2011 Book Review #50: Mockingjay

[jethrien]

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA dystopia (3 of 3)
Thingummies: 4

Synopsis: Panem is in revolt. For the good of the rebellion, Katniss must turn herself into a figurehead. But how much will it cost her, and will revolution really lead to freedom?

Thoughts: It's a strong conclusion, overall. Darker and grimmer, which takes some work after watching children torture each other to death in the first book. The skepticism and scars prevent hugs and puppies at the end, which is appropriate. But Katniss does what she needs to do and ends up with the boy I wanted her to end up with, so I'm content.

It's the weakest of the three, though. Still gripping, still action packed. There's no time for most of the elaborate food and costume porn from the first books. It's appropriate (and the pretty descriptions were always overshadowed by menace and despair anyway), but I'll admit that they were part of the appeal of the first books and I missed them. They had no place in the world at war, but the lack leaves the final book truly bleak.

I also was not entirely satisfied by the battle leading up to the climax. I understand that the pods were intended to keep the structure of the first two novels, which end with an elaborate death trap maze. I don't think it was really necessary here, though. She doesn't use them to full effect, any more than just soldiers and land mines would be effective. I'm not sure it actually makes much sense at all as a defensive strategy on the part of Capitol. It kind of feels as if either she or her editor were afraid people would be disappointed with the end if there hadn't been tracker bees or needlessly elaborate death traps. (A wave of black gel seems like a great idea when your goal is dramatic television; less of a great idea when your goal is to kill invaders while leaving a minimum of damage to your own infrastructure. Really, this is like making the writers on Lost in charge of our military defense strategy.)

Now the spoilery complaints.

Finnick's death seemed too inconsequential--Hobbs got a more dramatic death and I feel like he was a less important character. The fact that Katniss missed both the actual surrender of Capitol and also her own trial made me feel as if all the momentum of the novel suddenly collapsed. She makes her choice and then suddenly it's denouement. We're told everything instead of being shown it. (And really? They held her trial without ever putting her on the stand or even telling her it was happening?) I can't help but feel that Collins hit the deadline and just squeaked out the last couple chapters.

That said, it's still an excellent book. My dissatisfaction with the ending is mostly because I don't feel it quite lives up to its predecessors, but that's a pretty tall order. Overall, it's a seriously good series. I'm rather glad I read Matched first, because that book just pales in comparison. It's a watered down wannabe of this.

And now I'm rather looking forward to the movies. Think they'll get it right?

Comments

[mithrigil.livejournal.com]

In short, no, the movies probably won't. The way they're marketing the film is setting it up to be the Next Twilight, and an early draft of the script, which I have read, sucks the heart out of the story and puts a big chunk of franchise where it should be.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Ah well. It's a waste of opportunity. Still, they can't change the fact that the books were a triumph.

Reread

[(Anonymous)]

I just reread this trilogy, and I largely agree with your comments. I think the first book is the strongest of the three, particularly because I like self-contained stories. The second two just keep adding characters and adding characters until as a reader I feel a little lost about who is who. If that was a deliberate choice to have the reader empathize with Katniss about these very uncertain situations, then it was successful. But I doubt that was the intention.

I completely agree that Finnick's death is underwhelming. The first time I read the book, I responded with "That's it?" This time, because I was reading a bit faster and knew what was coming, I missed it completely. I got to the paragraph where she realizes 4 people are left and thought, "Wait, I thought Finnick dies in there somewhere?"

One thing I like a lot about these books is how in many ways Katniss is, if not a dumb teenager, at least a believable one. At 16/17 she doesn't understand all the consequences, makes very quick and somewhat irrational decisions, and is quixotic and confused in her affections. Yes, she had to take care of her family and fight in the games, but she is still a teen and not an adult, and the books preserve that perspective.

Emily

Re: Reread

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

I agree. I did get a little annoyed with how often people point out to her that she doesn't seem to understand the effect she has on people, and yet she continues to not realize it. However, I did think she was very believable. I liked that she wasn't always sure why it was that she had done something, that she chooses irrational actions. I thought her difficulties in choosing between Gale and Peeta were actually pretty reasonable.