Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) in Unknown Anonymity

Jul 28, 2013 Ji Mei rated it liked it

Shelves: future-fiction, adventure-fiction, reviewed-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The summary was a little misleading for me. I thought that the book mainly focused on the Victory tour, but it seems that the Victory tour was summed up in just three pages, only bothering to have more for District 11 because of Rue. Other than that, the rest of the book entailed of events that strain relationships between Katniss and Gale or make them grow closer when he gets whipped. I saw it coming, actually. Or at least it didn't surprise me. And some of the events are meant to show Peeta an The summary was a little misleading for me. I thought that the book mainly focused on the Victory tour, but it seems that the Victory tour was summed up in just three pages, only bothering to have more for District 11 because of Rue. Other than that, the rest of the book entailed of events that strain relationships between Katniss and Gale or make them grow closer when he gets whipped. I saw it coming, actually. Or at least it didn't surprise me. And some of the events are meant to show Peeta and how forgiving he is. Then just to spice things up, just throw in a special Hunger Games. Again, Peeta is like Collins' punching bag, killing him a bit, getting him injured and generally sort of worthless. I think it's annoying that Peeta hasn't been able to do anything manly, except comfort Katniss in bed with hugging (which, when you think about it, doesn't sound manly at all). All he gets to do is bake, paint, and look good for the cameras while Gale is mining and hunting, which I think are more manly activities (not to be sexist or anything). It's a little unfair for Peeta. And then when they're sent to the games again, Peeta is again unable to do much after his near death. I had a feeling, as soon as they learned about a force field, something would happen with it. It was interesting with the clock idea and I liked how this time, they knew the tributes more and worked with them. The writing was just as meh as the first, only made worse with my growing irritation with the characters. I get that the author wants a strong heroine, but why have any love triangles when those two characters, Gale and Peeta, aren't really developed at all? I still think they are strangers and Katniss' affection seems very little to nothing for both of them. I feel like those characters are easily exchangeable other than the fact that their injuries makes Katniss move forward. Again, this book wasn't as amazing as everyone says and not as terrible as I was led to believe. Still, I'll press on to the next book.

** 8/13/2020 Note:
I haven't reread the book or anything, but I wanted to clarify a bit about the 'manly' Peeta I was missing. It's not that the lack of manliness was the problem, I think, but rather the lack of much action and emotional connection from him. Also, I really dislike when authors want to create a "strong female character" by sacrificing the male characters in way of contrast. Equality is the best thing I think. ...more

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