Catching Fire

Loved it. I now plan to reread both The Hunger Games and this soon. It is better than the first because you learn more about Panem, the districts, and the games. I was so blown away by the plot and pacing that I didn't stop to think much about the message or the characters, but I think those are pretty thought-provoking as well. Katniss is a great central character; she's sympathetic but has a certain coldness/brutality in her core that is hard to relate to. I have done some reading on the text and it turns out much of the trilogy is inspired by Greek mythology, particularly Theseus and the Minotaur. I love how this book seems almost real. I also love the central male character and how the traditional gender roles are reversed between him and Katniss. He is the one who is motivated by love. He is the nurturer who bakes bread. Katniss on the other hand is the hunter who just wants to provide for her family. The dystopia these books present is horrifying but really only about 1 degree off of the world we live in now. Fascinating.