"Re-read Mockingjay. I feel much better about the last third of Mockingjay than I did in my first reading.

Seems the last couple of chapters are the parts of the book that most folks had a lot of problems. Was for me on my first reading. She had her doubts about Coin. Those doubts were re-enforced when she was on her assassination mission. Coin is trying get her killed by including Peeta.  She had to have allows Prim to be one of the medical team. And then it's all confirmed by Snow. For this reason, I don't think that her vote for a final hunger games with the children of Capital officials was real. The mental illness verdict was interesting to me. I guess it's possible. But to let her go back to district 12? That seems like a little light for an assassin, mentally unstable or not.  Maybe it was clear to all of "new" panem that Coin was not much different than Snow and that Katniss did everyone a favor.

As with my first reading, there are several poignant sections in the last few chapters. She hears Gale and Peeta talking. She'll pick who will help her survive they concluded. She thinks, I don't need either one of them. Classic Katniss. She sets Peeta free, releasing him from his bracelets and hugs him. The hugs will never be the same. Gale pretty much knows it over when Katniss asks him if it was his bomb that killed Prim. "That was the one thing I had going for me. Taking care of your family." While she wonders where Gale is after her trial, I think it was it was over for Gale when she asked about the bomb.


Her return to district 12 after she killed Coin is one of my favorite chapters. Sure it's very painful to see her in this condition. But she finally grieves Prim with Buttercup. She learns to move again. Greasy Sae taking care of her. Peeta returns to bring her bread. I also loved that Peeta returned to district 12 as soon as he could. Like he couldn't wait to get back to be with Katniss. Even in spite of everything that has happened, he still wants to be with her above all else. I'm reading between the lines, but that's what Collins seems to encourage in Mockingjay.

The last few chapters and epilogue were great. Again, I didn't feel this way on my first reading. Collins really does wrap up the Gale-vs-Peeta and Katniss with the "Peeta and I grow closer".  If you focus on that one line, you'll feel cheated. But, I felt that Collins actually was building to this point. Not with huge chunks of storyline, but little tidbits. 
The special kiss with Peeta happens.  Everybody's favorite line, Peeta:  "You love me, real or not real", Katniss: "Real",  Katnis: "It would have happened anyway".  Again, classic Katniss. That's as close as it's going to "I love you Peeta".  Katniss just isn't wired for "I love you Peeta".


While I didn't feel as cheated with the ending and epilogue as I did before, I still felt that Collins could have finished with a big bang with another chapter on Katniss and Peeta getting back together.  What if Collins had wrote: 


 Peeta:  "You love me, real or not real", Katniss: "Real". Peeta convinces me to marry him. I finally say yes. It would have happened anyway. But it was "real" because our marriage was not some stunt to save everyone we know, get sponsors or to make the Capital happy.  The wedding was simple, according to district 12 customs. I wore one of the wedding dresses that Cinna created for my Capital wedding that never happened. Peeta wore what Vinia created for him. Oh how I wanted Prim and Cinna to be there. My prep team came from district 13 and made me back to beauty base zero or at least as close as they could come. Hamich sobered up long enough to give me away. My mom was there. But Gale didn't come and I understand."  


Then finish with the epilogue.  Wouldn't that have been great? I wouldn't have compromised the "war is hell" theme that Collins pushed for most of the book.


Interesting to me that I have a much different opinion after re-reading. In spite of no wedding, I changed my opinion.  I really enjoyed this book the 2nd time around.

There are such a wide range of reviews of Mockingjay. Love or hate it. Not many in-between.  This speaks to the genius of these books. Hats off to Collins.

For me, Catching Fire is the 3rd, then Mockingjay and Hunger Games the best of the three. I think I may finally be ready to move on from these books

Stuck in Catching Fire

My re-read  of Hunger Games was just as gripping and compelling as the first read.  I noticed a few things like how cold and hardened Katniss is from the get-go. Also, like others, I found myself entangled in the love story between Peeta and Katniss.  But I couldn't put the book down, again.

But, I'm stuck about half way through my re-read of Catching Fire. I may be simple minded because I find myself caught up in the love triangle, Katniss-Gale-Peeta.  I'm just tired of Katniss and her inability to make a decision. Whether it's to run off with Gale, or Peeta, or Hamich or all of them. Or to stay and fight or ??.  Then the romance triangle is annoying this time around. Gale: "I love you", Katnis: "I know". WHAT?  Reminded me of the parachute that Hamich sent Katniss and Peeta in the movie: "You call that a kiss response?". Hamich to Katniss, re: Peeta: "you could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him".  Katniss: "I know, he the superior one in this trio". "He's the superior one"? I know she's been traumatized by years of being responsible to put meat on the table. But it is annoying in my re-read of Catching Fire. It does help to keep in mind that she's still just 17. But on the first read the suspense regarding "will it be Gale or will it be Peeta" was compelling. Not the second time. 

The other story lines are still interesting, how the Capital continues to use intimidation. How they use Katniss. How the rebellion is getting hold. The Quell. You can feel the build up to Mockingjay, the war storyline becoming a central theme. But, I guess things do not make as much sense the second read which is kinda weird.

I'll probably press on through Catching Fire and get back to Mockingjay. I really want to re-read Mockingjay. I want to see what my reaction to the book is after a re-read.

Already re-read Hunger Games

Just finished re-reading Hunger Games. Goal was to take my time and let it soak in more than before. But I found myself rushing throughout it to get to see how it ends. It was just as gripping as the first time I read it.  

Here are a few thoughts...

I'm struck by Katniss hardened attitude. She's not going show any emotion, let anyone see her cry or display any weakness. She hates to owe anyone anything. Other than Gale and Prim, she distrusts everyone else, including her mom. Even without becoming a tribute, her focus is survival.

I love Peeta. You keep waiting for him to stumble and give up the act. That he's some selfish well off baker's boy. Of course, having read the thing before, I know he's being himself. "She has no idea. The effect she can have". Also, didn't catch the first time that Katniss admits that she's noticed him more than she wants to admit. He's strong and can wrestle.

I read a comment to another blog that the stories are not about romance but survival. At first I agreed. But now, I think that romance is huge. If not romance, then relationships. Only Peeta can comfort Katniss in a way that Gale can never. Gale can help her keep from starving and as a soul-mate friend. But he will never be able to help her survive in ways that Peeta can.

At the end of Hunger Games (2nd reading), when Peeta figures out that Katniss was acting that she loved him. Or at least instructed to act. And he is hurt, because he was not acting. "He's already there" as Hamich put it. But, she was not acting, she just can't admit it.

That's it for now. I can't believe I've spent so much time on these books. And so much time writing my thoughts. The fact that we can all re-read, comment, disagree, agree is a huge comment on Collin's ability to write.

I'm addicted to the Hunger Games. HELP!

I went to the Hunger Games movie with my teen. Pretty good movie. What the heck, let's read the book. ADDICTED! I read the Hunger Games in 4 days. Catching Fire in 2 days. Mockingjay in ONE DAY! Now, I'm not exactly a prolific reader. These are the first books I've read in at least the last 2 years.

The addiction is getting bad. I was thinking that when I completed Mockingjay I could put the trilogy behind me and get on with my life.  WRONG.

I've been reading just about any Mockingjay review I can find. Want to know what others thought. I've even posted that I'm "team Peeta" on some blog dominated by females.

This is all new territory for me.

I've started re-reading again, beginning with Hunger Games. I read them so fast, I want take my time.

My mind is FULL of comments and feelings regarding these books.

I know there are many reviews and blogs on this trilogy. Hopefully, you'll find something unique and  interesting in my take on these incredible books.