The Hunger Games
I was really excited about this book. I always love it when the release of a book turns into a worldwide event. Of course The Hunger Games is not as big as Harry Potter or Twilight yet but I know a lot of people were expecting this.
Long story short, I woke up at 7am on the 24th (date for the American release of the book), jumped on the train and went to the bookstore only to learn that they had the book but would only sell it on the following day which was the British national date for the release of the book ! I felt so ridiculous that I could have cried. I had checked with two different sellers beforehand to be sure and to avoid such a mistake but apparently things were not clear. Anyway ! I went back on the following day and got my book. I started it at 2pm and finished it at 1.30 am.
To put it bluntly, I was really disappointed. The book is different to the first two books and that's not what I wanted to end the series. First of all I thought it wasn't as thrilling and captivating as the previous books. I did look at the clock a lot at the end (it was late !).
Secondly, I feel slightly heartbroken at the way the characters of Gale and Peeta were handled. They deserved better ! I've read a lot of reviews and it's now clear that Suzanne Collins wanted to focus on the War and its effects above all. I do admire the way she showed an original and strikingly dark picture of war time. Nevertheless, she should have thought of the readers who were expecting to see what would happen to Peeta, Gale and Katniss in the larger picture.
I still cannot believe we got a brainwashed Peeta for this last book ! How frustrating for the fans ! How useless, too in my opinion. In the end, it feels like there wasn't any true new Katniss/Peeta moment. In the first part of the book, Peeta is not Peeta anymore and at the end of the book, it is Katniss who's not herself anymore. Also, concerning Gale, early in the book it was clear his character was being used to show the effects of the war on the most innocent people. It was obvious it would end badly. It wasn't Gale anymore.
There is so much to complain about but most importantly : I still don't understand how Katniss can vote yes to holding another Hunger Game in the future ?! Once more this was about the war and its effects on the people but why couldn't we also have our characters back and forget about the background a little ? This is THE LAST book ! This is our last impression of these characters. Some people said she didn't mean it and just wanted to avoid looking suspicious. Still, I don't understand how this could be useful. This is the worst thing about the book for me.
Suzanne Collis is a very talented author. I haven't changed my mind. This last scene with Prim was visually powerful. The song about the hanging man gave me the chill ! The moment when Katniss reunites with Peeta after he's been saved from the Capitol was really exciting !! Nevertheless I think she should have focused on her characters a bit more. There is so few information about Gale, Katniss' mother or Madge at the end of the book. It's so frustrating ! They deserved more than that ! What's really annoying is the way the subjects of the Capitol and the new Republic almost disappears after Prim's death. Wasn't this the aim of the book ?
If I let myself fangirl a little and forget about what disappointed me, I am so glad Peeta and Katniss end together. Peeta is such a sweet character ! I was absolutely sure one of them had to die in order to resolve the love triangle (little did I know...). I have to confess I was rooting for Gale because he was all so mysterious and quiet but after this last book, I feel so wrong about this and I'm so glad he didn't "win over" Peeta.
Other than Mokingjay, I've been reading The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton and I'm currently reading Runaway by Alice Munro. I've been listening to Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan (a lot) and I've been watching Psycho (a.k.a Psycho The Masterpiece) and Little Women (1949) with my mother.
Ah !! The Joy of procrastination !