Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My Rating: 95/100

I have avoided all spoilers of this book since it came out.  To that end, I can't even reprint a summary without giving bits away.  So if you must know the summary, here is a link to the GoodReads page.  

My Non-Spoilery Thoughts:

I know this book caused quite a stir when it was released because I remember reviews being mixed, readers felt let down, and there was a general meh-ness about this book.  For me, I liked it.  Not as much as Catching Fire, but I still devoured every page all the same.  The plot had to change a bit, although the same themes that have been present in the prior two, are repeated here again in Mockingjay: Katniss being a pawn, Katniss undecided about her feelings regarding Peeta and Gale, no one has that many options available to them.

This book wrapped up all the plot lines and did so quite well.  It may not have been super exciting, but I think at this period in time all parties having growing and deciding to do.  Mockingjay may not have had the ending everyone wanted or liked but with the dystopian world of the book, I thought the ending was believable and finished the story appropriately.  There was one I thought unnecessary death at the beginning of the end, that I was disappointed with.  However, it cemented the other story elements in place.  No person or government is above doing anything for personal gain.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book greatly.  It has a different feel than the previous two, and I was satisfied with the ending.  For more of my specific feelings towards the book read the spoiler review that follows.  If you dare!

SPOILER REVIEW - HIGHLIGHT TO READ

There were parts that were a bit boring, but it was for story telling sake.  Totally knew Coin, the leader of District , had a hidden agenda regarding Katniss.  Also, with such a powerful role model who has the potential to sway followers, Coin can't have Katniss running around loosey goosey.  However, that does not excuse, the killing of Prim.  I was floored.  I did not see that coming.  Also the conversations Katniss had with Snow, like him or not, he was always almost honest with her.  Snow knew and saw Katniss' potential, so why lie.  Katniss knew this too, and also realized that District 13 and dreams of true freedom and living were never going to happen for her.

As for the Peeta brainwashing, not surprised.  The Capital was brutal and their methods were unbelievable   Peeta and Katniss ending up being together.  I think that was the best possible outcome.  Both of them are damaged goods.  There was never going to be a totally happy ending.  It wouldn't be right and it doesn't match the tone of the books.  Hollywood better not change it either.  You hear me?!
I really had  no problem with how the book ended.  I've read that people thought there were loose ends.  Not sure what they mean, although its been a while since I read this.

Katniss killing Coin: she had to to.  The cycle of violence would have continued had she not.  All the other Games winners dying, very sad as I read those moments.  I liked them greatly.

That's about all I can think of.  Overall the pacing was different than the previous two, but I enjoyed Mockingjay very much.  I think it ended the series quite well.  I also read Catching Fire and Mockingjay back to back and that may be why I think the way I do.  I didn't have to wait a year, like everyone else.

Now onto Battle Royale by Japanese author Koushun Takami.  Supposedly Hunger Games is a rip off of this story.  I'll let you know :)

Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Dystopian young adult
Hardback 390 pages
Book Source: borrowed from the library



 © Jenny Girl - 2013 "All Rights Reserved"

A plethora of mini-book reviews: Shadow Divers, Anna Dressed in Blood, Still Life, and The Unit

For summary of the book, click each title and it will take you their respective Goodreads pages.
I really intended to do a proper review for each book, but that's never going to happen at this point, so pertinent points will do.  Lets get to it shall we?

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
My Rating: 95/100
Nonfiction
375 pages

Great book about the perils of deep sea ship wreck diving.  True story of two divers who become friends and find a wrecked German submarine from WWII off the coast of New Jersey.  Part of the adventure comes from diving and exploring the wreck.  The other part comes from the two of them trying to determine the submarine's name so the families will know what happened to their loved ones.  They eventually name the submarine and delve into it's history and that was fascinating too.  Submarines were basically a death sentence, and this one left Germany about a year before the end.  They didn't want to, but had they had no choice.

This was a nonfiction page turner.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
My Rating: 95/100
YA
316 pages
Recommended by Ju-Ju 

Like his father before him, Cas kills ghosts for a living. He is  the male equivalent to Buffy.  There I said it, but they do also in the story.  Cas is lonely and conflicted because as much as he wants to carry on his father's work, he craves a normal life.  Being able to live in one place, not change schools, have friends, have normalcy.  Cas moves to yet another town to kill the infamous ghost Anna Dressed in Blood.  However, what he finds instead is the ghost of a young girl who has much in common with him.  A ghost he can talk to, when she's not killing people.  But why does Anna kill people?  She doesn't want to, but she needs Cas to help her stop killing?  Will he?

Page turner YA with a boy as the hero.  Wonderful change of pace from the typical supernatural books out there, and I enjoyed the twist at the end.  Book 1 in a series.  Loved it!

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
My Rating:60/100
Dystopian
268 pages
Recommended by Naida

Takes place in a future where a country has decided that once you reach a certain age, and you are not married, have no children, or have a job that is important fro society, you are sent to the Unit, to wait out your days donating bits and pieces of yourself to those left in society.  Great premise that put me in mind of Never let Me Go, however the main character Dorritt inspired no empathy from me at all.  I did not like her, and felt like she knew her time to go to the Unit was coming, but she did nothing to avert it.  Dorritt didn't become a rebel and fight the system, didn't try and suck it up to get married or find a career.  Dorritt sort of fights the system once at the Unit, but at that point I thought too little, too late.  I did like the other characters in the Unit and felt for them, however they were not the lead of the story.

Great idea, but I had no connection to Dorritt, so I didn't enjoy this story.

Still Life by Louise Penny
My Rating: 95/100
Detective Story
293 pages
Recommended by: who hasn't recommended this series!

First in the series featuring French Canadian Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, Still Life features the crime from both the Inspector's point of view, and the survivors point of view.  The story takes place in an idyllic small town but not all is what it seems.  Most of the town's inhabitants are characters in the story since they knew the deceased, and all have their quirks.  Penny's writing is delightful and it was easy to imagine everything in this story.

As for Inspector Gamache he is awesome  and makes the story.  He has a loving wife, is tough, and works for the victim, even if it may cost him his job or career.  Gamache is a good study of people.  He is quiet and unassuming and sees himself as a mentor.  The story also sheds light on how murders are worked and solved North of the border and that made for interesting reading as well, since those characters also come into play.  The reader is thrown right into the thick of office politics and it's a nice side story that I assume plays out later in the series.

Brilliant page turner.  Add me to the list of Louise Penny and Inspector Gamache fans.  Oh and this how I pictured Gamache.

I know he's Italian (Giancarlo Giannini) but he pooped into my head and stuck.



© Jenny Girl - 2013 "All Rights Reserved"

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: fiction, YA, dystopian
Hardback 391pages
Book Source: borrowed from the library
My Rating: 100/100

From Goodreads:


Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

My thoughts:

I freaking LOVED this book!  Why oh why did I wait so long to read it after Hunger Games?!  I did have trouble remembering some bits and pieces like the berries, but otherwise it was all good.  It came back to me after a few pages.

I won't go into any details in case you haven't read it yet, like me, but I will say there were events or things that made me say "NO!....(Gasp) oh my gods....ahhhh, they were right to do that."  Katniss is my favorite kind of heroine, because she strives to do what is right.  Even though she is afraid and she know she will probably die, she does what she must to save her friends and family.  In this way she reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Doing things no teenager should have to do, making unimaginable choices all with aplomb and some sass.  That's my kind of girl.

As for the overall plot, there were several events I didn't expect.  However, where else can this world or story go?  Shocked by the ending, and eager for more.  I hope the story wraps up nicely.

Here are the bits and pieces that interested me the most (highlight to read):

• There is a spy or rat in District 12, reporting to President Snow
• The victory tour with several Districts showing defiance, especially 11 with the whistle  
• Quarter quell announcement of previous victors being the tributes
• The wedding gown to Mockingjay dress conversion (my favorite)
• The other tributes in the 75th Games standing together strong
• Getting to know the real Haymitch.  New found respect for him.
• Realizing there is this secret rebellion that's been growing and now is the time for action
• Poor Cinna!!!!

My one complaint is the love "triangle" of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale.  I love all three characters but there is something about this triangle and Katniss' behavior towards Peeta that drives me crazy.  I understand Katniss is having a hard time deciding, but don't lead people on, and recognize these two boys have feelings for you whether you return them or not.  Be honest with them.  And if you're in love with them both for different reasons or in different ways, then fracking tell them.  They deserve the truth.  Is this the older, wiser, Jenny talking here?  Possibly, but seriously, in the world these three live in, some honesty will go a long way.

If you have read this book I would love to hear your thoughts!

 © Jenny Girl - 2012 "All Rights Reserved"

Review: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.


My Thoughts:

I tried to write an ode to Percy Jackson because I adored this book so much, but I am just not that clever.  Plus, you have all probably read and finished this series already.  I am uber late to this party.  So let me just point out what and why I loved this book so much:

• The use of Greek Mythology is interesting and cool; and something many stories do not feature.  At least not the ones I read.
• The gods and goddesses always have children with humans, and I liked how the children of the gods plays out in the books.  
• Humanizing Poseidon that way...I've always liked him the least until now.
• The use of ADHD: why it's special and making it normal for the half-bloods...LOVED it!
• The themes that are in the story for children who read this series. 
• the adventure of it all.  This book was a page turner for me.  I am so sorry I didn't read this sooner, and more sorry I haven't moved on to Book 2.
• Making Percy and his friends likable.  They are young yet mature in some ways.  
• All of the secondary characters, even the baddies, added to the fun of the story and I can't wait to see how they turn up again.

You guys know all this good stuff already.  I just had to add my 50 cents.

The author's website: http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx

My Rating: 100/100

Publisher: Hyperion Books
Genre: Teen/YA/Fantasy
Hardback 375 pages
Book Source: borrowed from the library

© Jenny Girl - 2011 "All Rights Reserved"