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A review by ianbanks
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
4.0
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first but it moves at such speed I couldn't help but finish it in two sittings.
Good things: the pace is electric, the story leaps off the page and stuff just doesn't stop happening... and that cliffhanger...
Bad things: I didn't feel like I got to know any more about Katniss or Peeta or any other recurring characters. The new characters didn't feel especially special or striking to me, especially Finnick, whom we are meant to feel conflicted about. Also, the "science-fiction" part of the story didn't feel particularly effective to me: we know that our current governments have the ability to zero in on conversations through the use of trigger words in conversations so I found it a little difficult to believe that the plans of the resistance could be so easily fulfilled. Please feel free to convince me otherwise, though. In addition to this, what is the population of Panem: we are told there were only 8 000 people in District 12. How does a population of that size supply coal for the other 11 districts and the Capitol? Just how many people live in the Capitol? These are questions that the continuity freak in me is wanting answered.
But frankly, these are questions you only ask when you think about it later. Frankly, I just enjoyed the ride too much for it to bother me while I was reading.
Good things: the pace is electric, the story leaps off the page and stuff just doesn't stop happening... and that cliffhanger...
Bad things: I didn't feel like I got to know any more about Katniss or Peeta or any other recurring characters. The new characters didn't feel especially special or striking to me, especially Finnick, whom we are meant to feel conflicted about. Also, the "science-fiction" part of the story didn't feel particularly effective to me: we know that our current governments have the ability to zero in on conversations through the use of trigger words in conversations so I found it a little difficult to believe that the plans of the resistance could be so easily fulfilled. Please feel free to convince me otherwise, though. In addition to this, what is the population of Panem: we are told there were only 8 000 people in District 12. How does a population of that size supply coal for the other 11 districts and the Capitol? Just how many people live in the Capitol? These are questions that the continuity freak in me is wanting answered.
But frankly, these are questions you only ask when you think about it later. Frankly, I just enjoyed the ride too much for it to bother me while I was reading.