I recently finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and I would have posted about it, but I couldn't stop myself from moving immediately on to Mockingjay. So, what did I think? Actually, that is a pretty good question. I was riveted, that's true. I didn't want to put it down. I thought about it a lot when I wasn't reading it and the story line has even infiltrated my dreams. But did I like it? Well, not really, but maybe that is because it's not the kind of story the reader is supposed to like, exactly.
These are such dark novels and I am frankly astounded that they are considered Young Adult literature. At certain times, the events are downright gruesome. I have never been a fan of distopian novels and so I admit that maybe this just isn't my thing. Nearly every person I have talked to who has read the series has raved about it. "These books are so good! You have to read them!" "The movie is coming out soon- you have to read them first!" "Oooo...these books are amazing!" "The best books ever written!" But as for me, when I asked a friend if she had read them, she told me she hadn't yet but that her sister loved them and keeps telling her she just has to read them. To that, my response was that I'm not sure I would say that. I don't know that I could tell anyone they just have to read this series, but I would be interested in discussing it with people who have read them.
To be honest, I was kind of a relieved to come to the end. Too many people died, some of them I could argue should have lived. I know no one wants to see a beloved character die. I understand that it adds significantly to the meaning of the person's death if it is a character to whom the reader has become attached. And yet, there were a couple of characters that just should have been allowed to live. One of the critiques of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer is that no one important died in the end and it wasn't realistic. Meyer's response was that she couldn't let any of the characters who meant so much to her die. And besides, who cares if it was unrealistic? It was a vampire/werewolf novel- none of it was realistic. And so I think the same could have happened at the end of Mockingjay. I know, I'm being a baby about this, but since this blog is only reflective of my opinions, I'm okay with that.
If you have read this series, I would love to hear your take. If you haven't read it yet, I hope I haven't spoiled it too much. Now I think I will go find something a little cheerier to read.
1 comment:
I too have been told by numerous friends that I just had to read the series, but using Dallin Oak's "Good, Better, Best" talk as my measuring stick, I just couldn't see wasting my time. Kids killing each other? Really? No thanks.
I won't allow my young teen to read them either as I don't think they are appropriate. Sadly, most of her friends have read the series and have seen the first two movies as well. They make her feel like she is the odd man out by not having done likewise.
My opinion is that perhaps parents should be more closely evaluating the subject matter their children are reading, but then I have found that most of the parents are reading this type of material as well. Do they really like it or are they just sucked into it because "everyone else is reading it"?
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