Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

by Suzanne Collins

Carolyn McCormick (Narrator)

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

• ISBN10: 1615745726
• ISBN13: 9781615745722
• Publish Date: 15 August 2009
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Findaway World
• Format: Audiobook
• Duration: 0 hours and 37 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[adastra]

I'm afraid after finishing this, my opinion is one of a somewhat overrated, low-brow book. There's no doubt that it's incredibly enthralling and more or less impossible to put down (I've read it within 2 days). But there was something about the book which didn't really convince me, something somewhere between the mediocre writing style of the author and the facepalm-worthy naiveté of Katniss (when it comes to some topics). In addition to that, it is ridiculously predictable and the graveness of the situation never really sinks deep. You could say it's a bit shallow for a dystopia. I've read all the dystopian masterpieces from 1984 over Brave New World to The Handmaid's Tale, so I suppose I have high standards.

I will probably read the sequels anyway...

[clementine]

I was really excited to re-read Catching Fire, because I remembered almost nothing of it (which does not reflect on my enjoyment of the book, as I forget the finer - and larger - parts of almost every book and movie if I only read/see them once). I was also looking forward to Finnick's entrance into the series, because even though I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunger Games the second time I felt a distinct lack of my favourite character.

The beginning of Catching Fire drags a bit for me. That's really my only complaint. I understand it's necessary to get the backstory and build up to the Quarter Quell, but I just found it hard to digest. Once the actual Games started, I was very into it. As always, I really enjoyed reading it again with knowledge of the twists and conclusion in mind, as I picked up on some of the clues and details.

There was some pacing issues here for me, but overall I quite enjoyed my re-read of Catching Fire.

[ladygrey]

I was a little disappointed in this book. Katniss is an interesting enough character but she shows herself to be not that bright sometimes. So it's not entirely compelling when so much of the book is her inner monologue, especially when it's apparent she's got things wrong. When she's interacting with other characters it's a lot more fun. Also Finnik adds a good dynamic when he really becomes a part of the story, adding some conflict and just a new, interesting element for Katniss to react to.

But mostly I was disappointed in how short the resolution at the end is. The whole thing is essentially wrapped up in one paragraph when it could have explored and discussed in dialog. I even knew pretty much everything they were going to say because Katniss was the only one too dense to figure it out. Still, even just a half a page more of taking the time to see their emotional reactions to what the whole book had meant would have been more satisfying.

[Joni Reads]

I flew through this novel. I loved how the relationship with Katniss and Peeta really developed in Catching Fire and I couldn't get enough of it. Also, finding out how Haymitch won the Games? Awesome.

This series is fantastic. The romance, suspense, terror even is to die for. There are twists to the story that you have no idea are coming. I read this book and absolutely needed to read Mockingjay.

[EBookObsessed]

Sadly, the nightmare is not over for Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch. The Capitol is planning something special for this year’s 75th Hunger Games. Something that will teach the people once and for all that they can’t fight the Capitol’s will. This year’s contestants will be drawn from the winners of the prior Hunger Games and make no mistake, this time there will be only one winner!!

We are again be drawn in the horrors of the Hunger Games. After all the trouble they have caused, the Capitol wants to make sure that the Katniss and Peeta don’t succeed this time.
When Katniss and Peeta return to District 12, it is not the beginning of the happy ending. Their romance is being scrutinized, as are the everyday happenings of District 12. Rules that have been ignored for decades are being enforced. Anything to bring pain to Katniss and her people. Katniss can't decide whether she should be with Peeta or Gale, as each will be hurt by her decision.
When Katniss and Peeta begin their champions tour of the Districts, they see first hand the oppression of the Capitol which is only stronger now since the failure at the Games and the rising of the rebellion.
Then comes the shocking announcement that to celebrate the 75th year of the games, they will be choosing from the prior winners, Katniss and Peeta know that their chances are slim.
Again, a gripping tale of survival against all odds.

Come see my book review blog. http://ebookobsessed.com

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Wow, can this story can any more dark and twisted?

[thebookdisciple]

Enjoyed this even though the whole premiss made me so mad! I cried at parts I was so wrapped up in the story!!

[celinenyx]

The sequel of the extremely popular The Hunger Games, Catching Fire continues the story of Katniss and Peeta, two teenagers that try to survive in a world ruled by those in the Capitol.

When they both won the Hunger Games, they defied the Capitol, and they're going to have to pay for that. Neither them or their families are safe. I can't say more about the plot without spoiling it, but expect there to be a lot of hardship. Decisions will have to be made that can either save their loved ones or sentence them to death.

The Hunger Games was so absolutely awesome, I expected Catching Fire to at least be its equal, if not even better. I guess I'm quite disappointed now. Catching Fire didn't have the same lightning fast pace, the suspense. Especially the first part of the book was terribly slow. There was a lot of switching back and forth between past and present that was so confusing and unlike this series that I caught myself wishing for an editor to clean this part up.

When the pace did pick up, 'bout halfway in the book, the story resembled the one described in The Hunger Games a little too closely for my taste. And while the one in THG was so frightening and thrilling that I was sitting on the edge of my chair, urging myself on to read quicker, the plot in CF felt a bit old. You can only kill off so much characters before it stops to be scary.

What I did enjoy in this book is that there is a lot more attention to the world of Panem, where rebellion is starting in several Districts. I liked that we got more insight into how the Capitol oppress the general masses. We also get some glimpses into several other Districts, how people live there, which was pretty awesome.

I'd also like to give another cliffhanger warning. The end of Catching Fire gives no closure at all. Expect to be gasping and panicking when you come to the final pages. Make sure to have a copy of Mockingjay nearby before finishing this book.

This was by no means a bad book, yet it's not as awesome as its prequel. It's a decent continuation of the story, but I was expecting something that would leave more of an impression. Still, this trilogy is definitely worth continuing.

Great continuation from the first book in the series. I really love all Collins books and the whole series is such a page turner.

This picks up right after The Hunger Games left off. We get to see the fallout from Katniss act of defiance in the first Hunger Games and how the President deals with trying to quench the growing rebellion.

The ending was so fantastic that I just had to pick the third book up and read it right away.

[Leah]

Catching Fire is unputdownable. I literally have no other words to describe how amazing this novel is. It's so good that I finished it in 4 hours. I just couldn't bear to put it down. Utterly, utterly amazing. It's blown my mind and I'm now going to go and read Mockingjay. (Boy am I pleased I made sure I had the final book before I read Catching Fire because that's one heck of an ending.)