Book Bosomed Blonde

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The Fire is Over

Mockingjay By Suzanne Collins

What a great series! You get the post-apocalyptic, dystopia feel, but are able to connect with it due to the wonderful writing told from Katniss’s point of view. In this book she has to deal with the pressures of being the Mockingjay, constantly being viewed by all of Panem on the television and suppressing her real feelings to continue to fight in this war. She goes through so much throughout the series and then has this underlying insistence to choose a guy, even though she doesn't know if she will be alive by the morning. How much can one girl take? 

I really love the detail that Suzanne Collins puts into her work. You honestly feel like you’re there with everyone through all the turmoil. I felt the terror when that black wave came down upon them, i felt the grief and dread when katniss detonated the HOB to end Finnicks torture. 

There is so many issues that you are privy to in this story. Government corruption, war, death, loss, depression and the void you get when you know you lost yourself. In a way, i think this book teaches you that this is going on all around you in the world today and that this is what it all feels like to one person. It kind of opens you up to the horrors of the world while keeping the true terror between the pages. It's amazing how she could even add a bit of humour through this, like when Finnick strips down to his underwear in front of Katniss. That really had me laughing! Genuinely a fantastic Author.  

The funny thing is, is that when i first read this book i was furious with Suzanne Collins; thinking she ruined the series with the ending and turned Katniss into something completely different from herself. Now i realise, yes she did do that and it actually makes sense. How could she be the same fierce girl who loved her family and sacrificed everything to protect them when Prim is gone? How can she be the girl who fought with her friends and tried to restore humanity when all her friends are gone and she lost faith. I know now that this was the right ending for Katniss because she is a changed woman and the life she has now is befitting of one who lost so much. No one can understand the horrors she has faced except for the one who faced them with her and that is why Peeta is the right one for her. Im very pleased with this book and i take back all the hateful comments i made about it five years ago. Fantastic series, it really shows you raw human emotions and what living is really like. 

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Just bought these books today! I will be reading them soon and look forward to uploading a review for them.

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Let the Spark Ignite

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

No! I wanted to know what happened when they got off the train! Not to start the book months in the future to the last one. At least these were my first thoughts when i started this book, however; i have now realised it would have been entirely boring to read about them coming home to the victors’ village and recap the games over and over again in interviews while still pretending to be in love after how awkwardly the first book ended. So I’m actually please we miss all that and we just hear a few tidbits of information that happened before this book starts… like that kiss. How awkward can Katniss’s life be? Anyways, getting off topic here. the writing...

Well, you can't say that Suzanne doesn't stick to the same writing style because i think she has exceptional writing skills. She keeps that same smooth flowing writing while incorporating a bit more of an intellectual addition that we didn't see in the first book. Actually, i think she did this in a really clever way because the majority of the first book had kids in it, however; this one actually had more adults due to the quarter quell and you could really see that change brought in through the conversations as well as in the makeup of the games. Brilliant! 

So, did i like this book? Yes, i actually did (i thought i wasn't going to as much as the first but the way the writing grows as she gets more mature is what did it for me). The beginning was a little bit slow due to nothing really going on in their lives either than ignoring each others existence: I mean come on, get a grip on yourselves, grow up and talk to one another! It did start to get exciting when the meeting with the president happens. Definitely a scary guy and whats up with the blood? freaky! Too bad they never pull off what he wants, I’m just glad they’re friends again because really Peeta never stopped loving Katniss and she must feel something too. And it all has to come out on the table now that they’re back in the games again. It’s funny how they just believe it has to be the real Quarter Quell because, to be honest im not convinced, this is a set up for sure! How do they not realize this?? I love how Peeta steps up to the plate and starts coaching Haymitch and Katniss. He becomes so bossy and it's fantastic. He’s not going to be that pathetic lover boy from book one anymore, oh no he’s back for vengeance.

The games only start just after the halfway point in the book so you know it must not be a long game this time around because there just isn’t enough pages left! And does it ever go by quickly. I feel like they should have been longer in a way to develop the new characters more but then again i realize they had to be quick to show that the Capital isn't pleased with them and wants them all dead. Speaking of the new additions to this book, I've gotta say i really like Beetee, and Mags was so selfless, you gotta love her! I think that these new faces will definitely add a good dynamic to the next book and probably liven it up a bit.

I found it kinda crazy how you get thrown all this information in the last what? 20 pages of the book. It's all just too much but i think that was what Suzanne wanted us to feel so we would know exactly what it would be like for Katniss. Her world is no longer changing, it has been obliterated and now she's the one left to pick up the pieces. I'm just curious as to what she's going to do about it! 

P.S. I've got to say though that i think the death that bothers me the most is Cinnas. This was clearly a strategy by the government to throw Katniss off her game and make her mess up to her ultimate death. She does overcome it for the games though which i bet they weren’t expecting. I just wish it was mentioned more in the book because he was such a big part of her life! Maybe we will find out more in the next book because there is so much left that is just up in the air. So many questions left unanswered and only 428 pages left to clear it all up. Well, Mockingjay... lets do this. 

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Im hungry for more!

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins 

Wow, this is the second time reading this book and my opinion has changed drastically. Don't get me wrong I loved this book before and I still do really like it but talk about an opinion shift. I guess that's what age does to you, makes you wiser! 

The concept of the television show and living under a destructive government rule is a fantastic idea and personally for when the book was released, I found very original. I cant believe she came up with idea for this book by flipping through reality tv channels. That has got to be a first! The book is written with a undemanding flow and it's very easy to sit and read for two hours without noticing the time. Now I do like that and it definitely makes you focus more on the story, however; I do like it when the writing is just a bit more challenging. I guess it was written for a younger audience though and it works, so who’s complaining? 

The actual story was substantially intriguing. I love how fast paced it was and the dynamic between the few characters was great. I think Haymitch just might be my favourite and that is a total surprise for me! It was funny, sad and crazy at times but it definitely made it a worth while book. You really feel like you're with Katniss the whole way through the games in the way Suzanne wrote it so detailed that you plummet inside her thoughts. Most of the book Katniss is alone fending for herself and you feel like you really get to know her this way. Then she teams up with Peeta and she's still the same girl inside her head but wow can she put on a show. Obviously having to keep up the ruse with such intensity can turn anyone towards the thing they’re faking but when it comes to feelings... i thought this was going to go downhill. AND IT DID.

It's funny: the first time i read this book i totally agreed with everything Katniss did and thought it was silly how Peeta gets mad with her at the end because what did he expect? Really they’ve only known each other for what a month? But now that I'm older and I'm in a relationship with someone i love,  i realise how utterly heartbreaking this is for Peeta. He really truly loves Katniss and she completely used him. Yes, she began to develop feelings for him and she did what they needed to survive but this time I’m on Peeta’s side actually. How devastated he must feel. I can’t imagine what he will be going through in the next book because he will never be able to get away from this “love” and i think that will change him. I guess we will just have to see when i start book two! 

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About to start this book for the second time! It's been 5 years since I first read it and I'm interested if my option on it has changed now that I'm an adult. Let's find out!

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Ashes to Dust...

The Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa J. Bick

Usually i wouldn’t review an entire trilogy on its own; however, i just finished the last book and feel it best to do all three together than apart to really give the author more justice because sadly, on their own they do not stand a chance.

In this trilogy we are thrust into a post apocalyptic world told from the point of view of a girl with cancer who is ready to die. Now that sounds like a pretty sad an un-thrilling story right? wrong. Alex is strong even though she doesn’t know it yet. I was so intrigued by this series because im a survival fanatic and i was looking for a good dystopia with this quality. What i was not prepared for was the zombie aspect. Now dont get me wrong, they arent your normal brainless zombies who roam around looking for a snack. Oh no, these are cold calculated murders whose brains have merely reverted to survival instincts with a taste for human blood. Creepy and captivating at the same time.

The first half of the first book is really centred around learning her new environment and getting to know Ellie and Tom. Alex is smart and resourceful, which are intriguing qualities for a 17 year old girl. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the characters and the environment until they all get separated…Now the story takes a turn, and when i mean a turn i mean a freaking 180! Alex is in this cult town called Rule and yeah it’s a freak show, although there is protection in the small town and everyone is thriving. I think this makes Alex comfortable in the fact she is not fighting for her life anymore and she can forgive the fact that the cult like behaviours are creepy but she just loses herself. I couldn’t wait until she got herself out of that death trap and luckily she did before being brainwashed! But what i didn’t expect was the ending… Major cliffhanger and revelation. So this first book was kind of topsy turvy but i didn’t lose hope because the premise was just so cool! And thank god i didn’t stop there because the second book was exceptional.

Fast paced and terrifying, this second book was a real page turner. It starts off with a really well detailed fight between Alex and one of the changed. It was so intense it didn’t even feel like reading, i was just watching the whole thing unravel before my eyes. I felt so baffled when she was captured because she is so strong and i thought she would win but this is why Ilsa is a great writer, always keeping you on your toes. We also learn what happened to Tom and it is told from his perspective which was an imperative voice in my opinion. They both go through so much in this book and you just want to keep reading on and on even when you have to go to work! i think the writing in this book was exemplary and a big change from the first book. You can tell the author really grew into her writing. Everyone, even the more secondary characters were on a journey through this book and even though they were all from the same world their battles are so different. I enjoyed the fact that there were multiple little stories going on and to be honest most were rather harrowing. Not wanting to give everything away, but i got to say Alex was a badass through this and she keeps on impressing me! The last 100 pages (holy shit) were incredible. I hoped Alex would survive for the next book because i wanted to hear more about her. The way the book ended with such uncertainty for everyones life just made me want the third book even more. Poor Tom!

Now we get to the third and final book and I’m pissed off, but not just yet. The entire third book was by far one of the best told stories I’ve ever read and i was totally willing to give it 5 stars, oh but disappoint me you did… Anyways back to the beginning. No one is safe, the world is falling apart all over again and where is Alex?? Well, she is still here and still fighting. She, through the past three books has grown so much and become this sort of timeless warrior who i completely admire. A ruthless killer, a passionate soul and even a bit of a changed? Everyone is working towards different goals without knowing they are actually working towards each other. Literally as the story went along and i realised this I was so impressed. Absolutely every thing just came together for the epic final battle where all is revealed. Then we get to the final 20 pages and all i can think is no, no, no! You’ve lost the plot. All that this book stood for: Vanished. Everything i liked about Alex: gone. Yup, book ruined. i don’t even know why the author thought this was okay or why the editors thought this was a good ending? I am not impressed and im so over it. This book series literally has been ruined for me.

Will i ever regain my faith in books again? Please let there be no more awesome books that fall to the trash.