Verb Vixen

A Review of Mockingjay

Mockingjay-Suzanne Collins

Young adult fiction is full of optimism—passionate romances, bright and shining happiness, fairy tale ever-afters.  Perhaps this is the reason adults are drawn to reading this genre, it renews our belief in the humanity, karma, love; it inspires with its insistence that good triumph over evil.  The third book of The Hunger Games Series, Mockingjay, is a rare book in this genre of lightheartedness and imagination.  It is rare because the book succeeds in taking from the reader as well as giving.

Fire is catching! If we burn, you burn with us.

The story is beyond smart, beyond brilliant.  Genius maybe.  The suffering, the struggle, the fear is real. It’s messy, destructive, emotional and gripping. As a reader you are a rebel, you are of District 12, you are in this with Katniss.  Wars are not and never have been won with kindness; they do not leave you with rainbows and laughter. Nor is the reader left either of these (though the end is a happy one of sorts—and the one I hoped for).

Mockingjay in no small way, rips away the facade that human beings are essentially good; it strips us of our belief in unselfish acts; it forces us to question what is true, what is false, what is right and what is wrong.   The Hunger Games series has demanded its readers look at themselves and the world around them in a critical way. Are you a pawn or a player?  What is the difference?  While in the end it may have erased the facade that there can be pure happiness or a perfect ending, it gave me eyes to see myself, the world and humanity anew in the harsh light of reality but with the ever persistent presence of hope.  

With that I give Mockingjay and the entire Hunger Games series an overall: A++

And may the games be ever in your favor.

Book Heaven: What I Hopes Happens When I Die

At some point today did I die and go to book heaven? Cause that is what it feels like.  I’ve already found the perfect love triangle where I love both male protagonists equally (see my post below on Perchance to Dream).  AND THEN I READ CATHING FIRE.  Let’s just say, today was an epic day for me and books.

Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins

Seriously? SERIOUSLY!  I finished this book and jumped off my couch screaming “HOLY SH*T! Then I collapsed back on my couch with a slack-jawed expression. I’m kind of glad no one was around to witness it. Catching Fire is as amazing if not better than the first book The Hunger Games.  It is a sensational emotional roller coaster inspiring a dizzying amount of responses from me.  I’m in love. I’m in hate. I’m rebellious. I’m loyal. I’m confused. I’m shocked.  But mostly, I’m in awe of how brilliant Suzanne Collins is and how profoundly her writing reaches the core of nearly every human emotion.  I’m going to give you some advice: Go buy Hunger Games and Catching Fire and pre-order Mockingjay right this instant.  You won’t be disappointed.

Overall: A++

Are you hungry?

Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins

Remember that post I recently wrote about hype?  Yea, well this book proves that post wrong because it was worth every freaking ounce of hype.  At first, I was skeptical because I’m not a huge fan of distopian novels or science fiction, but this story was gripping!  By the end, I was in love with all the characters.  And speaking of end, I mean AHHH how can you end it like that? It’s killing meeeeee, like I’m dying. Dead.  Anyway now I need to get my hands on Catching Fire before the much awaited Mockingjay is released.

Overall: A +