crankyoldman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
crankyoldman) wrote2011-11-23 03:39 am
crankyoldman) wrote2011-11-23 03:39 am
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Since I can't sleep
Figures, I try to go to bed early and am wide awake. Here's a review (rant?) on the second Hunger Games book, Catching Fire, since part of my plan was to read until I fell asleep, but I finished the book before sleep or a sleepy feeling even happened.
Alright, author, what the hell.
You set up Katniss to be strong in the first book and you spend the second book with her being bandied about by people who make plans and don't tell her about them?
Uh, what? No seriously, what?
Not only that, the plot took half the book to pick up. And you spent a blink-and-you-miss it amount of time on that tour of the Districts, which could have been super awesome but no, LET'S HAVE HORMONES INSTEAD. (though props on District 11 creeping me out and also the Very Important Whistling)
Alright, I'm gonna admit my main problem with most YA: teenage protagonists. Which can sometimes be used effectively to the point an old grouch like me doesn't mind! I know they have hormones! I'm fine with that! I was once a teenager too. A really dippy one at that who had some really idealized ideas about a lot of things.
But then there's YA that uses the teenage protagonist to talk down to you. And there were moments it kind of felt that way in this book. Or maybe it was an excuse to handwave a lot of complex ideas that got set up but not followed up on. Shame. Your target audience is smarter than that!
Also, this whole sisterly bond you set up in the first book? Yeah, WHERE IS IT? Prim's barely there and you spend a huge chunk of time in the beginning just chillin in District 12.
It's not that I dislike Katniss; I actually like her a lot. Her reactions to things are interesting and yes, obviously the result of a lot of bad shit in her life. I just greatly dislike that she keeps getting put into the "WE ARE GONNA PROTECT/MANIPULATE YOU AND NOT TELL YOU ABOUT IT" box. The entire time. And no, I don't think there's a great underlying message under this. This is just annoying.
It wasn't all bad, once the second half got going I started caring about what was going on again, and it introduced (all too damn briefly in some cases, the pacing is ALL OVER the place) some side characters that left a great impression!
Cendri's Awesome Character List That Also Serves As a Bodycount:
- Cinna! Goddammit author. Like, it made sense that it would happen, and I really really love the idea of art as protest being represented with him (and as a sewist I appreciate the medium his uses and all the fancy technology he has at hand to do his work). But come on you let Peeta live and you killed off CINNA?
- MAGS OMG. Yes, I know, they had to carry her and it was obvious she wasn't going to survive. BUT I DESPERATELY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MAGS OK. God, just like, one full conversation with Katniss, or hell, even with Finnick about her would have made the entire book for me. It's so refreshing to see a badass (in her limited way due to age) old lady!
- Wiress. I have a thing about intuitive techie girls (yes even damaged ones like her). I'm sad that she was pretty much only used as a plot device.
The Survivors Who Can Stay:
- Finnick. I actually really liked him. It was so nice to see a guy nearer to Katniss's age than like, Haymitch who didn't say at least three things that made me want to slap him! But beyond the Not Being Stupid Every Time He Opens His Mouth, he was fun.
- Johanna. No surprise here. Stripping in the elevator; I subscribe to this newsletter. Though, god, she was woefully underused. Also, her exchanges with Katniss have more passion to them than anything Gale or Peeta has ever done. Just saying. I suspect there is a strong femmeslash community in this fandom. Also, I swear to god if she's dead in the next book I will throw something.
- Haymitch. SO I FINALLY GET HIM. And yeah, I get pissed at him usually when Katniss does but my god when they watched his Games tape. Granted, I should have seen he'd fall into one of my types in the first book.
- Beetee. Awww a nerdling got in. Are you going to be Katniss's gadget guy in the next book?
Those Who Need to Be Set on Fire:
- Peeta. Just die already, please. But you're obviously the author's darling and will probably not only live, but make babies with Katniss in the end! Ugh. I will laugh hysterically if this does indeed happen.
- Gale. I actually kind of like Gale when he's in BFF Mode, but that was broken for most of this book and he was like a more righteous and angry version of Peeta. Blah blah blah NO ONE CARES, GALE. JUST GO BE THE BFF BEFORE I SHOOT YOU.
- President Snow. Who is actually likely to get dead! HOORAY AUTHOR WE AGREE ON SOMETHING! \o/
In conclusion, this was very obviously a second book in a trilogy, and pretty weak in places. From what I have read so far of the third, though, things are picking up. And I bet if I were 15 I would have totally loved more of this. I can also see why this got picked up for movies; these books would be excellent movies. Lots of visuals, pretty simple plot, a selection of side characters that are colorful and memorable but don't require a ton of screen time. The right ingredients for a pretty faithful adaptation.
Alright, author, what the hell.
You set up Katniss to be strong in the first book and you spend the second book with her being bandied about by people who make plans and don't tell her about them?
Uh, what? No seriously, what?
Not only that, the plot took half the book to pick up. And you spent a blink-and-you-miss it amount of time on that tour of the Districts, which could have been super awesome but no, LET'S HAVE HORMONES INSTEAD. (though props on District 11 creeping me out and also the Very Important Whistling)
Alright, I'm gonna admit my main problem with most YA: teenage protagonists. Which can sometimes be used effectively to the point an old grouch like me doesn't mind! I know they have hormones! I'm fine with that! I was once a teenager too. A really dippy one at that who had some really idealized ideas about a lot of things.
But then there's YA that uses the teenage protagonist to talk down to you. And there were moments it kind of felt that way in this book. Or maybe it was an excuse to handwave a lot of complex ideas that got set up but not followed up on. Shame. Your target audience is smarter than that!
Also, this whole sisterly bond you set up in the first book? Yeah, WHERE IS IT? Prim's barely there and you spend a huge chunk of time in the beginning just chillin in District 12.
It's not that I dislike Katniss; I actually like her a lot. Her reactions to things are interesting and yes, obviously the result of a lot of bad shit in her life. I just greatly dislike that she keeps getting put into the "WE ARE GONNA PROTECT/MANIPULATE YOU AND NOT TELL YOU ABOUT IT" box. The entire time. And no, I don't think there's a great underlying message under this. This is just annoying.
It wasn't all bad, once the second half got going I started caring about what was going on again, and it introduced (all too damn briefly in some cases, the pacing is ALL OVER the place) some side characters that left a great impression!
Cendri's Awesome Character List That Also Serves As a Bodycount:
- Cinna! Goddammit author. Like, it made sense that it would happen, and I really really love the idea of art as protest being represented with him (and as a sewist I appreciate the medium his uses and all the fancy technology he has at hand to do his work). But come on you let Peeta live and you killed off CINNA?
- MAGS OMG. Yes, I know, they had to carry her and it was obvious she wasn't going to survive. BUT I DESPERATELY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MAGS OK. God, just like, one full conversation with Katniss, or hell, even with Finnick about her would have made the entire book for me. It's so refreshing to see a badass (in her limited way due to age) old lady!
- Wiress. I have a thing about intuitive techie girls (yes even damaged ones like her). I'm sad that she was pretty much only used as a plot device.
The Survivors Who Can Stay:
- Finnick. I actually really liked him. It was so nice to see a guy nearer to Katniss's age than like, Haymitch who didn't say at least three things that made me want to slap him! But beyond the Not Being Stupid Every Time He Opens His Mouth, he was fun.
- Johanna. No surprise here. Stripping in the elevator; I subscribe to this newsletter. Though, god, she was woefully underused. Also, her exchanges with Katniss have more passion to them than anything Gale or Peeta has ever done. Just saying. I suspect there is a strong femmeslash community in this fandom. Also, I swear to god if she's dead in the next book I will throw something.
- Haymitch. SO I FINALLY GET HIM. And yeah, I get pissed at him usually when Katniss does but my god when they watched his Games tape. Granted, I should have seen he'd fall into one of my types in the first book.
- Beetee. Awww a nerdling got in. Are you going to be Katniss's gadget guy in the next book?
Those Who Need to Be Set on Fire:
- Peeta. Just die already, please. But you're obviously the author's darling and will probably not only live, but make babies with Katniss in the end! Ugh. I will laugh hysterically if this does indeed happen.
- Gale. I actually kind of like Gale when he's in BFF Mode, but that was broken for most of this book and he was like a more righteous and angry version of Peeta. Blah blah blah NO ONE CARES, GALE. JUST GO BE THE BFF BEFORE I SHOOT YOU.
- President Snow. Who is actually likely to get dead! HOORAY AUTHOR WE AGREE ON SOMETHING! \o/
In conclusion, this was very obviously a second book in a trilogy, and pretty weak in places. From what I have read so far of the third, though, things are picking up. And I bet if I were 15 I would have totally loved more of this. I can also see why this got picked up for movies; these books would be excellent movies. Lots of visuals, pretty simple plot, a selection of side characters that are colorful and memorable but don't require a ton of screen time. The right ingredients for a pretty faithful adaptation.
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Ok, hon, if Peeta is alive and making babies with Katniss at the end, I will make you an effigy of him and we can take it out and Set It On Fire.
Because despite the fact I had one of those wide eyed blossoming YA teen romances, hell if I can't stand reading about them. If I had those years to do over again, I would have told him to get off his high horse and made him wait for me.
no subject