Catching Fire: Hunger Games (Book - 2) 1st Edition

Having read rave reviews about the Hunger Games trilogy, I went ahead and purchased the box set containing all three books. I will admit that the first one was genuinely brilliant. The second one, though, didn't quite match up to, or even come anywhere close to, my expectations.

While there were some noteworthy chapters in the book, overall the story felt forced. I got the impression that Collins did what most authors in her position generally do - capitalize on the popularity of your first book and rake in the moolah. She could've taken a completely different angle with the second book. But instead, the same characters somehow land up in the arena again. While some will argue that the arena is what makes the hunger games 'The Hunger Games', I feel she could've worked out a much more grandiose scale of things.

Conclusively, the book is definitely not unreadable. But after the magic of the first one, it is a bit of a let down.

Book 2 is just as good as the first one. It is perfect page turner, and just as you think you have figured out some of the what is going to happen, Collins throws you in a completely different direction.
The characters introduced to us in Book 1 are developed further and you will feel all the emotions of fear, joy, pain and relief with them.

I've heard a lot of people complain that like most authors, Suzanne wrote the second book with a weak plot as a bridge to the next one in her trilogy.

Well, it's not really true, in my opinion. Where in the first book the story took had people being smushed and action-packed awesomeness at every turn, in the second book it takes on a very political tenor.

This plot occupies itself with all the scheming and political battles veiled under smiles that goes on. This book isn't just a 'bridge' but is very necessary because the plot and the characters need to go through those slow changes so they can come out in flying colours in the next book. If the main characters don't get thrown into the arena again, the third book would never take place.

That aside, there's no dearth of suspense or excitement in this one. If anything, the arena is far more complex and interesting than the last one presented. The end of the book leaves you on tenterhooks, wondering what could happen in the next one, which is a plus to me.

overall great book and well written. Better thought out than the last for all the political ploys being exposed

Honestly, I really expected Catching Fire to be way better than The Hunger Games, the first book. But I'm really disappointed. I think the story's been dragged too much. there are places where you feel the same excitement that the first book gave you, but you can't compare. I bought Mockingjay too, from here. I finished Catching Fire about 5 minutes ago, thought maybe i could help y'all by writing whatever i thought. I want to say more but my policy = no spoilers. so yeah, basically, I'm disappointed, but I'll still read Mockingjay hoping it to, you know, make up for it and stuff...let's see what happens. If you liked The Hunger Games and haven't tried the Percy Jackson series yet, I think you should. Hope this was helpful. FLIPKART \m/

The first book of the series is fine enough, but not that gripping and less convincing at places. However, the Catching Fire will certainly make you fall in love with the series and oblige you to read the third book. In this book, for the first time we discover Katniss Everdeen as a girl beyond a ruthless shooter. We get a more closer view of the despotism of the Capitol, we get to sense the magnitude of hatred of the districts for the Capitol. The traumas and dilemmas of Katniss, her helplessness yet strong will power against every odds brings her closer to our hearts. This is a must read even if you have not liked the The Hunger Games!