Catching Fire

SPOILERS IN REVIEW - PARTICULARLY RELATED TO END OF BOOK

Very much like the first book there is a lot to like in this sequel, but also, more than the first book quite a few things that annoyed me. I'm reading this series as my son has recently read them and he absolutely loves them. I can see, how at age 11 how this book will appeal. It's action orientated, it is fast paced with chapters easy to pick up and down. There is just about the wrong amount of violence and sexual inference to make you think this is a bit 'too grown up for me', and thus perfect for young readers.

So onto the positives - like the first book, once I got into it I could not put it down - and I mean it. I was grabbing the book every opportunity I could to see what happened next. Collins is an easy read to be fair and she rattles through the book at a fair pace. She knows how to end a chapter demanding you read on, whilst not leaving the reader feel like they are being manipulated or it's contrived. (It's funny because my son has been away over the weekend and I finished a chapter and COULDN'T WAIT to read the next one in the morning, but more was itching to talk to him about how it ended. Any book that does that to the reader is doing a good job!) (view spoiler)

However, even though it is quick to get through there is part of me that thinks this is a bridging book to a conclusion and doesn't stand up as a book in it's own right. For most of the book not an awful lot happens - you get the impression Kat has pissed off the Capitol and there is a feeling things will go bad for her, but it's not particularly interesting as 'bad things happen to people' and Kat largely stands around watching it happen. I did warn about spoilers but (view spoiler). I know the book tries hard but the big problem with how the Hunger Games in the book is set up is that there is no real sense of people being hunted, and the 'Capitol against everyone else' is so heavily laden at no time does the reader really think Kat and co are largely in any real danger - even for near death experiences!

I am sure the love triangle from the first book is endearing for many teenage readers - wishing they were Kat and loving their favourite in Gale or Peeta, or perhaps young lads are constantly imagining Kat running around in her knickers and vest but it all feels a little contrived and pedestrian. Maybe I am a grumpy old man but instead of seeing a smouldering 'will she / won't she' affair I am ambivalent to who she ends up with.

My big problem with the book is how Kat is portrayed and I am amazed in all the 5 star reviews how few people have picked up on this. In the first book Kat is independent, a provider and is strong. She changes her destiny and acts to save her sister. In the Hunger Games she fights, takes moral choices and sticks two fingers up to those who try and control her. She is the symbol of defiance.

In this book, she is JUST a symbol of defiance. It is painfully obvious to everyone but Kat that her victory has spurred insurrectionary activity across the country. The visit from the President is ludicrous (and really, if they had executed Peeta and Kat they'd have possibly headed everything off - so President Snow is a really shit power mad dictator). All around her, literally everyone is winking at her telling her things are going on and there is a revolution occurring and she is literally the stupidest, most naïve person in the book who doesn't get anything.

On to the ending - (I DID WARN YOU!), it becomes evident in the final third of the book there is an overarching plan and Collins thinks she is teasing the reader but it is worked out easily and there is this forming of a revolutionary group (based on bonds of friendship) and they act out their plan and KEEP KAT COMPLETELY IN THE DARK THROUGHOUT. Their rationale? Effectively that SHE COULDN'T BE TRUSTED to play ball, to stay silent, to act in the interests of others. They turn this fierce independent young woman into a SYMBOL of revolution - not an actor in her own liberation. The more I think about it, the more offended I am by it how stupid Kat is written and how ridiculous it is not to involve the heroine of the story in the actual plot of the book.

It left an unpleasant taste in my mouth to be honest that a young woman whose actions spark a revolt is reduced to a useful idiot whilst mostly older men plan the revolution on her behalf. It reads quite sexist to be honest and it's a real shame what they have done to Kat here.

I'll read the third book and prequel over the coming months I am sure and I'll enjoy them I know, but this book failed under scrutiny for me.