Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Image taken from Hunger Games Wiki.

The second installment in the Hunger Games trilogy was just as interesting as the first installment. Without giving too much away for those who have not read the first book, Katniss and her friend Peeta are the two survivors of the Hunger Games, something which the Capitol sees as a form of rebellion (there can only be one winner, and the actions they took in the first book led them both to victory). Because of the stunt they pulled, the President of the Capitol is determined to make Katniss' life a living hell. And what better way to make the make life hell for the person who you see as a threat to your rule by arranging to send them BACK into the Hunger Games the following year!

Yes, Peeta and Katniss are sent back into the Games - into a new arena, with new weather conditions, and contesting against other previous victors from the other districts.

Meanwhile, there are others in the various districts who have taken inspiration in Peeta's and Katniss' defiance from the previous year's games and have started uprisings, which the Capitol is truly annoyed about. There is also talk of the mysterious District 13, who was supposedly wiped out by the Capitol for their defiance, but who could possibly still have survivors living underground. In short, the book is just as suspenseful as the first installment.

I'm afraid I might give away too much again, just suffices to say that it is indeed another good book.

Will be starting on the final installment shortly...

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Image taken from The Book Brat.

So my sister told me one day that I MUST read the Hunger Games Trilogy. Admittedly I was skeptical at first (I am usually skeptical of current mainstream fads), but I was surprised to find that these books are actually quite good!

The first installment takes us on a journey through the dystopian world of Panem, otherwise known in our current geography books as North America. All humankind living in Panem are separated into districts, all of which are lorded over by the dreaded dictatorship of the Capitol. Every year the Capitol hosts a reality TV show entitled "The Hunger Games", which is one of many measures the Capitol has taken to keep the various districts under control. Two people from each district is selected to participate in the games, which is a violent strategy game designed for the contestants to hunt and kill each other. There can only be one winner.

This is the world in which Katniss Everdeen live, along with her mother and younger sister. When her younger sister is selected to participate in the Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. And so Katniss must try and survive and win the games, so she can return to her family when it is all over.

Fans might be upset with me leaving out so many important details in my summary, but I think it best to tell just enough information to have readers of this article want to know more, and what better way to know more about what happens in the story than searching out the book for oneself and reading it?

Loyal readers of this blog would have noticed that the majority of books I like are ones that make me think, and with the Hunger Games, this is no exception. As disturbing as the environment of Panem is, it is not too far from resembling the way our own world is becoming today. Avid fans of the trilogy would notice the commentaries the book implicitly makes on the current fads and trends that are slowly making our society become more selfish and conceited. In a world where people are caring less about others and thinking more of themselves, in a world where the love for humankind is slowly diminishing, the messages in this book is extremely relevant for our day.

For those of you like me who are skeptical of maintream trends, do NOT let this discourage you from reading this book, as it is definitely a good read!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Image taken from Imp Awards.

I read this book a long time ago when I was a teenager, and had the opportunity of reading it again this year. As beautiful as the Disney film is, it cannot be compared to the book that inspired it.

Originally titled "Notre Dame de Paris", (Our Lady of Paris), the story was originally meant to be focused on the cathedral itself, and not entirely on Quasimodo; the change of focus is something that contemporary interpretations of the narrative have to thank for. And if you read the book carefully, you can see how everything that happens in the story is directly or indirectly connected with the cathedral, it in itself being the central character of the whole book.

Hugo uses his descriptions of the scenery of Paris in the 1480's and his descriptions of Notre Dame to share symbolically what the narrative is trying to teach us. It is a deeply thought-provoking book that comments on many political issues that are prevalent both in Hugo's day in in the times of Medieval Paris. Unfortunately, trying to briefly cover them all in this short review would not do the book any justice, so I recommend that the reader of this article seeks for himself/herself a copy of it to read for themselves.

The copy I read was the Wordsworth Classics edition, and is the one that I would strongly recommend, if it is available to you. It contains an introduction by Keith Wren, who delves into the political issues the book discusses in greater detail, and helps readers understand what Hugo was trying to say within those political debates. If this edition is not available, I am certain there are plenty of detailed online essays that also discuss the political issues of the book in greater detail.

A classic and a must-read for all Victor Hugo fans out there.

The Genius Wars by Catherine Jinks

Image taken from Allen&Unwin.com


Looking back at the last few book reviews I have written here, I have realised that I have been WAY behind in updating you all on the new books I have been reading! For this I apologise...

To return to what I have read, I have definitely finished reading the conclusion to the Genius Trilogy, and just like the other two books, Catherine Jinks does not fail us in providing a rather entertaining tale!

"Genius Wars" sends us a few months later after Genius Squad has eventually been disbanded. Cadel is enjoying life as a university student, until random sightings of Prosper English force Cadel to once again live a life of hiding. This would be tolerable for him, if it weren't for the fact that his friends from the Genius Squad - not to mention his soon-to-be adoptive parents - have had threats carried out against them. Once again it is up to Cadel to save the day and protect the people he holds dear.

This book wastes no time in getting into the action, and is just as fast-paced as the first installment was. Jinks has cleverly managed to answer all questions that were left unanswered from the first two books, and manages to keep the suspense going up until the very end. The rather "ambiguous" ending I also find to be quite clever, for reasons you should find out for yourself by reading this book.

All in all, the Genius Trilogy are three of the best books I have read in a long time.