Category: Books

Continuing with the Hunger Games series I decided to slow down my pace and not go through the next two books quite as fast as I had done with the first.

Catching Fire was solid and very similar through the first half as Hunger Games was to me. Katniss must compete in another games. I did like the inclusion of more of the tributes in the story. I found most of them to be pretty interesting. The unlikely allies and what turns out to be their common cause(s) was fun to try to figure out.

The ending was pretty cool and it really did a great job of setting up Mockingjay, third and final book in the series. With District 12 leveled and the few survivors in an armageddon like environment, it made the stakes quite high in this one.

I am a sucker for the whole us against the world storyline, so I did enjoy reading just how this one would end. Along the way it gets darker and the more dire, with an ending that wasn’t exactly what I was expecting when I finished up the first book, but wasn’t too shocking as I was nearing the end.

While I think all the recent Hunger Games hype raised my level of expectations to a unrealistic height, overall it was still a solid series and I enjoyed it. The author does a great job of closing each chapter with more than enough suspense to pull you into reading just one more.

With all the hype with the recent movie release, I’ve been meaning to give The Hunger Games a read. However, it seems that many people have the same idea as a copy hasn’t been available the last several times I’ve stopped over at the always pleasant Linwood Library. Well yesterday there were 2 copies in, so I swiftly checked one out.

Less than 24 hours later, I just finished it up and picked up the second book. So clearly reading through it so fast I did enjoy it. Coming off reading Clash of Kings, it must a bit refreshing to read something less violent (and Hunger Games is about killing, so I guess Clash of Kings you’re very very violent). I also think being written for a younger audience made for much quicker reading as well.

I think what I most enjoyed was the pacing of the chapters. It does an excellent job of wrapping up a chapter with a cliff hanger whichs forces the “I’ll just read one more chapter” syndrome.

Very good, and going to finish up the series. But will try to pace myself a bit better for the last two books.

Continuing with the Song of Fire and Ice series I just finished up A Clash of Kings. I enjoyed it more than A Game of Thrones.

It’s getting a little crazy with so many kings springing up and falling, but fun to read along. It reminds me a lot of the feeling at the end of Empire Strikes Back with all the loss that seems to of befallen so many of the characters that are still living.

I think what really makes this series so unique to me is that nobody is off limits to be killed off. While you usually know early on who the hero is in most books and that in the end they will win the day, this is not the case. Just when you start liking a character it seems like they’re killed off.

The last couple of chapters really got me hooked. I think since the show hasn’t gotten that far along in the book yet I really had no idea how things might play out. Many characters whom I thought would surely meet their demise before this book would end are still around, so the next book should make for some good reading.

I actually began reading A Game of Thrones at the end of last summer after watching the great show on HBO. However I never did get around to finishing it up as the book I loaned from the library was in incredibly bad shape. I regret not taking a photo of it, it appeared as though it spent some time submerged and literally fell to pieces as I attempted to read it.

I did notice a shiny new hard cover edition of it on my last visit to the library and thought I should finish it up (it’s not good to not finish things). So I checked it out and was very pleased to read it through.

Having watched all the episodes on TV it really helped me to identify a bit better with the characters as well as get a better understanding of them than could be portrayed on the show. There were many moments where actions made a lot more sense when read than if you were to just watch the series.

it was a little slow moving for me at times in the beginning, but halfway though really picks up and can be hard to put down at times. No character is safe in this, and just when you grow accustomed to a character it seems that they meet an untimely demise. Very good, and I expect to continue reading more of the series.

Finishing up the last book in the Harry Potter series was quite the bitter sweet moment. While the conclusion of the numerous pages I’ve read was great, I was also bummed that there’s no more to be read. Kinda got a little attached to some of those characters.

The Deathly Hallows was great, and probably my new favorite book. I found myself reading through many long stretches at a time, falling into the unproductive trap of just one more chapteritis (think I just made that word up).

Wasn’t expecting so much loss along the way however. I was really genuinely bummed to hear of the unfortunate fate of so many characters that I had gotten to know so well through previous reading. While it was a real shame for such loss, it really did add to the weight of just how much was at stake.

All the twists and turns towards the end were very well written. With the majority of them catching me off guard at times. The battle for Hogwarts was great and probably my favorite moment.

Great stuff, worthy of all the hype.

Still continuing with my Harry Potter read through, I found the Half Blood Prince to be my favorite book thus far. Always a big fan of the background on the bad guys, this book really went into a lot of detail when it came to a Mr. Tom Riddle’s past. Very interesting stuff.

Not having watched the last few films I was really surprised by many of the events towards the end. Especially a big funeral for a very key character. I was really bummed when I read about it. Not only major deaths, but some scarring was left on several characters as well. This really reminded me of how I felt at the end of the Empire Strikes Back so many years ago.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book, and found myself in many times doing the whole “just one more chapter” routine. Lots of suspense, betrayal, and a heavy dose of background made this a great read for myself.

I’m beginning to find all those people who lined up for midnight releases less strange to me now. I’m beginning to see how they got hooked.