Comments on: Thoughts: Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

By: katie

katie — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:50:18 +0000

It was too much of the same thing. It had me pulled in at the beginning of the book, but by the time they got Peeta back it was monotonous . More of Katniss acting like a robot. Collins needed to break up the endless cycle of despair a little bit. To keep it interesting. The ending was good though.

By: Jaimz

Jaimz — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:40:05 +0000

I read the hunger games consecutively within three weeks and I have to say the first two books were better (in my opinion) by miles. Not because the story was a let down or the plot holes were just stupid but because it made me change my opinion about everything in the book. I mean it made me hate Peeta and Katniss’ personality change was ridiculous and Haymitch seemed a little forgotten in the book. Snow almost seemed to be a good guy once the war is over and Gale disappears afterwards too. I was completely unsatisfied. I’m sorry if anyone disagrees but its just my opinion.

By: Tricia Meyer

Tricia Meyer — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:14:36 +0000

“I also really didn’t like how the deaths were almost glanced over. Here I’ve gone and become attached to all of these characters and they just die over and over and there was no break in the book to mourn them.”

I could have written this exact same thing! It was definitely my biggest criticism of the book. It seems like in those last few chapters she all of a sudden started killing people off really quickly. I actually had to go back and re-read a few pages because I couldn’t believe that it happened so fast!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:45:20 +0000

You make excellent points, points that I agree with. This was definitely a very bleak book and I didn’t feel a lot of the hopefulness or perseverance that I had in the first two. That isn’t to say that the book was bad, just different. While realisitic (I suppose) Katniss was barely recognizable and as you’ve mentioned the drugging and such got old fast. Despite being a fan of Peeta I have to say that the end felt a bit disatisfying. I can’t quite put my finger on why at the moment. I think in time I’ll have a better handle on exactly what about it rubbed me the wrong way. For now I’ll just go with the idea that it seemed entirely too convenient.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:41:34 +0000

I read the first two and loved them. I put Mockingjay on hold at the library and I’m #48 in line so I won’t be reading it for a bit. Oh well. I’m enjoying all the different reactions though.

By: Beth F

Beth F — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:06:20 +0000

Well you’ve read my thoughts, so I won’t repeat them here. I think one of things that makes this book so successful is that everyone has such strong reactions to it. I too was getting tired of Katniss being drugged and there were so many deaths with so little break that I just started glazing over and the deaths really had little impact on me. Even Prim’s.

I’m glad that you loved the ending.

By: Elena Gwynne

Elena Gwynne — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:33:49 +0000

I quite liked Mockingjay and it’s conclusion. Raced through it in one sitting, finishing it at 3 am.

By: Bluestocking

Bluestocking — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:54:42 +0000

I think this was the best book of the series. I thought it was realistic. I don’t think that every book should have a happy ending. I think the characters should reflect what is going on in their lives.

By: Lenore

Lenore — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:23:37 +0000

The more I think about the comparisons to CHAOS WALKING, the more MOCKINGJAY pales. Ness explored the war themes there so much more deeply and effectively than Collins. Of course, I still love Collins’ characters, even though, as you say, they were pretty torn up and unrecognizable here.

By: Amy @ My Friend Amy

Amy @ My Friend Amy — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:16:28 +0000

ah well Mockingjay was my favorite. Admittedly, I went into the book with few expectations. I was actually immediately engaged which didn’t happen with the first two. I appreciated the darker, grimmer tone (and yes so much of this had to do with the absence of Peeta imo) I thought as an exploration of war and it’s effects on people, on the role of propaganda in war, the struggle to discern what’s real, the fact that there is never a clearly good guy, all of this really really worked for me. And I doubt it would have impacted me nearly as much if I didn’t love these characters from the first two books. I thought the construction of the book and trilogy as a whole was pretty amazing and the more I reflect on the ending, the more I love it.

I’m of the very minority opinion that the epilogue was necessary. I love she brings us closure by including the Meadow song one more time, that it calls to mind the time during the Quarter Quell when Katniss thought of the Meadow song and dreamed of a place where Peeta’s child could be safe. And I do like that she included that they had children…I know a lot of people think that goes against her wishes, but really Katniss was just afraid to have children and eventually having them shows she finally came to a place where she believed life was worth continuing. And I love that she reminds us they play on a graveyard…freedom, hope, these things come at a tremendous cost and should never be forgotten.

I didn’t expect such a serious social critique or such a message on war but it doesn’t bother me that’s what I got. This book moved me in ways a book hasn’t for a very very long time.

I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it, though! I feel like I’m in the minority in my appreciation and love for the book.