Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (CBR III Book #4)

There must be some kind of corollary to Murphy's Law which states that when you go into something with low expectations, you won't be disappointed, and vice versa. Since I'm one of the last of my friends to read this book, I had the benefit (?) of their opinions, which were actually mostly a bit disappointed. But anyone who's read the Hunger Games books knows you HAVE to read Mockingjay, no matter what anyone tells you about it, and I'm glad I did.

*note* This review is written more for people who have already read the book, so there are spoilers ahead. I won't bother recapping the first two books. If you haven't read them, I highly recommend the series but suggest starting with The Hunger Games. For a review of the first book in the series, click here.

In Mockingjay, Collins basically keeps the Hunger Games going, except she loses the arena and the limited number of players. The Hunger Games is now everywhere and has become everyone's reality. And it doesn't get any easier for Katniss, who finds herself the reluctant face of the resistance.

Instead of Snow, this time Katniss is being used by Coin for her own purposes. Purposes which may or may not overlap with Katniss' own desires. Instead of having a team of stylists, Katniss' outward appearance (despite her inward struggles and demons) is made acceptable by a small film crew shooting propoganda pieces for the resistance. And Katniss continues to struggle with her own identity. Is she of any value to the resistance? To Peeta or Gale? Does her life have any meaning beyond her role in the civil war and her ultimate goal, which is not to serve the resistance, but to kill Snow?

I thought Collins did a great job of showing how truly innocent, good people, can become completely changed by life's events. Katniss and Peeta are hardly the same people they were in the first book. You see their tragic evolution from unblemished to completely destroyed, both physically and emotionally. Then there are character's like Haymitch, who you only know after the Hunger Games has changed him. After my journey with Katniss, however, by the time I finished the book, I was forgiving of Haymitch for his alcohol abuse and almost understanding. In fact, if Katniss had decided to become an alcoholic, I can't say I'd blame her.

I also liked how Collins kept Katniss strong, but not infallible. She was a reluctant Mockingjay, she was motivated by hate and revenge, and she voted to hold another Hunger Games. True to life, Collins doesn't provide much explanation for some of Katniss' actions. You just have to guess as to why she does certain things.

Then there's the issue of who Katniss ultimately chose to spend the rest of her life with. How much of it was choice and how much was circumstance? What if Peeta had not gone back to 12 and Gale had? Did she choose Peeta because of the pain they shared? Sure, they had both been subject to horrifying events, but could Katniss truly understand Peeta's point of view, or he hers? Did Katniss blame Gale for the death of her sister? Was that more unforgivable to her than anything Peeta had done? And did Katniss choose Peeta because she loved him, or did she grow to love him after making her choice?

Maybe the answers to these questions are not what's important...maybe some of life's questions can never be answered...and maybe that's okay. Because as Peeta and Katniss have learned, there can be a fine line between what's real and what's not real. The thin thread that holds our lives together can be easily broken by things like excess, fear, hate, and war. But holding fast to simple truths like loyalty, patience, and hope is what kept Katniss, and can keep all of us going.

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (CBR III Book #3)

*note* As this is the 7th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I haven't reviewed the first 6 books yet, I'm going to do an overall review on the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books are about the adventures of a small town barmaid, Sookie Stackhouse. At some point before the series begins, vampires have made themselves known to the world. This is because a Japanese company has made a synthetic blood substitute that the vampires can live off of, allowing them to live openly in society. The vampires are out of the casket, so to speak (altogether now, groan).

Anyway, Charlaine Harris' books begin with the introduction of vampires to Sookie's small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, yes, the books are about vampires in Louisiana. Sookie falls in love with Bill, a vampire from Bon Temps and quickly becomes entrenched in the supernatural community (which consists of so much more than vampires). But her interaction with vampires isn't the only thing that makes Sookie extraordinary. Sookie herself is a telepath, she can hear people's thoughts. And this makes for some interesting reading even when vampires aren't around.

If you're not familiar with the Sookie Stackhouse books, basically Sookie finds herself in the most ridiculous situations as the result of her interactions with vampires. You really have to suspend your disbelief because the situations Sookie finds herself in are so numerous and incredulous. But with that said, Harris' books are really entertaining and great reads if you're just looking to step away from reality and be entertained. Harris not only writes about vampires, but she throws in warewolves, fairies, shape shifters, and even more (if you stick through the series).

From Dead to Worse is the 7th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. So if you haven't read any of the other books, don't bother with this one. This is one series where you'll need to start at the beginning and work your way through. With that said, this was one of the more entertaining books in the series. Unlike the other books, there isn't one huge event that happens but rather, the stage is set for book 8 (at least that's how it seems). This is more an Empire Strikes Back book, where the characters and plot are developed for the next episode. It was a bit of a respite from the hijinks in the the other books and Harris really just focused on setting the stage for the next big thing.

On a side note, the HBO series True Blood is based loosely on Harris' books. When I say loosely, I really mean that. Both are entertaining but both require you to push the "I want to believe button" many times, maybe the TV show more than the books. And like the books, you have to watch the series with the attitude that you're just getting entertained. The acting is terrible (don't even get me started about Sophie Anne's character), and the plot lines really out there, but in the end, you'll be entertained. And you'll see a lot of boobies to boot.

Reviewed by Cathy

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant (CRB III Book #2)

On its face, this book is about a tiger in Eastern Russia that went on a murderous rampage, and the hunt to find him. Probably not the most interesting plot for a fiction novel, but there's something about knowing this is a true story that makes things a lot more interesting. In addition to this, John Vaillant really delves into the history of the region and the people who inhabit it, making the book about so much more than the Amur Tiger.

Vaillant begins with the story at hand - In 1997, Yuri Trush, a squad leader of Inspection Tiger, is called to investigate a tiger attack. The attack seems to be more gruesome than normal and Trush is responsible for understanding why the attack occurred and determining if this tiger is a danger to others. Vaillant then goes into a detailed history of the eastern Russian region called Primorye and its inhabitants, human and animal. He discusses the effects of Perestroika (Gorbachev's reforms in the late 1980's, which resulted in the opening of Russia's border with China - a key point in this book) and details the conception and evolution of Inspection Tiger. This government unit was created to restore order to the Primorye forests, which are rife with poaching.

As someone who knows very little about Russia (there's tigers in Russia?), I was intrigued with the history and background information Vaillant provides. But the book basically reads like a textbook, so if you're not okay with that, then it's probably not a book for you. I'll admit, it was a battle at times to get to the end, but I'm really glad I stuck with it. The information Vaillant packs into this book is rich and has given me a lot of insight into a country that takes a week to cross by train. Sadly, my knowledge of which probably wouldn't have even filled a notebook page.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I'd be hesitant to recommend it to just anyone. But if you're willing to go through this book, you'll walk away a bit smarter and more informed than when you started.

Book cover from google images.

Reviewed by Cathy

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (CBR III Book #1)

The Life of Pi was a book I went into cold, as I had never heard of it and didn't really get much information about it from my cousin, who bought it for me. A look at the cover only revealed that maybe it had something to do with a boy, a tiger, and a small boat. What?!?!?!

As it turns out, the book is about a boy, a tiger, and a small boat. Okay, there's more to it than that. The Life of Pi begins in India, where we meet a young boy, Piscine Patel. Pi grows up discovering spirituality in Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity and recounts stories about the zoo, which his father owns. When Pi is 16, he and his family (some human, some animal) board a boat to emigrate to Canada. For reasons unknown, the boat sinks and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat with a handful of animals. So begins the survivor's tale....The Life of Pi is mostly about this solitary time for Pi, drifting and figuring out how to stay alive.

I'll admit, I haven't read The Old Man and the Sea or Robinson Crusoe, so I won't compare the Life of Pi to them. But it seems like they're good books to compare it to...but I wouldn't know...because I haven't read them. But I've seen Cast Away starring Tom Hanks and Wilson the Volleyball (strangely, and appropriately, I saw Cast Away by myself at the theater. I know, how sad). So I'll make a comparison to that.

With both Cast Away and The Life of Pi, I was really interested in how Tom and Pi got in and out of their predicaments, but the predicament itself, kind of a downer. I'll admit, there are good bits and insights that kept my interest in The Life of Pi, but I couldn't help checking ahead to see how much longer the life at sea was going to last (it's about two thirds of the book, by the way). The last third of the book really picked up but ended somewhat abruptly, leaving me unsatisfied (thank you, John Malkovich, I can never say that without thinking of you). Anyone?

Overall, a good book, but depressing at times. The author's intent to have me share in Pi's plight on an emotional level was successful I suppose. Of course, because there are animals in the book, for an animal lover like me, there's that extra level of anxiety, "kill the people, not the animals!" I cry out, but only on the inside. Only on the inside.

Where Men Win Glory:The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer

Where Men Win Glory is the third of my "military kick" books. This is the story of Pat Tillman, a man who gave up an NFL contract to join the Army Rangers after September 11th. Krakauer gives a lot of background into Tillman's career in the NFL before he joined the Army as well as background about events leading up to the current political climate of the middle east. The heart of the story though, is about Tillman's time in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger and his untimely death, first said to be from enemy combatants but later revealed to be from friendly fire. Krakauer investigates how the story was covered up but later exposed.

Of the three military books I've read this year (including Generation Kill and Lone Survivor), this is my least favorite. But that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. It just had drier moments and a bit more of a reporting feel to it, versus a story-telling feel. But like the other books, it's an important tale from modern history and another way to try and understand why our military is in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

While trying to find an image of the book, I found a really good review (much better than mine). So if you want to know more about this book, check out this reader's blog.

The Hubs' take: "It's a good story that told the truth." While he found it "inspirational," he said it makes you mad at the military.

Reviewed by Cathy

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

When I wrote about Generation Kill, I mentioned it started a military reading kick. Well, this is one of those books. Unlike Generation Kill, which is about Marines, Lone Survivor is about the Navy Seals.

Marcus Luttrell knew he wanted to be a Seal as a child. He even started training as a teenager and eventually became a sniper for the Seals. In 2005, Luttrell was deployed to Afghanistan on a mission to capture...or kill...Ahmad Shah, a taliban leader. Luttrell and his team, consisting of three other Seals, were ambushed by the Taliban and all, except Luttrell, eventually died. Not only was Luttrell's tale of survival amazing, but the tale of his teammate's deaths is equally memorable.

This book was quite a change from Generation Kill, not only because it was about a different branch of the military, but also because Luttrell's perspective is very different from Wright's (hmmm, Rolling Stone writer vs. hard core Texan...). But like Generation Kill, I found things tangential to the main story really riveting, like the SEAL training Luttrell went through at Coronado and the hell those guys are put through.

My impression overall, a great book. Again, not a big military buff but I'd recommend this book. And not just because it's got a great story. It really opened my eyes to what our military forces have been doing for us and gave me a better understanding of the situation in the middle east.

The Hubs' take: "I liked that story, it was well-written, humorous, very right-wing. Entertaining"

Reviewed by Cathy

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This is the second book of the Hunger Games Trilogy and a great sequel. Collins picks up right where she left off - after Katness and Peeta win the Hunger Games. Now, they must visit every district in a victory tour. Before the tour, President Snow visits Katniss. He explains how her and Peeta's suicide attempt at the end of the Hunger Games could be interpreted as an act of defiance, instead of one of love. President Snow threatens Katniss' loved ones unless she can convince him that she truly was motivated by her love for Peeta. The citizens of the twelve districts, however, want to believe that Katniss has other motivations, and Katniss isn't quite sure how to respond to the pressure from both sides.

I hate to admit this, but I read the book months ago and can't quite remember how I felt about it except that I liked it. But if you read the Hunger Games, you already know that you have to read this and the third book as well. There's just no question about that.

One thing I DO remember and was excited about is that Catching Fire alluded to the fact that the 13th district might not be extinct after all...of course the murmurs of a rebellion are also forming, so there is a lot to look forward to in Mockingjay (which I STILL haven't read because there is such a long line for it at the library...).

The Hubs' take: The book was "alright but not as good as the first one."

Reviewed by Cathy