Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439023491

Notes: Second book in The Hunger Games Series

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Everyday is a Revolution - 4 stars - a book review

Catching Fire continues right where The Hunger Games ends, with the victory of Katniss and Peeta in the defiance of the powerful Capital. It seems their win has started some of the Districts to think that there may be a better way to live other than the complete control that The Capital has for them. Without giving away too much, there is plenty of the good stuff that readers enjoyed from The Hunger Games and more character development of the characters that made The Hunger Games so memorable.

Returning home from The Hunger Games is only the beginning, and as victors, Katniss and Peeta travel to all twelve districts and get a feeling that there is the beginning of a revolution. However, their lives will never be the same as The Capital pulls another fast one, putting them in another situation that they just may not be ready to deal with yet.

As mentioned, everything that was enjoyable about the first volume is back: compelling characters, sticky situations, a vicious enemy, and of course, blood thirsty killing. The beginning of the book starts a little slow, but ramps up in the intensity at about the halfway point and I wish there would have been more detail in the final setting. Although Catching Fire is not near as good as The Hunger Games, it is a worthy sequel and should be read by fans of the first book.

Good reading,

Plants and Books.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5 stars)

Engaging from Beginning to End

THE HUNGER GAMES is one of those books that is impossible to resist and you do not want to put down. The premise is irresistible, one of those guilty pleasures, and reminiscent of BATTLE ROYALE. There can be many comparisons drawn between these two books; but, most would fall staggeringly short as the only thing these books really have in common is young children placed in an area where they will kill each other.

What makes THE HUNGER GAMES a force to be read is the beauty in which the "fantasy world" is built. There is a lot of history in this near post-apocalyptic world, and it is revealed in small doses in perfect increments. The story is woven between the history of the children, the history of the government and ruling class, and the history of the games. Strung throughout the book are engaging characters, intriguing situations, with the common denominator being the wonderfully paced prose.

This was not a book that I could not put down; but, it was a book that I did not want to put down. Finding a book with good pacing is difficult these days. The entire book is not just a buildup to an unexpected and unstoppable climax, but rather chapter after chapter of climax.

Back on the comparison of BATTLE ROYALE, this book does not get bogged down with irrelevant details and countless flashbacks that break up the story. I loved BATTLE ROYLE and I loved THE HUNGER GAMES. As I said, they really cannot be compared other than the fundamental premise. However, if you liked one, I recommend the other.

Good reading,

Plants and Books