Even Better: Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
audiobook, narrator: Carolyn McCormick
Published September 2009 by Scholastic
ISBN13: 9780545101431
Listened July 2012
Goodreads, IndieBound, Amazon 


Yes! My number finally came up on the waiting list for the digital download of Catching Fire. I downloaded when I got to work on Monday and listened straight through the day. I wound up listening to all but an hour of it. I loved it! 


I realized though that listening to it so quickly that I missed some things so I spent the rest of the week listening to it is a little more slowly and yeah I missed a couple of big things as well as some smaller things.


I think I liked Catching Fire more than Hunger Games (see my review). I liked that there was more of a focus of what was going on at home in the districts. In Hunger Games, it seemed that the game went on forever and I guess that was the point of that book, but I liked getting a better understanding of the world they live in. Though it just made me want to ask more questions about how their world works. 


I thought this book was more graphic than Hunger Games as well. Yet, you see more of Katniss acting her age. In Hunger Games, she seemed older, which was understandable since she had been providing for her family since her father died. However, in Catching Fire the reader is reminded that she is only 16/17 years of age. There were times that I wondered how stupid can you be not to figure something out. But then I would remember how young she is and realize that she probably didn't have the experience to figure it out.


I've done surprisingly well with avoiding spoilers. Going into Catching Fire, I only knew that past victors would be the tributes for the 75th games. About halfway through the book I had to know if Katniss made it through the end or not. I mean you would think she did because there is a third book, but Collins could have also killed her off and had her be a martyr. Peeta is so good with words that he would be able to rally the people. I was so conflicted and HAD TO KNOW. I went and looked at the summary for Mockingjay to alleviate my anxiety. Then I felt bad that I "cheated". 

Back to Catching Fire... it is definitely a book that I could read over and over (well, listen to since I haven't actually read it). I didn't feel that way about Hunger Games. There seems to be more depth to Catching Fire that there is something more I will glean from the story, more clues that are needed to piece the story together completely to be found with each subsequent reading. I like books like that.

While I was left with many questions, I'm trying hard not to look for answers. I did search for one answer and quickly realized I would find spoilers if I wasn't careful. As you may know, I like to read books where other people are speculating and talking about the books. Since I missed the bandwagon I don't have a lot of that interaction. One question I think would be fun to discuss would be what reason do you think the original gamemakers had for making the victors come back for the 75th Games? Or was it rigged by President Snow? There are several side thoughts along with that question like what if there hadn't been a victor living for a district. I would love to hear other's thoughts on this question, but NO SPOILERS! please.


You can listen to more of my thoughts on Catching Fire on TIE Book Bloggers' Radio (it's probably around the 1 hour mark).

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