"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
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