Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

5/5 stars

So to say that this franchise of movies was not the peak of cinema would be a lie. I have said it, and I will continue to say it: these movies were perfectly cast… end of discussion.

Confession: I dragged, and when I say dragged, I mean DRAGGED, my dad to the theater to see all four of these movies because that is how obsessed I was with the world of Panem. AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IF I COULD.

The one word I would choose to describe this book would be intense. The compassion, threats, action, this has to be the reason these books were and still are so addictive. As expected from a dystopian novel, things are not as they seem, even more so than in the preceding novel, and these little clues do not come together to make sense until the very end.

I will also say again and again: Katniss is the ideal female protagonist for these books. It’s so hard to hate her being the object of this love triangle because you see what Gale and Peeta see in her. The part of the novel that really gives away her true character is her inner thoughts; that is something I wish we got to see in the films somehow. I feel like the viewers who went to the theater to see these movies and did not read the book couldn’t truly understand Katniss and how she is critical of herself and all of the internal struggles that make her the way she is.

Another thing I love about this book that the films lacked is Peeta’s charm and his and Katniss’ relationship dynamic. He is way more affectionate and loving in the novel. The way Katniss truly feels safe in his arms and how they spend hours with each other staring at the stars the night before they are sent into the arena. Those moments where they are alone, discussing their beliefs and what they want out of life, are when the audience is let in on their friendship and genuine love for one another. Cutting those scenes out is something I will never forgive the films for.

This book is near perfect. I fall in love with the protagonists repeatedly. The background characters (Finnick, Johanna, etc.) are fun and have distinguishable traits, an ideal love triangle, and a unique and original plot. I will never stop defending Suzanne Collins and this trilogy to the death.