Thursday 8 February 2018

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.


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.

In Catching Fire, the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.


Book Overview:

Author: Suzanne Collins | Series: The Hunger Games | Format: Audiobook | Narrated by: Carolyn McCormick | Length: 11 hours, 37 mins | Publish Date: September 1, 2009 | Genre: YA Dystopia | Literary Awards: Golden Duck Award for Hal Clement Award for Young Adult (2010), Soaring Eagle Book Award (2011), Children's Choice Book Award for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2010), Indies Choice Book Award for Young Adult (2010), Teen Read Award Nominee for Best Read (2010), DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best Young Adult (2010), Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book and Young Adult Series (2009), Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas Nominee for Mejor novela extranjera perteneciente a saga (2010) | Rated: ★ ★ ★ ★  | Recommend: HECK YES

“You know, you could live a thousand lifetimes and not deserve him.” 


Holy sequel, Batman!


I think the worst things about sequels is that you never know if it's going to live up to your expectations. If the first book to a series is absolutely amazing, and then the sequel just totally bombs it, then you're left feeling completely disappointed and wondering why you even took the time to invest in the series in the first place. That's the thing about sequels though, how will you know if it's better or worse than the first unless you read it?


What a Catch 22!


In this case, the sequel turned out to be even better than the first one, and I couldn't get enough of it.


Katniss and Peeta have survived the Hunger Games in an unprecedented win - instead of both dying like they planned, Seneca Crane stops them and declares them both the Victors of the 74th Hunger Games. In the entire history of the Hunger Games, there has never been more than one winner. They emphasize that in all of their broadcasting: "There can be only ONE Victor". So to think that there are now two winners, and they are both from lowly District 12, is completely unheard of.


The citizens of the Capitol are eating it up, so happy to hear that the star-crossed lovers of District 12 will be able to live "happily ever after" and not have to ever worry about the Games again.


That is until this year's Quarter Quell announcement. This year, President Snow - who is absolutely infuriated by the rebellious acts of the districts that are taking place after this win - tells the world that this year's Tributes will come from previous Victors only. Not even the Victors are safe, and the world is pissed.



“It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down.”

Now Katniss and Peeta, and the rest of the Victor-Tributes have to fight each other once again, and in this case, they are all friends with one another. How can they be forced to get into the arena a second time, after being promised by the Capitol that once they win, that's it? The Victors are angry, the world is angry, and that's when the Districts start to fight back.


This book was so much more action-packed than the first, knowing that at any time, Katniss could find herself under the control of President Snow, and something bad could happen to her family. He had eyes everywhere; nobody is safe. Nothing is sacred. She's the Mockingjay after all, even if she never wanted to be. So what is the world going to do, when their symbol of hope is put in danger once again?


You'll just have to read it to find out.



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