Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

In Suzanne Collin’s sequel to The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are about to embark on the victory tour of the districts which ends in the Capitol. In the meantime they’re struggling to adjust to the new-found fame and wealth of Hunger Game victors. The games may be over, but the effects of the arena far from it. Katniss spends all her days and substantial increase in cash on her friends and family. Not only does she frequent the local black market called the Hob – buying healing herbs and bandages for her mother and liquor for Haymitch – she also falls back into her old hunting routine, except this time her kills are for Gale’s family rather than her own. To top it all off, there are rumors of revolt in some of the districts, and all eyes of Peacekeepers and Captiol headwigs alike are on Katniss. Never before has her romance with Peeta and the need to stay inconspicuous been more critical. But quickly Katniss realizes there’s only so much she can do, and the future of Panem isn’t entirely on her shoulders.

As much as I’ve enjoyed the Hunger Games series so far, I didn’t imagine crediting the second installment as restoring my faith in books. But it’s true. Catching Fire was so much better that I hoped, and at the end I felt equally a desire for more and contented with the ride. After a few disappointing reading experiences, I believe in reading again, and I am happy to read almost any book in its wake. That said, not knowing what to expect after the mind-boggling Hunger Games didn’t hurt either. Revolution, for sure. A fast-moving plot, most definitely. But how could Ms. Collins take it up a notch, when her starting point was already so high with just the premise of the first book, not to mention the excellent execution of the characters and plot? Yet she managed, and made it look effortless. Fans of The Hunger Games will be very pleased and satisfied by the exciting, unpredictable plot turns and the alternately action-packed and tension-building scenes. Especially THAT one, which is almost unbearable. And how it felt fresh and cleverly planned when it so easily might have been contrived and repetitive amazes me. That we get to know Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, Gale, Cinna, and President Snow a little better is just without being diminishing very rich icing on the cake.