Catching Fire: Sizzle or Burn?

Sequels are usually said to be far worse than the first book of a series in many ways, but is that the case with the novel, Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy? I believe that this “rule” is ignored by this fascinating novel. This book absorbed me into it from the beginning with its plot twists, enticing and emotional events, and some unforgettable scenes. “Whereas Katniss kills with finesse, Collins writes with raw power,” Time Magazine states, and if you haven’t noticed it from the first book, you will definitely notice it in this one.

It takes place in a dystopian world where Katniss Everdeen and her family live in District 12. Katniss has been providing for them for many years by hunting in the forbidden woods, just outside of the district. This is where she meets Gale, her best friend, and how she kept herself, and Peeta Mellark alive in the 74th, annual Hunger Games.

The second Katniss took those deadly berries out from the bottom of her pocket, she started confusion across the Districts. People weren’t sure if she wanted a rebellion, or if it was really just her love for Peeta, but either way, people went crazy, and certain Districts started fighting back. The different ways in which Collins creates these scenes to foreshadow and hint at what might come ahead are just amazing, and very unexpected. When I read it, I knew they weren’t just useless pieces of information, but I couldn’t quite fit the pieces all together, which made it incredibly challenging to put down.

?SMALL SPOILER ALERT!!!?

I became emotional from the beginning because of Katniss and Peeta’s little communication as soon as they returned. Even with all Katniss and Gale had been through together at that point, they were completely different because of what had happened in the arena. Even with that disappointment, it didn’t make the book any less compelling.

After six months pass, Katniss and Peeta get to go on a Victory tour, where the readers really get to see how Katniss’ actions have many different reactions to all the citizens in the different Districts, including the Capitol itself. The details that Collins put into it, and the effort, really helps readers to imagine like they are really there, watching all this happen from Katniss’ point of view. All of the destruction and chaos that she causes just from that one simple movement, and to know that it is entirely her fault.

Once the 3rd Quarter Quell comes around, the first plot twist appears which makes this all of a sudden, so much more engaging, as Katniss has to go through so many things all over again, and there is literally nothing that she can do to help any part of the situation. It feels emotional, and it was fairly easy to imagine myself in her place. Another thing, since Peeta and Katniss have grown so distant, you can’t help but wonder, how are they going to pull this off? How are they supposed to keep themselves alive without changing their entire lives forever? And, on top of that, they have to try and follow what President Snow said about trying to simmer down the rebellion that is beginning to form. Things have already gotten so disoriented that it seems impossible to try and keep the rebellion from getting worse.

The novel overall is actually very well written. I very much so agree with the statement from The New York Times Book Review, “Collins has done that rare thing. She has written a sequel that improves upon the first book.” The love and the loss, the joy and the fear, the surprise and enragement, the plot twists and battle scenes, it all occurs in various moments in, not only this novel, but the whole series, and without a doubt, makes this a truly extraordinary trilogy.