The Hunger Games

Many moons ago, approximately half a year before now (maybe longer), I binge watched the film series with my sister and mother. It was a great time; my sister and I both were tired of Katniss kissing two different people, over and over, for two-to-three different reasons. And it was always hilarious when she kept calling Gale "Miley" instead because she didn't like the character (she did this when we watched the original spiderman trilogy; Harry was "David". She didn't like MJ either but I don't recall the false name she used, if she even had used one). Anyway, I decided to reread the books because why not; I've got Kindle Unlimited (or, at least, I did, at the time of reviewing these books).

So, spoilers.

The Hunger Games - 5 Stars

Likes:

1. The backstory to why The Hunger Games exist.
2. The concept of children and teens fighting to the death (let's not allow this to ever actually exist because goddamn; that shit would probably have a mix of Squid Game in it, too).
3. The writing is simple enough to follow; no complicated words that I don't know the definitions of. It goes from point A to B to C, etc., perfectly; the story flows well.
4. Katniss has a proper personality; she's not bland.
5. I enjoyed the entire Hunger Games portion (you know, where they're killing one another); it's the most interesting part of the book (well, up until a certain point, anyway; you know exactly what point that is).

Dislikes:

1. Katniss tried to drown the cat (or, at least, thought about doing it); screw you, you don't hurt animals just because you don't wanna feed them. I understand killing the lynx, though, I guess.
2. Peeta's abusive mother; she can drop dead.
3. Effie ("Lady Gaga", as my sister calls her); movie her is more appealing.
4. Katniss letting us know she's thinking; it's in her point of view, of course she's thinking; her thoughts are literally the entire book, minus everyone else's dialogue.
5. Katniss overreacted to the crush speech Peeta made; seriously, yikes.
6. I get that Peeta and Katniss needed their time to truly bond but it was boring.

Favorite Character(s): Katniss. Cinna. Caesar.

Final Thoughts: I take back my previous four star "epicness" review and give you this one with an additional star (as you've already seen). An exciting start to a series (that doesn't wanna die, much like Twilight and Harry Potter); seriously, though, it really didn’t need prequels but I guess somebody wanted some more cash.

Catching Fire - 4 Stars

Likes:

1. the Victory Tour (won’t that the name of a tour The Jacksons did?); how cruel of the Capital to force the winners into standing before the families of those they killed to survive (although some, if not most, of them probably don’t really give a damn about what they did; not the families, but the people in the district).
2. Katniss asks a lot of questions, ninety-five percent of them in her head; I like this because I do this, too.
3. Katniss being forced back into the arena, alongside Peeta; the cruelness is delicious (something’s wrong with me).
4. Seeing the games Haymitch was in; that was interesting.
5. The fake pregnancy thing.
6. Mags.
7. Finnick.
8. The games.
9. The chaotic ending.

Dislikes:

1. President Snow’s entire existence; he’s a great bad guy, though, for sure.
2. I still don’t care much for Effie.
3. The unnecessary deaths of innocent people.
4. Peeta getting left in the dark (briefly or long term) about things.
5. “I love you”, “I know”; only Star Wars is allowed to follow a love confession like that (in my mind).
6. Gale, she doesn’t love you back; stop trying to force a deeper connection.
7. Katniss feels nothing romantic for Gale but doesn’t like the idea of him possibly being with Madge when it’s insinuated; weird of a friend to feel this way unless said friend does feel something romantic.
8. Katniss’ possessiveness of Gale, saying he’s hers; that’s toxic but at least she knows it, I guess.
9. The story drags a little bit, to be honest; a bit too slow moving.
10. R.I.P. Cinna.

Favorite Character(s): Katniss. Peeta (despite his past stalker-like behavior; he’s just more likable to me in this book). Johanna.

Final Thoughts: While this wasn’t as exciting (to me) as the previous book, it’s still an epic follow-up, probably because the plot is very similar to the previous book.

Mockingjay - 3 Stars

Likes:

1. The writing is consistent to how the previous books were written.
2. Peeta’s interviews with Caesar; they’re probably the most interesting part of the book, honestly.
3. Katniss was rescued from the Capitol’s control, only to be placed under someone else’s, who is just as bad; yikes.
4. The realism of poor mental health.
5. The Hanging Tree song.
6. Finnick and Annie’s relationship; so wholesome.
7. Death of Prim.
8. Death of Coin and Snow.

Dislikes:

1. Lack of fighting from Katniss specifically; everyone around her fights, but she basically just sits back and plays the face of the resistance.
2. Lack of Hunger Games; it's what caught everyone's attention to this series in the first place and, now, it's absent; disappointing; the games were always my favorite part.
3. The cruel punishment for the prep team.
4. Coin.
5. Gale.
6. Peeta’s brainwashing.
7. The forced love triangle.
8. The rushed ending; Katniss should've ended up alone and the rebels just win because the rebels are always supposed to win.

Favorite Character(s): I don't have any.

Final Thoughts: I take back my previous two stars and add one more; this book wasn’t that bad, but it also wasn’t that good either. Only worth reading if you want to finish the entire series.