WOW! I can’t believe I’m already three months into my reading challenge! Except this month is different. I read and finished TWO books! I read Catching Fire (the sequel to The Hunger Games) and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (an AP Lit. reading assignment). It was definitely a challenge for me, but I feel very accomplished in doing so. Catching Fire was awesome. Brave New World? That’s a different story.
The Hunger Games was great, and I could hardly put it down, but Catching Fire had me turning pages faster than a race car! There were more twists and turns than I ever expected! There were so many times that I caught myself yelling at the characters. It’s a good thing I usually read in a quiet place where I’m all alone. When Peeta announced love for Katniss in the first book, I was speechless. When he announced their “newest family addition” the second time around, I almost passed out. And when Gale told Katniss about District Twelve, I was really annoyed that I couldn’t pick Mockingjay up and start reading. I am still on the waiting list for that by the way. I can’t believe the things that have taken place so far in Panem and I can’t wait to find out how the story ends.
So far, my favorite character is Gale. I love him! I also feel really bad for him because I know he loves Katniss, but she has become the center of a twisted love triangle. Katniss is actually one of my least favorites. Peeta is sweet, and I would feel bad for him if Katniss kicked him to the curb, but I think that Gale is so much better for her.
I can’t wait to keep reading!
~Lauren~
Wait. What happened to Brave New World? I loved the Hunger Games and Catching Fire, and I’m just about to start Mockingjay. And I admit I’m in a totally different age bracket than yours (I’m 54), but in my youth I loved Brave New World, too. Tell me what you think about that book, and why it doesn’t seem to have captured your interest.
Oh, well I apologize for not talking more about Brave New World. I didn’t hate the book. It wasn’t boring by any means, but I suppose that their are just a lot of things in the story that bother me as far as values go. And I personally think that the reason for it is that our society isn’t too far off from the World State. No, we aren’t under a world dictatorship and we aren’t raised in conditioning centers, but the values of many people today resemble the values of people in Brave New World. I am a very conservative person and a very spiritual person, and my values are very different then the majority of people in today’s society. I also don’t care for sad endings. John’s death was depressing and I feel as though it was unfair. He was just a guy who wanted a normal happy life but he was driven to insanity by people trying to force him to live a life that wasn’t meant for him. I also had high hopes for Bernard, but his character disappointed me. The further I read, the more selfish he became. All in all, Brave New World is not a terrible story.
I think I also may just be a little tired of it seeing as we read it for a class assignment and we have been having a lot of discussions about it. So maybe my opinions are a bit tainted.
I have finally found another Gale lover!! You don’t know how thrilled I am! Everyone I talk to wants Katniss to end up with Peeta. I have read Mockingjay and won’t say anything should someone read this comment that has yet to read the books, but I will say that Catching Fire is my favorite of the trilogy.
I actually found your site for a class assignment. I’m a middle school English teacher currently working towards my master’s so I can become a school librarian
You should feel honored that your libary’s site is one that I’m suggested to review 
Awesome! Yes, I think that Peeta is a really sweet guy, but I think that Gale is so much better for Katniss. And I agree that our library is the best! Good luck on getting your master’s. I bet you will have a blast as a librarian.
Ok. I know this is obnoxious, but will you please change your “by Susan Collins” to “by Suzanne Collins?” I’ve only read Hunger Games, and just bought Catching Fire. I, too, am a Gale supporter, so I look forward to seeing what happens (had to skip your reviews).
Went to the Internet Librarian Conference in Monterey, and you were so good. Thanks.
Laura, thanks for the kind words.
I actually did not write this post–our student blogger did, and I will forward her comments for the correction to her.
Best,
Buffy