'Mockingjay' is the third and final book of the Hunger Games trilogy (it wouldn't be a trilogy otherwise, would it?) and a great one it is. "Mind-blowing" according to one review, albeit sometimes confusing.
Katniss Everdeen has now won the Hunger Games twice and is truly feeling the physical and psychological effects of having to kill a large number of people for the entertainment of a capitalist state. However, she won't stop fighting. Not until the rebels, of which she is now the symbol - the Mockingjay - have won.
Despite still suffering from vivid nightmares and being unsure of who to trust, who she is trusted by and whether she will ever be safe again, Katniss has decided that she is going to face the Capitol head-on and, to use a phrase not used in their trilogy, kick the shit out of them.
That's the basic plot outline of which I can't say much more about without giving things away. However, much like the previous two books, this is, again, well-researched and written with great characters/characterisation, lively events and heady cliffhangers which prompt one to read into the early hours.
As mentioned in previous Hunger Games reviews, the plot contains some bits and pieces which could very much be compared to the Revolutionary political activity of today. In Mockingjay, we still have the Capitalist state (Capitol) but there is also the Egyptian Revolution to look into. Now, this is something I'm not extremely knowledgable on, but after attending a meeting earlier this week on said Revolution, I am able to notice some similarities.
Some examples could be the taking down of a state, living in slums and hunger. I'll stop there before I try and be clever but come off as the opposite. I do feel, however, that this book is much more connected to real, current activity than the previous two as it uses less of the 'kids in arenas' ideas and instead draws inspiration from troops patrolling streets and taking down innocent civilians. Or so I'm assuming.
Unfortunately there were some bits which confused me or took some double readings due to there being some slight continuity. I'm not sure if this was my tiredness or a genuine mistake, but I've decided I'm not going to let it affect anything.
Imagery was, again, excellent and presented capitalism and slums at their worst with characters being well and truly injured beyond 'a little scratch' or a sniffly cold. What I also enjoyed was the use of Morphling: a hospital-issued painkiller which, when taken, produces some interesting images. Name and description sound like something you may have taken to cure pain? Yeah, thought so.
All in all this was an absolutely excellent trilogy and well worth the read. If you liked the first film, definitely get these books (all of them, not just the first).
Another 5/5
And remember: "If we burn you burn with us"
Thursday 19 July 2012
Saturday 14 July 2012
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
This time it's a review of the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. And what a book it was.
After surviving the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has all the food and money she could ever want/need. However, she's still suffering depressive moments as well as new policies within District 12 and the possibility of an uprising.
To make things worse, it's the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games meaning a 'Quell' will be drawn. The result is that only the victors of each district will be put into the reaping ball. This means that with Katniss being the only female to ever win in District 12 there's 100 percent chance she will be pulled.
And so K is sent to the Hunger Games again. But, like the first book, there's a lot more than just a group of people fighting to the death. An uprising has begun in one district and there is expected to be another in District 12. The Capitol, a capitalist state still controls everything and each district takes care over various trades.
Written in a similar style to the first book, this is filled with cliffhangers, fast-paced scenes and is impossible to put down. The characters are interesting and much different to those in the first, the arena has been changed and deaths are very juicy. If you've managed book 1, you'll need to read this.
Ending with a very big cliffhanger, I feel rather eager to get stuck in to the final book. I can safely say it's been a long time since I've shot through a series of books. I'll also repeat this: despite being written for Young Adults, old adults will find these books an excellent read. The content is political (and very interesting from a Socialist point of view), the deaths are varied in style and, as previously mentioned, it's filled with cliffhangers resulting in a 6 hour read, desperate to find out what happens next.
One could even argue that Suzanne Collins is a writer not dissimilar to Simon Kernick, except she writes for children rather than adults.
Managed in around 3 or 4 days this is well worth a read. Buy these books.
5 out of 5
After surviving the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has all the food and money she could ever want/need. However, she's still suffering depressive moments as well as new policies within District 12 and the possibility of an uprising.
To make things worse, it's the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games meaning a 'Quell' will be drawn. The result is that only the victors of each district will be put into the reaping ball. This means that with Katniss being the only female to ever win in District 12 there's 100 percent chance she will be pulled.
And so K is sent to the Hunger Games again. But, like the first book, there's a lot more than just a group of people fighting to the death. An uprising has begun in one district and there is expected to be another in District 12. The Capitol, a capitalist state still controls everything and each district takes care over various trades.
Written in a similar style to the first book, this is filled with cliffhangers, fast-paced scenes and is impossible to put down. The characters are interesting and much different to those in the first, the arena has been changed and deaths are very juicy. If you've managed book 1, you'll need to read this.
Ending with a very big cliffhanger, I feel rather eager to get stuck in to the final book. I can safely say it's been a long time since I've shot through a series of books. I'll also repeat this: despite being written for Young Adults, old adults will find these books an excellent read. The content is political (and very interesting from a Socialist point of view), the deaths are varied in style and, as previously mentioned, it's filled with cliffhangers resulting in a 6 hour read, desperate to find out what happens next.
One could even argue that Suzanne Collins is a writer not dissimilar to Simon Kernick, except she writes for children rather than adults.
Managed in around 3 or 4 days this is well worth a read. Buy these books.
5 out of 5
Wednesday 11 July 2012
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
As you may be able to tell from previous reviews, I'm not a big reader of young adult (YA) fiction. However, this first book in the Hunger Games trilogy is really something else.
I saw the film while it was in the cinemas and found myself very impressed and comparing it to the Japanese novel and film Battle Royale. The novel, however, goes beyond that. Although it does have elements of BR with the concept of a group of kids going to an island and fighting to the death, there is a lot more to go with it.
For a starter, the politics within the novel are very interesting, especially after my attending the 5 days Marxism fest. In the Hunger Games, rather than towns, people live in 12 districts with there being the rich districts, the industrial districts and the poverty-ridden districts. Along with this there is the Capitol state which holds the yearly Hunger Games. This is a capitalist state filled with rich people, huge feasts, genetically engineered creatures and spectacular events. This, I believe, is what helps to make the book attractive to adults.
For kids and/or young adults the concept of a bunch of kids fighting to the death creates an attractive story. If politics isn't your thing but fighting is, you'll love this book. If politics is your thing, you'll love this book.
Well researched and thought out it's no wonder The Hunger Games did so well. This is a novel great for escaping into but also good for getting one thinking that it's possible something like this could happen if capitalism took over. Saying that, it would help to get rid of all those bloody teenagers.
I have to admit that I'll be recommending this book (and possibly the sequels) to my little brother who never reads and maybe even my mum who wants to read that 50 Shades of Grey trash. If you wish to do the same, don't! Read this book instead.
This gets a generous 5 out of 5. Keep checking back for book 2.
I saw the film while it was in the cinemas and found myself very impressed and comparing it to the Japanese novel and film Battle Royale. The novel, however, goes beyond that. Although it does have elements of BR with the concept of a group of kids going to an island and fighting to the death, there is a lot more to go with it.
For a starter, the politics within the novel are very interesting, especially after my attending the 5 days Marxism fest. In the Hunger Games, rather than towns, people live in 12 districts with there being the rich districts, the industrial districts and the poverty-ridden districts. Along with this there is the Capitol state which holds the yearly Hunger Games. This is a capitalist state filled with rich people, huge feasts, genetically engineered creatures and spectacular events. This, I believe, is what helps to make the book attractive to adults.
For kids and/or young adults the concept of a bunch of kids fighting to the death creates an attractive story. If politics isn't your thing but fighting is, you'll love this book. If politics is your thing, you'll love this book.
Well researched and thought out it's no wonder The Hunger Games did so well. This is a novel great for escaping into but also good for getting one thinking that it's possible something like this could happen if capitalism took over. Saying that, it would help to get rid of all those bloody teenagers.
I have to admit that I'll be recommending this book (and possibly the sequels) to my little brother who never reads and maybe even my mum who wants to read that 50 Shades of Grey trash. If you wish to do the same, don't! Read this book instead.
This gets a generous 5 out of 5. Keep checking back for book 2.
Monday 2 July 2012
Severed by Simon Kernick
Yes, it is yet another Simon Kernick review, and so soon after the previous review. This time, however, it is his 2007 release, Severed.
Before going into the book/review I'll give a little background on why I read this. As you'll notice, I've been reading a few 19th Century novels for my uni course. After finishing Silas Marner I decided that before I go into next semester's reads, I'd devour something simple yet worthy of a long sit down. And so I chose Severed, a book I've read once a few years ago, but knew was good.
I always find that SK's books are simple to read, yet filled with fast-paced action, and not lacking a large amount of death, fear (in the characters) and general carnage. A good head-clearer, if you will. I also wouldn't need to focus on or think about theories (i.e. Psychoanalysis, post-modernism, imagery, characterisation amongst others), I can just sit down and read, which I did with this.
Moving on, Severed is the story of a successful car salesman who wakes up next to his girlfriend. But there's a problem: she's dead. And not peacefully either. She's been brutally murdered and now the protagonist, Tyler, must find out who killed her and seek his revenge.
The next 24 hours are the most telling as he is sent on a wild goose chase around the grim streets of East London. Inevitably he hits many a brick wall yet somehow recovers. I'll stop the spoilers there.
Fast-paced and action-filled, this is definitely one of Simon Kernick's best books. Much like Siege, I managed it in just two sittings (with the odd 20 min break here and there), finding it incredibly hard to put down due to the numerous cliffhangers which leave the reader desperate to know what happens next.
As some people may know, I am a cynical person at times, however, I can find nothing negative to say about the book. The characters are just right, events are described perfectly and the storyline/plot is constantly pushed forward with the skill of Kernick's writing. Or maybe I'm just being biased. You decide.
For anyone who hasn't read Severed and likes their crime fiction, grab this book today. If you haven't read Simon Kernick in the past, also pick up this book. I'm sure you'll become an instant fan. I've probably said that about his other books, but a writer loves their praise (trust me, I know).
This one gets a nice big 5/5 from me.
Before going into the book/review I'll give a little background on why I read this. As you'll notice, I've been reading a few 19th Century novels for my uni course. After finishing Silas Marner I decided that before I go into next semester's reads, I'd devour something simple yet worthy of a long sit down. And so I chose Severed, a book I've read once a few years ago, but knew was good.
I always find that SK's books are simple to read, yet filled with fast-paced action, and not lacking a large amount of death, fear (in the characters) and general carnage. A good head-clearer, if you will. I also wouldn't need to focus on or think about theories (i.e. Psychoanalysis, post-modernism, imagery, characterisation amongst others), I can just sit down and read, which I did with this.
Moving on, Severed is the story of a successful car salesman who wakes up next to his girlfriend. But there's a problem: she's dead. And not peacefully either. She's been brutally murdered and now the protagonist, Tyler, must find out who killed her and seek his revenge.
The next 24 hours are the most telling as he is sent on a wild goose chase around the grim streets of East London. Inevitably he hits many a brick wall yet somehow recovers. I'll stop the spoilers there.
Fast-paced and action-filled, this is definitely one of Simon Kernick's best books. Much like Siege, I managed it in just two sittings (with the odd 20 min break here and there), finding it incredibly hard to put down due to the numerous cliffhangers which leave the reader desperate to know what happens next.
As some people may know, I am a cynical person at times, however, I can find nothing negative to say about the book. The characters are just right, events are described perfectly and the storyline/plot is constantly pushed forward with the skill of Kernick's writing. Or maybe I'm just being biased. You decide.
For anyone who hasn't read Severed and likes their crime fiction, grab this book today. If you haven't read Simon Kernick in the past, also pick up this book. I'm sure you'll become an instant fan. I've probably said that about his other books, but a writer loves their praise (trust me, I know).
This one gets a nice big 5/5 from me.
Sunday 1 July 2012
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Another book set for my exam tomorrow, Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe is a story similar to Wuthering Heights in that it features a number of things included in the latter story: death, trust, betrayal, family issues/troubles and personal and physical growth.
Silas Marner is a weaver from the small town/village of Raveloe who, one night, comes home to find that the large amount of gold he has earned through weaving has been stolen. Without his gold, a wife or any family, Master Marner is a lost and emotionally unstable man. That is until he comes into the posession of a 2 year old girl whose mother has died in the snow of an extremely cold winter.
This child becomes his daughter, and over the years he raises and nurtures her (bit of nature vs nurture there) into the most beautiful girl the village has seen.
This novel is filled with optimism, pessimism, happiness, sadness and awkwardness. Much like Wuthering Heights, it has a number of stories within a story, but they are very interesting stories and events.
I didn't really expect much from this book when I first opened it. I mean, a man who spends his days weaving. What's interesting about that? But as I read on, I found it to be gripping and very interesting. No, it isn't a crime novel, but it was a very good read, in my opinion. It had scenes which made me feel a bit 'meh' and others which made me feel a bit more upbeat.
Additionally it had some surprises thrown in and an uplifting final quote (readers who don't want it spoiled, scroll to the end, those who don't mind, read on): "O father, what a pretty home ours is! I think nobody could be happer than we are."
Sometimes a bit tedious, but nonetheless, a good read, George Eliot's Silas Marner is a read for anybody who likes 19th Century literature.
This receives a nice 4.5/5 from me.
Silas Marner is a weaver from the small town/village of Raveloe who, one night, comes home to find that the large amount of gold he has earned through weaving has been stolen. Without his gold, a wife or any family, Master Marner is a lost and emotionally unstable man. That is until he comes into the posession of a 2 year old girl whose mother has died in the snow of an extremely cold winter.
This child becomes his daughter, and over the years he raises and nurtures her (bit of nature vs nurture there) into the most beautiful girl the village has seen.
This novel is filled with optimism, pessimism, happiness, sadness and awkwardness. Much like Wuthering Heights, it has a number of stories within a story, but they are very interesting stories and events.
I didn't really expect much from this book when I first opened it. I mean, a man who spends his days weaving. What's interesting about that? But as I read on, I found it to be gripping and very interesting. No, it isn't a crime novel, but it was a very good read, in my opinion. It had scenes which made me feel a bit 'meh' and others which made me feel a bit more upbeat.
Additionally it had some surprises thrown in and an uplifting final quote (readers who don't want it spoiled, scroll to the end, those who don't mind, read on): "O father, what a pretty home ours is! I think nobody could be happer than we are."
Sometimes a bit tedious, but nonetheless, a good read, George Eliot's Silas Marner is a read for anybody who likes 19th Century literature.
This receives a nice 4.5/5 from me.
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