Book review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (contains spoilers)

I’ve just finished reading Catching Fire, book two in The Hunger Games Trilogy. The book is divided in three parts: In the first part, we find Katniss preparing the Victory Tour, and we find out how her life has been since she and Peeta won the Games. Instead of enjoying her new status and advantages, we find a distressed Katniss, uncertain about her feelings towards Peeta and Gale, and worried by the possible repercussions that her rebellious behavior in the games can bring about. All her fears are confirmed by a visit from President Snow himself, who subtly threatens her family and Gale. So a very unhappy Katniss starts the Victory tour with Peeta and Haymitch, and things get worse as she realizes of the different consequences of her act: The uprising of several districts, and the knowledge that she will have to marry Peeta to keep the charade. So the tour ends with a proposal of marriage, but Katniss knows it is useless because they are condemned anyway. So she designs a plan to run away but Gale’s jealousy brings it down, ending in an argument between them. Gale is then caught hunting and publically punished in the square. Katniss arrives in time to save him, with the help of Peeta and Haymitch. While Gale is recovering at her place she finds out that her feelings for him are stronger than what she thought, so she decides to stay and fight, instead of running away. This way, she is choosing Gale over Peeta. Things get worse in District 12, with a new Head Peacemaker repressing and punishing hard any illegal behavior. In the second part, things move faster. Katniss finds two runaways from District 8, where there has been an uprising, and finds out that District 13 may not have vanished as thoroughly as she thought. She also discovers that she has become some kind of symbol for the new rebels. Back at home, while she is preparing her wedding, the Quarter Quell takes part: It is a special Game to celebrate the anniversary of the first Hunger Games, it is the 75^th anniversary, so it is the third Quarter Quell, and it is decided that the tributes are to be chosen from the existing victors. That puts Katniss and Peeta or Haymitch back on the arena. Peeta volunteers to replace Haymitch, so we are back in the Capitol, where they meet the other tributes and negotiate alliances. Katniss continues to defy the Gamemakers with their attitude, and Cima wins himself a really hard punishment when he turns Katniss bride dress into a mockingjay in her last interview. The third part takes place in the arena, where everything happens really quickly. We see Katniss and Peeta teaming up with Finnick and Mags on the first day, when eight tributes finish dead. On the second day, Mags dies and they add Johanna, Wiress and Beetee to their team. With their help, they plan a trap to finish with the remaining tributes, only eight by the end of the second day. In a furiously-paced final, we see how Katniss is rescued, together with Finnick and Beetee, but Peeta and Johanna are lost to the Capitol. There is a rebellion going on, and Katniss has become an unknowing tool.

Ok, the summary is a bit long, so I’ll try to keep my opinion short. I have utterly enjoyed this book. It has all the ingredients to compose a perfectly readable book: A plot that is at the same time entertaining and easy to follow, a rhythm that prevents you from stopping reading, and characters you get to love right from the start. I’ve found myself reading non-stop for three hours, and then stopping and brooding over Katniss problems in choosing a love. Personally, I think it is only a matter of her fear to face a future, to make a long term commitment. In fact, when she is in the arena, convinced that there is nothing ahead for her, she seems to find a perfect happiness with Peeta. Anyway, I will have to wait to book three to find out how she solves her dilemma. In the meanwhile, I recommend Catching Fire to those who like a classic adventure, with heroes and a heroine, wicked characters and lots of action.