay is a painful read. I'm glad I finished it up, actually I had to know how things ended (this series is engaging) but I don't think I'd be able to read it again.
So many characters die in this story that when the end comes it is almost a relief. Mockingjay is a painful read. I'm glad I finished it up, actually I had to know how things ended (this series is engaging) but I don't think I'd be able to read it again.
Helpful Score: 1
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2012/01/mockingjay.html
Mockingjay is the third book in the much talked about trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It continues where Catching Fire leaves off. Katniss has been rescued from the arena and wakes up to find herself in the middle of a revolution. Katniss's home, District 12, has been destroyed. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 - the district everyone thought had been destroyed years ago - is leading a revolution against the Capitol. And Katniss is to be the voice and the face of the revolution.
This book is the darkest of the three. It is a story of war and the devastation that war brings. A power struggle among a few that destroys the masses. The topic makes it the most "real" book of the three also. The destruction and horror of war exists whether you put it in the past, the present, or a futuristic world as this one.
I stayed up all night to read this book as well. Three nights, three books. I supposed I wanted a happy ending and for the good guys to all win. What I got was a much more realistic and powerful ending. Do the good guys win? In a way. Do the good guy lose? In a way. Not just that, but the book also keeps you guessing throughout who all the good guys really are. Perhaps, there is no black and white. Perhaps it's all shades of grey. Regardless, war leaves scars on all that can never ever be erased. That is the message this book leaves me with.
Mockingjay is the third book in the much talked about trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It continues where Catching Fire leaves off. Katniss has been rescued from the arena and wakes up to find herself in the middle of a revolution. Katniss's home, District 12, has been destroyed. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 - the district everyone thought had been destroyed years ago - is leading a revolution against the Capitol. And Katniss is to be the voice and the face of the revolution.
This book is the darkest of the three. It is a story of war and the devastation that war brings. A power struggle among a few that destroys the masses. The topic makes it the most "real" book of the three also. The destruction and horror of war exists whether you put it in the past, the present, or a futuristic world as this one.
I stayed up all night to read this book as well. Three nights, three books. I supposed I wanted a happy ending and for the good guys to all win. What I got was a much more realistic and powerful ending. Do the good guys win? In a way. Do the good guy lose? In a way. Not just that, but the book also keeps you guessing throughout who all the good guys really are. Perhaps, there is no black and white. Perhaps it's all shades of grey. Regardless, war leaves scars on all that can never ever be erased. That is the message this book leaves me with.
Helpful Score: 1
This was as fantastical as the first two books. The characters are just as awkward and flawed, maybe even more so, and the threat is more real than ever. It was fascinating to learn more about Katniss, her way of thinking while not under pressure of maybe dying (or maybe she is...) and the uniqueness that is hers and hers alone. The plot keeps going, with cliff hangers at the end of each chapter that is designed for you to never put it down (I was forced to).
A fantastic end to a wonderful series. Melancholy in more ways than one and poignant. I cried. If you have read the other two, read this one too! If you haven't, read those and then read this one!
A fantastic end to a wonderful series. Melancholy in more ways than one and poignant. I cried. If you have read the other two, read this one too! If you haven't, read those and then read this one!
Helpful Score: 1
I'm not gonna lie. The finale book did not hold up to the first two! I thought that the the book was mostly dragging on until the third section. Thank God it picked up! Though I will say I absolutely could not put it down. The reason behind that wasn't because I was enjoying it, but more so beacause I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. At least it ended in a way that was rewarding. Thank God for the epilogue. It was about time for some happiness for Katniss, Peeta, and all of the districts! They were so broken, beat down, and lost for the majority of this book. War isn't pretty! We know this! I can only hope that the movie turns out better than the book.
Helpful Score: 1
The final book in the Hunger Games series was full of yet more surprises and wrapped up so nicely. None of the books in this series were predictable, and all of them were complete page turners. No spoilers, but I even cried at the end. Very good series.
Helpful Score: 1
The last book in the trilogy of The Hunger games, the futuristic fight to the death for young people in Panem. I was surprised by some events leading up to the ending. I feel this should be marketed to an older age group.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent! Don't expect as quick and simple of a read, this one starts off a
bit slower, but don't let that discourage you, it has a mighty story an a lot
of action. I think this author had done an excellent job.
bit slower, but don't let that discourage you, it has a mighty story an a lot
of action. I think this author had done an excellent job.
Helpful Score: 1
A lot of people didn't like this book, but I really enjoyed it. I think it was very realistic the way it all ended up playing out in the end. I think the book gives a sense of hope that if people stick together as a people they can overcome their troubles even if some lives need to be lost as a cost. There were a couple of character deaths I was really sad about, but I knew there was no way they would all survive and it was more realistic that way.
Helpful Score: 1
This was the best book from the series. Although I was figuring out what might have happened and did happen with the ending, I was unsure if these things would happen. I read each chapter anticipating what was going to happen next. I read the book pretty quickly because I could hardly put it down. It extends the story we learn from the first two books but is in a completely different type of light with such new situations and circumstances! I was thoroughly entertained. I'm very satisfied with this series. It was so interesting and I didn't really want to even read these books at first.
Outstanding! Deeply disturbing and moving at the same time. I enjoyed this series, and I am sad that it is over. Suzanne Collins has done a phenomenal job of creating a very believable world. Safe for high school age children. This series delves into very dark places that we don't wish to examine on a regular basis about human nature.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It was good - very good, in fact, but I think that I liked Catching Fire better. The rebel war heats up in the final volume of this trilogy. Once again, many people die. There is conflict for Katniss as she tries to work with the president of District 13 who is in essence the leader of the rebellion. Katniss has become the much loved or much hated (depending upon which side you are on) of the rebellion. It's a role about which she has conflicting feelings. And, when she loses her beloved sister, Prim, I was almost angry with the author. Keeping Prim (and her mother) safe was the whole reason Katniss became involved in the first place. Still she struggles with her feelings about Gale and Peeta which is resolved at last in the final pages of the book.
I wish I could say this was 5 stars for me like the rest of the series, but there were a few really boring parts that I had to push through just to see what happened. Overall still a good ending to a great series!
I thought this book was a good conclusion to an excellent series. All throughout the novel, there is a good mix of action and "down time", and the build up to the conclusion is done very well.
However, I was fairly disappointed with the conclusion. It seems like the book just sort of fell apart towards the end. Katniss, who has so much power, as the Mockingjay could use it to ensure an ethical government. She could have become the "watchdog" of the government, to make sure things didn't happen the same way again, to spread truth, information, etc. As it is, towards the end, it just seems like she deliberately gives up, loses all her personal power, and ends up as a pawn. A pawn of both sides of the war. Which rather ruined the whole series for me as I always saw her as a strong, independent character.
Also, I thought the whole situation between Gale and Peeta was too black/white. I knew who she would pick immediately. So, I didn't think this was that realistic and it didn't make me care, either way, whom she chose - if anyone at all.
I give this 3 stars. It would have been more, but the book started falling apart towards the end.
However, I was fairly disappointed with the conclusion. It seems like the book just sort of fell apart towards the end. Katniss, who has so much power, as the Mockingjay could use it to ensure an ethical government. She could have become the "watchdog" of the government, to make sure things didn't happen the same way again, to spread truth, information, etc. As it is, towards the end, it just seems like she deliberately gives up, loses all her personal power, and ends up as a pawn. A pawn of both sides of the war. Which rather ruined the whole series for me as I always saw her as a strong, independent character.
Also, I thought the whole situation between Gale and Peeta was too black/white. I knew who she would pick immediately. So, I didn't think this was that realistic and it didn't make me care, either way, whom she chose - if anyone at all.
I give this 3 stars. It would have been more, but the book started falling apart towards the end.
Many reviews on this book is that it was boring, started very slow, and they did not like the ending. However, I thought this book was an appropriate compliment to the first two in the series. The other two were very powerful in that they had a lot of drama and put the reader through a great deal of emotions. They had many events that were shocking and you had no idea what would happen next. I do believe Mockingjay had to bring all of the events in the previous two into focus, to help us really understand Katniss' decisions at the end. Even though there was not as much action in the this one as with the others, the parts that did have action hit hard, making the story well worth reading and anxious to see what would happen. I do not know about anyone else, but if Katniss had to go through another 'Hunger game-like' struggle in this one, I do not think I could finish it. I needed just a little less trauma. With it all said and done, I felt this book was a perfect conclusion to all Katniss has been through, and her choice was necessary for her situation. Great read.
This series was really good, Not the ending I hoped for but the ending went with how the series was written. Great read!
Incredible book, just like the previous two...answers all your ? from the end of book 2. Highly recommend!
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were by far the better two stories of the series. Mockingjay picks up where the suspense left off in Catching Fire and pretty much ends with your heart racing in horror. This was a VERY violent book with a LOT of gore. I won't be able to watch this one as a movie which makes me sad because I did like the characters, but there was just too much creative gore in the story plot.
So the book, and the series, didn't end well. Well, that's too bad. Those of us who have been to war, know wars don't have sappy, happy endings. At best, they are bittersweet.
I felt the emotional toll taken of the characters at the end was realistic.
I felt the emotional toll taken of the characters at the end was realistic.
I loved the first two books and loved this one as well. I did have a hard time getting into it at first but after about a quarter of the way through it took off and I could hardly put the book down. I really didn't think I would see so many negative reviews on this book but it looks like everyone has their opinion on how it should end. That seems to happen with a lot of series. You have in your mind how you would like to see the book end and when it doesn't it is disappointing. I totally understand. I am just one of the reviewers here that did like the whole book and how it ended.
It starts of in District 13 right after the end of the Hunger Games. District 12 has been destroyed. There were some survivors that made it to 13 to seek shelter. Peeta is in the hands of the Capitol. Katniss is recovering from her wounds externally but internally she still hurts from all that she's been through. District 13 wants her to rise up and be the Mockingjay but all she can do is think about rescuing Peeta.
I still found the same exciting, nail biting scenarios as I did with the first one. If you liked the first two I pretty sure you'll like this one as well.
It starts of in District 13 right after the end of the Hunger Games. District 12 has been destroyed. There were some survivors that made it to 13 to seek shelter. Peeta is in the hands of the Capitol. Katniss is recovering from her wounds externally but internally she still hurts from all that she's been through. District 13 wants her to rise up and be the Mockingjay but all she can do is think about rescuing Peeta.
I still found the same exciting, nail biting scenarios as I did with the first one. If you liked the first two I pretty sure you'll like this one as well.
Not the best book in this series. The first book really sets the stage, the 2nd book was awesome and very high-action, but this one kind of fizzled. Without spoiling it, I felt like Katniss made some pretty crazy decisions without enough proof. It also seems like a lot of time should have passed between the 3 books... really though, I think they span maybe a year. Overall, a good series. If you read the first two, read this one, just don't have super high expectations.
A fantastic end to the series. Not as good as the first, but I enjoyed this one more than the second. This book was so visual in style, you can see it running as a movie in your head as you read. When Katniss is declaring war into a camera in front a bombed building, you can almost feel the smoke and heat on your own face. I cannot wait for this one to be a movie.
My Granddaughter told me about the Hunger Games series about 2 years ago I have read the series three times since then. Suzanne Collins has done such a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life you are ready to fight the rebellion right along side them.
I thought it was great how she was able to pull off a not-so-happy-ending without being too depressing. It was an excellent way to make it truly realistic: life is hard but it goes on.
I enjoyed the book. It was not quite on par with the first two for me.I can't put my finger on it--perhaps not enough detail about what happened to other characters.
I'll keep this brief: The "Hunger Games" series is in part an adventure novel, but at heart I found it a coming-of-age story. Katniss Everdeen is a young woman who is used to responsibilities beyond her years. She encounters danger, horror, brutality, deceit, and also love. She is a very strong young woman... and faces the biggest crises of all in Book 3. Will the Mockingjay ever fly free, and if so, how?
****Mild spoiler alert *** I liked the ending, including the epilogue. If it seems depressing, that's because it isn't sugar-coated. But it is real. And it is ultimately as joy-filled as reality gets in a brutal world.
BTW, I read it all in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.
****Mild spoiler alert *** I liked the ending, including the epilogue. If it seems depressing, that's because it isn't sugar-coated. But it is real. And it is ultimately as joy-filled as reality gets in a brutal world.
BTW, I read it all in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.
Absolutely terrible.
A complex story as book three in the Hunger Games. More violence than the first two. A thought provoking ending. I would not suggest it for younger adults without supervised discussion. Should be an excellent movie. Katniss is the best with Gale, Petta, and Haymitch significant.
The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy finds Katniss Everdeen working with the rebel forces as the Mockingjay, symbol of rebellion against the Capitol forces. She finds herself being scripted, made up and costumed for video spots much like she was during her time as a Hunger Games participant, and continues to struggle with her sanity as nightmares make sleep nearly impossible. Foremost in her list of goals is to rescue Peta from President Snow in the Capitol, where he has been for weeks being tortured. She knows that no one will be safe until Snow is dead, and she makes it her personal goal to be the one to do the deed.
This book was rather slow in the middle section with much repetitive action, and I felt the ending was rather predictable. I can't say too much without giving a lot away, but I will say that ultimately I was pleased with the ending to the book and I think when I've had more time to digest the whole thing I'll like it even more. It gives much food for thought all throughout the series. At any rate, it was a fit ending to a great series.
This book was rather slow in the middle section with much repetitive action, and I felt the ending was rather predictable. I can't say too much without giving a lot away, but I will say that ultimately I was pleased with the ending to the book and I think when I've had more time to digest the whole thing I'll like it even more. It gives much food for thought all throughout the series. At any rate, it was a fit ending to a great series.
I have slightly mixed feelings on this book. I enjoyed the first two in the trilogy so much that I couldn't put them down until finishing. With Mockingjay, I found myself falling into "lulls" where I would stop reading the book and completely forget about it because I was that unabsorbed at the time of stopping. That being said, though, there were parts in the book where I enjoyed every word and every action. The ending is absolutely fantastic -- it is full of action, there are twists I never saw coming, things I've been waiting the entire series to see come to be, and all-in-all I am left satisfied and fulfilled. It's nice knowing the true final outcome of characters whose lives you've invested so much time into. Thank you, Ms. Collins.
Love this series! <3
Futuristic/ Urban Fantasy, and final installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy. Katniss has been rescued by her friends, with the support of District 13 officials. She is in shock by all that has transpired, and the Rebel leaders want her to be the face of the Revolution. Katniss has choices to make in this book, and she does. The author makes sure to portray the conflict realistically: war is not pretty, and people die on both sides. No one gets out unscathed. I love this series. The ending is poignant and bittersweet. I will ge re-reading the entire series to make sure I didn't miss over anything, while I was rushing to get to the finale. Worth your time and credits.
Enjoyed the book overall, but not as much as the first two in the series. I was a bit disappointed in the end, but that's from a personal standpoint.
A Good read
This was a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy.
When I first closed the book last night, I felt shattered, empty, and drained.
And that was the point, I think. I'm glad I waited to review the book because I'm not sure what my review would have been.
For the first two books, I think most of us readers have all been laboring under the assumption that Katniss Everdeen would eventually choose one of the two terrific men in her life: Gale, her childhood companion or Peeta, the one who accompanied her to the Hunger Games twice. She'd pick one of them and live happily ever after with him, surrounded by friends and family. Somehow, along the way, Katniss would get rid of the awful President Snow and stop the evil Hunger Games. How one teenage girl would do all that, we weren't too sure, but we all had faith and hope that she would.
"Mockingjay" relentlessly strips aside those feelings of faith and hope - much as District 13 must have done to Katniss. Katniss realizes that she is just as much a pawn for District 13 as she ever was for the Colony and that evil can exist in places outside of the Colony.
And that's when the reader realizes that this will be a very different journey. And that maybe the first two books were a setup for a very different ride. That, at its heart, this wasn't a story about Katniss making her romantic decisions set against a backdrop of war.
This is a story of war. And what it means to be a volunteer and yet still be a pawn. We have an entirely volunteer military now that is spread entirely too thin for the tasks we ask of it. The burden we place upon it is great. And at the end of the day, when the personal war is over for each of them, each is left alone to pick up the pieces as best he/she can.
For some, like Peeta, it means hanging onto the back of a chair until the voices in his head stop and he's safe to be around again. Each copes in the best way he can. We ask - no, demand - incredible things of our men and women in arms, and then relegate them to the sidelines afterwards because we don't want to be reminded of the things they did in battle. What do you do with people who are trained to kill when they come back home? And what if there's no real home to come back to - if, heaven forbid, the war is fought in your own home? We need our soldiers when we need them, but they make us uncomfortable when the fighting stops.
All of that is bigger than a love story - than Peeta or Gale. And yet, Katniss' war does come to an end. And she does have to pick up the pieces of her life and figure out where to go at the end. So she does make a choice. But compared to the tragedy of everything that comes before it, it doesn't seem "enough". And I think that's the point. That once you've been to hell and lost so much, your life will never be the same. Katniss will never be the same. For a large part of this book, we see Katniss acting in a way that we can only see as being combat-stress or PTSD-related - running and hiding in closets. This isn't our Katniss, this isn't our warrior girl.
But this is what makes it so much more realistic, I think. Some may see this as a failing in plot - that Katniss is suddenly acting out of character. But as someone who has been around very strong soldiers returning home from deployments, this story, more than the other two, made Katniss come alive for me in a much more believable way.
I realize many out there will hate the epilogue and find it trite. At first, I did too. But in retrospect, it really was perfect. Katniss gave her life already - back when she volunteered for Prim in "The Hunger Games". It's just that she actually physically kept living.
The HBO miniseries, "Band of Brothers", has a quote that sums this up perfectly. When Captain Spiers says, "The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it."
But how do you go from that, to living again in society? You really don't. So I'm not sure Katniss ever really did - live again. She just ... kept going. And there's not really much to celebrate in that. Seeing someone keep going, despite being asked - no, demanded - to do unconscionably horrifying things, and then being relegated to the fringes of society, and then to keep going - to pick up the pieces and keep on going, there is something fine and admirable and infinitely sad and pure and noble about that. But the fact is, it should never happen in the first place.
And that was the point, I think.
When I first closed the book last night, I felt shattered, empty, and drained.
And that was the point, I think. I'm glad I waited to review the book because I'm not sure what my review would have been.
For the first two books, I think most of us readers have all been laboring under the assumption that Katniss Everdeen would eventually choose one of the two terrific men in her life: Gale, her childhood companion or Peeta, the one who accompanied her to the Hunger Games twice. She'd pick one of them and live happily ever after with him, surrounded by friends and family. Somehow, along the way, Katniss would get rid of the awful President Snow and stop the evil Hunger Games. How one teenage girl would do all that, we weren't too sure, but we all had faith and hope that she would.
"Mockingjay" relentlessly strips aside those feelings of faith and hope - much as District 13 must have done to Katniss. Katniss realizes that she is just as much a pawn for District 13 as she ever was for the Colony and that evil can exist in places outside of the Colony.
And that's when the reader realizes that this will be a very different journey. And that maybe the first two books were a setup for a very different ride. That, at its heart, this wasn't a story about Katniss making her romantic decisions set against a backdrop of war.
This is a story of war. And what it means to be a volunteer and yet still be a pawn. We have an entirely volunteer military now that is spread entirely too thin for the tasks we ask of it. The burden we place upon it is great. And at the end of the day, when the personal war is over for each of them, each is left alone to pick up the pieces as best he/she can.
For some, like Peeta, it means hanging onto the back of a chair until the voices in his head stop and he's safe to be around again. Each copes in the best way he can. We ask - no, demand - incredible things of our men and women in arms, and then relegate them to the sidelines afterwards because we don't want to be reminded of the things they did in battle. What do you do with people who are trained to kill when they come back home? And what if there's no real home to come back to - if, heaven forbid, the war is fought in your own home? We need our soldiers when we need them, but they make us uncomfortable when the fighting stops.
All of that is bigger than a love story - than Peeta or Gale. And yet, Katniss' war does come to an end. And she does have to pick up the pieces of her life and figure out where to go at the end. So she does make a choice. But compared to the tragedy of everything that comes before it, it doesn't seem "enough". And I think that's the point. That once you've been to hell and lost so much, your life will never be the same. Katniss will never be the same. For a large part of this book, we see Katniss acting in a way that we can only see as being combat-stress or PTSD-related - running and hiding in closets. This isn't our Katniss, this isn't our warrior girl.
But this is what makes it so much more realistic, I think. Some may see this as a failing in plot - that Katniss is suddenly acting out of character. But as someone who has been around very strong soldiers returning home from deployments, this story, more than the other two, made Katniss come alive for me in a much more believable way.
I realize many out there will hate the epilogue and find it trite. At first, I did too. But in retrospect, it really was perfect. Katniss gave her life already - back when she volunteered for Prim in "The Hunger Games". It's just that she actually physically kept living.
The HBO miniseries, "Band of Brothers", has a quote that sums this up perfectly. When Captain Spiers says, "The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it."
But how do you go from that, to living again in society? You really don't. So I'm not sure Katniss ever really did - live again. She just ... kept going. And there's not really much to celebrate in that. Seeing someone keep going, despite being asked - no, demanded - to do unconscionably horrifying things, and then being relegated to the fringes of society, and then to keep going - to pick up the pieces and keep on going, there is something fine and admirable and infinitely sad and pure and noble about that. But the fact is, it should never happen in the first place.
And that was the point, I think.
Besides being a fantastic si-fi, romance and action-packed adventure, The Hunger Games series is an amazing portrayal of the psychological effects of mental manipulation. The characters were very real and the story had lots of adventure, twists and turns. It always kept moving. A must read, although Im not sure the youth will fully understand the mind-altering side-story and how it is relative today war, abuse, neglect.
Was suprised how the series end. Overall they were all good books.
This one was so hard to wait for!! I think I enjoyed this one the most. You are so invested in the characters and what they are going through that you just can't read fast enough. A wonderful series showing the strength of family, friends and what taking a stand can do. Hold on, this is a wild time.
Some of this series conclusion was satisfying, some was completely surprising to me, and a few things disappointed me. Overall, it was a great little trilogy that I recommend to anyone who enjoys YA sci-fi. (I was so anxious to see reach the end of this series, that I read this last book in less than 24 hours.)
Mockingjay magnifies both the strengths and weaknesses of the previous books in this series. If you've gotten this far in the series there's almost no way you won't read this book and rightly so.
This is the wrap-up to the Hunger games series. I loved the whole trilogy and am slightly saddened that it is over. Fun and easy series to read, which is kind of the point, right?
This book was very different from the first two. I kept wanting to just know what the resolution was going to be. It took me longer to get through this one. Maybe 3 days?
But oh my it was so emotional. It was oh so bittersweet. Just like any book, I think I internalized what the characters went through and the story to my own life and experiences and hopes and dreams and it was overwhelming.
It's only been a few days since I finished the book, but I already miss the characters. I already want to re-read them and live the story all over again.
But oh my it was so emotional. It was oh so bittersweet. Just like any book, I think I internalized what the characters went through and the story to my own life and experiences and hopes and dreams and it was overwhelming.
It's only been a few days since I finished the book, but I already miss the characters. I already want to re-read them and live the story all over again.
Wow ... This was, in my opinion, the perfect end to the trilogy. I know some people were expecitng something different, but I thought Mockingjay was incredible. I think Suzanne Collins made it clear from the start that she was not writing a Harry Potter-type fantasy. She wanted it to feel gritty and raw and violent - to make us think about the violence of war, which is sanitized every day for us on the nightly news. This book is an incredibly powerful conclusion to a trilogy about media, war, and lengths human beings will go to, to control each other. I thought it was great! I bought the third book becuase I could not wait to read it, and now I am going to go back and buy the first 2.
Reviewed by http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com/
The third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It definitely wrapped up what has been happening in the past two books. Katniss has stepped boldly into the role of the Mockingjay. The war continues and lives are lost. It did have moments where you wanted to cry and ones where you wanted to throw the book away.
These are the kind of books you are either a fan of or you aren't. I think it ended very well, if a little sad, but happy too. I am looking forward to The Hunger Games movie to see it played out. I hope to read more of Susan Collins' work in the future! 4 out of 5 stars
The third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It definitely wrapped up what has been happening in the past two books. Katniss has stepped boldly into the role of the Mockingjay. The war continues and lives are lost. It did have moments where you wanted to cry and ones where you wanted to throw the book away.
These are the kind of books you are either a fan of or you aren't. I think it ended very well, if a little sad, but happy too. I am looking forward to The Hunger Games movie to see it played out. I hope to read more of Susan Collins' work in the future! 4 out of 5 stars
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm K...I love the entire notion of these stories...Kinda like Mad Max with teenage angst...Lots of people die...Some of them you wonder why she killed off...Kinda peeved me off...This is not the best book of the series but a good one none the less...The ending had me wanting more but what cha gonna do??? Collins sure doesn't mind spilling some blood that's for sure...There are twists and turns and things that happen that you don't see coming...I just wish that Katniss had been able to do her thing more often...Kinda broke my heart to finish this series...Brava Suzanne Collins...
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
It's over. The trilogy is finished. There will now need to be a new series that will have people waiting impatiently from year to year for the next installment. *Sigh*
MOCKINGJAY begins with Katniss shuffling through the ashy remains of District 12. Having survived her second Hunger Games, she has recovered enough from her injuries to visit the little that is left of her former home. Her concussion-ravaged brain is still trying to make sense of all that has happened.
When she is returned to the safety of District 13, Katniss must be gradually reintroduced to those from District 12 who survived, and she must find her place in her new surroundings. Her mother and Prim are busy every day caring for patients in the hospital, and Gale continues his recovery and slowly begins to work for the rebel cause in District 13. Katniss fills her days ignoring her district required schedule as she wanders from one isolated hiding place to the next.
It doesn't take long for 13's leaders to make it clear that they plan to be the ones to lead the rebels to victory against the Capitol and President Snow. Katniss is once more expected to be the symbol for that victory. She knows their goal is to make her the Mockingjay, but she hesitates to step forward immediately. Does she want the responsibility? Is she ready for what will most likely be her final living act?
When Katniss finally accepts the role of Mockingjay, she does so with stipulations, two of which are that Peeta and the other Hunger Games survivors must be rescued and she must be the one to end the life of President Snow. Her demands are met and the preparations begin. What follows is non-stop action filled with violence, torture, attacks, and destruction.
After reading THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE, I should have guessed that author Suzanne Collins would not make things easy for Katniss and her friends. She filled this last book with twists and turns as well as her usual direct, "in your face" moments that had me gasping through the first two books. Without including any spoilers, I'll say I found the ending acceptable and on-course with what I expected from both Collins and her characters. This is definitely a series that will be enjoyed by readers for years to come.
It's over. The trilogy is finished. There will now need to be a new series that will have people waiting impatiently from year to year for the next installment. *Sigh*
MOCKINGJAY begins with Katniss shuffling through the ashy remains of District 12. Having survived her second Hunger Games, she has recovered enough from her injuries to visit the little that is left of her former home. Her concussion-ravaged brain is still trying to make sense of all that has happened.
When she is returned to the safety of District 13, Katniss must be gradually reintroduced to those from District 12 who survived, and she must find her place in her new surroundings. Her mother and Prim are busy every day caring for patients in the hospital, and Gale continues his recovery and slowly begins to work for the rebel cause in District 13. Katniss fills her days ignoring her district required schedule as she wanders from one isolated hiding place to the next.
It doesn't take long for 13's leaders to make it clear that they plan to be the ones to lead the rebels to victory against the Capitol and President Snow. Katniss is once more expected to be the symbol for that victory. She knows their goal is to make her the Mockingjay, but she hesitates to step forward immediately. Does she want the responsibility? Is she ready for what will most likely be her final living act?
When Katniss finally accepts the role of Mockingjay, she does so with stipulations, two of which are that Peeta and the other Hunger Games survivors must be rescued and she must be the one to end the life of President Snow. Her demands are met and the preparations begin. What follows is non-stop action filled with violence, torture, attacks, and destruction.
After reading THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE, I should have guessed that author Suzanne Collins would not make things easy for Katniss and her friends. She filled this last book with twists and turns as well as her usual direct, "in your face" moments that had me gasping through the first two books. Without including any spoilers, I'll say I found the ending acceptable and on-course with what I expected from both Collins and her characters. This is definitely a series that will be enjoyed by readers for years to come.
Excellent ending
Once again, I feel stifled by these darn starred rating systems. How can I only give Mockingjay five stars? Is there no justice in this world?
Needless to say, I liked Mockingjay. A lot. Ms. Collins does not disappoint in this culmination of her wildly popular Hunger Games trilogy. My only disappointment is that it is the last book of the series.
Mockingjay is a grim and gritty book -- more so than its predecessors, which is really saying a lot. The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of Catching Fire. Katniss and her fellow rescued tributes are recovering from the trauma of the arena in the once-hidden District 13, now hub of the rebellion against the Capitol. Unfortunately, not everyone made it out -- Katniss' district partner and fiance, Peeta, has been captured and is assumed dead. Other notable friends from the series are also missing in action, or have met with untimely and unpleasant ends at the orders of the ominous President Snow. And Katniss' home -- and most of her neighbors and friends -- are gone as a result of the mass bombing of District 12 at the end of the Quarter Quell.
Katniss takes center stage in this final phase of the rebellion, agreeing to serve as the symbollic leader of the resistance -- the Mockingjay. Her love triangle is put on hold, both due to Peeta's captivity and Gale's growing political and strategic entanglement in the uprising.
Mockingjay takes readers into a new sort of game, but the traps, betrayals and deception that were so riviting in the first two "Games" books are not missing from this conclusion. The landscape is different, but the stakes are just as high and the drama just as compelling.
I found Collins' portrayal of Katniss in this book refreshingly realistic. She doesn't write this herione as a superhuman girl that unerringly comes out ahead, even against impossible odds. The Katniss we meet in Mockinjay is broken, emotionally, mentally and physically. She's lost almost everything she loves, and is weighing the benefits and risks of the additional sacrifices she's been asked to make for her fellow rebels. She's every bit the reluctant hero, and a sympathetic one at that. I loved how Collins allowed her to be a flawed leader, and was satisfied with her arc and her ending.
However, some supporting characters really disappointed me in this book. As a mother, I found myself repeatedly shaking my head in disgust over the actions of Katniss' mother, for example. On the other hand, I feel I know Haymitch after reading Mockingjay, and understand and like him much more after reading this book. Collins is masterful at picking up threads from her previous books and weaving them unexpectedly and effortlessly into the final work. Her circles back to characters like Finnick and Annie made the story richer and more satisfying for me.
Overall, I am sad to see the series finish, but thrilled that I was along for the whole ride. Great job, Ms. Collins.
Needless to say, I liked Mockingjay. A lot. Ms. Collins does not disappoint in this culmination of her wildly popular Hunger Games trilogy. My only disappointment is that it is the last book of the series.
Mockingjay is a grim and gritty book -- more so than its predecessors, which is really saying a lot. The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of Catching Fire. Katniss and her fellow rescued tributes are recovering from the trauma of the arena in the once-hidden District 13, now hub of the rebellion against the Capitol. Unfortunately, not everyone made it out -- Katniss' district partner and fiance, Peeta, has been captured and is assumed dead. Other notable friends from the series are also missing in action, or have met with untimely and unpleasant ends at the orders of the ominous President Snow. And Katniss' home -- and most of her neighbors and friends -- are gone as a result of the mass bombing of District 12 at the end of the Quarter Quell.
Katniss takes center stage in this final phase of the rebellion, agreeing to serve as the symbollic leader of the resistance -- the Mockingjay. Her love triangle is put on hold, both due to Peeta's captivity and Gale's growing political and strategic entanglement in the uprising.
Mockingjay takes readers into a new sort of game, but the traps, betrayals and deception that were so riviting in the first two "Games" books are not missing from this conclusion. The landscape is different, but the stakes are just as high and the drama just as compelling.
I found Collins' portrayal of Katniss in this book refreshingly realistic. She doesn't write this herione as a superhuman girl that unerringly comes out ahead, even against impossible odds. The Katniss we meet in Mockinjay is broken, emotionally, mentally and physically. She's lost almost everything she loves, and is weighing the benefits and risks of the additional sacrifices she's been asked to make for her fellow rebels. She's every bit the reluctant hero, and a sympathetic one at that. I loved how Collins allowed her to be a flawed leader, and was satisfied with her arc and her ending.
However, some supporting characters really disappointed me in this book. As a mother, I found myself repeatedly shaking my head in disgust over the actions of Katniss' mother, for example. On the other hand, I feel I know Haymitch after reading Mockingjay, and understand and like him much more after reading this book. Collins is masterful at picking up threads from her previous books and weaving them unexpectedly and effortlessly into the final work. Her circles back to characters like Finnick and Annie made the story richer and more satisfying for me.
Overall, I am sad to see the series finish, but thrilled that I was along for the whole ride. Great job, Ms. Collins.
And here we get to the final book of the Hunger Games trilogy. Mockingjay continues the story to its conclusion, and does so in a mostly satisfying way. Its not as good as the second book, though, as it seems like a lot of the action in the novel is quite forced. Almost like Collins had to add in a Hunger Games Arena even though there was no arena anywhere in the storyline. (In other words, actual streets within the capitol have arena-like traps and obstacles, which made no sense at all to me, and really accomplished nothing more than adding confusion.)
The final big twist at the end was also badly handled; I think it should have been made a bigger deal of --- it almost feels like there was a payoff that was expected but not delivered upon.
Still, though, it was fun enough to read...
4 of 5 stars.
The final big twist at the end was also badly handled; I think it should have been made a bigger deal of --- it almost feels like there was a payoff that was expected but not delivered upon.
Still, though, it was fun enough to read...
4 of 5 stars.
I purchased "the hunger games" because of a review I read, and was so impressed I just had to buy each one of the three so I could continue on with the story. I totally recommend the whole series!!! You need to read these in sequence to get the full effect though. Suzanne is a wonderful writer, and even though these are listed as young adult books, they should interest most adults.
I enjoyed all three books in the trilogy. They were different, fresh. I wish I was a middle school English teacher. They would be the core books I taught.
I don't know that there's much I need to say about this book. If you read and enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy, then you really do need to read the final book as well. After all, you can't very well skip reading the ending. I will note that some parts seem very rushed, and there are some questions that are left annoyingly unanswered, so it is certainly not the best volume of the three. Still, just finding out how it all "ends" pretty much makes this a must read, regardless of any weaknesses that may be present. When you consider the fact that I effectively read the entire trilogy in two and a half days, leading up to the opening of the first movie, I think it's very safe to say that reading this book (or the whole trilogy even) really won't take up much of your time. What little time it does take is definitely well worth it.
I'm not going to lie... I cried. This is the toughest and most gritty of the books.
Mockingjay starts out where Catching Fire left off; Katniss is in District 13 with Gale and Haymitch. The rebels were unable to retrieve Peeta from the games.
Katniss is learning to deal with her new life, and her new role as the Mockingjay. She aches for Peeta, and what he must be going through in the hands of the Capitol, but there's nothing she can do. The war is raging, and the rebels seem to be holding their own. But who will win this war? And when they win, what will be left?
This book completely and utterly tore me apart. Suzanne Collins completely and utterly has a way with words. This book is truly about rebellion, and the struggles and pain of war, and death. Katniss is left with almost nothing but her family, and she needs to learn to deal with it. Honestly, she doesn't do a very good job at first, but she ends up managing alright.
This book, being the final in the trilogy is of course the most epic. This book will make you sit on the edge of your seat, and it will also make you cry. This series is one that everyone needs to read at least once in their life, since it touches every part of you, and also lets you know a few things about yourself that you didn't know before. I'm sad the trilogy is over, but Ms. Collins could not have ended it in any better way than she did.
Mockingjay starts out where Catching Fire left off; Katniss is in District 13 with Gale and Haymitch. The rebels were unable to retrieve Peeta from the games.
Katniss is learning to deal with her new life, and her new role as the Mockingjay. She aches for Peeta, and what he must be going through in the hands of the Capitol, but there's nothing she can do. The war is raging, and the rebels seem to be holding their own. But who will win this war? And when they win, what will be left?
This book completely and utterly tore me apart. Suzanne Collins completely and utterly has a way with words. This book is truly about rebellion, and the struggles and pain of war, and death. Katniss is left with almost nothing but her family, and she needs to learn to deal with it. Honestly, she doesn't do a very good job at first, but she ends up managing alright.
This book, being the final in the trilogy is of course the most epic. This book will make you sit on the edge of your seat, and it will also make you cry. This series is one that everyone needs to read at least once in their life, since it touches every part of you, and also lets you know a few things about yourself that you didn't know before. I'm sad the trilogy is over, but Ms. Collins could not have ended it in any better way than she did.
In this conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss has been rescued by the rebels of District 13, but Peeta still remains in the hands of President Snow in the Capitol as the war rages. Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, the symbol of the rebellion. While this did not have the same excitement as the previous two books, it still moved at a rapid pace and Katniss remains a character the reader can relate to. Her moral dilemmas regarding the ethics and politics in war were not given clear-cut answers and gave her flaws that made her more human. I did find the end a bit anticlimactic, and Katniss' use of that last arrow entirely predictable. I also felt a little disappointed at the end for Gale, but Katniss' choices were understandable, as the author made it convenient for her. I felt the character wasn't allowed to go through the angst of a true choice on her own, but rather the situation was contrived so that the readers would not have to take sides, a bit of a cop-out in my opinion. On the whole, while I was satisfied enough with this, I felt as a reader more detached from the characters in this book, less involved with them than in the previous two volumes. Still a good read.
This is a strong end to a fantastic series! While it did not grab me as completely as the first two books did, I still finished this one in a short amount of time, and it still had me in emotional turmoil right along with the characters. After two books of Katniss and Peeta dealing with the Capitol's excesses and the horrors of the arenas, the realm of District 13 and the trip through the revolution seemed a tiny bit strange, like I was reading a different genre of story, but that abstract feeling was not any kind of stumbling block and I enjoyed the book. I recommend this entire series!
Pretty Good!
I did like this trilogy, and I don't usually care for series books, But this was truly worth the read. (And it reads very quickly if you have the time to keep on sitting. . .) I'd recommend it to anyone who likes politics, conspiracy theories and strategy. There is alot of violence, which disturbed me at first, but looking back, it is absolutley necessary. Wouldn't have the same effect otherwise.
I did like this trilogy, and I don't usually care for series books, But this was truly worth the read. (And it reads very quickly if you have the time to keep on sitting. . .) I'd recommend it to anyone who likes politics, conspiracy theories and strategy. There is alot of violence, which disturbed me at first, but looking back, it is absolutley necessary. Wouldn't have the same effect otherwise.
This is a great book, fast read and very well written
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series, but in some ways I found this book to be the weakest of the three. Rather than following the action-packed structure of the other two books, Collins moved this story more slowly. While I applaud the effort and appreciate that she really could not put the characters through a third official Hunger Game, Katniss in the hospital and doing promo videos is not the most interesting part of the trilogy.
Overall, I did not find this trilogy or this specific part of the trilogy to be overly gory. Yes, people die. Yes, Collins does describe what is happening. But her focus does not seem to be grossing the reader out. Her focus seems to be making us think about what the true meaning and cost of war is.
But I loved that she ended the book in a positive way, with hope for a brighter future. That was my favoirte part.
Overall, I did not find this trilogy or this specific part of the trilogy to be overly gory. Yes, people die. Yes, Collins does describe what is happening. But her focus does not seem to be grossing the reader out. Her focus seems to be making us think about what the true meaning and cost of war is.
But I loved that she ended the book in a positive way, with hope for a brighter future. That was my favoirte part.
I was slow to read this book because it's youth fiction. However, my nephew told me i had to read it and gave me his kindle for the duration of our family vacation to do so. I absolutely loved the first two books (read them in 3 days). But this one disappointed me. it was boring, dragged on, and the ending was anti-climatic. after all that happened, i would have liked to have more than 2 pages on what happened in the future. i so wish the author gave us a great ending to go with the great series.
Last book in the Hunger Games series. Not as good as the first two but a definite read to finish up the series.
Fabulous! Wish there were more books in this series!!
Book 3, Mockingjay brings Katniss to the Capitol. Exciting, adventure, read this book before you see the movie. The books have so much more than the screen can tell. What will happen? Will Katniss survive? Who will die?
Wow! So much happens in this book. The book picks up where the second left off. In the aftermath of the Quarter Quell, Katniss recovers. She becomes the Mockingjay a symbol of the rebellion. The Capitol has Peeta and uses him against Katniss. For Katniss to be successful as the Mockingjay, she needs Peeta to be safe. The rebels rescue him, but Peeta isn't the same. Now able to focus, Katniss wants to asassinate President Snow. Just when you think she might do it, the author throws you a curve ball and it is disasterous. Katniss doesn't know who to trust. You won't be able to predict this ending. Excellent conclusion. Not a genre that I would typically read, but so glad I tackled this one.
Good read
This book was excellent. The whole series was great. Loved the characters, loved the suspense, mystery, storyline kept me interested throughout the whole series. Great books. Must reads for everyone.
After reading the first two books in the "Hunger Game" series, I was somewhat influenced going into the third by suggestions from friends, that the third was not as good as the first two. I have heard others say that Suzanne Collins seems to lose steam in a series. Based on my own opinion I could find some of those comments true, as at times I found the third book very hard to finish. Sometimes I lost interest, or in some ways just got lost in finding my way. The third book being totally different from the first two, and having the main characters already established, new ones seem to get lost in the shuffle and story as well! The author in addition seems to be in confusion at times, and it seems she has a hard time keeping things flowing in order and content. Still if you are persevering sometimes the rewards are great. If you hang in there without giving away the ending, I can say if you can make it through some of the muddled content, the last few chapters will bring all the pieces and meaning of the 3 books to a close. I can only hope that the series of movies to be made will keep up with the quality of the stories to be told. Once again hang in there as good things come to all who wait and persevere.
Great book. A whirlwind of emotions.
Fantastic book.
I don't read a lot of YA, but this was an amazing series. Well worth it!!
Awesome. Excellent book and writing. Felt a little rushed at the end, and I wish there was another book. But so GOOD!
Enjoyed it just as much as the first and second books.
LOved it!
loved the whole series---they just keep getting better and better!
loved the whole series---they just keep getting better and better!
What a crazy series conclusion! Just when I thought things couldnt get more intense, they up the ante with the war and rebellion in this one. This is full scale, brutally violent war. No sugar coating anything, no saving someone just because they might be a favorite.
Like Katniss, Im not sure if I would want to join up with the rebels either not because I think theyre wrong, just because I would hate to find out Id been used so badly without knowing it at all. But unlike Katniss, who seems willing to take responsibility for every death since her first trip to the arena, I would walk into this with a lot less on my conscience. And I think I would decide to become the Mockingjay too, simply to hopefully end so many of the injustices that go on in this world.
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=3415
Like Katniss, Im not sure if I would want to join up with the rebels either not because I think theyre wrong, just because I would hate to find out Id been used so badly without knowing it at all. But unlike Katniss, who seems willing to take responsibility for every death since her first trip to the arena, I would walk into this with a lot less on my conscience. And I think I would decide to become the Mockingjay too, simply to hopefully end so many of the injustices that go on in this world.
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=3415
Very good series. Couldn't put them down.
Nice ending to the trilogy. More people were killed off, but in the end the main characters pushed for there freedom against the Capitol. I was sad to have it all end. Well done series. Worth the read.
