Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 400
***Please note that this ENTIRE review contains SPOILERS for the book The Hunger Games***
(NON-SPOILER INFO FOR CATCHING FIRE)
At the end of The Hunger Games, Katniss had pulled a stunt to save both herself and Peeta and for the first time in the history of Panem, the Hunger games had two winners. But now she has returned home and must deal with the consequences of playing such a dangerous game. First, she must confess to Peeta that most of her actions in the arena were for the benefit of the cameras. But does she love him or was it really all an act? And how will Peeta feel? And there is Gale to think of. Gale, the boy she left behind in district 12, her best friend, and her other half. What will Gale make of what happened in the arena? Will he be able to forgive and forget? But the worst is yet to come, when President Snow arrives on Katniss’s doorstep to talk to her alone and the word “uprising” and “rebellion” are whispered. Can Katniss save Gale, Peeta, and her family? What will become of District 12? Can she stop the uprisings and save them all? Or should she fight the Capitol and the President and free them all?
(SPOILER INFO)Katniss and Peeta have returned as victors of the Hunger Games. But in a ploy for survival for them both Katniss pulled a trick in the arena and the Capitol is not happy. Upon arriving home, Katniss gets a surprise visit from President Snow. And the President knows the truth about Gale and Peeta and the berries and is worried about uprisings and rebellions. So President Snow, threatens Katniss. Her first duty while she and Peeta are on the victory tour is that she must convince everyone, including the President, that she really is crazy in love with Peeta. There is even talk of a wedding between Katniss and Peeta. While all this is going on, the capitol is planning the 75th Hunger Games, which promises to be the most brutal of all. But despite his assurances, President Snow has evil plans for them all. When the 75th Hunger Games are announced, it is with horror that he says each district must send two of its victor’s back into the arena. This means, since Katniss is the only female victor for District 12 she is going back into the arena, just one year later. She must decide if she wants to fight the Capital and lead the rebellions or will she try to make a run for it? But how do you fight the Capital? Will she live through the arena again? And if she does survive, what becomes of Peeta, Gale, her family, and her district?
VERDICT: 4 out of 5 stars! LOVE! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 3.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Outlander
Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Pages: 656
(NON-SPOILER INFO)
Claire Randall and her husband Frank, the history buff, decide to take a honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands in 1945. One day while roaming the countryside alone, Claire walks through a stone circle, only to be transported to 1743. Cast back in time, Claire meets her husband’s ancestor, the evil Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall and a Scottish clan named MacKenzie. While traveling with the MacKenzie’s, Claire uses her training as a nurse, to heal a young Scots warrior named James (or Jamie) Fraser. Thrust together by circumstance Claire begins to have feelings for Jamie. But how can she let herself love another man when she is already married? Will she be able to return to her own time and Frank? Can she escape Randall before it’s too late? And how will she affect all of history, including her own?
(SPOILER INFO AND MY THOUGHTS)
First off, I have to let you know that Diana Gabaldon is a very detailed writer, right down to describing the stain on someone’s sock. Because of Gabaldon’s long descriptions it was hard to fall into this book right away. As a matter of fact, I almost gave up after about 100 pages. But then Claire and Jamie marry and the book starts to pick up. But it’s at its best when Claire and Jamie are battling together to escape the evil Randall. And when that happens, Outlander becomes a page turner. I still had some problems with the story. My main issue with the plot is the fact that war separated Frank and Claire for SIX years and neither of them had affairs while apart, but a few months tossed back in time and Claire is already sharing the bed of another man. A few other issues I had with the book are the beating Claire receives from a man that loves her, Jamie’s rape which felt unnecessary, and Claire’s pregnancy at the end which felt tacked on and too good to be true. But for the most part, Claire and Jamie are written in a way that makes you care for them. You want to know what happens and you want it to work out for the best. I don’t know if I will read any others in the series but I liked Outlander enough that I might give them a try.
3 out of 5 stars!
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Pages: 656
(NON-SPOILER INFO)
Claire Randall and her husband Frank, the history buff, decide to take a honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands in 1945. One day while roaming the countryside alone, Claire walks through a stone circle, only to be transported to 1743. Cast back in time, Claire meets her husband’s ancestor, the evil Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall and a Scottish clan named MacKenzie. While traveling with the MacKenzie’s, Claire uses her training as a nurse, to heal a young Scots warrior named James (or Jamie) Fraser. Thrust together by circumstance Claire begins to have feelings for Jamie. But how can she let herself love another man when she is already married? Will she be able to return to her own time and Frank? Can she escape Randall before it’s too late? And how will she affect all of history, including her own?
(SPOILER INFO AND MY THOUGHTS)
First off, I have to let you know that Diana Gabaldon is a very detailed writer, right down to describing the stain on someone’s sock. Because of Gabaldon’s long descriptions it was hard to fall into this book right away. As a matter of fact, I almost gave up after about 100 pages. But then Claire and Jamie marry and the book starts to pick up. But it’s at its best when Claire and Jamie are battling together to escape the evil Randall. And when that happens, Outlander becomes a page turner. I still had some problems with the story. My main issue with the plot is the fact that war separated Frank and Claire for SIX years and neither of them had affairs while apart, but a few months tossed back in time and Claire is already sharing the bed of another man. A few other issues I had with the book are the beating Claire receives from a man that loves her, Jamie’s rape which felt unnecessary, and Claire’s pregnancy at the end which felt tacked on and too good to be true. But for the most part, Claire and Jamie are written in a way that makes you care for them. You want to know what happens and you want it to work out for the best. I don’t know if I will read any others in the series but I liked Outlander enough that I might give them a try.
3 out of 5 stars!
January Reading
Title: The Time Traveler’s Wife
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Pages: 560
January is a month when we reflect on time and where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. So for this month’s must read book, I was thinking of time and reflection when I thought of “The Time Traveler’s Wife”. It is the story of Henry who suffers from “Chrono Displacement” a disorder which causes him to disappear suddenly, only to find himself in the past or the future. Henry can not control when he will travel or where he will travel to but the one constant in his life is that he always seems to travel to Clare, who will become his greatest love. And that’s what this story is really about, the power of love. And that is why I am making it this month's recomendation. Once you get past all the time jumping....which can be confusing, it is really one of the best love stories you will EVER read. So go read and enjoy!
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Pages: 560
January is a month when we reflect on time and where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. So for this month’s must read book, I was thinking of time and reflection when I thought of “The Time Traveler’s Wife”. It is the story of Henry who suffers from “Chrono Displacement” a disorder which causes him to disappear suddenly, only to find himself in the past or the future. Henry can not control when he will travel or where he will travel to but the one constant in his life is that he always seems to travel to Clare, who will become his greatest love. And that’s what this story is really about, the power of love. And that is why I am making it this month's recomendation. Once you get past all the time jumping....which can be confusing, it is really one of the best love stories you will EVER read. So go read and enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
