I came to this trilogy late which gave me the luxury of moving straight from 'The Hunger Games' into 'Catching Fire'. I was already haunted by Katniss and Peeta's story - book 2 simply added more fuel to the fire...and more haunting dreams!
The political intrigue is ramped up, the relationships deepen and became more complex and the twists and turns keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning.
Katniss does get a little annoying with her inability to see what's coming next. The naiveté technique that Collins uses to keep us all in the dark doesn't match Katniss' otherwise smart nature & use of cunning tactics to outwit her opponents. It's the only time a writerly device jumps up and down in front of you. The rest of the time you're completely sucked into the story, into the world, into the games.
These books have been the subject of much discussion and speculation in my family. They have invaded our dreams and completely captured our imaginations. We are waiting with baited breath for the final installment due later this year.
Check out the many websites for Hunger Games, Mockingjay, Quarter Quell, Team Peeta - you can also follow them on twitter, youtube and facebook.
I put off reading this book for most of 2009. The blurb on the back was challenging - a reality TV show where all the teenagers had to kill each other off! I don't think so.
But then my stepson got the book for Christmas - he devoured it in 2 days. My husband read it in the post-Christmas eat/sleep-fest: he couldn't stop talking about it. Finally I had to see what all the fuss was about.
As my family where fighting over whose turn it was to read #2 of the trilogy, 'Catching Fire', I settled into 'The Hunger Games'. They lost me for 3 days.
Katniss and Peeta became members of my family. Section 12 and the tactics of the games crept into my dreams. Somehow their survival became linked to mine..., perhaps in my dreams I could influence what happened in this 'brave new world'? The line between reality and fantasy, real and impossible became blurred.
I haven't been haunted by a story like this for such a long time. It was wonderful!
Just in....the latest Trailer for the movie! Can't wait - it gives me goosebumps!
