Monday, December 20, 2010

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Yes, I'm one of the last to finish this last book in the Hunger Games trilogy.  I started it soon after it came out, but just didn't quite get into much of a groove to finish it in a timely manner.  I could make excuses of busy work schedules and stacks of papers that needed grading, but that really wasn't the deal.  Is there an easy way of saying that I didn't like it?

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding."

Review:  Because of the mass reviews already posted, I'll make my own rather short.  I wasn't a fan of the concluding story in the trilogy.  The writing was well done in Mockingjay, and kept with the tone and themes of the previous books in the series, so I couldn't fault the story too much.  My eventual feelings about the book were based on my own dislike of drawn-out fight scenes, frustrations over the build up in the action, and annoyance with the conclusion.  While there were hints of what came about, I felt frustrated and a little manipulated.  Was that the point, that maybe Katniss also felt manipulated?  Yes, I'm sure.  For me, I felt that taking that road diminished my reading, but that's just my opinion.  

Although I didn't end up liking the conclusion to the series, I know that many readers consider it the culmination of one of their all-time favorite series.  I definitely liked these books and really enjoyed Catching Fire, but just wasn't over the moon with the ending.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the novel.

5 comments:

  1. I have yet to read the series at all, but I've heard others say they felt like the conclusion was a cop-out. I hate it when that happens!

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  2. I agree! I didn't enjoy it as much. In fact, it left me feeling kind of depressed (I guess that's the point). :D

    On a side note--we just missed each other. I was right by your house (for a wedding) on Saturday (the day you flew home). :( Hopefully we'll meet up again one of these days.

    Have a Merry Christmas!!! :D

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  3. I agree with you - I just didn't like the conclusion as much. I can still recommend and say I liked the series, but I felt it was missing something that could have made it great.

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  4. At the time I finished the book I remember going "wow" at the ending, but upon reflection it does feel like a cop out, and the ending bothers me now, but I don't think she could've made everyone happy with the ending no matter what she wrote.

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  5. Heidenkind--Yea, I'm still not sure I liked that ending. Honestly, it made me mad! Of the entire series, I thought book 2 was the best and least predictable. They're still worth reading though!

    A Roper--Yay! I love getting a comment from you my friend! :) That's sad I missed you being here. Any time you need a place to stay, I have a guest room with a queen-size bed. I'm all ready!

    Meghan--Thank you! I so appreciate knowing that I wasn't alone in my feelings about the novel. It frustrated me so much!

    A Buckeye Girl--That's true about not pleasing everyone. I just felt a little manipulated by the switch up in the end. I could see it coming, but was still ticked by it all. I'm also not big on non-stop fight scenes and conflict, so it was hard for me to get into the storyline.

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