Mockingjay ( The Hunger Games # 3) By Suzanne Collins

"IF WE BURN

YOU BURN WITH US"

Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But she's still not safe. A Revolution is unfolding, and everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - everyone except Katniss.
And yet she must play the most vital part in the final battle. Katniss must become their Mockingjay - the symbol of rebellion - no matter what the personal cost.

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Upon reading the last pages of Mockingjay. I have to say that it is one profound , moving and emotional read. This book brings to light a lot of issues, old issues we haven't grown out of yet. The uprising against the Capitol and it's downfall, the revolution, war, things our history books overflow with.

Mockingjay tells an old story through Katniss, an old story of war and the consequences of it.

The writing is really good and simple and touching. The characters are so real, you sympathize with their plight. Or hate them for their decisions. It all feels so sad and frightening .

Katniss changes a lot in this book. Not in a good way, she's grown too fast. She's a seventeen year old girl who has to survive. The physical and mental violence she has to go through is unbearable. The deaths of the people she loves haunts her.

I had hoped for a happy ending or a good ending. But it was more a bittersweet ending. The Capitol has fallen, there are no more Hunger Games. There's peace now.  Katniss and Peeta are married and have children but they're still haunted by the past. They won't ever forget. 

Catching Fire ( The Hunger Games 2 ) by Suzanne Collins

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Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are still alive. Katniss should be relieved, but now there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
As the nation watches Katniss and Peeta, the stakes are higher than ever. One false move and the consequences will be unimaginable.

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A dystopia is the idea of a society, generally of a speculative future, characterized by negative, anti-utopian elements, varying from environmental to political and social issues. Dystopian societies, usually hypothesized by writers of fiction, have culminated in a broad series of sub-genres and is often used to raise issues regarding society, environment, politics, religion, psychology, spirituality, or technology that may become present in the future. (from wiki)

The Hunger Games Trilogy falls under this genre and because it's dystopian makes it a likely scenario. That's why it's a scary book aswell. The themes of hunger,oppression,child labor,death are so well interwoven in this story/presentation that you can't help feeling angry at The Capitol or sympathetic to the people in the districts and even a bit scared of president Snow .but  other than the sympathy toward this fictional world and it's fictional characters   where's your sympathy for the real one. oppressed states, hunger,child labor. aren't fictional phenomenons. These are real things. 

After reading Catching Fire I no longer  feel comfortably saying this is an awesome book or an amazing book, for fear of sounding like someone from the capitol. And even if I call it an amazing book, what's amazing about Rue dying! or any of the other children (even if some of them were crazy). What I will say is that this is a significant piece of literature and if anything it succeeds in making you think. maybe seeing these things on the news over and over again while we're comfortable in our own homes, save and warm we're detached to the suffering of others.

For this book to make you think and  feel says a lot . It's a well written book and The characters are real in a way. If you like strong female leads then Katniss is definitely the girl. She's grown a lot since book one. Coming back from The Hunger Games has left her with nightmares ,guilt and fear for her family. nothing has really changed. In book one she was only concerned about her and her family but in Catching Fire things change. Katniss realizes although she's tried to protect her sister from the Capitol they have already hurt her by letting her watch her in the Games. Rue's death has also played an important part in Katniss's development. By the end of this book Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution.

The book is divided into three parts:

The spark: Katniss and Peeta are back home and are getting ready for their victors tour. Katniss is anxious to get it over with. She gets a visit from president Snow. President Snow warns /threatens Katniss not to encourage rebellion but it's out of her hands really. But at the threat to her family ,Peeta's and Gale's she doesn't have much of a choice. Katniss makes plans to run away or start a rebellion. I think it's called The Spark because after Gale gets punished for poaching ,she realizes she has to do something.

The Quell: in honor of the 75th Hunger Games there's a new rule. The  tributes to participate in this Hunger Games will be chosen from the surviving victors. Which means as the only female victor from district 12, Katniss will be going back in. Coincidence? This part focuses on the training and preparations for the Hunger Games. Katniss's plan this time is not to survive and go home, she's adamant on getting Peeta out of it alive.

The enemy: Part three focuses on the Game itself. This time it's set on a beach. Before Katniss goes in Haymitch tells her to remember who the enemy is. At the end she figures it out. The other tributes aren't her enemy. The Capitol is, president Snow is. and she blows up the arena.

At this point I'm really skeptical about this series having a happy ending. Unrealistic but that's what everybody hopes for. This one ends with district 12 blown up , the other districts are rebelling , Cinna's probably dead. Peeta's been taken by the capitol. Katniss wants to kill Haymitch. It's all chaotic. But not so far gone for a happy ending I hope. 

Dystopia seems like a heavy cup of tea. I don't like thinking about the future. I only think so far forward as tomorrow. Even then I'm self-centered and only think about what I'm going to do. I'm no Katniss. But there are others out there. vigilantes, guard dogs. Showing us the truth. We just have to open our eyes and see it. and do something.

Reaction: The Hunger Games trailer #2

I've only read the first book.
I bougt it, I have it. I'm dying to read the other 2!!
It's a frightening book. That's my reaction to the book. It was a freaking sad, serious read.
Why did Rue have to die!!! why does she have to die!!!
I hope they don't botch her song!!

 The trailer: my reaction to the book, intensified by the trailer. It's frightening, and evokes emotions from me. I really want to go watch this one. Probably won't be able to. I shouldn't . I have exames coming. I really shouldn't. But I'm gonna.

I like the cast. Although I was surpised to see Woody Allen as Haymitch, although I'm pretty sure he'll do a good job. I like that Lenny Kravits is playing cinna. It's an interesthing casting. In the trailer you see Cinna helping Katniss with her jacket, the mockingjay brooch is on her shirt. Cinna motions her to be quiet about it.There's also a scene where Katniss makes a hand gesture in respect to Rue( cuz she died!!).


Some Lenny Kravits: