DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Dumbledore's Army Refugees
HTML https://darefugees.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: The Hunger Games
*****************************************************
#Post#: 47079--------------------------------------------------
Finished Mockingjay
By: Mufasa Date: March 25, 2014, 10:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The Hunger Games was definitely a fun book series to read, but
am I the only one who thinks the writing is just...so-so? Maybe
I'm just spoiled by JKR's amount of depth, but I feel like
Collins really glosses over so much detail. When a big scene
comes up, (particularly if something is being explained to
Katniss) she doesn't flesh it out with dialogue or action, she
just summarizes. The pacing of the three books is also an issue
for me; it seems like for every book, the first 3 quarters of it
drag along, and then the rest is rushed completely. I didn't
feel like the ending satisfied me just because it happened so
quickly.
I also feel like Collins pulls in random details about Katniss
or other characters to suit her needs. Like in CF, its like "Oh
by the way, there was a lake where I used to swim with my
father, so that means I'm an awesome swimmer."
And Katniss is a whole other issue. I don't know if it's the
first person writing, or if this was intentional, but Katniss is
pretty...I don't know a word other than annoying? I don't know,
even that seems too strong. Like Haymitch and the others have
told her, she has these moments of "unscripted" greatness and
inspiration, but the rest of the time I feel like she just talks
about how great she is at her skills and coming up with
metaphors about herself.
This is why I tell people I like the movies better than the
books. I feel like the world is fleshed out more because it's
not centered on Katniss and they are able to squeeze in more
detail (even if they share pacing problems with the books).
But damn, it sure was fun to read. I had a marathon session from
4 pm to 1 am. I don't think I have ever read a book that
quickly.
I don't know, these are just some of my thoughts. What do you
guys think?
#Post#: 47080--------------------------------------------------
Re: Finished Mockingjay
By: DanishPrince Date: March 25, 2014, 11:06 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I haven't finished Mockingjay yet but I love the books so far.
I agree on Katniss being annoying at times and liking the movies
over the books.
#Post#: 47093--------------------------------------------------
Re: Finished Mockingjay
By: Hermes_The_Exile Date: March 28, 2014, 11:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I agree. The story itself is great, but there are definite
pacing issues. They take too long to get into the arena in the
second book, and then it's rushed when they do. They spend a lot
of time doing, like, nothing in D13, and then the actual action
gets sped up. I think Katniss is more flawed and less of a
cipher (less so than Harry, in my opinion), which is good, but
this can lead to her getting tiresome at times. The films are
better there because they have JLaw.
Anyway. You are not the only to notice the weird pacing.
#Post#: 47105--------------------------------------------------
Re: Finished Mockingjay
By: kamikaze ginny Date: March 29, 2014, 10:36 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I think the issue is that Collins primarily writes for
television, or at least she did before releasing THG. She
includes erroneous details and has pacing issues (like the
summarizing you talked about) because the books read more like
an extended treatment than an actual novel. The only positive of
this is it means the movies are translated extremely well.
#Post#: 47236--------------------------------------------------
Re: Finished Mockingjay
By: Loony_Gaby Date: April 6, 2014, 8:02 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The books are great on a first read, very addicting, but not for
a second read. I discovered this when I tried to re-read them
like 2 years ago and stopped somewhere in Catching Fire.
And for some strange reason... I haven't watched Catching Fire.
Maybe I will watch it during the summer when I'm stress-free.
*****************************************************