Mockingjay: The Final Book of the Hunger Games [Large Print] [Paperback]

Because I've been waiting months for this book, I'd promised myself I'd read it slowly and savour it, becuase after I'm finished there's no more. As it turns out, I read all of Mockingjay the day I received it in the mail. As expected, it was excellent. As dreaded, I didn't like it.

Suzanne seems to be one of those writers whose books get better and better with each installment. I thought Catching Fire was better than The Hunger Games, and Mockingjay is written even better than Catching Fire. After the end...you just have an unquenchable hunger for MORE that will never be satisfied, but that's okay, because it's the mark of a good series.

Despite all that, the problem with Mockingjay, (for me at least) is that it wasn't any fun to read at all.

Sure, it's intense, suspenseful, poignant, and it cuts to the action faster, but I missed Peeta; Katniss's usual spirited and brave demeanor was replaced by a "Who cares?" attitude, and while it might be completely justified, it wasn't any fun on the reader's part; the whole book hangs a downcast, depressing and overly serious tone; I hated the anticlimax.
In lieu of spoilers, I will not mention names, but a certain important character was somewhat randomly dropped off at the end. We weren't given any closure about his relationships with his fellow characters. May or may not leave you feeling cheated.

Another reviewer, on amazon.com I believe, called this book a work of "nihilistic anti-war propaganda;" in other words, Collins is biased into thinking that war is the most disgusting, horrible, and awful thing that ever existed. And while she's entitled to her opinions, especially when they are well-supported, it's untactful to try and force her readers into seeing things her way, instead of giving them the facts and allowing them to form their own opinions.
This seems to be the reason for much of the unnecessary tragic events that happen in this book, and why it's so depressing: the author is putting out propaganda to 'help' us see how very very bad war is, instead of giving us a balanced view of the reasons people go to war, and why it may or may not be the best way to solve a conflict.

Now, the end. We never expected a completely happy ending for a series like this one. We would have enjoyed a bittersweet ending thoroughly. But I think the downer ending was just overdoing it. Did the author purposely twist the ending to a level of heartwrenching sadness? Probably. Was it necessary? Hmmm.

So, the writing was intelligent and unique to its author. The plot was (excepting the anticlimax) tense, winding, and fast-paced, the action neverending. The characters, especially Katniss herself, were depthened even further. Despite that, I didn't like it, I'm sorry.

It was a modest finish for the Hunger Games saga. Since the novel is written in the first person, any action that occurs while Katniss is unconscious or missing from the event is not fully told. This results in a disjointed novel with large portions of the plot experienced in waiting as Katniss experiences them. On one hand, it is true to the series as a whole. It worked well for the previous two novels because Katniss was a main participant in all that occurred. However, in this book, one cannot help but feel cheated out of important events that would have resulted in a well rounded story.

Nevertheless, as a fan of the Hunger Games saga, this book is well worth the money and time. The reader just needs an avid imagination to fill in the rest of the blanks.

To Imagine A Mockingjay

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Katniss Everdeen is trying to Imagine a better world, one with no senseless deaths, no pain from above, and above all else, no dead children.

Kat has transformed into the Mockingjay to achieve this. Even if she has to destroy herself in the process. The world changes. She changes. Who will survive?

Mockingjay is the third and final book in The Hunger Games journey. The torturous odyssey that began in The Hunger Games with Katniss and Peeta thrust into a treacherous fight to the death, continued onto Catching Fire, wherein her act of love brings a wave of rebellion across the land, forcing her back into the games. After her hellish escape from the arena, Kat is pushed to become the official symbol of the revolution.

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

And then Mockingjay revs up. Kat is still dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and it is getting worse. The government in her refuge of District 13 are constantly pressuring her to take up the mantle of the Mockingjay. And she is constantly resisting. When it is revealed Peeta is still alive in the Capitol, she joins the cause. Shaped, molded and morphed into a living symbol, Kat tries to project the image they require. It is an arduous process, with results that electrify the rebels and horrify her. Just when the war starts turning, Peeta is rescued but is massively damaged. They may win, but will Kat ultimately lose?

The psychological terror experienced in the first half of this journey, become heightened with the physical terror added in the second half. As the war draws to a close, Kat and her team fight and die through the Capitol. Her final moments in battle almost destroy her and lead to a choice. She is the Mockingjay and she will bring the people from the tyranny. No berries this time. Just Katniss and her arrows.

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

The decisions Kat makes are not easy. She wants justice, but tempered with humanity. Very few people in her worldview are truly evil, but the ones who are should be exterminated. Someone who is conscripted, lied to, or tortured to join the enemy ranks elicits pity from her. We should all be together in the fight. The injustice perpetuated by an extremely small minority should be fought against by the just and massive majority. The fact that not everyone sees the situation as she does confuses her.

Why people do not simply do the right thing makes Kat seem like a distant descendant of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird. The similarity of the two titles I am sure is not coincidental. Scout cannot understand why people are not nice, thinks justice is simple, the opponent is defined. Kat's final act in the war is the most extreme way to extract evil from the world. Scout would not go down this path, she would probably abhor it. But Scout never entered The Hunger Games (thankfully), and was never twisted into what Kat has become. They both try to live up to their ideals. But Kat has a bow to enforce them. And the need to.

Having devoured this trilogy over the course of a month, I found themes and commentary interwoven throughout. The endless topics that could be kicked off by even a single volume could spark hours of debate. Reality television being a horrendous disease on the intellect of the masses. Child soldiers being used with impunity. Rampant poverty with only death, prostitution, or extra "lottery tickets" as the cure. The rules of war not existing, never thought of. Sacrificing innocents to "ensure" peace.

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

One of the larger ideas that struck me, is how someone like Kat relates to authority. When the "government" that is her father is referenced, it is with joy and happiness. He treated her with kindness and taught her well, giving her skills that ensured her survival, both mental and physical. The love of father to daughter is evident, as is the power being transfered from adult to child. Her father represents benevolent authority. President Snow and Coin are the direct counterbalance. That is why she finds them loathsome.

Another idea rippling throughout the tale is the role of art in society. Kat's singing with the flowers to Rue cause a sensation. Peeta's floor art to the Gamesmasters disturbs them. The therapy that cake decorating brings. These little bits of magic gently express love for the fallen and oppressed. But bring angst and discomfort for the ruling class. The art that walks the line is what Plutarch practices, making war videos starring Kat. Fake art that is met with disdain, but it does rally the people. Real art creates the spark, fake art exploits it.

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

The real art of this Trilogy is what it does generate. Sparks of thoughts and feelings and ideas swim around inside me, pouring out here and to everyone I babble to. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay form a journey of love, hope, and redemption that many could learn from. Multiple scenarios exhibited in this tale can be seen everywhere, every time, every person. And the hope for peace they espouse is something we can all Imagine.

It is Real.

Scoopriches

P.S. Mockingjay is written by Suzanne Collins. It was published by Scholastic Inc and is copyright 2010. The cover is copyright Scholastic Inc. It is 390 pages in Hard Cover.

P.P.S. "Imagine" is performed by John Lennon. It is copyright 2011 by the estate of John Lennon. It was released on the album Imagine in September 1971.