Catching Fire Advance Reader's Copy and pin
I recently had the pleasure of falling into Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, which I may have enjoyed even more than The Hunger Games. I don't want to spoiler either book (Hunger Games hasn't even been out a year, and Catching Fire isn't scheduled for release until September 1, 2009) so I am going to skip the summary, but trust me - you don't want to miss this series.
Right from the start, this book was not what I was expecting. The title "Catching Fire" left me wondering (now that I've read the book, however, the title is so obviously perfect) and within a few chapters I realized the pacing was off for the plot that I had been expecting. It's not easy to raise the stakes for characters after setting the standard in The Hunger Games, but Collins does it well.
Another surprising aspect for me was how it reflected a bit of the Iranian election protests going on right now. Obviously Collins couldn't have intended that, but I think it's a good indicator that The Hunger Games trilogy has literary staying power. Also, I can't help but compare it to other fictitious works of awesome like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (Here's a video link for you in which Rebecca Leach explains and compares the Iranian protests and Little Brother, in case you're interested in such things), The Pit Dragon Chronicles by Jane Yolen, and The Giver by Lois Lowry. Collins herself cites inspiration from reality shows and war coverage on TV, as well as the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.
My favorite part of the book was the end (seriously, I'm not going to spoiler it, stop twitching). It was the most perfect ending for a middle book in a series. It was completely satisfying, but in a way that leaves you desperately needing to know what happens next.
Catching Fire is scheduled for release on September 1, 2009. Collins is also under contract for a third book which is tentatively scheduled for a 2010 release.
Comments
Thanks so much for the great review!
I read The Hunger Games last year, and I have been dying to know what happens next. I am counting the days until Catching Fire is finally released! (33 days, if you're wondering.)
This review has got me super excited! Thank you!
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