Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins ☆☆☆☆☆

A lot of second books end up being nothing more than filler to get the reader from the excitement of book 1 to the finale of book 3, this book didn't follow that schema. Catching Fire was equally thrilling and well developed as Hunger Games, in some aspects perhaps more so. I expected to be entertained by this book, but I did not expect to be filled with more anxiety than the first book. If it was hard enough to put down Hunger Games, it was impossible for the sequel.

In Hunger Games, you ask a lot of questions involving "how is that possible" or "what if this happens instead" trying to get to the ending that our happily ever after wiring that has been programmed into us. And while those questions are answered, they come back ten fold in this book, just as puzzling and painstaking as before, with twists and turns no one could have anticipated. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I probably would. I can't wait to finally pick up the last installment!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen ☆☆☆☆☆

I heavily criticize book blurbs that say things like "riveting" and "breathtaking" and "thrilling." Mostly because it feels like the authors writing the blurbs are arbitrarily picking words out of a thesaurus. I have to make this book an exception. I honestly picked it up because I love reading books before I see the movie adaptations and I had put off the movie for too long that everyone was talking about it. And yet, when I picked up the book the blurbs made me roll my eyes. That changed when I read it. If asked to describe the book myself I would say "seductive" and "alluring" among the words I previously criticized on other blurbs.

This book had me from the very beginning. I felt the pain Jacob felt in every word. I understood his escape and willingness to do the most menial work just to forget about his personal reality for one minute. I respected his love of animals and his drive to protect them at all costs. And even more, I fell in love with circuses all over again. I remember seeing Ringling as a kid, when it wasn't $30 a ticket to get in. And since then I've seen maybe two other circuses that held no spectacle for me. And the grittiness of the old train bound circus was disturbing, but also beautiful in a way that circuses today could never be. It made me wish I could live one day back then just for that moment. How often does anyone feel that way while reading a book?

It was beautiful and sensual, and had me captivated from one page to the next. I didn't want to put it down. I dreamed of elephants, of circuses, and of falling in love in all the wrong places with just the right person. This is definitely a book I will read again and again, and that I will recommend even more often.

Now, seeing as how I finished the book, I also finally watched the movie. I have to say I was disappointed. I can forgive a movie for not being like the book, but when the movie can't even live up to all the wonder in the book, I have to wonder what the point was. There was so much in the book that was more important to the story than what they even showed. That pain Jacob felt was never expressed in the movie in any moving or memorable way. And the relationship between Jacob and Walter had no meaning or purpose in the movie. While giving the book five stars, I'd have to give the movie three stars in comparison. On its own, having not read the book I'd have probably given it four.

Where There's A Wolf, There's A Way by Lisi Harrison

Where There's A Wolf, There's A Way by Lisi Harrison ☆☆☆

I gave the first two books of the series a higher score. While I did find most of the story trivial, it was a fun, mindless read. These books came in handy after reading especially soul-crushing books where I needed a mental vacation in literature. Having borrowed this book months ago, I decided to finally read it after Hunger Games and it took me forever to get through this.

My main problem with the first book grew exponentially in this one. I do not like brands, or name brands. This series is all about being "new" and "hip" so it constantly throws out information about the latest "hit" songs, the UGG boots, and every clothing label or accessory label known to man. That gives me a headache. And while it might be fun for pre-teen label queens in the making, what impact would the book have ten years from now on the next generation? None that I can see.

It still has great characters and there are some interesting developments about them that rap up from the second book, but I don't think I could read a 4th book when they decide to put one out. I love the characters and I like seeing them in book form battling societal norms rather than short cartoons online, but this book just lost the momentum for me. It'd problem get 2 stars if I didn't love the characters.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ☆☆☆☆☆

Wow! I don't know what else to say except that I regret not picking this book up sooner. I'm thankful I had so many people pushing me to put it at top of my to-be-read stack and reading it as soon as possible. I was blown away.

I've been really caught up in dystopian societies and this one comes from a whole new level. After the first two chapters I was rightfully nauseated. It reminded me of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson that I read in high school and has stuck with me every day since because of its brutality and horror.

But it didn't stay that way... I easily got caught up in the little details with Katniss and would often let the "reality" of the situations just as she would. I got so caught up in the survival mode that I literally felt like I was in the book. When I finished the second part, my heart was beating so loud in my ears that I couldn't sleep. I ended up turning my lamp back on and reading until I felt myself calm.

It isn't often that I lose myself so entirely in a book and it is the most amazing experience of reading a book. I'm thinking of buying the next book at putting it at the top of my TBR stack above books that have been waiting a very long time, just so I can get a taste of the world and the story again. This book is definitely a must read for anyone that hasn't already picked it up. I can't wait to see how the movie transforms everything!