Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
by Suzanne Collins
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Book Summary Information
Author: Suzanne CollinsBrand: Books
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-09-01
ISBN: 0439023491
Number of pages: 391
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Book Reviews of Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
Book Review: Wonderful Book - Warning Spoilers -
Summary: 5 Stars
This book finds Katniss almost a year later in District 12 living a considerably more comfortable life, that of a victor. Her relationships with Gale and Peeta though has not progressed at all or at least it doesn't for several chapters.
Knowing that the Hunger Games are to start up again Katniss and Peeta are thrown back into the camera's eye to both their dismay. For Katniss this is considerably hard, she knows that she will have to pretend to love Peeta where as she loves Gale -- something she still has not told Gale.
Everything is to go as planned, but when President Snow, the sick and evil leader of the Capital shows up at Katniss' door she then knows nothing is as it seems. She's correct, President Snow eludes to a uprising in the other Districts and he makes a point to blame Katniss for the rebellion. He tells her that the public believes her behavior in last years Hunger Games to be defiance for the corrupt government rather then her love for Peeta. He threatens her with her families death and Gales if she does not step it up a notch and convince the public that she is just a young naive girl in love. So when the cameras are turned on and Peeta and her are sent around to each of the districts on tour to promote the next Hunger Games her and Peeta do their best to behave like lovers. During this time her and Peeta progress their relationship behind closed doors into a good friendship.
Yet, nothing can hide the fact that there is rebellion in the air and after their appearances in the districts is seems as though her attempt to be the puppet of President Snow fails miserably. When her and Peeta return to district 12 she decides that herself and her family should make a run for it. She also knows that she can not leave behind Gale, Peeta, and Haymitch (her couch from the games).
She asked Gale if he will run away with her on one of their Sunday hunting trips, he agrees and confesses his love for her, but she can't tell him that she loves him back. She wishes she could, but wants to feel like her family is safe before she can even think about love. When she can not say "I love you," to Gale they argue and she admits to him that she knows some of the districts, namely one in particular, is rebelling against the Capital. This is all Gale needs to hear before he runs back into town ready to start his own rebellion in District 12.
By the time she gets back herself to find Peeta and discuss escape with him Gale is strung up in the town square by a new Peacekeeper (Capital law enforcer) and is being beaten for pouching . Gale is taken back to Katniss' home where her mother helps bring Gale back to life after the severe beating.
As much as she wants to run away, she now realizes she can't do it. Having Gale beaten near to death has made her realize that it is in fact Gale she loves, Gale who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. That she can't pretend to love Peeta, that she can't run from truth and waste away in a life that is not hers. She decides to stay and fight for a overthrow of the government.
Unfortunately by the time Gale is back on his feet more Peacekeepers have arrived in District 12, and the whole place starts to feel more and more like a prison camp. Then when it can't get any worse the Hunger Games are announced and President Snow informs the Districts that winners from the past Hunger Games with have to play again. Katniss and Peeta know that this is a death sentence. Again Peeta and Katniss spend a whole lot of time together and get even closer. Its this time that she struggles with the fine line between their friendship and possible love.
The rest of the book reads much like the first in this series, they are trained, paraded about, and then thrown into the playing field with 2 victors from each district. What is different is the Capital's population doesn't seem all too pleased this time around. Peeta does his best to win favor for him and Katniss from the sponsors by saying they were secretly married and that she is pregnant, but it all seems pointless. Once in the game they form a shaky alliance with a young man named Finnick who is remarkably beautiful and athletic. All comes to a head when a underground movement does take hold and all the districts revolt during the last day of the Games.
In the end Katniss and Finnick are the only ones to escape to safety when the revolution happens. Peeta who is still alive is captured by President Snow and his whereabouts are unknown at the end of the book. The book is set up for the 3rd and leaves you hanging, just like the first did.
Couldn't put it down; read it in two days. Action packed and a tear jerker. The only problem I have with it is the same problem from the first book. Katniss spends a huge amount of time with Peeta and very little with Gale. Her and Peeta kiss and cuddle through out the book and she seems to waver a lot in her feelings for Peeta, does she in fact love him -- you are left to wonder. The few times Gale is in the book its short and usually through memories. So again her love for Gale is lost on me because Peeta's character is so well developed. Not to mention he is just so selfless and kind. How could you not love him. Although, I think we will see a lot more of Gale in the next book just because the writer seems to set it up that way.
Can't wait for the 3rd installment!
Summary of Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.Fantasy Books
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