Mockingjay

Book:  Mockingjay

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived even though her home has been destroyed.  Gale has escaped.  Katniss's family is safe.  Peeta has been captured by the Capitol.  District 13 really does exist.  There are rebels.  There are new leaders.  A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arema in the cruel & haunting Quarter Quell, & it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it.  District 13 has come out of the shadows & is plotting to overthroat the Capitol.  Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains - Except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, & to change the course of the future of Panem.  To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger & distrust.  She must become the rebels Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.
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First Line:  I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather.

After getting through the first two books, I was dying to get to this book to see how it would all end.  I even got home from work on Friday, pulled the book out & didnt put it down until I was finished - Saturday morning!

We continue watching the lives of Katniss & Peeta & the after effects of the war against the Capitol. 

I have to say, I'm not a big "battle" kind of girl so the idea of planning attacks & the battles with the different Districts was lost on me.  The "battles" in the games were different - it was more personal.  This was moreof a news report on CNN & that didnt appeal to me.  But when the story turned personal again, I loved it.

I dont want to give anything away (I will in the botton section though!) but I was surprised at some of the turns ... who lives, who died...

While Katniss still is a fighter, I think this book showed more of her weakness & fraility. 

I did enjoy the character of Finnick & the friendship he & Katniss had... as well as Boggs...Haymitch made me style in his "drunken" character that you think is so strict, but you see if really just a lonely man who's looking out for Katniss & Peeta.

I was also surprised at how in this book, the end of each chapter usually made me gasp, but the beginning of the next chapter would be a big jump in time & the story didnt instantly continue... you'd have to read as they would have "flashbacks"... that was different from the other books... took me a bit to get used to.

This definitely wasnt my favorite of the series... I am glad to know how the story ends though.  Feel like I can breath... because I did hold my breath through most of this book...

My rating:  4 skeins
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Final Line:  But there are much worse games to play.

WARNING: Spoilers below!!!

OK - I have to talk about some stuff that I question and/or that bothered me....

*What happened to Gale?  I was waiting for some big try from him for Katniss to love him - but he just sort of got lost in the "battle" & war of the last book... that disappointed me
*I was expecting more of a way for Katniss to bring Peeta back from his "insanity" ... disappointing
*It got on my nerves how it was mentioned over & over about Katniss not being able to "repay" when someone helped them...
*I was but wasnt surprised that Katniss killed Coin... got a chuckle out of it...
*Still am not sure who did the attack on the kids in front of the Capitol - which side
*Was so sad that Finnick died...
*had to read it a few times to understand that Prim died... that surprised me... I was expecting Gale or Peeta to die - not her! ... after everything Katniss did to protect her, she died in the end... that was a sad turn of events.
*Couldnt believe ANY of the tributes would agree to the vote of having another "Hunger Games" with the Capitol's children...
*Was happy to see the ending with Peeta & Katniss though... definitely thought they were destined for each other...

Now, I'm just dying for the movie version!!!!!