Warning: Tons of spoilers.
After my review of the previous two books in the Hunger Games series, I didn’t have high hopes for book three.
While Hunger Games was mind blowing, Catching Fire left me underwhelmed, somewhat confused, and my growing annoyance with Katniss was interfering with my ability to not defecate all over the pages…which would have been bad, as I’m reading it on a Kindle.
Book three started off the same, Katniss living in the underground society of District 13, having no idea where the fuck Peeta is, flirting with Gale, overreacting to everything, and having a total disregard for basically anything anyone else asked her to do.
Katniss is bratty, anti-social, volatile, confusing and strong in a way I cannot even come close to understanding. Some pages I adore her, others I want to put her in time out.
I try to remind myself, Brittany, she was twice put into a death game where she had to murder children in order to survive after previously living in poverty and starvation, but at this point in the book, who the fuck hasn’t?
It’s like they plopped an angsty Angela Chase smack dab in the middle of a post apocalyptic society at war, and all she wanted to do was dye her hair with kool-aid and make her friends call Jordan Catalano and hang up when he answered.
But unlike Catching Fire, wherein I felt nothing was explained, everything was rushed, and I had no real clue who anybody was, Mockingjay finally, finally, gave me some characters to grasp onto.
It’s like Suzzane Collins woke up one day and realized, OMG there are other people in this book, y’all, Imma tell you about them.
OMG Finnick Odair. My love for Finnick knows no boundaries. He was the most engaging former male prostitute ever, and his love story, while never actually explained (shocker), was sweet. I hated the way he died, I hated that it wasn’t mourned the way Rue was, and I hated that we never saw the aftermath of his killing.
Grown Ass Prim. Ok yeah, so I still basically know more about her ugly cat than I do her, but at least she steps up in a limited capacity to be the adult in this situation. You know, so Katniss, much like her mother (here’s some irony for ya), can go about their own personal miseries and bitter tantrums uninterrupted by actual human responsibility. I actually liked the storyline in which she died, it was the perfect arc, I just wish I knew more about her so maybe I could have felt the weight of it.
Sober Haymitch. Knowing Haymitch is being played by Woody Harrelson really helps me not picture Haymitch as drunk Hagrid. In this book, he’s sober and more involved in the war process, but only so much as, once again, being Katniss’ mentor, and making decisions that involve things like forethought and goals.
Boggs. It’s a shame you don’t know until he dies that Bogg’s is a way cooler character than he first appears.
Hijacked Peeta. I love Peeta, and the television spots the Capitol aired seemed in step with the plot, and I even liked the little warning he gave them about the bombing. But then, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!? He’s been getting hijacked by wasp venom this whole time and now he’s fucking crazy, really? Because 1. that doesn’t even make sense, he was perfectly lucid and caring in all his Capitol interviews, and 2. THIS IS STUPID. Don’t get me wrong, I get wanting to punch Katniss in the face. Honestly, I don’t understand why he even likes her, because he sounds like a wonderful person, and she’s a dick who, by the constant descriptions from the beauty team, is apparently hairy as fuck.
President Coin. Ok here’s the deal, it wasn’t exactly a well kept secret what Coin’s intentions were. And sure, she’s douchey, but I can’t help but understand her frustration with Katniss the entire first half of the book. They are at war, people are dying, and Katniss is going all Naomi Campbell up in there about putting on a fucking jumpsuit and inspiring people in front of the camera.
Toward the end, things start to get kinda rushed and messy. There was some lady who looked like a cat, Snow makes a barricade of children, no real action happens, then bombs come, Prim dies…honestly, it all came so fast, I had to reread it three times. I don’t know, maybe Collins had to write this from her own Hunger Games? Where they put a bunch of young adult authors in an arena, and they have to hurry and finish a book super fast before they’re thrown into a giant hamster ball with a half tiger-half tyrannosaurus rex mutant monster.
I mean, this totally explains the Anne of Green Gables series, because everyone knows that ended like shit.
So, Snow tells her what we all already knew, Coin proposes to do a Hunger Games using Capitol kids (yeah, this basically defeats the entire point of this series.), Katniss kills Coin, and boom, here we are again, hearing a muddy retelling of things from a hazey and butt-hurt Katniss in a hospital bed.
Haymitch comes in, says her trial is over, and they are being sent back to District 12. AWESOME! What trial? Do people know why she killed Coin? Were they pissed? How did Snow die? What’s the new government going to be like? Are the Capital people and District people getting along? People are living in District 12 again?
Gale comes to say goodbye to Katniss. Naturally, have blown her sister and a bunch of small children into teeny tiny pieces, Katniss feels like maybe she would never be able to get over that. Well, duh. The only time Gale came alive this entire series was when he was working along Beetee doing military stuff. And since Katniss has, in general, a distaste for authority, war and other people, it should come as no surprise they don’t end up together.
It would, however, have been nice to know more about what the hell he went on to do, aside from the vague, he’s in District 2 doing TV stuff. Like what? The Weather? Drawing Lottery Balls? I have no idea what that means, and he was a major character in this story.
Alright so, long story short, Peeta returns to District 12, plants primroses along Katniss’ home, and despite the fact that she looks and smells like she’s been touring with Phish for six months, he loves her. Like always.
Collins then spent the next page in a half explaining the way Katniss realized it was Peeta she loved, and they, with Haymitch make a scrapbook, and Peeta and Katniss end up having kids that play in meadows.
So, besides the fact that I have a zillion unanswered questions.
You will be shocked to learn…I liked Mockingjay.
No seriously, I did.
Hunger Games is clearly the best of the trio. It was so imaginative, and made me face some really uncomfortable themes, but I loved it. The last two books stopped pushing that envelope, and seemed to be violent just for the sake of being violent at times.
In fact, the second book was wasted on me entirely.
But, at least with book three, I learned some of the things I wanted to know, and the ending, while short and way too choppy, made sense to me.
Now that I am finished, I have nothing to do but be super excited for the first movie in March, if only so that I can put an accurate voice to the sex dreams I’m having about Peeta and those baggies you use to squirt frosting onto cakes. Right now he just sounds like Morgan Freeman.
(That’s my default dream guy voice. Girls always just sound like the British lady inside my car’s GPS system.)
hahah contrary to your facebook post i do not hate this entry, the kardashians have been my main focul point for like 4 days because ill i do is watch it on netflix, i admire your for being much more productive than I. maybe ill pick these books up!
I agree…2nd book was a WASTE. First book was amazing…third was not as good, but completely necessary, which makes it good by default.
The ending was definitely rushed. Like..the whole SERIES focused on Katniss being in the Hunger Games BECAUSE her sister was drawn and she didn’t want her sister to die…but then in the end when he sister DOES die, they don’t even make that big of a fuss?? WEIRD.
And Peeta can bake me a cake ANY day. Or bake someone else a cake. While I watch. Is that weird?
I hate that Prim dies, especially since the entire reason katniss joined The Hunger Games and started the revolution was to save her. But ina literary sense, it was fitting.
SO true!! I didn’t even think of that!
Finnickkkkkkkkkkkk
Indeed. Indeed.
Exactly. And wth is poor Annie supposed to do now??? Huh?? NOOOOoooooo!!!!!
I loved ALL three books…and the entire time I was reading this post I was thinking, “Okay Katniss MIGHT have been a little unstable, but she was nowhere NEAR as obnoxious as Bella!” I’m glad that point was so well demonstrated in your monkey picture.
This post makes me laugh because I realize I read the book like a child and MISSED so many of these points. It’s like…I just accepted there was no back story to the other characters. Shoulder shrugged and kept on going. Peeta loves Katniss? Hmph okay. Peeta wants to kill Katniss? Hmph okay.
For me the worst part was that because Prim was so under developed in the book I didn’t even REALIZE it was her that was killed at the end. I had to re read it to try to figure out why Katniss was so wrapped up in that death. Maybe I should read the book again on at 3 in the morning. Is that the secret?
I’m so much of a tween reader that I miss entire literary points and just focus on the Will she?/Won’t she? plot lines. Maybe that’s why I like Twilight so much.
Thank Baby Jeesus I have Brittany to point out the nuances I missed.
Kat, seriously. I was reading along and… WHAT, PRIM DIED?!? Turn back a few pages to see what I missed… Nothing. I still have no real idea other than I think it had something to do with all the kids pooled together in front of the capitol and those silver parachute/bombs…?
I liked all 3 books. Mockinjay was the most emotional of the 3 for me – but may also be because I read #2 and #3 pretty much in one sitting, only taking a break to pick up the girls from school and make dinner, so I was a little hijacked myself by the time I was done.
The movie looks watered down like most Hollywood movies, with everyone being insanely and unrealistically pretty even though they are starving to death and all that. I already despise it. But I will go see it anyway, because I am a Hunger Games acolyte by now!
I’m on the same page as you! First is the best, the second SUCKED and the third was a pretty good way to tie it up. Are you going to see the movie?
I’m with AJ… It pissed me right off that Prim ended up dying, thus making Katniss’s 3 times in the arena a waste.
Oh what, you didn’t catch that Suzanne Collins used the SAME plot device in all 3 books? Book 1: They’re sent to the arena in the games. Book 2: They’re sent back to the arena for the Quarter Quell. Book 3: They’re sent to the capitol, which was… wait for it… designed by the gamemakers as a gigantic booby trap. (Sorry to be so spoilertastic, that’s just the way I saw it.)
I’m with you though-Book Three brought closure, satisfying or not. Except for Finnick, dammit. Alternate ending: Katniss sacrifices herself for Prim AND Finnick and those two live happily ever after. Make it happen! ;)
I have not read any of the books, and I’m not sure I’m going to, but I absolutely loooooved the reference to My So-Called Life. Mmmm Jordan Catalano
Damn it girl it’s like you reached into my brains and pulled out EXACTLY what I thought of the books. I’ve been sending your reviews to the gals in my book club… We’ve been getting tickled opening up that can of worms again. You should come to Los Angeles and see it with us!!! take the Valium and your bow and arrow!!!!
So to get you through til the movie comes out go read some Hot, Sexy vampire books.
J. R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood or pretty much anything she has written
Jeaniene Frost Night Huntress books
But I will warn you they are not PG13 Twilight books they are yummy R rated hot sexy vampire books
I read all three books in the span of 6 days…I agree with you completely in that Hunger Games was the best, Catching Fire had potential but was bleh, and the only reason I liked MockingJay was that it gave closure to some things. The teenage angst made me skip quite a few paragraphs. I kind of liked imagining Haymitch as a drunk Hagrid.
The Anne of Green Gables series did not suck!
I’ll wrestle you for Peeta. I want him to roll me around in some of that flour and….oh wait, this isn’t THAT kind of blog. Nevermind.
I need to reread. I just remember loving them. Now you need to read A Game of Thrones so that I can get your take on that.
I was going to just ride on your posts about the books so I don’t have to read them but now that you used the Angela Chase analogy…
Steph
i haven’t gotten on the “Hunger Games” train yet but THANK YOU for the “My So-Called Life” reference!!!!!!!!! I watch the glorious 19 episodes on Hulu all.the.time. and relive my early teenage years all over again :)
I’m just sad that there are tons of people out there that don’t know who Angela & Jordan are. *sob*
but, yeah, the 2nd book totally blew & there need to be more books. 3 isn’t enough. I’ve been spoiled by the Harry Potter series.
“Peeta returns to District 12, plants primroses along Katniss’ home, and despite the fact that she looks and smells like she’s been touring with Phish for six months, he loves her. Like always.”
Even when you say it like that, my heart still melts. *sigh* Peeta.
dude. You got it down. Two things I love the term Grown Ass Prim- because that’s EXACTLY what she be and she’s finally all “der Katniss, let me do some stuff. I have been a bad ass nurse the whole time you have been getting flaming prom dresses and learning how to French” and also that you took time to highlight Boggs. Boggs was the name of my childhood dog. Named after Wade Boggs, but then we got her home and realized she was a she and we were like “eh, live with your gender identity crisis Boggs.” and she did, because she was cool.
A perfect review. Yes, I read them. Don’t judge me.
I feel as though the publisher forced much of this story after book 1. So much felt rushed towards the end of books 2 and 3 that it seemed like it was a “hurry up and be done or else you won’t get paid…the end” situation.
Mockingjay was very rushed and jumbled. I was mad about it until it dawned on me it’s a fucking book for preteens. Those assholes don’t have the attention span I do.
I don’t know how it happened but, somewhere along the line, I became a lover of preteen sci-fi fantasy crapola. I blame Hermione Granger, who fulfilled my deepest childhood wish for a nerdy herione with frizzy, curly hair. She got me started on this nonsense and now I want to have another baby so I can name her Lyra Hermione Silvertongue Granger and secretly call her Luna.
Seriously, read The Golden Compass books.
I am way behind…basically I knew you were reviewing the series and I downloaded Hunger Games to the Kindle and then BAM! my appendix tried to kill me and I read all three in one week…
I agree will all of your reviews…rushed and so on. But I will TOTALLY skip work to see the movie on opening day and I WISH I was closer (Dallas) because I am guessing a movie watching experience with you is wheels off and you wouldn’t mind that I empty my purse and load it down with booze and milk duds.
I agree with a lot of your review except that I think Mockingjay is so bad that it’s actually offensive. I liked the first book when I initially read it but Mockingjay made me retroactively hate it.
I also disagree about Gale. I thought he came to life when he interacted with Katniss. Whether it was defending her against Peeta, kicking Boggs in the face, arguing over war tatics or calling her on her shit. Those two complimented each other perfectly. It’s clear that they saw each other as equals instead of some dream girl or sensitive guy that needed protecting. It’s a shame how Ms Collins treats Gale in this book. It logically should have been Gale and Katniss or Katniss alone. Plus, Gale knows what it is like to take life and Peeta doesn’t. This negates the whole ‘Peeta and Katniss were in the games together reason for them being together’.
Some other dislikes…
– killing secondary characters is cheap. One of the big three should have bit it.
– Katniss was never forced to kill someone that wasn’t a ‘bad guy’. That felt cheap
– Katniss gets her team killed because of lie but there is no repercussion for that. Actually Katniss does a lot of horrible things with no repercussion.
– The whole Prim thing was a narrative debacle.
– Katniss is hell bent on finding the truth but gives up when Haymitvh teases her. Again a narrative debacle.
– Katniss just believed Snow because he says the never lie. But we never see him tell the truth when it would benefit him more to lie.
– Skipping over the tria. Narrative debacle.
– The scrapbook. Just stupid.
– Katniss ends up in marriage that was arranged for her. I thought point was for Katniss to finally make her own decisions. Isn’t that was what murdering Coin was about. She’s just resigned to be with the one that showed up.
-Katniss is judge, jury, executioner of Coin. She kills her for revenge. But Gale is the bad guy even he kills for the good of all people of Panem.
Mockingjay has left me feeling depressed and empty. I really didn’t like it at all. I read the hunger games and I thought that I would fall in love with the trilogy but I didn’t. The hunger games is my favourite book and then catching fire. I have to say that Collins didn’t do a good job explaining much…
Also I never liked Gale (for no particular reason) I always just preferred Peeta so I was quite happy that he got a fancy job and fled to district 2.
The book just didn’t seem real. I missed the real Peeta. Also I wasn’t too bothered about Prim’s death as she wasn’t really explained as a character. She was the reason that Katniss was in the games in the first place and then she just dies? And who was responsible? Gale. (another reason why I hate him)
Finally, the epilogue didn’t tell us anything really. I wanted to know how Haymitch was and how Katniss’ mother was but obviously it was just about the boy and girl. Please. I wanted my questions answered, not just a waste of paper.
What I liked about mockingjay was, that it WASN’T A HAPPY ENDING. I mean, most books are all like “and they loved happily ever after, the end” sort of thing. But mockingjay was different, it’s like real life, it doesn’t always have a happy ending but you have to deal with it! Although I agree that it was like going too fast but maybe Collins did that so that it could be a surprise when katniss kills coin. SHE IS GENIUS