I went into this book with a lot of people telling me that it was worlds better than the first, and the same comment for the movie, but that will be its own post.
For most of the first two segments, not a whole lot happens. What we actually get is a bunch of info that could have been edited down to an epilogue in the first book. Page by page Katniss seems to lose agency. Whatever admirable traits she had in the first book are diminished here. In Hunger Games, we see her filling a lot of traditionally male roles: Providing for the family as a literal hunter/gatherer, protector, head of household. Nice, good. She's much more proficient with a weapon than most, and for that we grant her more "male agency points" or whatever feminist readings are scored in. As a modern male reader with a plethora a strong feminist voices in my head, I couldn't help but keep up a small running tally. The book sort of forces you to. There's your awkward male reading of it. In the Hunger Games, nothing is subtle.
Then we get the games segment in Book One, and she loses some of those points; kissing and biting her lip make up a good 50% of her actions. Also worrying about liking boys, and how they like her. Most of that territory is re-tread for the lion's share of Catching Fire. Feel free to shoot me any time Ms. Collins. The Berries offer less agency in the actual moment, the words on the page, and that sentiment continues through book two: Katniss is constantly given more credit than she deserves.
Then Peeta. Oh Peeta has issues with Katniss' kissing motives? How about you shut up and be thankful you're alive Baker Jr.? Remember when your prospects in life were either killing the chick you love or fulfilling the dark expectations of your mother to simply die, hopefully in service of her victory? Maybe you don't have to be a whiny little dick about it to her, say thank you, and move on to the other thousand women in District 12 that want to hop on your newly royal self? How about that Madge? She seems like an incredibly smart, caring, brave person, maybe she's a girl worth considering? Maybe you could take one for the team and move the hell on. Peeta, how about you man up?
If there is anything subtle in the book perhaps it's this: The real thing that damns this book to the pile of drek that claims to be burning bras while strapping on corsettes: Peeta is not a real portrait of a human male. He's a romantic wet dream. The vessel of perfection, much like Edward in those damned VINO (Vampire in Name Only) books, able to have anything poured into him. All the character is, his whole essence, is adoration of Katniss. No adoring women catch his scorned eye? Who the hell is his Gale? He's not close with a single member of his family? No, he's a tortured (later, literally, tortured) painter head-over-heels in love with Katniss, and only wants to make babies with her and raise a family. Oh, and when he's not painting, he freaking bakes. He ALWAYS knows what to say. Stop me when he becomes, you know, a normal person at any moment in this.
You get it, I'm over it. Moving on: There are, however, many more moments in this book where Collins has genuine "literary" scenes. Some actual-factual unexpected escalations that any writer would be proud of. Despite the fact that it was mostly boring? Yeah I don't get it either. Anyway, Snow making Kat-Lady wear the wedding dress was a nice touch. It was cruel and real in a way I wasn't expecting. The turn, (as Katniss twirled, natch), of burning up into another dress, maybe too spot-on but not bad either. Again, literally (I think I'm going to wear out that phrase if I keep writing too much about Collins' work), the author re-used a trick from the fist book. Eh. Undercut a good idea there maybe? There are a few more of these moments. I like Prim's new lucidity. One would expect her to have grown a bit in reaction to the realness of seeing her sister dragged off to the games in her place, and then kill a bunch of people (even though it was coincidentally without much real moral turpitude, almost always clear in self defense or survival-motive). The Baby, that was a nice touch. Again, everything good coming from Peeta, but still. It was a little more risque, more adult than expected. Hanging Tree: not great but a little depth there. Overall: Liked the Hanging Tree bit. Bully for you Hanging Tree.
The treatment of Finnick, way better as a fleshed-out character: dynamic, interesting. Probably one of the better characters in the whole series. Maybe deserving of his own post. In contrast: Chaff. Why the hell does that guy even exist? Set piece for Haymitch's humanity I guess. Boring. Johanna: Most. Random. Nudity. Ever. Peeta is 17 right? Spoons this girl every night? No erection? Nude girl? No response? The man is a eunuch bent on child-bearing.
I'm burnt out on even thinking more about this book. Much in the style of Collins, I'll quickly move through the arena then dump you at the end: Okay, it's a clock, there was a clock at the beginning of the book, it takes everyone forever to understand the woman babbling tick-freaking-tock. Canary in a coal mine? Streeeeeeetched thin there. Beetee: Deus Ex Machina Ex Nerd. Screaming Mockingjays are the only interesting clock slice. Blood? Insects? Monkeys? Boring, just like the lightning tree. The fog, I have no idea how to feel about. Why does the water make it better? That water is way too safe. I mean the fish in the water are magically normal, and there's nothing nasty swimming around. Again, convenient and weird. It's an artificial dome in the middle of the Capitol but there are oysters with pearls in it? Okay sure. Just lots of stuff thrown-in in a short space. Again a whole scene in the arena devoted to feast. Good for you all. Boring as hell for us readers. Again, everyone dies very conveniently. In a timely manner? See this thing is making me cheesy too.
Then, a cliffhanger so unapologetic she should be literally ashamed. Collins, shame on you. Really. This is not an ending to a book, it's a cheap shot in the gut. Think of it this way, would Peeta leave a lover hanging like that? The perfect man-child? I can only imagine he'd properly finish his mate like a gentleman then roll over and quietly purr in his sleep, praying for the next child to be a feminine child. However those babies in Panem get made? The book almost revels in skirting this topic. All Hail the Mocking-Stork!
If there is anything subtle in the book perhaps it's this: The real thing that damns this book to the pile of drek that claims to be burning bras while strapping on corsettes: Peeta is not a real portrait of a human male. He's a romantic wet dream. The vessel of perfection, much like Edward in those damned VINO (Vampire in Name Only) books, able to have anything poured into him. All the character is, his whole essence, is adoration of Katniss. No adoring women catch his scorned eye? Who the hell is his Gale? He's not close with a single member of his family? No, he's a tortured (later, literally, tortured) painter head-over-heels in love with Katniss, and only wants to make babies with her and raise a family. Oh, and when he's not painting, he freaking bakes. He ALWAYS knows what to say. Stop me when he becomes, you know, a normal person at any moment in this.
You get it, I'm over it. Moving on: There are, however, many more moments in this book where Collins has genuine "literary" scenes. Some actual-factual unexpected escalations that any writer would be proud of. Despite the fact that it was mostly boring? Yeah I don't get it either. Anyway, Snow making Kat-Lady wear the wedding dress was a nice touch. It was cruel and real in a way I wasn't expecting. The turn, (as Katniss twirled, natch), of burning up into another dress, maybe too spot-on but not bad either. Again, literally (I think I'm going to wear out that phrase if I keep writing too much about Collins' work), the author re-used a trick from the fist book. Eh. Undercut a good idea there maybe? There are a few more of these moments. I like Prim's new lucidity. One would expect her to have grown a bit in reaction to the realness of seeing her sister dragged off to the games in her place, and then kill a bunch of people (even though it was coincidentally without much real moral turpitude, almost always clear in self defense or survival-motive). The Baby, that was a nice touch. Again, everything good coming from Peeta, but still. It was a little more risque, more adult than expected. Hanging Tree: not great but a little depth there. Overall: Liked the Hanging Tree bit. Bully for you Hanging Tree.
The treatment of Finnick, way better as a fleshed-out character: dynamic, interesting. Probably one of the better characters in the whole series. Maybe deserving of his own post. In contrast: Chaff. Why the hell does that guy even exist? Set piece for Haymitch's humanity I guess. Boring. Johanna: Most. Random. Nudity. Ever. Peeta is 17 right? Spoons this girl every night? No erection? Nude girl? No response? The man is a eunuch bent on child-bearing.
I'm burnt out on even thinking more about this book. Much in the style of Collins, I'll quickly move through the arena then dump you at the end: Okay, it's a clock, there was a clock at the beginning of the book, it takes everyone forever to understand the woman babbling tick-freaking-tock. Canary in a coal mine? Streeeeeeetched thin there. Beetee: Deus Ex Machina Ex Nerd. Screaming Mockingjays are the only interesting clock slice. Blood? Insects? Monkeys? Boring, just like the lightning tree. The fog, I have no idea how to feel about. Why does the water make it better? That water is way too safe. I mean the fish in the water are magically normal, and there's nothing nasty swimming around. Again, convenient and weird. It's an artificial dome in the middle of the Capitol but there are oysters with pearls in it? Okay sure. Just lots of stuff thrown-in in a short space. Again a whole scene in the arena devoted to feast. Good for you all. Boring as hell for us readers. Again, everyone dies very conveniently. In a timely manner? See this thing is making me cheesy too.
Then, a cliffhanger so unapologetic she should be literally ashamed. Collins, shame on you. Really. This is not an ending to a book, it's a cheap shot in the gut. Think of it this way, would Peeta leave a lover hanging like that? The perfect man-child? I can only imagine he'd properly finish his mate like a gentleman then roll over and quietly purr in his sleep, praying for the next child to be a feminine child. However those babies in Panem get made? The book almost revels in skirting this topic. All Hail the Mocking-Stork!
No comments:
Post a Comment