"Catching Fire" (Hunger Games Book#2)

by Suzanne Collins, 2009, ebook, 391p, rating=4

"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge." (Goodreads)

Although I enjoyed the first book more, this installment still delivered excitement.  Full of twist and turns that had me ooh-ing and aah-ing.  It introduced more characters that helped to continue the independence vs interdependence issue.  Because the games are back and this time it's the 75th so that means it's Quarter Quell time (every 25yrs)!  A huge reminder from the Capitol to the people of Panem that even the strongest cannot overpower them, thus dissipate any action of uprising. 

Here I was particularly impressed with the character developments of Katniss, Haymitch, Cinna, and District #13 (hint hint).  Just in case we forget that Katniss is still a kid we are reminded when she and Finnick gets right into Peeta's face for a hilarious scare (my favorite part in the book because finally, some fun amidst crude intensity).  More substantially, when Katniss was not in on the "plan" because who knows, her head might swell and that kick butt attitude of hers might take Panem into an opposite direction.  Let's have the grown-ups do the "planning" and that's where Haymitch comes to play.  After all he is experience and has much to offer..surprise!!  Moreover, Cinna's pretty brave here and I like it!  Oh, and as far as District #13, what a cliffhanger!!  The fight's on, Baby!!

Thank you Steff for emailing me this book so I was able to read it through html form.  ~The person who checked it out from my local library has not returned it yet so who knows when I'd finally get a hold of it.  You totally rock and now I'm ready for Mockingjay!!  Which by the way I've already started but it's been a busy busy weekend so I'm turning in early and will continue to read it with the rest of you tomorrow.

Oh, I almost forgot.  I was hoping to get more scoop on Gale from this book because I don't want to rule him out.  The first book leaned favorably on Peeta so I was curious where Gale would stand in here.  Hmmm, still a draw for me.  How do you choose from a too-good-to-be-true guy to a best friend knows-me-best guy? ... ya got me, I'm leaning on Team Gale ... but we'll see again in the next book. =]