May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

When I heard compliments about this trilogy I display insoucianceto get a copy and read, other books are at home yet I can’t finish reading it off, I’m starting but I’ll close it after some page. I also have copies of e-books in my phone and I can’t decide which one to read so I end up not reading anything for 2 years now.

It was during my third and fourth year in college when I dedicated most of my time to reading. I was able to finish the Twilight Trilogy of Stephenie Meyer in only a week. I also finish reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling in two days. I was able to finish some of the books of John Grisham and Dan Brown. Well, that was the time when I can stay whole night just reading. Now, what I want is to sleep. But due to the Christmas season, I was able to read once again and satisfied.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins --- I can hear from people that this is one of the best novels one needs to read. I was also able to learn that it is adapted in a motion picture and is also a blockbuster. I was still not interested. If you know me personally, you would have the knowledge that if I like something I’ll do some research about the stuff – a movie, album, and especially book. Just how I devoted surfing the net about Harry Potter when it was only going viral in stores. Before I even start reading the series, I knew most of the story. But in Hunger Games, it did not interest me.

But when I watched the Hunger Games movie with two other people last June 2013, it changed my mind and I was like “I want to read that books now.” But time would not permit me, there are a lot of barriers, like I’m in a story and to read the book is my goal but there are a lot of villains, ha-ha.

Not until December 2013, two weeks ago when I started reading the first book. Since I have watched the movie, I somehow knew the plot but I still find reading it fun. It’s different when I can vividly imagine the scenarios and I was able to know everything. In the movie, there are few details given. I love the idea, because it’s so warped and it makes me ponder and rerun settings in my head. I entered a world of bordering extremes, the Capitol with its ultramodern technology and bizarre manner and self-indulgence; the districts, many are poor that their technology has hardly advanced the use of electricity. I was enthralled in the progress of Katniss Everdeen’s character. You really get the nous that she is carrying the bulk of the world on her shoulders. The actual games are gut-wrenching and rousing. This joined with Katniss' relationship with Peeta Mellark, and the upshot from the finale of the games leave you hankering the second book.

Talk about a realistic character - Katniss doesn't ask to be the center of attention, nor does she want to be. She's not the most beautiful, charming, talented person in the world. She's just a girl who needs to protect her family and will do anything to do so. Every character has his or her own personality, and his/her own development.

Catching Fire is a splendid stuff and a fascinating read. Tensely paced, with Collins making you feel that things are about to explode on a larger scale, even as Katniss tries her best to fend for her own little corner. There are moments which are heart-breaking and moving, but then these are trailed on time by moments of horror and heartbreak and unexpected terrifying violence, and these turnarounds leave you sort of meandering in the airstream. There's no negating, though, that one inaudibly controlling moment when, Katniss, who had been thinking hard of taking her family and friends and skedaddling, decides to stay and tough it out. I felt like cheering when she declares: "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay right here and cause all kinds of trouble." That's the girl on fire.

 

Mockingjay, puts a great ending to a series, heart-wrenching. I couldn't stop reviewing the last few pages. Collins captures the true psychological aspects of a young woman's demise. But no literary piece is ever flawless, I somehow manage to think of other things which the author should have at least explained in one way or another, or a clue perhaps. The death of one of the character closest to Katniss almost seems like the author was just mad and wanted to kill someone off. No explanation and senseless. If you are going to kill off the person you spent an entire trilogy protecting then at least give it some build up so the reader can digest it, it is for her sister Prim. The ending is pretty much a drug educed comma of memories and delusions and exile. The epilogue almost seems like an apology for dragging this thing out.

I would have enjoyed the last book, much more if it were condensed to a sequel and if the ending was more complete tying up loose ends. Also I would like the main characters to actually have had a role in the future of Panem. Instead they just turn into some average Joe that is eventually to be forgotten.

As a good point, Collins ends the series in a gentle and peaceful way, and the reader discovers that which has been true from the beginning. Collins shows how the unmistakable yet subtle need for another human being can win out over all odds and become reinforced by the strength of love, intertwining the fates of two people together forever. I loved the action scenes.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a wild roller coaster ride from a book. It really kept me on my toes!