Blog

Book Reviews

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

India

The world as we know it has fallen apart. District 12 has fallen apart and Katniss and Peeta have been separated, but at least they are still alive. Katniss has woken up in a strange place, after seeing the arena fall to pieces, it turns out that she is in District 13, a place which she has been told all of her life was destroyed. Luckily Katniss’ family was saved by Gale even though Gale’s family didn’t quite make it out alive. Distric 13 is a whole new world with schedules, and rules, and order, something that Katniss isn’t quite ready to take a hold of after what she had gone through in the arena. She slowly meets in the people in charge of defenses and it turns out they want her to lead the rest of the districts in a rebellion against the Capitol. In a sense they want her to truly be their Mockingjay. Or at least act like one. Katniss has to step into the role that she was placed into, but she doesn’t know who to trust. The gamekeeper who put her in the game, the fierce woman who runs district 13, and where is Peeta? Gale has become apart of the defenses or the army as you might call to help fight, and Katniss’ mom and Prim have taken up their places helping people in the infirmary. During her time at 13 Katniss will be tested once again in more ways than the arena tested her, she will have to step up and be a leader, and she will have to continue to fight for what she believes in and what is right no matter what the consequences might be.

Of course I loved this book, this book distracted me during many calculus classes during the semester. I don’t know how I got so far behind on my posts because I finished this book about 3 months ago. Hey, better late than never. Just like with the other books from the trilogy this one was just as exciting as the rest. I loved it from the beginning to the end though the ending may have not been my favorite, or really the near end. A lot of the fates of our characters I thoroughly enjoyed, while others I wished had stayed near. As for Katniss and Peeta, I’m happy for them. I’m glad that they found each other and were able to accomplish the goals that were set out before them. If you have not already done so, you need to read these books. They are amazing and would recommend them to people of all ages.  Until Next Time

Keep Turning the Pages

90s Born Reader

Book Reviews

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

India

If we don’t know already, then you probably shouldn’t be reading this post, but KATNISS AND PEETA WIN THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!

At the end of the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are the last ones standing and were claimed victors, but being the victor of The Hunger Games does not necessarily mean everything is going to be okay. For Katniss it turns out to be the opposite. Sure, District 12 gets more food once a month every month, and Katniss and Peeta’s families get moved to Victor’s Village with Haymitch, but things are truly just starting for our lovely victors.

With the end of the Hunger Games comes some terribly disturbing nightmares for both Peeta and Katniss, but neither of them are truly talking to each other to deal with them, and of course the only other person who knows what they’re going through is Haymitch, and he’s drunk all the time. The only things that keep them going are their friends and family. With the Quarterquell coming up or the 75th Hunger Games, our victors are able to rest and not worry about it, other than being someone else’s mentor.

What’s different about the Quarterquells are that the rules are changed by President Snow, instead of just each district having to pick 2 victors out of a bowl, it can be something like 2 boys, or only 2 girls, and it is said that these decisions have been made long before it comes about and is locked away, not to be opened until that Quarterquell. When it is time to open this box the Panem was not ready for what they heard.

All of the past victors would be required to participate from The Hunger Games AGAIN. Well really one male and one female past victor will participate. No one could believe that Katniss and Peeta and possibly Haymitch would be back in the arena again fighting for their lives.

Through out these games new friends and alliances would be made, and enemies as well. Much research would be done on the others and a lot of time spent training before the games. Our Starstruck lovers would shock the world many times, but what happens in the arena you will have to read for yourself.

Until Next Time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

Coffee Break

Stressed? I can tell you about stress.

India

This year at the University of Pittsburgh… it has been one for the books, when I first started writing this post we were at 50 bomb threats, and now we’re at 145. Yes I did say bomb threats. The University has been facing tough times with someone claiming bomb threats on the campus, making students evacuate from classes during the middle of the day, and evacuate from dorms and on campus apartments during the middle of the aka between the times of 2 and 4 am. You would think missing a lot of classes as a college student for something that wasn’t your fault would be fun, but it’s not. Most classes build off of each other and so you won’t know the information for next year because our teachers have to keep going. Or when your exam gets pushed back 2 weeks, meaning you’ve missed 2 weeks worth of class, and now you have to make up the classes on Saturdays… yeah it absolutely sucks.

It’s safe to say that as a campus we’re pretty stressed out. I’m not going to lie that now when I hear any type of loud noise siren like noise, I jump and am concerned. After being evacuated from my building only once at 4 am, I didn’t sleep for the rest of the week worrying was it going to happen again. I feel bad for many of the freshmen dorms who have been evacuated multiple times during the middle of the night. A lot of students have left campus and luckily a lot of teachers have provided accommodations to help them finish out the school year without a G grade.

I guess what I’m getting to is that with all of these distractions it has become increasingly harder to study for classes and focus on them wondering if you’re going to be evacuated from the building or even have the class. To get your mind off the goings on around you sometimes the best way to do something is to read a book that is not required. A book that allows you to escape into a different world so that you can forget about the one you’re in.

Unfortunately I did not have a book to read so I ended up sleeping a lot during the middle of the day because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be allowed to sleep through the night, but my advice is to try and read a book.

Until Next Time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

Book Reviews, Uncategorized

The Hunger Games: Movie vs. Book

India

I have had the great fortune of seeing The Hunger Games movie twice. Both times I loved it. Finally I believe a production company did what was expected of them when it came to bring a book to life for the viewers, the readers, and those who have not read the book, hopefully yet.There was not a major part of the book left out, the characters exemplified exactly what I thought of them. The casting people did a great job of finding a hear throb in both Gale and Peeta, and Katniss continued to be a badass.

For my friends who had not read the book though, there were some questions to them that did not get answered in the movie, where for the rest of us it was easy to fill in the pieces. Some of the questions included, “Wait, they said there were 13 districts, but only 12 are in The Hunger Games. What happened to the 13th?” That question is of course a legitimate question because it’s not truly answered in the movie itself. Another questions “Why do they keep flashing to Gale when Katniss and Peeta establish their relationship”. Once again a minor detail that was not really  explained, but something that could be assumed. Lastly “Why is Katniss yelling at her mother”. That one did not happen as much because it was kind of explained, but the reason for her mother’s deterioration, as I told them would later be explained in a different book. This has been one movie recently where I want to continuously spend my money to go see it. I think that it’s really special for there to be a character that you want to emulate in your every day life. Someone who is willing to sacrifice and do what ever it takes to be there for those she loves even when the circumstances could mean her emanate death.

If you can’t tell already, I highly recommend this movie and this book to everyone. It is definitely one of those rare cases where it does not matter if you read the book first or not, but if you have not read the books it will make you want to buy them immediately and get to reading. Don’t forget to check out my posts on the other books an some other issues that have come from the casting of this movie.

Until Next Time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

Book Reviews, Uncategorized

The Street by Ann Petry

India

To continue with my English Lit class, the next book we read was The Street by Ann Petry. In The Street a young woman by the name of Lutie Johnson is faced with a lot hard decisions of which she has to remember that each decision leads to a response. Some of these incredibly difficult decisions include whether or not to leave her husband and son to be able to work and earn money for them, to move to an apartment with her son that might not be the safest, and to partake in a singing career that may or may not get her anywhere.Of course with every decision that is made there is always a consequence, which can either be a positive or negative experience. For Lutie Johnson, most of her decisions come with a negative consequence. She decides to work to provide for her family, and her husband leaves her. She moves to a  new apartment and Bub, her son, is afraid of the impending darkness that is surrounding him, and the superintendent makes Lutie uncomfortable.When the time comes to make a decision that could help her and Bub move from the apartment, she is presented with an option to sing with a band.

Lutie is faced with so many decisions that affect her life and the people around her, and sometimes people don’t always understand why people make the decision she does. Lutie is a strong woman who is trying to care for her son in whatever way possible. What Lutie comes to understand is that sometimes the right decision isn’t always the easiest. At the end of the story she makes the hardest decision a mother could ever make, but in her heart and mind she believes that it is right.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been faced with hard decision and are not sure what to do. It does so much to open the eyes of young readers everywhere who have not had to face such hardships as the young characters in this book. Definitely read this book, it is one of my favorites so far this year. Until next time

Keep turning the Pages
90s Born Reader