Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Audiobook Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title:  Catching Fire

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Narrator:  Carolyn McCormick

Unabridged Length:  11 hrs, 41 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even 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.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

 
My Review:
In the second book of this trilogy Collins takes us back to Panem adding a whole new set of problems to the lives of Peeta and Katniss, who were the winners of the last Hunger Games.  One would think that life would be easy for our new victors, but the Capitol is doing everything in their power to be sure they don't step out of line.
  
I think it is during the Victory Tour when Katniss first notices the additional security detail assigned to her entire group.  She becomes even more alarmed when spectators are reprimanded or even murdered for speaking out during the tour.  She only knows that she needs her behavior to be acceptable by the Capitol, so she acts appropriately, even with the rumors of rebellion  becoming more believable.

Tension builds up in this audiobook as the next Hunger Games grow closer.  Every twenty-five years marks the Quarter Quell games, and this year is time for the next Quarter Quell.  The game makers strive to make the Quell games as memorable and action packed as possible.  The Capitol can change any rules they want for these special games.  During a past Quell they even had each District provide double the amount of tributes so the blood bath was that much more intense.  Let me tell you that when the requirements of the current Quell were announced, my jaw dropped as I sat in my car listening to it.

I'm not going to tell you any more about this book, except that it was awesome.  With themes of survival and friendship once again, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat or in my case, gripping the steering wheel.  If you read The Hunger Games, you will not want to miss this next novel.  I'm sure you could read this one without reading The Hunger Games first, but I do think you will have a much more gratifying experience by starting with the first book before reading Catching Fire.  I highly recommend this book!

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from my local library and listened to it for my own entertainment.

9 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I did read The Hunger Games but I didn't love it, so I'm not sure if I'll continue the series.

Ti said...

I liked each book a little less than the previous book, but as a series, it was very enjoyable and it was fun to talk about it with other bloggers/readers. Still haven't seen the movie!

The Lawver's said...

so glad you enjoyed it...now for the last book for some closure for you :) to see how it will all end....

UK said...

Catching Fire: the unique and engrossing storyline; characters so thoroughly and beautifully described they start to feel like friends; a fantastical setting that is both real and sad; and language that is easy to read and yet conveys such a profound meaning. It has action, romance, horror, hope, despair and, most of all, humanity. It has sci-fi and politics yet, unlike a lot of books on the market, they are not "in your face" and are completely approachable.

Jo-Jo said...

Kathy: I remember you saying that you read a book shortly before this one that was very similar. I can see why it wouldn't have appealed to you because of that.

Ti: I definitely liked the first one better, but this one still had a shock affect for me. The movie was awesome!

Miranda: I'm holding off on reading the last one because I don't want it to be over yet! I know, I'm lame! lol

UK: I know what you mean about "in your face" books. This has been a very enjoyable series.

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

Hi Jo Jo!
dropping back in from the Armchair BEA checking on the winner of the 3 book choice giveaway? any announcement yet?... i've got the button up on my sidebar, so do want to let my readers know :)
and also b/c i don't want it to get too old news ! THX!

DCMetroreader said...

I'm on the wait list of Paperback swap for this novel. I can't wait to read it!

Anonymous said...

I waited so long to read Hunger Games that I ended up seeing the movie first. I loved it, but since I've heard it's the nest of the series have decided to wait and watch the rest, not read them. Thanks for letting me know at little of what to expect :)

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