Review: Mockingjay Delievers in Violent Final Chapter
By Jeremy Baril
It has finally arrived; The Hunger Games have come to a close in a final novel that aims for the shock and awe, and hits the mark dead on.
In Mockingjay we see an interesting occurrence unfold, as it is the final book in a widely popular, mainstream trilogy, one may go into reading this expecting certain things to happen or not happen. That was the case with myself, going into reading it (despite warnings to avoid doing so) completely comfortable with what to expect, as I had become familiar with the world and story through 784 pages of the series leading up to Mockingjay.
All fans wait with baited breath to discover the fate of Panem, whether Katniss will choose her childhood friend Gale, or the beloved, endangered Peeta. What will become of District 12? What lies in District 13? Can "the Girl on Fire" lead a rebellion against the capitol and their dictator, the curiously blood-breathed President Snow? These questions leave the numerous readers that have kept The Hunger Games series on the NYT top 10 bestsellers list for 100 straight weeks waiting in eager anticipation.
Fans may be surprised to discover the answers to these questions may not be what they expect or hope, as Suzanne Collins isn't afraid to startle her audience from page one onward. We have been somewhat prepared for this in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but the scale and intensity in which Collins throws the readers into in Mockingjay is astounding and at times, unsettling.
Unlike many blockbuster series that are aimed at this certain demographic, the characters are not perfect, the protagonists are not perfect; we have to come to terms early on in the story that these characters will make questionable (and sometimes downright stupid) decisions that will jeopardize relationships, missions, and even lives. What is shown to us is a familiar style, mood, and tone that hits us square in the face from square one and is relentless until the final pages. This, unlike the past novels, is a war story. The rebellion is in full swing, and as in all rebellions, carnage is not scarce.
Collins writes with a swift deliberation that keeps you hooked, along with character intrigue that is relentless until the final, mind-numbing conclusion. In fact, this novel has so much going for it plot-wise, that it almost seems like too short a book, perhaps a bit rushed in parts. But if that is ones only major complaint about a book, you can be sure it is a good one.
Disclaimer: Mockingjay.co.uk is an unofficial fan site and is therefore unaffiliated with Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, Lionsgate Entertainment or any other party related to the Hunger Games Trilogy.
