Review: Catching Fire

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Fiction
Pub Date: September 2009, Scholastic, Inc.
Hardcover, 391 pages
Book Source: BN.com

Synopsis

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol--a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

My Thoughts

How shall I start except to say that I devoured this book today. While I haven't thoroughly read all of the reviews out there, not wanting to spoil the book for myself, I had seen mainly glowing reviews and a few dissenting opinions, as well.

All I can say is that for me, this book worked. In general, I didn't find the first person present tense to be too awkward, with a few exceptions. But what Collins does so successfully (in my opinion) is that she simply grabs you with the story and I just didn't want to put this book down. I thought the pacing was excellent and I never felt like the story was slow at any point--I was always trying to read as fast as I possibly could to find out what was going to happen next. The plot twists were thrilling and kept me at the edge of my seat.

And oh, these characters! Naturally, the primary focus is on Katniss and Peeta, but Collins also does a fine job with the supporting cast, in my opinion. From Gale, to Katniss's mother, to Haymitch, to the clueless citizens of the hated Capitol, Collins has created characters and a story that will stick with you long after you put the book down. Yes, the wait for book 3 (when's it due out?) may likely kill me, but I'll do my best to wait as patiently as possible. (The ever-growing TBR pile will probably help with that.) I can honestly say that I enjoyed Catching Fire just as much as I did The Hunger Games. In fact, reading Catching Fire may have gotten me out of the reading slump I feel like I've been in for awhile now--it seems to have lit a spark that makes me want to pick up another book already.

My rating:



Other reviews of Catching Fire:

Karin's Book Nook ~ My Friend Amy ~ Booking Mama
In Bed With Books ~ Reverie Book Reviews ~ Presenting Lenore
E. M. Reads ~ The Compulsive Reader ~ BoyWithBooks.com
Devourer of Books ~ Muse Book Reviews ~ Angieville
Wondrous Reads ~ Stephanie's Written Word ~ The Zen Leaf

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