Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. It takes place directly after the end of the first book, after Katniss and Peeta both win the 74th Hunger Games.

A quick summary: Katniss and Peeta have returned to District 12 where they are moved into a neighborhood called Victor's Village - it's where all of the winners of the past Hunger Games live. So far, only Haymitch lived there as the other victor had died.

Since the end of the games, Peeta isn't really speaking to Katniss after realizing that she had purely acted out a plan devised by Haymitch where she pretended to be in love with Peeta while they were in the arena together and promptly kissed Gale, who she does have feelings for, upon returning home. Unfortunately for them, all of Panem still sees her and Peeta as star-crossed lovers so no matter how awkward things are, they have to continue acting out the parts (even though it's much easier on Peeta as he already truly loves Katniss) by accordance of President Snow.

The victors are required to go on a Victory Tour, which takes them through the other districts where they are introduced to the inhabitants there. Their first stop is District 11 which was Rue's district. Something interesting happens here - Peeta donates some of his winnings to Rue's and Thresh's families and an old man whistles out the song that Katniss had sung to Rue upon her death, prompting the rest of the district to salute Katniss with three fingers she used in the arena. He's shot dead by Peacekeepers while Katniss and Peeta are rushed to safety.

They move through the other districts, forbidden from giving other speeches. Peeta proposes to Katniss and an elaborate wedding is planned. During all of this, the fears of the Capitol are confirmed as District 8 has an uprising. Security is increased in the districts, including 12 where Gale is brutally and publicly whipped for hunting until Katniss saves him. That's when Katniss meets two runaways from District 8 who tell her about District 13, a district that is no longer acknowledged by the Capitol as it was "destroyed" long before.

So let's stop there for a moment - and I apologize for that not being so quick but I've never been good at being quick. The first part of this book, whereas it was enjoyable, irked me. Katniss irked me. The girl that I had fallen in love with in book one started to annoy me during this book. I was mad at how she treated Peeta, how she lied to him. And in a way, I felt like she was lying to herself as well as sometimes it appeared as if she really did have feelings for Peeta. Whereas they may have not been feelings of love, she felt something for him. Yet she never actually told him this.

It also bothered me how she would run off with Gale and kiss him then tell Peeta they had to pretend they were in love, knowing that Peeta was in love with her and each move she was making was hurting him. I also don't think Katniss was really thinking before acting in this book. She was always an awkward sort but it came out in full force in this book.

Moving on, the Capitol announces that it's time for the 75th Hunger Games, which is called a Quarter Quell. It's hard to believe that it's already been an entire year. Now the Quarter Quell is treated a bit differently from other Hunger Games - there's a usually a catch. This year is no different as it's announced that there will be no reaping - the tributes will be past winners of the Hunger Games.

So it's easy enough to say that District 12 is somewhat screwed over there. They have three victors - Haymitch, Peeta and...Katniss. So Katniss is chosen the tribute by default. Peeta goes in with her after a drawing between him and Haymitch. It's the 74th Hunger Games all over again.

The  next part of the book covers them going back into training, meeting the other tributes and being placed back into the arena.

I instantly liked Finnick even though he was a bit of a playboy. He seemed like he had a good personality and would be fun to hang around with. Mags was impressive as well being 80 years old and still in the Hunger Games. Wiress and Beetee made me laugh as they came off as that eccentric couple that people would shake their heads at yet chuckle about. And then there was Johanna - Johanna was that girl you loved to hate. I could tell something was up with her from the minute she came into play.

But that's enough of that - I enjoyed the 75th Hunger Games as the setting they put them in was interesting the way it played out. I think that it took a bit more planning and thought over the Cornucopia setting and with the myriad of characters placed into the arena, it was fitting.

It was definitely more fast-paced than the first one, Katniss being removed from the arena along with others when something goes wrong upon discovering a force field around the arena. This causes the games to be halted as Katniss is removed along with a few others. They are transported to the "fictional" District 13 where she discovers that District 12 is no more.

All in all, this was a good continuation of the first book. You get to see how Katniss evolves, you love her, you hate her, you feel sorry for Peeta, you start to see Gale's personality come out and you experience the uprising begin. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars as it wasn't perfect but it was still a great read. I highly suggest continuing the trilogy so that you will see the completion of Katniss Everdeen's story.