Book review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Spoiler alert!

Second book, awesome sequel..

The title was apt because I really felt that I was catching fire when I read this book as I blazed right through it, turning page after page after page, lost in my second adventure with Katniss and Peeta..

I was back in the Games and it didnt disappoint, not one bit..

Before delving further, I just want to note that I was pleased that Gale got more 'screentime' this time around.. I have to tell you that it did make me waver - I guess a girl's natural attraction to bad boys - and I almost, almost, changed my mind (especially when I saw who was playing him in the movie, hahaha..) but in the end I still stuck with Peeta.. But did Katniss? I guess you'll just have to see/read that for yourself..

Summary (sort of): After the events of the previous book, Kat and Peeta are now back in District 12 and are preparing for the victory tour which would take them to all the other districts, to Capitol and back to District 12.. What she did in the previous book to ensure that both she and Peeta survive the games have caused a stirring in the hearts of many - this girl publicly humiliated the powers that be, it can be done, it will be done and so a rebellion started brewing..

Now Kat is tasked by the President to ensure that she shows the other districts that what she did was for love and not an act of insubordination to stop the people from entertaining rebellious thoughts. If she fails, people that she cares about will suffer for her actions.. Again, our girl Kat just can't catch a break..

Accidentally seeing a rebellion in District 8 brought it all home for Kat. It was starting, it was real.. Then she met a couple of runaways from District 8 in the forest headed to District 13, a district they were told is now non-existent due to the role it played in the last rebellion.. Could District 13 be actually thriving somewhere? If yes, why have they kept silent all these years?

Added to this is the fact that the new year marked the 75th anniversary of the Games which means it's special because it's the Quarter Quell. This means a twist to how the Games are usually played.. The first Quell had people voting (voting!) for people to send to the Games as opposed to the names getting picked in random. For the 50th anniversary, instead of the usual 24 tributes, there were 48. This was the year that Kat & Peeta's mentor, Haymitch, won the Games. So what was the twist for the 75th year? All past winners' names are going to be placed in the bowl and will play again.. Yep, since Kat is the only girl in District 12 ever to win, hers is the only name in the girls' bowl.. For the guys, Peeta wants to volunteer if Haymitch's name comes up but Kat wants Haymitch to volunteer if Peeta's name comes up.. In the end, it was once again Kat & Peeta going back..

In the Arena, we are introduced to a new batch of tributes, some I disliked automatically, some I liked automatically and some I reserved judgement for later.. The Games this time was tougher than last year.. The other tributes know how to survive, know how to kill, know how to win.. Kat knew that the Capitol was gunning for her so she didn't expect to win but she was determined to keep Peeta alive at all costs.. Unlikely alliances were made and new friends were lost, but there was no outright winner because Kat destroyed the force field covering the Arena and some of them were rescued and brought to District 13..

My thoughts: Like the previous book, I had teary-eyed moments - the visit to District 11 and Mags. I liked the introduction of the new characters. Most of all, I liked the new challenges brought on by the Game. 

The love story, while integral, was not cheesy, never was, and I'm glad it didnt change.. Kat's made a decision and I was fine with it..

I also loved how Kat's reaction to going back to the Games was written, it was right smack to how I would react if I were Kat.. She ran, she hid, she cried, she got wasted and for a moment she stopped thinking about others and thought only of herself. This is a reaction that is real and that's why I was able to emphathize with her every step of the way. We all have moments like that, we've had experienced a time when all we can do is try to run away for a while and have a good cry and then bounce back from whatever it is stronger, braver, smarter. It's how we deal with what we were given that makes all the difference and I'm glad that is side of Kat was shown - she's shown weakness but she isn't weak..

I also liked how Kat goes back to the forest to hunt even if she doesn't have to anymore.. She's got fame and fortune but she's uncomfortable with it and she now doesn't know what to do with her time.. In life, it's like that.. When we don't have anything, we yearn for all the things we think are good and then when we have it, we start thinking if we were better off without after all..

Also, I do wonder who will be cast as Finnick..

All in all, an excellent read.. Can't wait for the 3rd book.. Til then..

And to show you I paid attention in history class: Being from the Philippines, I saw a parallel to Kat's world with Philippine history.. As some of you may know, the Philippines was under Spanish rule for 300+ years. Lots of heroes and heroines fought in the battle for our independence. I think the two most prominent would be Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Peeta used his words to fight the Capitol, words were his weapons of choice, similar with Jose Rizal. Gale wanted to fight fire with fire and that's the same with Andres Bonifacio.. I'm not going to argue the merits of who and what was more effective but I'm telling you this: Jose Rizal is the country's national hero..