When setting out to read The Hunger Games, I remembered the first movie fairly well and the book unfolded the way I expected it to go. When picking up book two, it occurred to me that I didn’t really remember the second movie other than Katniss and Peeta going back into the Games and all hell breaking loose in the arena at the end, which pleasantly meant more of the events in the book were a surprise. Now I’m not sure if it’s due to my […]
Unsurprising, the book was better (CBR10 Bingo)
“Backlog” is in the row I’m working on for CBR10bingo and the rule is it must have been on your TBR pile for at least a year, or the oldest book on your list. “This is easy! I have at least half a shelf of books from 2013 that I haven’t read yet.” Then I thought a little more and realized that I have an even older book, The Hunger Games. When the book trilogy was being released everyone was raving and I was all, “I’ll […]
It’s weird to review a book we’ve all read.
What can I say about a book that’s already been read by just about everyone interested in reading it? I read this when it came out six years ago, and it was assigned for my lit class so I read it again. I’ll admit I was annoyed by this at first. I took the class to force myself to read literature I wouldn’t on my own and I don’t have any trouble finding books like The Hunger Games, but I think they just stuck this […]
A new look at The Girl on Fire
By now, I’ve read The Hunger Games several times, but this time, I got to teach it. When I was assigned to teach the same English Composition II course that I’ve taught the last four years in a row, I was initially disappointed. I had been hoping to test out a new survey course. I consoled myself by deciding to teach a new book, and with a theme of social justice and storytelling, I landed on The Hunger Games. Most of my students were pretty […]
Are you, are you coming to the tree? Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.
Mockingjay is Katniss’ book, and it’s appropriate that it’s titled for her. In the Hunger Games Series the first book introduces the world that lead to the Hunger Games, and the games themselves and is in that way perfectly titled. The second book, the weakest in my estimation, is also perfectly titled in that the world around Katniss is beginning to catch fire; the seeds of rebellion are being planted. The third book erupts with secrets and civil war, and chronicles what such a thing […]
Mockingjay a Weak Finish to the Hunger Games Trilogy
Last year I decided to jump into the world of the Hunger Games and see what all the fuss was about. I thought the first installment was inventive and compelling (if a little light on characterization), and the second was a fantastic driving force, pushing the reader towards the inevitable climax. The third installment, Mockingjay, left me disappointed. First off, I want to be fair. This wasn’t really the book I was expecting, and that contributed largely to my disappointment. Suzanne Collins focuses on the […]