Mockingjay!

I decided moments after buying Mockingjay that I would submit a blog before sitting down to read it. I must admit I cheated a bit and read the first seven pages in the car on the way home, but it didn’t reveal anything of substance. So, I don’t think it counts. Not really. Honestly, this is such a big moment right now. I’ve been waiting for this book since January, when I first bought Catching Fire just before coming back to school for Spring Term. The same Spring Term I met the infallible Becca Rose. I remember texting Anneke right after I bought that book at Sam’s Club, the same place I just purchased Mockingjay from. I’ve never been more excitied for a book since The Tenth Power by Kate Constable was released. The only book I am anticipating more is the release of Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, whenever the heck that comes out. As soon as Bitterblue is released, I have no books to wait for… it’s almost sad. Unless Kristin Cashore decided to write another book in the Graceling universe, which I seriously doubt. But you never know.

I don’t know what I’m expecting coming into Mockingjay. Will it be good? I believe it will be. Usually sequels disappoint, but I feel that Suzanne Collins actually improved upon points in The Hunger Games and certainly did not disappoint. I wonder about Peeta. I doubt he really is dead, like believed by Katniss and Co., but I wonder if he’ll be rescued or if he, Johanna and the others captured in the Quarter Quell will find a way out on their own. I don’t know. It seems it would be no small feat escaping from any holding spot in the Capitol, but they’re a resourceful group. You kind of have to be when you’ve been through two Hunger Games, you know? Or... Sort of two. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be some cheesy reunion between Peeta and Katniss, because with her attitude during Catching Fire’s epilogue, she seemed fairly catatonic. I hope the reason she does not rise out of said mood is not because of Peeta. I don’t think there is any way that could not be cliché. I hope that their reunion is not overrated. But Collins is fairly good about not being overwhelmingly sappy… at least not often, and seems very careful with how she treats Katniss and Peeta together. She doesn't change their personalities around to suit the romance. A lot of authors will have their characters be one way while alone and transform them into these completely different people when with their, err, special person.

Observe Maria V. Snyder, author of the Poison Study series… and, of course, Stephenie Meyer.

What I worry most about, however, is Gale. I don’t know about him. I like the guy, but he’s got some serious problems. I hope that if the closure does end in a Peeta/Katniss favor, that Gale is not tossed aside and not given the ending he deserves. I have a sneaking suspicion that if Madge survived the bombings of District 12, she’ll be put with Gale. Or there will be hints of a romantic relation there, anyhow. I also suspect there is something in the cards for Gale’s mother and Haymitch, but we’ll just have to see. That could simply be my imagination… it would be strange for Gale to have a Step-father in Haymith Abernathy. What a father he would be! I’m also anxious to find out what happens to Finnick and to have more of him in Mockingjay. He is actually one of my favorite characters. For all his bravado, he’s awfully unstable and reminds me a lot of Katniss. But smart.

As for other predictions... I don’t have much of an eye for predictions. To be honest, I’m a bit dull about foreshadowing and other hints that some people (namely Anneke and Becca) find extremely obvious. I have no such skill for seeing obvious plot twists. I’m a bit oblivious. Which, you know, I actually find good, because when something “so completely obvious” does happen, it comes as a surprise and I enjoy the book more for that. So perhaps being a writer is out for me, but who knows? I think Suzanne Collins did a fairly good job of concealing spoilers in Catching Fire. They were more exposed in The Hunger Games (even I noticed quite a few), but I think she was a more covert writer in Catching Fire. I caught that Plutarch Heavensbee was an ally, but I didn’t grasp the bigger picture of escaping the arena. The only obvious spoilers were Heavensbee (since Katniss didn't trust him, I thought that reason enough to believe he was on her 'side') and District 13 still existing. I totally missed the bread thing… (*face palm*) By ‘the bread thing’ I mean how the time and day of escape were indicated on the delivered loaves. I just thought Finnick was being selfish and wanted the bread…

Nevermind. Anyhow, I am eager to read Mockingjay, so I’m going to draw this blog to a close. I will make another entry when I am finished but omit any major spoilers, only blogging my feelings and what I thought. I is so excited!!!!!!!!

Official Who Gets to Read Mockingjay After Courtney (Nothing Personal It Is In Order of Who Asked Me to Read It First, Not Favoritism Or Anything Like That) List:

• Becca Rose
• Anneke
• Emily
• You Could Be Next
  
  Toodle Pip.