Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
August 2010
400 pages
Published by Scholastic
Yesterday I caved to the madness and downloaded Mockingjay onto my nook, then quickly devoured it. I did this mostly because I wanted to read the book before I read anything about it, but also because I wanted to know how it all ended. I’m not going to do a synopsis of the story, but rather a listing of some of my thoughts and reactions to the book (and yes, there are spoilers, so be warned):
*The writing was disappointing, but then I wasn’t rocked by the first two books, either.
*Katniss still bugs. Seriously. I so wanted her to morph into a kick-ass rebel leader, but instead, it was still all me, me, me and boo hoo hoo. Grow a spine, girl! Also, that vote you cast for the final Hunger Games? That was wrong (and it totally makes your attitude towards Gale hypocritical).
*Gale turned out to be a total wanker. Okay, not total, but his apparent disregard for human life was a complete turnoff, and I’ve turned in my Team Gale badge. Also, my Team Katniss and Team Haymitch badges. And I still wouldn’t be caught dead with a Team Peeta patch.
*Because Peeta turned out to be not all that great, either. Oh sure, it’s not his fault, but still…would you marry a guy who tried to kill you? Katniss is never going to speak to Gale again because he designed (but didn’t deploy) the bomb that killed Prim, but she’ll marry Peeta despite the fact that he called her a mutt and choked her. Girl needs some serious therapy. Oh wait, they tried…but she won’t talk.
*Lyme?? Seriously, there’s a character named Lyme??? I’d sue. Who wants people to be reminded of ticks and disease when they read about you?
*My feelings about this series have ended up being distressingly similar to my feelings about Twilight. Why did the heroine turn out to be such a complete ninny? Why couldn’t the author have given her some depth?
*And finally, why did Finnick have to die?!? I would’ve been much happier had Peeta and Gale disappeared in that final assault on the capital and Finnick and Annie were given the happily ever after.
Amen, sister. I’m still trying to find words to be eloquent about it, but in the meantime, you and Forever Young Adult have done wonders to prove I’m not the only one.
nomadreader (Carrie)´s last [type] ..Booker Dozen 2010- Trespass by Rose Tremain
I thought Katniss was back to her wonderful self here. She never wanted to be a leader. All she wanted to do was live quietly and be left alone. I don’t fault her for her thoughts, and at least she wasn’t so whiny in this one like in Catching Fire. Plus, she finally figured out how to read people again. That stuff she said about Gale at the end? Exactly what I’ve been saying all along!
I was so sad about Finnick, though. He turned out to be one of my favorite characters.
I skipped the spoilers because I haven’t even read The Hunger Games yet. Carl’s reading Mockingjay right now and he said that so far, it’s not as good as The Hunger Games.
Like Kathy, I only read the first part of this review as I haven’t read Hunger Games yet either. We may be the only two people in the world. I have the series on my Christmas list to give to my husband though, so only like four more months!
Trisha´s last [type] ..Book Review- The New Annotated Dracula
Oh, hooray! Always glad not to be the only one. I wanted more Finnick as well, and I completely agree about Katniss and her hunger games vote. Then again, I think I was expecting a different novel than the one Collins delivered.
Melissa (Book Nut)´s last [type] ..Mockingjay
I only read the end (I know, I know), so I didn’t know the specific reason she was so angry at Gale ultimately. But yeah, all the things she said about Gale were all the reasons I was Team Peeta. I am a smidge disappointed that she didn’t end up not marrying at all. LIKE SHE SAID SHE WOULD NOT. :/
Jenny´s last [type] ..Mothernight- Sarah Stovell
They had babies, but maybe they never got married?
Lu´s last [type] ..On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
But she wasn’t going to marry because she didn’t want her children to be used by the Capitol in the Hunger Games, it was totally a situational thing and her situation changed.
Jen – Devourer of Books´s last [type] ..Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell – Book Review
Well as I’ve said elswhere, i think Katniss’s vote on the final Hunger Games was misdirection. While not explicity stated in the text, i think there’s enough evidence to believe that. Totally disagree with you, but still love you!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last [type] ..CFBA Book Spotlights- Masquerade by Nancy Moser and Surrender the Heart by ML Tyndall
Yes, I read it the exact same way Amy did. At first I was horribly disappointed with her and Collins, but when she assassinated Coin, I realized it had all been misdirection.
Jen – Devourer of Books´s last [type] ..Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell – Book Review
I haven’t read your review because I need to write up my own first — I think we’re on the same page.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Audiobook Review Database- Audiobook Jukebox
People keep mentioning Katniss’s decision about the new Hunger Games, but the way I see to it, she never agreed to it all. It seemed like the fact that Coin would even suggest such a thing was what finally made her decide to kill her. She voted for it, yes, but she was also the reason that they never came to fruition when she killed Coin.
Lu´s last [type] ..On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
I saw Katniss’s decision the same way Amy and Lu did; I think it was only her way let Coin believe she was on her side so that Coin wouldn’t get rid of her before she could take action.
As for her getting together with Peeta, I think they were just too broken and in similar ways that they could get each other like no one else could. But yes, she definitely needs therapy!
And I was so sad for Finnick and Prim. I saw Prim’s death come, but not Finnick’s.
kay @ Infiniteshelf´s last [type] ..While in Paris – Inside the Louvre
Ah! I only read the non-spoliery part of your post, but I just wanted to say how jealous I am of you! I’m am not so patiently waiting for this one at the library which is not fun!!!
She´s last [type] ..Legend of a Suicide – David Vann
I am not reading this review because I don’t want to read spoilers. I have to read this series
Veens´s last [type] ..The Song of the Whales by Uri Orlev
I didn’t read this review as I am one of the ones who have not read ANY of the series yet. You didn’t waste any time getting to the latest one…..
diane´s last [type] ..Calling all Cat Lovers to Caboodle Ranch
I had a bit more of a positive response to this one than you did. And I was less disturbed by Katniss’s whining than by the torture and violence. But I laughed at some of your descriptions.
Jessica´s last [type] ..Bleak House Readalong – Week 1
I was very upset at the end of this book. My heart broke when Finnick got attacked by the mutts, because he was going to be leaving Annie all on her own, and then we figure out she is going to have a son! and i agree with the twilight part, but not in the same sense as i think you do. to me Katniss was like Bella after Edward left her to go to Italy. depressed, emotional, and mentally disoriented. And i became rather upset when she was talking about killing herself! and for those who are upset about prim, remember she is with her father now (and not real)
I finished this up a couple days ago and know I whipped through it so as not to be bombarded by a spoiler before I was done myself… I think I need to read the last half again – however I did read one interesting comment that said the whole ending of the book is all part of a “highjacker” like what changed Peeta’s memories and ooh….. I kind of like the thought of that…. I go into more details on this on my Mockingjay spoiler page where there are no hushed whispers for those who have not read or finished the book yet.
(holy run-on sentence batman!)
Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last [type] ..Author Chat with Marjorie Hart author of Summer At Tiffany
Did not read your review and did not read any of the comments. Just wanted to say hi and that I am impatiently waiting for my copy of Mockingjay here in Denmark.
Louise´s last [type] ..What is Mine by Anne Holt
I didn’t like this one as much as the first two. Everyones personalities were seriously warped, especially Katniss. She was TOTALLY into the me, me, me thing. And the I’m So Mad thing. Like nobody else had anything to be mad about. And Gale was written totally off character. And apparently Katniss never DID get around to thanking him for all he did for her and her family because she was so self-absorbed AND because in the end she harbored the totally irrational resentment that Gale was at fault because a weapon he worked on was used by somebody else and it killed her sister. But it was apparently okay that Peeta yanked up her friend and shoved him to his death, or tried to kill HER a couple of times. And Peeta? He turned into a brain addled shadow of his old self. And all the rest were either killed off or disappeared in the end. Like, where was Haymitch? And really, killing off Finnick and leaving poor Annie alone was just mean. …but you may wonder, how do I *really* feel?
ya i was slightly dissappointed in this one. usually we she katniss’s awesomeness in dealing with stressful situations but she was completely weak when it came to the fake mission to kill snow resulting in deaths. deaths that contain finnick whom i loved dearly (poor annie). ya peeta is now completely not sun and rainbows anymore either and gale turned into a blood craving monster with his weapons of mass destruction to innocent ppl. ya it was slightly depressing
Another Finnick fan here! He definitely turned out to be one of my favorite characters, along with Haymitch, For some reason I have a soft spot for the old drunk. I wasn’t a fan of Katniss’s choice in the end. I am not sure how I would have felt if she had chosen Gale though, as he wasn’t the best choice either.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Book Review- Mockingjay SPOILERS
I waited to read this until I had finished the book and all I can say is “Thank you for telling it like it is!!!” I felt pretty much the same way. (So why did I buy this book and read it??????).
Jenners´s last [type] ..Review- The New Kings of Non-Fiction edited by Ira Glass
We have some similar thoughts on this one! I loved the first two in the series but this one was so different for me that it just left me feeling somewhat disappointed. I think it was real in the way that war changes people and so the characterizations here were understandable to a point. It was just so excessive and extreme. I would have enjoyed it much more if the changes were more subtle and reflective. I also had issues with the pacing and the end. But I won’t ramble on too much or you might ban me from commenting ever again, haha.
Michelle´s last [type] ..It’s Time! KidlitCon and The Cybils
LALALALALA! I’ve almost caved and downloaded this one on my nook. Will be looking into that again soon when I have nookable money in my bank account.
Andi´s last [type] ..Bloodchild is Bloody Fantastic! and RIP V!
I just finished it. So, so disappointed in it. I can’t wait to write about my reaction.
Ti´s last [type] ..For the Love of Words- Part One