Mockingjay Reflections (The HG Part 2)

*** **** Spoiler Alert!!!**** Please don't read below if you plan to read any of the books -I didn't say much if anything, but I loved the twists and turns of the plot and don't want to ruin it for anyone! ***

I finished the Mockingjay before dinner and I loved it - loved it, loved it. I think I might even say it was my favorite in the trilogy. I really want to call my mom and Ashley in the US but it is 5am there and I just don't think they'd appreciate the call!

4 Quick Thoughts:

1.) Blame lots of Russian literature and film, but I liked that the ending was bittersweet and filled with melancholy. I really, really liked it... It was the perfect ending and I found great closure to the trilogy.

2.) Blame my love for ex-Soviet bloc revolutions, but I loved all of the boring background information about the districts. I love that Collins spent more time on the political story and the intricacies with government and power. I read some reviews that critiqued the book for opening so slowly and taking so long to get into the action, but I really enjoyed it. It truly was the "bigger picture" I hoped for after finding the first film so disturbing.

3.) The whole love triangle between Katniss, Gale and Peeta was a little annoying to me over the entire trilogy. I understood that Katniss was too focused on protecting her family and surviving to allow herself to love and choose between the two men who vied for her affections, but I think she tormented them unnecessarily. I think as women, we have a tendency to enjoy being pursued and desired, but her indecision was pretty painful to read. That being said, you have to give her a break given her circumstances. ;) Before reading the last two chapters, I couldn't decide who I really believed who she needed to be with, or even if she needed to be with either of them. The more I reflect on the ending, the more I really love the way it ended.

4.) I guess the book had more violence, but for some reason it didn't seem as disturbing to me. Instead of little teenage lambs being led to the slaughter (sorry to be graphic!) for the entertainment of the Capital the violence was at least for some purpose (albeit not entirely pure) - some necessary and greater good. I was just much, much less disturbed by it than the first book. Perhaps the first film seared scenes in my mind that were pretty graphic.