Catching Fire

I am going to start this off by saying I have not finished the book. My mental sanity depends on me not finishing it in one weekend. When you get the book tomorrow, you will understand (especially when you get to page 173).
This is what I can tell you:

1. Everything that I have said so far is true. I did hit a weak point in the book. I do believe that this plot might be stretched a bit too thin.
2. I am still terrified.
3. The Quater Quell is coming up, which adds to my terror, as well as the terror and excitement of the book and it's characters.
4. There are major reoccurring themes from The Hunger Games.
5. Things are changing in Panem.
6. Things are changing for Peeta and Katniss.
7. Things are changing for Katniss and Gale.
8. Part 1 of the book really is not that great, especially the beginning of it. It doesn't really get exciting until page 173!
9. I think that in some parts of the book, Katniss is a whiny, selfish brat. Although I am pretty sure everyone would be in her situation, there are some really stupid relationship things where she is just being selfish and hurtful. In other words, not really the best role model for a healthy relationship.
10. This book can be read by someone who has never read The Hunger Games, although you won't enjoy it as much because some very important details will go right over your head.
11. I liked The Hunger Games better.

This series in general largely resembles the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, which was written to illustrate the pointless violence in our world. If you want a taste for what The Hunger Games series is about, I would suggest reading it (you can read it by clicking on the link above). I would NOT recommend this book for kids under the age of thirteen. I am truly terrified and disturbed by this series and I am starting my sophomore year of high school tomorrow.

Because I am not exactly giving you guys the best review of this book (as I haven't finished it yet), here is a link to the Entertainment Weekly review of Catching Fire. Some of it I agree with and some of it I do not, as you will see from reading my former blog entries about Catching Fire.

This is the part I most agree with: this being a teen novel — she also has boyfriend problems. For PR purposes, Katniss pretends to be in love with her sweet-natured Games teammate Peeta Mellark, but she secretly pines for brooding Gale, a childhood friend. Except — why? There's little distinction between the two thinly imagined guys, other than the fact that Peeta has a dopier name. Collins conjures none of the erotic energy that makes Twilight, for instance, so creepily alluring.

The book goes on sale tomorrow though, so you don't exactly have to wait long, but here is another mini excerpt!! All of the material below is the work of Suzanne Collins and should be checked against the final printing of Catching Fire as my copy is an ARC copy which has mistakes in it!

Page 118: "Life in District 12 isn't really so different from life in the arena. At some point, you have to spot running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it."

I hope you all enjoy Catching Fire!

More to come,

OfficiallyMRS

Catching Fire (Again...)

So maybe I spoke too soon. About it not being a prolonged plot. Or maybe I've just hit a really weak point in the book. But as of now, Catching Fire isn't that entertaining. It's creepy. Really, really creepy, but you can't have a book based only on creepiness.
I am getting really ticked off with Katniss and her relationship drama. As she said herself, she is being selfish. And if there is one thing that really bugs me about TeenLit it's the damsels in distress, oh save me!, let's run away from our problems, I am such a brat but I am not going to change who I am, whining stuff. It's the one issue I had with Twilight.
And it's one of the major issues I am now dealing with with Catching Fire.
I am not saying it's a bad book. It's just.... not as good as The Hunger Games.
More to come,
OfficiallyMRS

Catching Fire (So Far...)

This is just an idea of what the book is like so far. I plan to do a full review sometime tomorrow or maybe later today.
After an unwelcome visit and threat from President Snow, Peeta and Katniss have left on tour. There relationship is changing (how, I refuse to tell you! You have to read the book) whether they want it to or not. In many ways, the Hunger Games have left the arena and are now roaming with Katniss and Peeta through the districts: Haymitch is still their mentor and all of their lives are still at stake, along with those they love and care about. So far, this book is really creepy and foreboding, keeping the tension and thrilling themes that were scattered throughout The Hunger Games. I was truly afraid that this book would just draw out The Hunger Games with an unnecessary plot, but I couldn't have been more wrong.
Personally, I am terrified.
More to come,
OfficiallyMRS

Catching Fire (Excerpt)

Because I have been crazy busy with getting ready for school to start, I thought that you guys might want a Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins excerpt to tie you over until I can finish the book and do my review. So this is from Chapter Three and pretty much tells what the plot of the book is (from what I have read so far.):

"A visit from President Snow. Districts on the verge of uprisings. A direct death threat to Gale, with others to follow. Everyone I loved doomed. And who knows who else will pay for my actions? Unless I turn things around on this tour. Quiet the discontent and put the president's mind at rest. And how? By proving to the country beyond any shadow of a doubt that I love Peeta Mellark."

I am loving this book and cannot wait to finish it so I can review it for you guys!
More to come,
OfficiallyMRS

Contest: Win a Book Playlist

So I come back from outdoor ed, open up my blog and find that my blog now had double the followers, along with hits from all over the county and all over the WORLD.
Then I open up my twitter for OfficiallyMRS. It too has a significant amount of people following me now that weren't following me before.
In celebration of this, I want to do something special for all of my followers.
As music is a huge part of my life, this is what is going to happen. I am going to pick a random person that is following me and send them a playlist that I make for any book that has been reviewed on OfficiallyMRS. They get to pick the book and the CD with my mix on it will be sent to them! A creative give away, if I do say so myself. I will pick the random follower this Tuesday (September 1st)!
More to come,
OfficiallyMRS