Catching Fire discussion

I feel as if it was rather leisurely until they find out they have to go back into the arena. But when they do --- I found the way Collins described Katniss's response to this absolutely terrific. While I can't say I would pull out sentences to quote for beauty's sake I do think she creates atmosphere, emotion, and feeling par excellence.

Yes, I agree that it felt almost relaxed in pacing until the bombshell we knew was coming - that Katniss would go back in the arena.

But that leisurely pacing was always filled with tension. It was a mind game rather than a physical to-the-death game.

I also agree with you that Katniss's reaction to the news that she had to play the games again, was terrific for all the reasons you said.

I disagree with those who think the leisurely pace is a "plus" of the book. It does not move the "story" much -- many pages with not that much more understanding of the society that we already got glimpses of in the first book.

This feels like a filler -- like a story that really doesn't have to be told in 3 parts but is stretched to do so.

So far, the student reports (of the one copy of galley circulating around) have been lukewarm. (7th and 9th graders)

I read the book all in a rush last week and don't have my copy in front of me, but when I think back on the so-called leisurely half of this story, I think of it as a justifiable calm before the storm. It seems necessary for Katniss and Peeta to surface from their horrific ordeal and take in the effects of what they've done on people out in the districts (not to mention their families and themselves). The tour set them up to do this, and it also provided a great vehicle for them to pick up on the rumblings of the subversive movement that was beginning to develop and that they instigated. I was never bothered by this part, nor did I feel that it dragged. Maybe it's because I like the dystopian world-building and social criticism as much as or even more than the survival and suspense layer of the story. I was actually completely surprised when Katniss and Peeta were called back to the games, but I've never been good at anticipating plot lines.

I actually wish Catching Fire had been broken up into two seperate books. I would have enjoyed learning more about the inner workings of District 12, details of daily life etc etc. Certainly there would be enough material there to fill an entire book if the author was so inclined.
What I really didn't like was the info crunch at the end. In a couple of paragraphs Katniss learns that there is a well-organized rebellion in Panem, that District 13 is thriving, that Haymitch has been an important rebel for a long time, and so on. Another case where enough material exists for a seperate book.

Ah, but I think the end was meant to be a total cliff hanger!

I'm sure the end was meant to be a cliffhanger, because it definitely was! I love how different the games were in this book, and the twist with them escaping. I felt it was paced a lot like the first book, except the intro was longer--not necessarily slower, though.

I loved the beginning! I thought it was a great way for Katniss to realize something big was happening and that (like someone said before) it was definitely the calm before the storm.

Hey I'm totally new to this site and this group but i thought this topic was interesting so I'll put my thoughts in.

I liked the pacing of the book, and I like at the end how all that information was thrown at the reader. I felt totally overwhelmed and I think thats what we were ment to feel. Like oh my goodness thats crazy, what?!...END OF THE BOOK! The ultimate cliffhanger.

And I also loved the second games. I was scared going into the sencond book that the second games would be very similar to the first and maybe get boring. But it was definitely a completely different game. Very much more of a mind game than a pure kill eachother off untill someone wins!