The Hunger Games: Mockingjay REVIEW

I'm not really sure what to think of this book. It has the magic of the two other books, but it was not as much as that, and the roller coaster ride we were on was slowing down. Suzanne Collins has proved how excellent her ideas are in the last two books, but this one did not show it as much. Nevertheless, it was still addicting.

The districts of Panem are in open warfare with the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen had survived the Capitol's Hunger Games twice, and now she is expected to put aside her feelings and become the Mockingjay- the symbol of hope for the rebellion. But is she up to the task?

It turns out the awful cliffhanger in the last book wasn't much of a cliffhanger after all. District 12 was destroyed, end of story. Throughout the book it has ups and downs, and it was okay. The book inspired me sometimes, and other times it made me laugh. It was never boring, just sometimes things aren't my taste.

Katniss Everdeen, the star of the book, doesn't seem herself anymore. I really liked her because she was brave, selfless, cunning, clever, and tough, and a great hero. Now, I don't really know what happened to that girl. She still has a shadow of herself, but now she's a pawn of the war. I had some hope she will rise up, but it diminished more and more as I neared the end of the book. When she shot Coin, it seemed as if it was right to hold on to hope after all, only to be disappointed again by her reaching for nightlock. Her excessive emotions aren't necessary. We didn't see her in much action scenes, but just around doing pretty much nothing well suited to the story. Still, I like the fact that she thinks she will get through at the end, no matter how much the losses are.

The ending was really depressing for me. Gale was as good as dead, and I was actually hoping that he would be the one who ended up with Katniss. She needed him. What Collins has done made me angry. Finnick's death struck me hard, and I was left thinking about Annie and everything. But she took it just fine, and that bothered me. Boggs's death also did. Prim's death actually got me crying, and I was thinking all along that Katniss volunteering as tribute in the first place has lost its purpose. 

There were extraordinary ideas in this book. The Hanging Tree haunted me, and I love it even though it was creepy. This last sentence ("You love me. Real or not real?" "Real.") was very emotional. Other quotes were good, like you ignoring the past is repeating it, or that Katniss despises monsters called humans despite being one herself. The book struck me as inspirational many times, and sometimes humorous like the seeing Finnick in his underpants line.

The grammar, as of the other two books, could be improved. Less run ons, fragments, commas at the wrong places, etc. That would help a lot. However, there were great descriptions and inspiring moments. In the end the good guys won- but the cost is depressing. A story without a happy ending would just make me sad, and books are supposed to make me happy. Also, I was really tired of the love triangle. 

In conclusion, this book was awesome, but I expected better. I was left with something to think about, but it's sad. Collins taught me a very good lesson about evil on both sides- and I would want to read this book again, and watch the movie when it comes out.


That's it... May the Force be with you!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire REVIEW

The first thing I wanted to do when I finished the first book in this series was to read the second book in the series. It was not what I expected, but I was not disappointed. I did not like it as much as I liked the last book, but this is still awesome. Suzanne Collins's story took many unexpected paths that got the readers hanging on in a roller coaster ride.

On the ruins of North America a shining Capitol stood with twelve outlying districts. The Capitol, a tyrannical government, was about to face its worst nightmare: a full scale rebellion, which Katniss Everdeen may have helped ignite the sparks. Upon winning the Hunger Games against all odds, she was supposed to live a happily ever after... but that wasn't going to happen when the Capitol wants revenge.

Katniss Everdeen was somehow like an ordinary girl, but she has definitely been through more than most adults have. She is tenacious, selfless, and great with a bow and arrow. I really like her- but she has self doubts and still holds the lives of her loved ones close, like most people would. Though adding fire to the flames would be the right thing to do, it would probably cause the lives of her loved ones.


The story starts off with filling some of the gaps about what happened in the short time between this book and last book. In addition, it introduces new ideas that will turn the wheels of the roller coaster Collins put us on. This is how I like it- ending every chapter with a mild cliffhanger to made the readers want more. However, the huge cliff hanger at the end killed something inside me, but fortunately I had the third book beside me or I would have gone paranoid. The ride took a dark turn when Katniss is to enter the Hunger Games again, and when she realizes there is something in play that she doesn't know about, and I wondered like she did. I was surprised the way the Hunger Games ended, as those who read the book know.

Some ideas were really creative, like how the clock works. There were inspirational moments, and others devastating (like Cinna), and others humorous like what the prep team considers as an emergency.

There was once when the author left me off. What is the main character trying to achieve? It wasn't stated clearly. There was the trying to protect loved ones, but she didn't really want the Capitol to continue its reign. The Hunger Games she entered did not even fit in this part well. In the Hunger Games, her goal was to survive. This is more like telling a life of someone- with no clear main problem, unless you say that trying to make peace is it.

The faults I find in the book surprises me. First of all, I'm not a romantic person, and I definitely don't like the love triangle no matter how much people it appeals to. The kisses were unnecessary. Some of it, like the engagement and pregnancy is surprising to me, but I didn't give it much of a thought except for when it will affect the plot of the story (like Snow not accepting). I like Gale, but I want him as her friend. Peeta is a nice guy, but I don't feel like he's the right one for her even though those of you who read the last book knew what happened. The poor writing in the book frustrates me sometimes. There are too many run-ons and fragments, and frequently adding periods to make a point does not make a story flow. The cliffhanger at the end just blew me up. The story should not have had such an ending. However, I can try ignore them and focus on the excellent plot.

In conclusion, I loved this book. It has its flaws but so does every story. This could still be one of the greatest trilogies in history, and I can't wait until the movie comes out.

Top Ten Movie Heroes and Heroines

I saw Jedi Filmaker and Shena's blog do this, so I thought I'd give it a try. I combined male and female together all in one post. I try to place them in order, but I really can't since I like them all equally. I wanted to add more beings like Plo Koon, Anakin Skywalker, Mulan, and others, but then I already reached ten so I just eliminated them.

My best hero of all times would have to be Obi-Wan Kenobi. I like everything about him. Matthew Stover's summary of him rings true here: A phenomenal pilot who doesn't like to fly. A devastating warrior, who'd rather not fight. A negotiator without a peer, who'd frankly rather sit alone in a cave. He is a Jedi Master. General in the Grand Army. Member of the Jedi Council. He is modest, centered, and always kind. He has become a hero. He is the ultimate Jedi. This is a characteristic of Obi-Wan that he is unaware of.

I don't need to explain more since you all know how awesome he is from his personality to his skills to everything.

To me, Ahsoka is a great hero. She's tough, brave, and yet compassionate. She has a good sense of humor, and is firm in her beliefs. Sometimes she's headstrong and reckless like her master, but that only makes me like her more. I really love how she was once the little togruta who stepped off that ship, and she became a Jedi of deadly beauty.

Siri Tachi is one of my favorite girl Jedi. She has a good sense of humor and a great personality. Her violet lightsaber is one that I'd like to have. Her lightsaber skills are extraordinary even from a young age, and so is her stealth skills, which was revealed when she was undercover as Zora. Her romance with Obi-Wan made me love her even more.

First queen, then senator, Amidala has proven herself as an extraordinary women. She wasn't a damsel in distress, but was able to shoot her way out of a situation. She calls for a diplomatic solution first, but when action speaks louder than words she doesn't hesitate to use aggressive negotiations. She was kind, and she believed in goodness until the end.

I loved the Harry Potter saga before I love Star Wars, so Hermione Granger was my favorite for a long time now. Though bossy at first, she was a loyal friend and incredibly intelligent. She was brave enough to be sorted into Gryffindor, and she was fiercely dedicated to bringing good to the world, for example with the S.P.E.W.

Bobby Pendragon from the Pendragon Series. One of my favorite sagas. He suffered many losses, but he kept going. He had an option to stop and rest, but he did not. He followed evil to destroy it, and his determination made me like him so much. Need I say more?

Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. She's brave and selfless. She kills only with a reason to, and she feels the consequence as well. Also, she's tenacious and definitely a "girl on fire". I love her abilities to shoot with an arrow too.

I also like Narnia, and especially Peter. He was a great swordsman- in Narnia anyway. He was brave and fought for the Narnians even though he wasn't one of them until he was a high king. He looked after the others well too.

I extremely love Legolas from Lord of the Rings. He's fighting for good. His bow and arrow skills are excellent, and he can kick butt. He can live, like, forever, and, oh, just look at him. The picture seems to say it all. He's like Obi-Wan to me.

The last one I don't have a picture of, since it's too small. Anyway, she's got green eyes, red hair, and fair skin. She goes by the name of Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy (Wow, long weird name), or better known as Scout for her abilities to quickly analyze a situation. She was very tenacious,  and she never gave up even when all hope seems lost. She was born on Vorzyd V in slums, so her parents begged a passing Jedi to take her to the temple to escape poverty. She was weak in the Force, so many people doubted she will become a Jedi, and thought she would go to the Jedi Service Corps. However, much to everyone's surprise, she was picked by a Chankar Kim to be an apprentice, but she died in the Battle of Geonosis, leaving her masterless. After pushing herself hard, she miraculously won the Jedi Apprentice Tournament and got a new master, Jai Maruk. But he died as well. She returned to the temple afterwards, but no one knows what happened to her until she escaped order 66 and stayed on Mandalore, though not completely giving up the ways of the Jedi.

Here's a quote from Yoda to her from Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (That book is awesome, I recommend it):

"Too few Jedi have I already. But even had I a crop of thousands, small one, I would not let you go without a fight. Spirit and determination you have. Between the stars, so much darkness there is. Why would I throw away one who burns so bright?"

Pax Chizzick to her:

"Tallisibeth, being a Jedi is about being resourceful, keeping your eyes open, and never, ever giving up. You taught me a lot about being a Jedi today."

That's it for now... May the Force be with you!

The Hunger Games REVIEW

I thought I knew what to expect when I first opened the book. In some ways, I was right, and in others, The Hunger Games blew me off. This could be one of the best books in history. The author, Suzanne Collins, gave me a lot to think about. It has some romance in there, and the action was awesome, and mysteries were revealed.

In the ruins of North America lies the country of Panem, where a shining Capitol stands with twelve outlying districts. The tyrannical government forces each district to send a boy and girl "tribute" each year to compete in the Hunger Games, which is where they will kill each other off to be the last one standing. The winner will then have fame and fortune in their hands. On the seventy fourth Hunger Games, little Primrose Everdeen got picked in District twelve. Terrified that she will die, her sister Katniss Everdeen volunteered to take her place. And the Games began.

One thing I really liked about the book is the main character- Katniss. She's brave, selfless, and has huge talent with a bow and arrow. In the arena, where she pushed herself to survive, she showed how tenacious she is, but still willing to give her life to save her friend. The hardships she face in her life made her strong, but still I appreciate how she doesn't take a life for no reason. When she did, she feels the consequences of it.

The story line has excellent ideas, and it was easy to follow. It was interesting from the start, and the ending echoes in my mind. "Dreading the moment when we finally have to let go" stuck and made me go back and visit the book in my mind. To find out more, you need to read the book.

I like how Katniss and Peeta, who was faking romance to appeal to the crowd, started to eat those poisonous berries. For people who haven't read it, I don't want to spoil the surprise of why. It not only started the flames of revolution, but also the flames of real love even though Katniss denied it. What she thought was funny many times, especially when it had to do with anger in general or with Haymitch. 

The other characters were awesome. I love the prep team's little drama and Cinna's comfort. Gale being back to back with Katniss while hunting was nice, too. Him and Katniss's family added some emotions to the story. The ignorant gamemakers was hilarious when Katniss shot that arrow. Little Rue was a good ally, and I was sorry to see her go. The bad guys like Cato got the story more interesting. 

However, a story can't be flawless. I can't find any, but some things are just not my taste. For example, I don't like too much romance- and too much for me is more than a kiss or so. The present tense bothered me a little bit. Also, the word choice and sentence fluency sometimes made the story stuck, but in the first person narrative, which surprised me at first, made it seem as if it's written by Katniss herself, which I like. There were some places with too little description, but other places cover it up. The kids killing kids idea was a little too dark for my taste, especially when Rue was killed. Overall, the interesting ideas outshines it all like the Girl on Fire and I can't focus on the bad.

Overall, the book is one of my favorites now, and I just can't wait to watch the movie. I wasn't disappointed, but instead it exceeded my expectations. I recommend this for everyone, especially people who don't have kids.


Wow... I've been away traveling for awhile... and I just realized this is my first non-related Star Wars post here. Oh well, I love it! I'll be typing my review of book two and three (Which I finished a few days ago) soon. That's it for now... May the Force be with you!

The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes REVIEW

          
It was this day when I ran out of Star Wars books to read (for now) when I decided to pick up this book and started to read it again. I simply wish I did not already know the story because I want to revive the magic of reading it again. It was an awesome book with everything you could possibly want- adventure, suspence, romance, mystery, and so on. It is all about experimenting the unexperimented emotions inside, and how war affected it all. This was all covered by the outer problem: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kit Fisto, and their team have to make Cestus stop producing deadly JK droids to their enemy, the CIS.

The setting was creative. The beginning was set in an already known world- Coruscant. I loved to see it in the book again. Then, it takes us to a new world that was a desert with mountains... and was once a prison. It was creative. It was awesome. It was the one and only Cestus.

One thing I really loved about the book is its unexpected turns. I never knew that the romance would be like that, or the mystery solved in such a simple way... that revealed what they fought for in this planet was not what it seems. I was shocked when I knew that this was all a ploy.

I'm glad a less used character gets to star in this book: Kit Fisto. Ever since I saw him in AOTC, I wanted to know more about him. I love him deadly Form I style of lightsaber combat and I'm impressed with him skills. I wonder how he can survive in the desert, too, since he was a Nautolian (a water species). I love how he treated the clone troopers and were willing to teach "Jedi Flow".

I love how the book talks about Obi-Wan's emotions, who seemed to lose his was more and more. He was outmaneuvered at every turn, and he seemed to change. His duty made him do what he does not want to do, and he seems to be a great Jedi to be able to put his emotions aside to do the task at hand.

ARC trooper Nate was very interesting in this book. He was the first ever to break the Code, thinking for himself and doing what he knew was right, not just following orders. I was glad Sheeka woke him up to a new world, and if things didn't happen the way they did, this mission would have been a total failure. His sacrifice helped saved millions, and I think he's a good example of what clones should be. I'm sad that he had to die and never know who his baby will be.

There's many things I like about this book. First of all was the humor. When the Barrister panicked he goes very comical, and I was sad he died. Another thing I like is the author's good quotes. (For example, "It's not what a man fights with, it's what he fights for) Also, I saw the story from another point of view- the view of the troopers who were born to serve. It explored the galaxy and the war in a deeper meaning. There were very inspirational moments in there, too.

There's no books without flaws, and this one has a few. The start was a little too fast, and I was pretty disappointed that there wasn't more action inside it apart from the awesome lightsaber duel. Also, it left a question hanging: What happened to Resta? I can only assume she's dead. There was a little too much romance for my taste. To end with, there was only a mention of Count Dooku- so what was he doing so big in the cover? (I loved the cover, especially Obi-Wan in there, but I can't help wondering why there wasn't Asajj in the place of Dooku there)

In conclusion, I loved the book in many different ways. There's some flaws, but I tend to ignore them and focus on the bright side. I look forward to reading more Star Wars books.