Book Review: Mockingjay (2010) by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (2010)

Suzanne Collins

The final entry in Suzanne Collins's trilogy The Hunger Games is at least as depressing as the first two books. She still has some good ideas, and she cleverly spares us a third round in the arena (sort of), but it seems clear early on that Katniss Everdean has to choose between the lesser of two evils--the Capitol and the Rebels--and that once again no really good outcome can be expected. There is an ingenious plot twist at the book's climax to resolve some of this conflict, but all in all I think the series went on for too long and was too bleak. I realize that children today are exposed to very dark versions of, for example, Batman, James Bond, and any number of comic book heroes as compared with my generation, and that this gloom is supposedly justified by the terrifying world we now live in, as if it hadn't always been terrifying. Nevertheless, I feel there is very little reward for following Katniss's adventures to the dismal end. Worse, the series seems to decline with each book.

Current Hollywood plans call for splitting this final book into two movies a la Harry Potter. That's fine in itself, but they might think about lightening up the tone toward the end if they don't want to end up with a serious downer. J. K. Rowling, after all, considered killing off Ron Weasley but reconsidered. Suzanne Collins went ahead with her dark ending, but I can't imagine too many readers of any age are happy with the conclusion to this book.



Note:  My brief review of Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, can be found here.

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Book Review: Catching Fire (2009) by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (2009)

Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is the second book in Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games Trilogy. It's still pretty good, but it just isn't the page-turner that The Hunger Games is. Part of the problem is familiarity. We've already witnessed Katniss's confusion over her feelings for the two young men in her life, Gale and Peeta. Whatever seeming resolution there may have been at the end of the first book, we're back to square one now. Yes, here we go again...

Also, we already understand the structure of the Hunger Games, so when the 75th annual event rolls around, we think we know what to expect. Actually, we don't. First off, it's a Quarter Quell, which happens only once every 25 years and in this instance involves a severe alteration in the rules for the tribute pool at the reaping. There's a world of difference in these Hunger Games, with everything meant to be more chilling this time around. But how can the Hunger Games possibly be more chilling than the orgy of child killing we've already seen? As the twelve districts break out in scattered uprisings, the Capitol makes sure the games become even more cruel. This requires Collins to keep topping herself. She acquits herself admirably, but eventually you get the sense that no matter how hopeless it gets, the book's main characters are not about to die en masse. Things are meant to look awfully bleak here, but I sense there is definitely still some hope for Katniss to survive the climactic third book without losing too many of her loved ones.


Note:  If you missed it, my brief book review of The Hunger Games is here.

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Book Review: The Hunger Games (2008) by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games (2008)

Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is the first book of Suzanne Collins's dark trilogy. I was glad, when I started, to note this series was already complete because I hoped to get through the next two books fairly quickly, lucky me. For a young adult novel, there is a surprising underlying brutality to this story about mere children forced to compete in a battle to the death in which there are 24 contestants called tributes and only one winner. The idea, which can almost seem plausible, is the scheme of the North American postapocalyptic government of Panem in its tyrannical attempt to keep the twelve formerly rebellious Districts subjugated and in their place. Oh, my!

The theme is a disturbing one about an institution that calls itself a game yet embodies profound evil. The pacing is handled very well and the book is often difficult to put down. There is frequently a keen sense of dread here; the game, and hence the plot, is constructed to force an expanding pool of dead children, and while this isn't nearly as awful as it might sound, there are bound to be at least a few devastating moments along the way.

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